Missing Blogger Esther Dingley #2

[PeggyHenry]

I do tend to think the BBC article appearing online exacerbated things in some way .. maybe on both sides. Possibly overwhelming Esther and for DC,it became more urgent for them to be back together as a couple. I’ve also thought that DC may have initiated its release to force a reconciliation.

somehow I have a feeling we may never get all the answers

 

[Wearesailing13]

it’s this one

Van life: Durham couple's six years on the road (and counting)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-54842438

Thank you

 

[Mustard]

I think anyone strong or otherwise could be made to feel suicidal if a high profile national media outfit (BBC in this case) published an article tying them pretty irrevocably to a coercive controller they really weren't happy with, and perhaps had only just fully come to terms with that realisation. Possibly (the article) without their full consent either (we don't know if Esther really wanted the article, although she was clearly involved - but perhaps DC kept her in the dark as to timing, and it caught her totally unawares.) The article coming out on the day she disappears has to be more than just an eerie coincidence.

Do you have a link to the BBC article? Edit - thanks, I’ve just seen the link.

 

[Steve Cree Fan Too]

I believe this was before her body was found.

Publication timestamp says 21:00 (and then retrospectively "updated" at 19:37? oh OK) on 9th August. Bet the Sun were gutted about that as the remains were actually found earlier in the day on the 9th.

"on the afternoon of August 9, Esther Dingley's body and equipment were found"

 

[AlanB]

it’s this one

Van life: Durham couple's six years on the road (and counting)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-54842438

Thanks for this, I hadn't seen it. It's a puff piece used by the BBC as a filler, it doesn't probe at all - for instance you would think from the article that they still had the dogs whereas it is my understanding that Mr. Colegate got rid of them despite Ms. Dingley's unhappiness about it.
It also suggested they had no plans to end their travelling which was not the case, it was an area of conflict for them because Ms. Dingley did not want to go home and Mr. Colegate did.

 

[reCAPTCHA]

Interesting that the BBC piece came out on the day she went missing. I was thinking the opposite to others in that maybe the article filled her with confidence, maybe too much and she took a risk she wouldn’t normally take in regard to her route/climb that day. It might have made her feel a bit cocksure maybe-uncharacteristically hubristic? Just a random musing on my part....

 

[OEJ]

... it is my understanding that Mr. Colegate got rid of them despite Ms. Dingley's unhappiness about it.

That's something I'd missed. I saw that Esther had written on her facebook page " right now for one reason or another I'm separated from these wonderful dogs" but I wasn't aware that the dogs had been disposed of. Could you fill me in?

 

[MourningDove]

Hi @OEJ

I believe we do not know the extent to which Esther was involved with decisions to rehome many, if not all their dogs. But from how Esther has written about how much joy the dogs brought her, it is hard for me to imagine she was enthusiastic about rehoming them.

In March I did some 'dog' research re: this case. While this is not complete, it is what I could confirm at the time (and no new information since).

During January 2017 Pup Count was 7

• Leela (Mama dog) was adopted early January 2017 in Spain
• Leela give birth to 6 puppies at the end of January 2017 (George, Bella, Teddy, Jess, Rose and Patti)

By end of April 2017 Pup Count was 5

• 2 puppies were given to "other families"*, "amazing new homes" and Dan / Esther were able to visit Jess (in San Jose) and Teddy (in France) over the years*

By mid-May 2020 Pup Count was 4

• George had gone to Esther's mum and dad's home and Patti was still with the pack (see pic on Esther's FB page, 16/5/2020)
• Esther's FB page, 13/05/2020: "George isn't currently here with the pack.... he's been living with my mum and dad..."

By mid-July 2020 Pup Count was 3

• Patti had gone to Esther's mum and dad's home (see 14/7/2020 Dan / Esther FB post - they are in the UK, putting up their new yellow tent with George and Patti)
• Olive Press Puppy Love article*, 19/11/2020: "I convinced my mum that Patti and George would inject some energy... so they live there now."

Whether the remaining three dogs, Leela (Mama), Bella and Rose were with Dan when Esther disappeared is not clear to me after this research. It is possible they were since there is no mention in their social media of those dogs going anywhere.

So, when Esther said in her 13/11/2020 post on own FB page, "right now for one reason or another I'm separated from these wonderful dogs", I wonder if she is talking about her own separation from the dogs and not implying they were all given away.

And perhaps it is important to point out in addition to the BBC article about Esther and Dan on 22/11, the Olive Press Puppy Love* article came out 19/11, three days before the BBC article. That is A LOT of publicity just before Esther disappeared... and clearly Esther and Dan were marketing their books leading up to those big stories being published (see their FB page just prior to 22/11).

* PUPPY LOVE: https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-...ing-through-spain-in-a-second-hand-motorhome/

 

[OEJ]

In March I did some 'dog' research re: this case. While this is not complete, it is what I could confirm at the time (and no new information since).

Thank you @MourningDove !

 

[AlanB]

It's possible that I am wrong about ALL the dogs being removed by Mr. Colegate - but I knew I read it somewhere and I found some sources, these guys said this:

================
SummerSky

"She was very upset about having to give away the dogs.

She posted about that.

It appears they'd given away 4/5 to friends and the last 2 to her mother in the UK.

All the dogs were gone by the time of this hike I think. Otherwise I'm positive she'd have taken at least one with.

She loved hiking with the dogs. If only she'd had at least one with her still..."
================

and this:

================
Savannah-xx

"If only indeed. I think I read on here she gave them away because of Dan right? probably was jealous because she gave them more attention than him. And a narcissist can't have that."
================

In my experience these guys usually get their facts right - but I'm sure we are all willing to listen to any new information.

