THE PRIME suspect of the murder of Suzy Lamplugh has died in jail aged 70.

John Cannan was jailed for a minimum of 35 years in 1989 for the rape and murder of Shirley Banks in 1989. 

He has also been the only suspect in the disappearance of Ms Lamplugh but has denied any involvement with the crime despite being repeated questioned by law enforcement.

Several sites in Worcestershire have been searched by police in an attempt to find a body.

In December 2000, Norton Barracks was dug up by police, before new information led the authorities back to the barracks in February 2001.

VICTIM: Suzy Lamplugh went missing in 1986 age 25.VICTIM: Suzy Lamplugh went missing in 1986 age 25. (Image: SWNS)

A decade later, police searched a field off the B4084 between Pershore and Drakes Broughton in August 2010.

Estate agent Ms Lamplugh was last seen on July 28, 1986 when she went to meet a client known only as Mr Kipper, for an appointment in Fulham, West London.

Ms Lamplugh took keys and a purse to the appointment, but left her handbag in the office when she left at 12.40pm.

DIG: Police digging for the remains of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh in a field in Worcestershire.DIG: Police digging for the remains of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh in a field in Worcestershire. (Image: SWNS)

Witnesses reported seeing her arguing with a man outside a property in Shorrolds Road, Fulham at around 1pm, which was the last time she was seen alive.

After she failed to attend her next appointment, her manager reported her missing to authorities.

POLICE: Police digging for the remains of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh in a field in Worcestershire. July 3, 2019. See SWNS story SWMDsuzy. Officers were seen digging in a field just off the B4084 just outside Drakes Broughton, Worcs., in the hope of finding the remains of Suzy who went missing in 1986 aged 25. POLICE: Police digging for the remains of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh in a field in Worcestershire. July 3, 2019.

Her white Ford Fiesta was later found parked on Stevenage Road, about a mile from her appointment in Fulham, with the doors unlocked and the keys missing.

In 1994, Ms Lamplugh was declared dead, presumed murdered.


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Cannan's mother's former home in Sutton Coldfield and a brickworks in London were also searched by the police, but Ms Lamplugh's  body has never been found.

Her brother, Richard, previously said: "I would like Cannan, if he does know, to tell us what happened to Suze.

"After all these years, I would like him to finally let us know what happened."

Cannan was denied parole in October 2023, when the board found him too dangerous to release.

Cannan remained a category A prisoner, the highest risk category, until his death.