Twenty years after the string of murders that shook Ipswich, new questions have emerged about the full extent of the crimes attributed to the Suffolk Strangler. Between October 30 and December 12, 2006, five women were murdered in the town, acts for which forklift truck driver Steve Wright was convicted and sentenced to a whole-life term in 2008. Earlier this year, Wright also admitted to the murder of a 17-year-old girl in 1999.
Despite Wright’s conviction, author Karen Bryans suggests the possibility that his known victims may represent only a portion of his crimes. Bryans highlights that Wright was already in his forties when the murders began, an uncommon age for serial killers to start, raising concerns that others may have fallen victim to him in previous years. “Middle-aged men do not wake up one morning and decide to become serial murderers,” she said, prompting the question of what other unsolved cases might be connected to Wright.
Bryans’ investigation involved a thorough review of evidence and interviews, including discussions with Wright’s family members, which revealed his long-term struggles with gambling addiction and frequent use of sex workers. These personal details, she argues, may provide insight into his motivations and behavioral patterns.
Among the potential additional victims Bryans identifies is Suzy Lamplugh, a 25-year-old estate agent who disappeared in 1986 in London and was never found. Wright worked as a waiter on the same cruise ship as Lamplugh, but police found no direct link during their inquiries. Another case cited is that of Jeanette Kempton, a mother of two found strangled in Suffolk in 1989, after going missing in Brixton, south London. Wright was employed at a pub near the location where she vanished around that time.
Additionally, Bryans points to missing and murdered women from the Ipswich and Norwich areas in the 1990s and early 2000s, including Amanda Duncan, Natalie Pearman, Kellie Pratt, and Michelle Bettles, all of whom had connections to sex work and whose cases remain unresolved.
Wright’s troubled background—marked by a fractured family life, financial instability driven by gambling debts, and his use of sex workers—forms a significant part of Bryans’ assessment in her book, *The Suffolk Strangler*. She explores the possible psychological factors underpinning his crimes, noting his fetish for cross-dressing and his patterns of seeking control in relationships with women.
The known victims of Wright’s 2006 murders were largely women engaged in sex work, many struggling with drug addiction. Their deaths led to widespread fear in the Ipswich community, with women wary of going out alone and sex workers arming themselves for protection. Wright’s apprehension was aided by DNA evidence on the victims, CCTV footage of his vehicle, and fibers linking him to one of the crime scenes.
Currently incarcerated at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire, Wright has never provided an explanation for his actions. Bryans’ book not only examines his confirmed offenses but also calls for renewed attention to the unresolved cases that may be connected to him.
As families and communities continue to mourn the victims, Bryans emphasizes ongoing concerns about safety and justice. “Are women any safer? Is another predator waiting for his own bid at true crime notoriety?” she asks, underscoring the enduring impact of the Suffolk Strangler’s crimes.