If there were remaining dogs still in the house-sit it changes things, it makes suicide maybe a bit less likely - and it means she was even more desperate to be away from Mr. Colegate as she was deliberately having to stay away from the dogs too to achieve that.

 

[SummerSky]

Thanks for this, I hadn't seen it. It's a puff piece used by the BBC as a filler, it doesn't probe at all - for instance you would think from the article that they still had the dogs whereas it is my understanding that Mr. Colegate got rid of them despite Ms. Dingley's unhappiness about it.
It also suggested they had no plans to end their travelling which was not the case, it was an area of conflict for them because Ms. Dingley did not want to go home and Mr. Colegate did.

Yes, plus it lies about how happy they are. I think it was produced by Colegate PR lol.

In the later BBC podcast the interviewer asks Dan: "Tell us why YOU asked for this interview."

Seems we can all ask the BBC for interviews.

 

[AlanB]

Yes, plus it lies about how happy they are. I think it was produced by Colegate PR lol.

In the later BBC podcast the interviewer asks Dan: "Tell us why YOU asked for this interview."

Seems we can all ask the BBC for interviews.

Yes, that's very interesting indeed, considering when the interview took place I simply don't believe that he was happy that she left right at that time - clearly he was trying to build his profile by working to get this interview.

 

[MourningDove]

In my experience these guys usually get their facts right - but I'm sure we are all willing to listen to any new information.

Yes, @AlanB. I know what you mean. The reason I did several hours of research back in March on this dog bit is exactly the reason you are citing. There was lots of conflicting, inconsistent and unsourced information starting to float around. I only drew from what Esther and Dan said in their social media posts. Perhaps there is additional information I am not aware of. But I do think the dog sub-story took on a life of its own early on. That said, I also believe it may have been a great source of angst and perhaps conflict within Esther, because she seemed to be in 'heaven' with her dogs.

 

[SummerSky]

Yes, that's very interesting indeed, considering when the interview took place I simply don't believe that he was happy that she left right at that time - clearly he was trying to build his profile by working to get this interview.

Dan? Happy?

Take another look at his personal Instagram. Everyone missed the post where he says (paraphrasing): when you are gone I miss you. When you are near I can't wait for you to leave."

This is textbook narcissistic personality disorder. It is not about him being an ahole. People are very ignorant. NPD is severe abuse.

I no longer log into instagram so can't screenshot.

 

[AlanB]

Yes, @AlanB. I know what you mean. The reason I did several hours of research back in March on this dog bit is exactly the reason you are citing. There was lots of conflicting, inconsistent and unsourced information starting to float around. I only drew from what Esther and Dan said in their social media posts. Perhaps there is additional information I am not aware of. But I do think the dog sub-story took on a life of its own early on. That said, I also believe it may have been a great source of angst and perhaps conflict within Esther, because she seemed to be in 'heaven' with her dogs.

Yes, it tells us a lot about the relationship too, I don't own a dog because of my lifestyle, but if I did and my partner asked me to get rid of the dog the response would be a flat no - and if they persisted then I would terminate the relationship. Dogs are dependent on us unlike humans and once I have committed to one I would not dispose of it like property.

The fact that Mr. Colegate was able to make Ms. Dingley get rid of any of her dogs when she didn't want to is a red flag on the relationship - to me at least.

 

[OEJ]

The fact that Mr. Colegate was able to make Ms. Dingley get rid of any of her dogs when she didn't want to is a red flag on the relationship - to me at least.

Objectively, is that really a fact?

I'm trying to be as clear as I can about what's known to be true, and what subjective conclusions people may draw from that. Do we know for a fact that DC made ED get rid of her/their dogs against her will?

 

[Superdude]

I can't see how they could keep seven dogs while living in a camper van. Seems cruel to the dogs. Better to find them new homes.

 

[MourningDove]

I no longer log into instagram so can't screenshot.

Hi @SummerSky. Here are three poems written by DC and posted on his IG account at different dates (see reference). These were posted here on Tattle early on by Johara, if I recall correctly. They all scream NPD to me. And I think the poem you are referencing in your post is the 2nd one.

 

[SummerSky]

Hi @SummerSky. Here are three poems written by DC and posted on his IG account at different dates (see reference). These were posted here on Tattle early on by Johara, if I recall correctly. They all scream NPD to me. And I think the poem you are referencing in your post is the 2nd one.

View attachment 730216

Thanks. That's the one!

"When I'm all on my own I crave you,
Yet together I crave only space.

Like a yo-yo we're bound up forever,
As I seek an unattainable place."

....

The unattainable place is the future faking.

It's akin to showing a starving cat a bowl of tuna but snatching it away just as the cat gets near the food.

It is mental & emotional torture.

The "bound up forever" is CONTROL.

 

[BestWishes]

I only trust the opinions of Esther's mother, the police and her friends about her mental strength.

Mental strength is not at all incompatible with suicide. In Esther's case, perhaps strength led her to it.

Hi @SummerSky. Here are three poems written by DC and posted on his IG account at different dates (see reference). These were posted here on Tattle early on by Johara, if I recall correctly. They all scream NPD to me. And I think the poem you are referencing in your post is the 2nd one.

View attachment 730216

Total NPD. Mind-blowingly hackneyed, too.
Craven.... that's where my mind goes with his obsession for the "crave" word.

Dan? Happy?

Take another look at his personal Instagram. Everyone missed the post where he says (paraphrasing): when you are gone I miss you. When you are near I can't wait for you to leave."

This is textbook narcissistic personality disorder. It is not about him being an ahole. People are very ignorant. NPD is severe abuse.

I no longer log into instagram so can't screenshot.

Yes, classic NPD. Very severe in his case. It leaks out of every pore.
Learn more about narcissistic personality disorder at: Signs of Narcissistic Abuse and Did this happen to you? These are sample videos; both narcissism specialists have a LOT of videos.