Ex-Police Officer Suspects Suffolk Strangler Killed Internationally During Cruise Ship Career
Retired police intelligence officer Chris Clark has voiced a chilling conviction that serial killer Steve Wright, infamously known as the Suffolk Strangler, likely murdered women abroad while working as a steward on the QE2 cruise liner. Clark, aged 80, is currently authoring a book on Wright and has proactively contacted law enforcement agencies worldwide, urging them to re-examine unsolved cold cases that might be linked to the killer's travels.
Timeline of Suspicion: Wright's Early Years and Global Itinerary
Clark points to Wright's employment history as a key factor in his theory. Wright served as a steward on the QE2 between 1982 and 1986, starting at age 24. Clark argues that serial offenders typically begin their crimes in their late teens, yet Wright's first known murder occurred in 1992 when he was 34. This discrepancy suggests there may be earlier, undiscovered victims. "Serial killers normally start offending in their late teens. Wright was 34 when his first known offence took place in 1992 – so there has got to be other victims prior to that date," Clark stated.
During shore leaves, Wright reportedly sought out areas known for brothels rather than tourist attractions, according to former colleagues. Ships would dock for one to two days, providing a narrow window for any potential crimes to go unnoticed until after departure, effectively severing any immediate connection to Wright. "He had the perfect get out," Clark remarked, highlighting how the transient nature of cruise travel could have facilitated undetected murders.
Global Investigation Efforts and Historical Evidence
With assistance from co-author Tim Hicks, Clark obtained the QE2's itinerary from Wright's tenure and has emailed over 100 law enforcement agencies across destinations including North and South America, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and China. Additionally, they are investigating Wright's earlier job with North Sea ferries, which took him to ports in Zeebrugge and Rotterdam, suspecting possible victims in those regions as well.
Clark criticizes Suffolk police for not pursuing these leads more vigorously during Wright's 2006 trial for the murders of five women in Ipswich. He references a clip from the TV show Whicker's World that appeared to show Wright in Pattaya, Thailand's red-light district, which he believes was not taken seriously enough. "Suffolk police should have realised there were victims precluding the five women found in Ipswich and should have put more energy into looking into places they knew Wright had visited," Clark asserted, accusing authorities of resting on their laurels.
Recent Developments and Ongoing Cases
Clark's concerns emerge shortly after Wright received an additional life sentence for the 1999 abduction and murder of Suffolk schoolgirl Victoria Hall, along with concurrent terms for related crimes. This confession has reignited interest in Wright's potential involvement in other unsolved cases, including the disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh 40 years ago. Wright's ex-wife, Diane Cole, has expressed haunting fears about his possible role, and the Metropolitan Police are now reviewing connections between Wright and Lamplugh, who also worked on the QE2.
Clark's upcoming book, Serial Killer: Inside the mind of Steve Wright the Suffolk Strangler, set for publication this summer, aims to delve deeper into these theories and encourage a broader international investigation into Wright's crimes, potentially uncovering victims beyond the six women he is currently convicted of killing.
