36-year mystery of missing estate agent
the prime suspect
John Cannan got life in 1989 for murdering Bristol newlywed Shirley Banks, 29, below, in 1987.
Before that he was convicted of raping a mum in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, and was suspected of a string of other sex attacks.
A few days before Suzy vanished, Cannan checked out of a bail hostel in White City, West London, having served five years of an eight-year rape sentence.
In 2020, it was revealed a witness had come forward to say he believed he saw Cannan dumping a large wheeled trunk into the Grand Union Canal in Brentford, West London, three days after Suzy disappeared. The Metropolitan Police said the stretch of water was searched during the investigation into the murder of 14-year-old schoolgirl Alice Gross in 2014.
In 2010, police searched a spot at the former Norton Barracks, Worcs, where Cannan’s former girlfriend, ice-skater Gilly Paige, said he may have buried Suzy’s body.
In 2018, the home of Cannan’s mother Sheila, in Sutton Coldfield, West Mids, was searched by expert officers.
who was ‘mr kipper’
Estate agent Suzy vanished in the middle of a working Monday after apparently going to show a client around a house a few minutes’ walk from her office in Fulham.
A note scribbled in her appointments diary read: “12.45 Mr Kipper, 37 Shorrolds Rd o/s (outside) “.
It could not be established when the arrangement to meet the mystery man was made or whether he had come into the office or telephoned.
Suzy left her office after 12.40pm and a woman fitting her description was seen at the Shorrolds Road house.
Police officers say Cannan had a strong resemblance to an e-fit of “Mr Kipper” and he had reportedly been given that nickname while behind bars for a rape before Suzy went missing.
witnesses
At 12.50pm, a woman thought to have been Suzy was seen swinging keys in her hand while standing alone by the gate of the Shorrolds Road house.
A neighbour said she seemed happy when she was met by a well-dressed man aged between 25 and 30.
He had swept-back dark hair and was carrying a bottle of champagne with a red, white and blue ribbon tied to the neck.
The witness said the pair walked away happily together. At 2.45pm, an old friend of Suzy was cycling down Fulham Palace Road when she says she saw Suzy driving with “Mr Kipper”, looking “serious but not distressed”.
Suzy’s company car, a white Ford Fiesta hatchback, was found by police at 10.01pm on the day she vanished.
It was parked in Stevenage Road, around a mile from Shorrolds Road. The handbrake was off and Suzy’s purse was still in the door pocket.
A car identical to Suzy’s was seen at the same location at 12.45pm, five minutes before she was seen at Shorrolds Road.
The seat was not in its usual position but pushed further back, suggesting Suzy had not been the last person to drive it. Police officers later carried out a reconstruction of the house viewing.
other suspects
In 1994, claims by one-legged killer Michael Sams, left, who was serving life for murder and kidnap, that he killed Suzy were dismissed by her family as a “sick hoax”.
Suzy had worked as a beautician on board ocean liner the QE2 at the same time as the Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright, right.
Met detectives investigated whether Wright was connected with Ms Lamplugh’s disappearance but officers found no evidence that he had been involved.