Disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh

Susannah "Suzy" Lamplugh (Template:PronEng, "Lamploo") (born 1961) was a British estate agent reported missing on 28 July 1986 (aged 25) in Fulham, South West London. She was officially declared to be dead, presumed murdered, in 1994.^[1] The last clue to her whereabouts was an appointment to show a house in Shorrolds Road to someone she referred to as "Mr. Kipper".

Lamplugh was an estate agent, reported missing after going to an appointment with someone calling himself "Mr. Kipper" in order to show him a house in Fulham.^[2] Her office diary recorded the essential details of the appointment: '12.45 Mr. Kipper - 37 Shorrolds Road O/S', with the 'O/S' annotation meaning outside the property. Witnesses reported seeing Lamplugh arguing with a man in Shorrolds Road and then getting into a car.

Her white Ford Fiesta was found that night outside a property for sale in Stevenage Road, Fulham, approximately one and a half miles away.^[3] The ignition key was missing and Lamplugh's purse was found in a door storage pocket. Police suggested that a black BMW car might have been involved due to an eye witness account of a car at the same location as Lamplugh's car in Stevenage Road. It was thought for some time after her disappearance that "Kipper" was her pronunciation of the Dutch name "Kuiper", but despite police investigations, nobody of this name was found to be connected to Lamplugh.

Lamplugh was officially declared dead in 1994.^[4]

Further police investigations in 1998 and 2000 failed to uncover any trace of her.^[5]

There has been speculation that convicted rapist and killer John Cannan could have killed Lamplugh, as he was released from a hostel only days before she went missing.^[6] Also, it has been claimed that Cannan's nickname in prison was 'Kipper'. However, despite investigations there is no hard evidence. Cannan has denied any involvement.^[7]

In 2000 a former girlfriend of John Cannan's, Gilly Paige, told police that he had suggested Lamplugh's body was buried at Norton Barracks, a former RAF barracks in Worcestershire.^[8] One of Cannan's fellow prisoners told police that Cannan had buried Suzy under the patio of his mother's house in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands.^[9]

There was a similar case in 2006 involving a 48-year-old female estate agent in Wiltshire who met a client called Mr. Herring. She was attacked with a sharp object which caused her to have cuts to her arm and she was pushed to the ground, but she managed to release herself and Mr Herring ran away. Police have said there is no connection between this case and the disappearance of Lamplugh.^[10]

Michael Sams kidnapped Stephanie Slater in 1992.^[11] She was an estate agent working in Birmingham. Slater's employers paid a ransom and she was released. He was later found guilty of her kidnap; and of murdering 18-year-old Leeds prostitute Julie Dart.^[12] Sentenced to life imprisonment, he is still behind bars as of 2008, and is currently being held at Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire.

Lamplugh had been working as a beautician on the ocean liner QE2 in 1982. Steve Wright, who was convicted in February 2008 of the murder of five prostitutes in Ipswich, worked as a steward on the QE2 at the same time.^[13] Police are investigating whether Wright was connected to Lamplugh's disappearance.^[14]

• The Suzy Lamplugh Trust An organisation created by Diana Lamplugh - Suzy's mother - to promote personal safety.
• The search for Lamplugh from the BBC.
• BBC On this Day BBC page on 30 July 1986, the day the appeal was made by Suzy's parents for her safe return.
• Witness describes 'Lamplugh kidnap' from the BBC.