Son Fears Missing Mother Could Be Suffolk Strangler Victim
The son of a woman who vanished over two decades ago believes she may have been another victim of serial killer Steve Wright, known as the Suffolk Strangler. This comes after Wright admitted to the 1999 murder of 17-year-old Victoria Hall and an attempted abduction just one day earlier, during the first day of his Old Bailey trial on Monday.
Wright's Guilty Plea and Past Crimes
Wright's guilty plea marks his sixth confirmed victim. He was already serving a whole life order, imposed in 2008, for the murders of five women in Ipswich in 2006. However, criminologists and experts suspect he likely killed others, with his modus operandi potentially linking him to additional unsolved disappearances.
The Case of Kellie Pratt
Kellie Pratt, a 28-year-old sex worker, disappeared on June 11, 2000, after taking a call from a client outside The Rose pub in Norwich around 11:30 PM. She was reported missing by friends when she failed to meet them for a pre-arranged lift. Despite a major police investigation, neither Kellie nor her mobile phone have ever been found, and no credible sightings have been reported.
Her son, Kurtis Pratt, now 30, shares fears that Wright may be involved. In a desperate plea, Kurtis urged Wright to come clean about her disappearance, stating, "It's now 26 years later and I have been given the opportunity to come forward for the first time in my life to appeal on behalf of my mum, my family and on behalf of other potential victims." He added, "I think now is the time to come forward to give the victims' families and friends the peace they deserve."
Expert Analysis and Similar Cases
Criminologist David Wilson, a professor at Birmingham City University, has highlighted similarities between Wright's confirmed murders and the disappearances of Kellie Pratt and Mandy Duncan, who vanished in Ipswich in 1993. Wilson noted, "His modus operandi fits with a number of young women who died in the early 1990s. If he had been arrested for what was happening at that time, then clearly we wouldn't be talking today about what he is." He expressed hope that Wright's admission might lead to discussions about other potential victims.
Wright's ex-wife, Diane Cole, has also called for police to question him about other unsolved cases in Norfolk and Suffolk, suggesting, "I think this is just the beginning. I suspect he has killed quite a few other women."
Wright's Criminal History and Investigations
Steve Wright, 67, a former forklift driver and QE2 cruise ship waiter, abducted Victoria Hall from Felixstowe as she walked home from a nightclub on September 19, 1999, and dumped her body in a ditch. He evaded capture for seven years until his 2006 rampage in Ipswich's red-light district, where he murdered five sex workers over six weeks: Gemma Adams, 25; Tania Nicol, 19; Anneli Alderton, 24; Paula Clennell, 24; and Annette Nicholls, 29.
Since his 2008 sentencing, questions have persisted about other unsolved cases. Police have previously stated they have been unable to link Wright, who lived in nearby Ipswich, to Kellie Pratt's disappearance. However, Wright has been linked to high-profile cases in the past, including the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh, with whom he worked on the QE2 in the early 1980s.
Other Cold Cases Under Scrutiny
With Wright's recent admission, attention has turned to several cold cases. In addition to Kellie Pratt and Mandy Duncan, these include:
- Suzy Lamplugh: The 25-year-old estate agent vanished in 1986 after meeting a client in Fulham. Her body has never been found, though police suspect another individual.
- Jeanette Kempton: Last seen alive on February 2, 1989, in Brixton, her body was found in a Suffolk field 16 days later. A former police officer linked Wright to her murder in 2019, noting he lived nearby at the time.
As the trial continues, families of missing persons await answers, hoping for closure in cases that have remained unresolved for decades.
