With a population of 761,350, Suffolk ranks as the 32nd most populous county in England. It may not be one of the largest counties, but it has a haunting statistic: at least 14 unsolved murders spanning more than six decades. While Suffolk Police currently highlight 10 of these cases on their website, four more were uncovered through independent research. This article aims to document these tragic cases in detail and provide factual summaries—not speculation—about the victims and circumstances.
Unsolved Cases Listed by Suffolk Police
1. Linda Smith (1961)
Linda, 12, from Earls Colne, Essex, was last seen chatting with a cobbler on her village’s main street. Four days later, her body was found in rural Suffolk. She had been strangled with her own scarf. Despite a joint investigation between three police forces and dozens of interviews, no one has ever been charged.
2. Bernard Oliver (1967)
Seventeen-year-old Bernard vanished from his Muswell Hill home. His mutilated body was found inside two suitcases near Tattingstone, Ipswich. He had been sexually assaulted and dismembered. Multiple high-profile suspects were questioned, including the Kray twins and record producer Joe Meek. Still, the case remains open.
3. Dora Pratt (1982)
A 76-year-old shopkeeper in Ipswich was violently assaulted during a robbery. She was hit three times in the head and later died from her injuries. Thousands were interviewed, but the case went cold despite considerable press coverage.
4. Diane Jones (1983)
Diane disappeared after a night out with her husband in Coggeshall, Essex. Three months later, her body was discovered in woods near Martlesham, Suffolk. Her skull had been fractured. Though her husband was arrested twice, no charges were filed.
5. Edna Harvey (1984)
Edna, aged 87, was murdered in a suspected burglary at her Ipswich home. Her attacker set her bed alight after assaulting her. Neighbours raised the alarm when they saw smoke. The crime scene suggested a panicked, botched break-in.
6. Jeanette Kempton (1989)
Jeanette, 32, from Brixton, vanished after leaving The Loughborough Hotel pub. Two weeks later, her body was found 100 miles away near Wangford. She had been strangled. Her handbag, jewellery, and one shoe were missing. Despite five suspects, the case remains unsolved.
7. Doris Shelley (1993)
A failed robbery led to Doris, 82, being bludgeoned in her own home. A neighbour, concerned when Doris didn’t answer the door, found her barely conscious in the kitchen. She died ten days later. No suspects were ever charged.
8. Karen Hales (1993)
Karen, aged 21, was brutally murdered at her Ipswich home. She was stabbed, and her attacker attempted to burn her body. Some of her belongings were stolen. Two people were arrested, but released without charge.
9. Vicky Hall (1999)
Vicky, just 17, went missing while walking home in Trimley St Mary after a night out. Her body was found five days later in a stream 25 miles away. A man was tried but acquitted in 2001. In 2021, convicted serial killer Steve Wright was questioned and released.
10. Richard Clarke (2009)
Clarke, a retired thatcher, was last seen injured outside his home in Bury St Edmunds. The next day, he was found collapsed in the same spot and later died. A forensic pathologist said he had been punched and dragged. No arrests have been made.
Additional Cases Not Listed by Police
11. Perry Wenham (1992)
Wenham was found stabbed in a churchyard in Sudbury. Two men were seen near the scene but the case against them collapsed. One admitted seeing an attack but denied involvement. The case remains officially open.
12. Amanda Duncan (1993)
Amanda, 26, disappeared while working as a sex worker in Ipswich. Though her body was never found, police treat the case as a murder. She was last seen near Portman Road. Steve Wright, later convicted of five other murders in Ipswich, has been linked to the case, though not formally charged.
13. Jimoh Plunkett (2006)
Jimoh was shot in the chest at Zest nightclub in Ipswich. Despite the venue being full, no one has been convicted. One suspect, Errol Davis, was later killed in another unsolved shooting in London.
14. Sudbury Bones Victim (2020)
Human remains—dismembered and dumped in bin bags—were found in the River Stour. The victim was a physically fit male, likely aged between 30 and 50. The case is still active, with the victim yet to be identified.
Final Thoughts
Fourteen lives taken, and no justice yet served. These cold cases represent families still waiting for answers and communities left unsettled. Though not all cases can be solved, public awareness, new technology, and community vigilance remain powerful tools. If you have any information—no matter how minor—consider contacting Crimestoppers or Suffolk Police.
Written: June 2021
Note: This article does not include updates after June 2021. If any developments have occurred since, they may not be reflected here.
