Disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh

Suzy Lamplugh

Susannah "Suzy" Lamplugh ( /ˈlæmpluː/; born 3 May 1961,^{[citation needed]} Gloucestershire)^[1] was a British estate agent reported missing on 28 July 1986 (aged 25) in Fulham, South West London, England. She was officially declared dead, presumed murdered, in 1994.^[2] The last clue of her whereabouts was an appointment to show a house in Shorrolds Road to someone she referred to as "Mr. Kipper". Following her disappearance, police DNA tested 800 unidentified bodies and skeletal remains that matched Lamplugh's description.^[3]

In late 2010, police began a new search of a field off the B4084 between Pershore and Drakes Broughton. The area is about three miles away from the former Norton Army Barracks in Worcestershire which was searched in December 2000 and February 2001.^[3] In 2000, police had searched a nearby brickworks^[4] which several witness had mentioned in their original statements.^[5] The search proved unsuccessful and to this day, her remains have never been found.

Disappearance

Lamplugh was an estate agent, reported missing after going to an appointment with someone calling himself "Mr. Kipper" to show him a house in Fulham.^[6] Her office diary recorded the essential details of the appointment: '12.45 Mr. Kipper – 37 Shorrolds Road O/S', with the 'O/S' annotation meaning outside the property. Witnesses reported seeing Lamplugh arguing with a man in Shorrolds Road and then getting into a car.^{[citation needed]}

Her white Ford Fiesta was found that night outside a property for sale in Stevenage Road, Fulham, about one and a half miles away.^[7] The ignition key was missing and Lamplugh's purse was found in a door storage pocket. Police suggested that a black BMW car might have been involved, due to an eyewitness account of a car at the same location as Lamplugh's car in Stevenage Road. It was thought for some time after her disappearance that "Kipper" was her pronunciation of the Dutch name "Kuiper", but despite police investigations, nobody of this name was found to be connected to Lamplugh.

Police investigations

Further information: John Cannan#Suzy Lamplugh

Lamplugh was officially declared dead in 1994,^[8] while further police investigations in 1998 and 2000 failed to uncover any trace of her.^[9]

There has been speculation that convicted rapist and killer John Cannan could have killed Lamplugh, as he was released from a hostel only days before she went missing.^[10] Also, it has been claimed that Cannan's nickname in prison was 'Kipper'. However, despite investigations there is no hard evidence. Cannan has denied any involvement.^[11]

In 2000 a former girlfriend of John Cannan, Gilly Paige, told police that he had suggested Lamplugh's body was buried at Norton Barracks, a former RAF barracks in Worcestershire.^[12] One of Cannan's fellow prisoners told police that Cannan had buried Lamplugh under the patio of his mother's house in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands.^[13]

A new investigation began in August 2010, centred on an area in Worcestershire near to Pershore and Drakes Broughton.^[14]

Similar cases

There was a similar case in 2006 involving a 48-year-old female estate agent in Wiltshire who met a client called Mr. Herring. She was attacked with a sharp object, causing cuts to her arm, and was pushed to the ground, but managed to free herself. The assailant ran away. Police have said there is no connection between this case and the disappearance of Lamplugh.^[15]

Michael Sams kidnapped Stephanie Slater in 1992.^[16] She was an estate agent working in Birmingham. Slater's employers paid a ransom and she was released. He was later found guilty of her kidnap, and of murdering 18-year-old Leeds prostitute Julie Dart.^[17] Sentenced to life imprisonment, he is still behind bars as of 2010, and is currently being held at Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire. Crime writer Christopher Berry-Dee, in Unmasking Mr. Kipper: Who Really Killed Suzy Lamplugh?, has put forth the case that Sams killed Lamplugh, but this has been dismissed by police.^[18]

Lamplugh had been working as a beautician on the ocean liner QE2 in 1982. Steve Wright, who was convicted in February 2008 of the murder of five prostitutes in Ipswich, worked as a steward on the QE2 at the same time.^[19] Police are investigating whether Wright was connected to Lamplugh's disappearance.^[20] However, the Metropolitan Police have stated that this is not a strong line of enquiry.^[21]

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust was established in 1986 to help people avoid becoming victims of aggression, and to offer counselling and support to relatives and friends of missing people.^[22]

