Nicola Bulley's partner, Paul Ansell, has described the intense social media focus on her disappearance as a 'monster' that spiraled out of control. Initially, the family welcomed the heightened interest, hoping it would pressure the police in their search efforts. However, this quickly led to a deluge of amateur sleuths spreading misinformation and targeting the family with unfounded accusations and online abuse. Mr. Ansell shared that this added to the trauma, with messages accusing him of wrongdoing and making him feel silenced. Despite the turmoil, he had to remain strong for their two daughters. These revelations are part of a BBC documentary, 'The Search for Nicola Bulley,' which examines the impact of media coverage and online speculation on the family.