Detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s cold case Homicide unit are reviewing potential connections between serial killer Steve Wright, known as the Suffolk Strangler, and the 1986 disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh. The review of Operation Phoebus, the original investigation, includes scrutiny of Wright’s interactions with Lamplugh during their time working together on the luxury liner QE2.
Suzy Lamplugh’s Disappearance
Suzy Lamplugh, 25, vanished on July 28, 1986, after leaving her office in Fulham, southwest London, to meet a client named ‘Mr Kipper’ at 37 Shorrolds Road. A note in her diary marked the 12:45 p.m. appointment. Witnesses reported seeing a woman matching her description at the property around 1 p.m. with a smartly dressed man in a dark suit, dark swept-back hair, aged 25-30, and 5ft 7in to 5ft 9in tall.
Her white Ford Fiesta was found badly parked at 10:01 p.m. in Stevenage Road, about a mile away, with the handbrake off, her purse in the door pocket, and the seat pushed back unusually far. The location was near another property marketed by her agency and close to the Thames, where early searches focused. A friend spotted her driving north on Fulham Palace Road at 2:45 p.m. with an unrecognized man.
John Cannan emerged as a prime suspect, but prosecutors declined charges in 2002 due to insufficient evidence. Cannan died in 2025 at age 70 without further questioning. This remains one of the UK’s longest-running murder investigations.
Steve Wright’s QE2 Connection
Wright, 67, serving a whole life sentence for murdering six women, recently pleaded guilty to strangling Victoria Hall, 17. Official records show the QE2 docked in Southampton on the morning of Lamplugh’s disappearance after a transatlantic voyage from New York. The ship remained there for two days, allowing Wright time to reach London.
Lamplugh worked as a beautician on the QE2 starting in 1983, while Wright served as a steward. Witnesses confirm they interacted: former steward Steve Adler noted Wright ‘sniffed around’ beauticians like Lamplugh. Waiter Paul Tennant said Wright tried to befriend her constantly. Terry Cassidy recalled her at the salon reception near his girlfriend’s shop.
Wright’s ex-wife, Diane Cole, 71, remembers him visiting her Halstead, Essex, home ‘in the height of summer’ that year, arriving with Christian Dior makeup—items linked to Lamplugh’s role. ‘I remember it being the height of summer because I had the kids next door in a paddling pool in my garden,’ Cole said. ‘He drank [tea] and said he had to rush and get back… Where did he get it all from? Suzy was a beautician on the ship. I do think it is right the police look at him.’
Cole also saw Wright chatting with Lamplugh twice in ship corridors. ‘They came to my attention twice… He was having a lovely time. I don’t think she was interested in him,’ she recalled. The couple met on the QE2, married in 1987, and she endured his violence, including knife attacks and strangling attempts. Wright took ‘uppers’ for shifts and once scrawled insults on her cabin door with her lipstick.
Ship logs confirm Wright left in October 1986 when the QE2 went out of service. Cole urges police to question him: ‘He should tell the truth for the sake of Suzy’s family… I definitely do think the police really need to look at him again because I know how bad he could be.’
Wright’s Murder Convictions and Police Response
Wright was convicted of five 2006 Ipswich murders: Tania Nicol, 19; Gemma Adams, 25; Anneli Alderton, 24; Paula Clennell, 24; and Annette Nicholls, 29. Suspicions link him to at least five more, including Jeannette Kempton, 32 (1989); Natalie Pearman, 16 (1992); Amanda Duncan, 26 (1993); Kellie Pratt, 28 (2000); and Michelle Bettles, 22 (2002), all strangled or asphyxiated in the Norwich area.
A Met Police spokeswoman stated: ‘The Metropolitan Police Service’s investigation into the disappearance and murder of Suzy Lamplugh is ongoing, and detectives remain committed to securing justice for her family. Over the years, hundreds of pieces of information have been carefully followed up by officers, and we continue to assess any new information brought to our attention.’
Lamplugh’s parents, Diana (died 2011 from Alzheimer’s) and Paul (died 2018), outlived their daughter. Police plan to interview Wright about the case.