See also

• List of people who disappeared mysteriously

References

1. ^ Births England and Wales 1837-2006
2. ^ Batty, David (22 February 2008). "Police investigate 'link' between Wright and Suzy Lamplugh". The Guardian (London: Guardian News and Media). http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/22/suffolkmurders.law. Retrieved 2 April 2009. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "BBC News - Suzy Lamplugh: New search in Worcestershire for body". BBC Online. 10 August 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-10923257. Retrieved 8 March 2011. 
4. ^ "BBC News". BBC Online. 11 December 2000. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1065321.stm. Retrieved 8 March 2011. 
5. ^ Camber, Rebecca (10 August 2010). "Suzy Lamplugh: Police to search for remains at old Army barracks". Mail Online (London). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1301296/Suzy-Lamplugh-Police-search-remains-old-Army-barracks.html. Retrieved 8 March 2011. 
6. ^ "Fresh lead in Lamplugh case". BBC News. 28 May 2000. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/767097.stm. Retrieved 2 April 2009. 
7. ^ Bennetto, Jason (27 July 2001). "Lamplugh police to re-examine unknown bodies". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/lamplugh-police-to-reexamine-unknown-bodies-662926.html. Retrieved 2 April 2009. 
8. ^ "Suzy Lamplugh Cops Ponder Steve Wright Link". The Daily Record. 22 February 2008. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2008/02/22/suzy-lamplugh-cops-ponder-steve-wright-link-86908-20328014/. Retrieved 2 April 2009. 
9. ^ "Man quizzed over Suzy Lamplugh case". BBC News. 5 December 2000. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1055367.stm. Retrieved 2 April 2009. 
10. ^ Carter, Helen (16 November 2002). "Lamplugh suspect denies playing games with police". The Guardian (London: Guardian News and Media). http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/nov/16/ukcrime.helencarter. Retrieved 4 June 2008. 
11. ^ Orr, Deborah (7 December 1999). "False hopes that prey on every woman's fear". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/false-hopes-that-prey-on-every-womans-fear-1130776.html. Retrieved 2 April 2009. 
12. ^ Alderson, Andrew (29 April 2001). "Police switch search to barracks in West Country". The Daily Telegraph (London: Telegraph Media Group). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1317673/Police-switch-search-to-barracks-in-West-Country.html. Retrieved 2 April 2009. 
13. ^ "Police study Lamplugh claims". BBC News. 1 December 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2532893.stm. Retrieved 4 June 2008. 
14. ^ "New search in Worcestershire for Suzy Lamplugh's body". BBC News. 10 August 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-10923257. Retrieved 10 August 2010. 
15. ^ "Estate agent assaulted at house". BBC News. 22 June 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wiltshire/5108268.stm. Retrieved 4 June 2008. 
16. ^ Stephanieslater.org
17. ^ Tingle, Len (6 November 2003). "Yorkshire and Lincolnshire: The Price of Justice?". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/politics_show/3243159.stm. Retrieved 4 June 2008. 
18. ^ "The Suzy Lamplugh Trust". BBC h2g2. 2007-06-07. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A23296584. Retrieved 2010-07-19. 
19. ^ "Is Steve Wright Mr Kipper in Suzy Lamplugh murder case?". Daily Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/02/22/is-steve-wright-mr-kipper-in-suzy-lamplugh-murder-case-115875-20327480/. Retrieved 2 April 2009. 
20. ^ Addley, Esther; McVeigh, Karen (22 February 2008). "Motive still unknown as serial killer faces rest of life in prison". The Guardian (London: Guardian News and Media). http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/22/suffolkmurders.ukcrime. Retrieved 4 June 2008. 
21. ^ "Wright 'not linked to Suzy death'". BBC News. 14 May 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7401250.stm. Retrieved 14 May 2008. 
22. ^ The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, Registered Charity no. 802567 at the Charity Commission

External links

• The Suzy Lamplugh Trust An organisation created by Diana Lamplugh - Suzy's mother - to promote personal safety.
• The search for Lamplugh from the BBC.
• BBC On this Day BBC page on 30 July 1986, the day the appeal was made by Lamplugh's parents for her safe return.
• Witness describes 'Lamplugh kidnap' from the BBC.

Persondata
Name	Lamplugh, Suzy
Alternative names	Susannah Lamplugh
Short description	British estate agent
Date of birth	3 May 1961
Place of birth	Gloucestershire, UK
Date of death
Place of death