lovers’ lane Mystery
On 10 March 1970, clerk Susan Long, 18, went dancing with her boyfriend at The Gala Ballroom in Norwich.
Afterwards, she caught the last bus home, got off at Aylsham Market Place, and began the seven-minute walk to her parents’ place. She never arrived. At 5.15am the next morning, Susan’s body was found 1½ miles from the bus stop. She’d been sexually assaulted, strangled and left in a pool of rainwater in a lovers’ lane.
Scotland Yard detectives believed she was driven to where her body was discovered, but didn’t know if she’d been abducted or gone voluntarily.
Semen was found at the scene, and Forensics established that the murderer had a rare blood type. Blood samples were taken from local men, but no match was ever found.
There was renewed hope in 2010 – the 40th anniversary of Susan’s murder – that new DNA technology could help finally solve the mystery, but the case remains open.