Mom of Three, Rachel Booth, 38, Found Dead After Disappearing from Local Gas Station

The search for the missing Northwich woman ended in tragedy after police recovered her body from a lake, but questions remain about the hours leading up to her disappearance, including a solitary visit to a convenience store in the early morning hours.

Rachel Booth, a 38-year-old mother of three from Barnton in Northwich, was found dead in a lake in Oakmere on Monday, July 21, 2025, following an extensive two-day search led by Cheshire Police.

Her disappearance was first reported by her family on Saturday, July 19, prompting urgent appeals and widespread efforts to locate her.

At the time of her disappearance, Booth was believed to be wearing black leggings and a black top. She was described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, of slim build, and with blonde hair.

Booth, who was also known by her family as Rachel Langley and Helena, was last seen at 3:50 a.m. on Saturday morning (July 19) on CCTV footage from the Shell petrol station at Sandiway Garage, located along the A556.

Isaac Carolan, 19, an employee at the garage, told The Sun, "I spoke to my colleague who had served her on Saturday morning. She bought milk and wine and jogged from 45 minutes away. But it didn't seem weird, she didn't seem disturbed or flustered."

After she was reported missing, police launched a widespread operation involving officers, sniffer dogs, and specialist diving squads to locate her.

Search efforts concentrated around the Oakmere area of Delamere. Two underwater search units arrived at Delamere Lake Holiday Park on Monday morning, near the Wild Shore Delamere water sports site. An incident command unit and a police dogs vehicle also arrived at the scene.

During the operation, Wild Shore Delamere was temporarily closed to the public. A spokesperson for the site stated, "Due to ongoing police investigations in the surrounding area, Wildshore Delamere will remain closed tomorrow, Sunday, July 20th... This incident is unrelated to Wild Shore — however, we wish to help as much as possible — so we will be closing the site until further notice."

On Monday, officers recovered a body from the lake. Formal identification confirmed the remains were those of Booth. Cheshire Police confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances in her death, and a file is being prepared for the coroner. Her family was notified and is being supported by specialist officers.

The discovery sent shockwaves through Booth's community in Barnton, where she lived with her husband, Carl Langley, and their three sons — Alfie, Archie, and Ronnie. Local residents and shop workers described Booth as active and well-liked.

Raj Kaur, 30, who works at a Premier convenience store near Booth's home, shared, "We have all been praying for her. She is in everyone's thoughts here and we all wanted her to be found safe and well. It's so very, very sad. She had three children — it's such a sad time now."

Earlier, Kaur had also recalled, "She is a lovely clever lady — always coming in here for her parcels. She is very active and very nice we all liked her."

Another Barnton resident, a middle-aged mother who did not share her name, expressed, "I knew her from the school and she was always pleasant — she has three boys at the school."

Following Booth's death, her family released a tribute through Cheshire Police. "Rachel, who was known to us as Helena, was a cherished member of our family. She was a guiding light whose strength, love, and devotion touched us all."

"Her kindness was constant and her presence a strength to everyone she knew, a loving mother, wife, daughter and sister who can never be replaced but always present in our hearts. Her absence leaves a space, but her smiles are a memory we will treasure for ever," read the family's statement.

They also extended their appreciation to all those who assisted in the search.

In the wake of her passing, a GoFundMe page was set up in Booth's memory. The fundraiser aims to support her surviving family. So far, over £8,800 (approximately $11,900) has been raised toward its £13,000 ($17,600) goal, with more donations expected to pour in soon.

Organizers stated that all proceeds will be directed into a trust for her three sons. In addition, a portion of the donations will go to a charity focused on supporting individuals and families affected by ADHD — a cause the family holds close.

"Your generosity, no matter how big or small, will make a lasting difference and is deeply appreciated. Thank you for helping us give Rachel the beautiful farewell she deserves and for supporting her family during this heartbreaking time," reads the description on the fundraising page.

As the community mourns, efforts now shift toward supporting Booth's family and honoring her memory through the fundraiser established in her name.