The disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh

Every year, people vanish for numerous reasons. It could be to escape a dreadful home life or for sinister reasons. For instance, it’s estimated that 600,000 Americans vanish annually. Meanwhile, in England, about 180,000 people vanish every year.

So what happens after family members report a missing loved one? Unfortunately, there isn’t much they can do but wait on authorities for answers. Of course, they can launch their own search efforts, but most people wouldn’t even know where or how to start an investigation.

The family of an attractive realtor named Suzy Lamplugh, 25, tragically endured this experience. Suzy lived in England and worked out of an office in Fulham. According to her appointment book, she had an appointment to show a home on July 28, 1986, to a man named Mr. Kipper. After leaving her office, no one has ever seen her alive again.

Diana Lamplugh became worried when her daughter didn’t return home that evening. She contacted her son Richard to inform him about his sister. Richard wasn’t immediately alarmed. This changed after his sister’s car was located.

It was unlocked and contained Suzy’s purse. Richard knew his sister wouldn’t leave her car and purse behind. The family quickly realized something had happened to her.

Suzy Lamplugh vanished

Authorities led a full-scale search for the missing woman. English authorities spoke to a witness who saw a woman matching Suzy’s description. The witness saw Suzy with an unknown dark-haired man wearing a suit. Another witness reported Suzy arguing with a dark-haired man in front of a black BMW. Unfortunately, the witness statements never led to anything substantial.

This changed in October 1987, after another woman vanished. Shirley Banks, 29, was a sales manager who left work to meet her husband for a drink. She never arrived to meet with her husband. Authorities eventually charged and convicted a career criminal named John Cannan for killing Shirley. Cannan had a history of crimes against women.

Authorities then began looking at Cannan as Suzy Lamplugh’s killer. Cannan had dark hair, drove a black BMW and had an unusual nickname. While previously incarcerated, other inmates referred to Cannan as “Kipper” because he ate fish for breakfast. A Kipper is a herring that has been split in half. The coincidences were too great to ignore him as a suspect.

Cannan denied being involved in Suzy’s disappearance. Although authorities don’t believe him, they cannot link him to Suzy. Today, her case remains unsolved.

After Cannan went to prison, he received a visit from his sister. She pleaded with him to reveal what he did with Suzy’s body. Cannan refused his sister’s request. Cannan’s brother has said he doesn’t expect his brother to reveal the truth about Suzy and will take his secrets to his grave.

It was later learned that a lorry driver witnessed a man with dark hair pushing a large bag on wheels. The unknown man then threw the bag into the Grand Union Canal in Brentford, West London. The witness reported this to the police immediately.

Unfortunately, they never fully investigated the claim. Did he witness the killer disposing of Suzy’s remains? After seeing a photograph of Cannan, he identified him as the man he saw at the Grand Union Canal. Those who knew the witness said the incident haunted him until his death.

Unfortunately, Diana and Phil Lamplugh have also since passed away without ever learning the fate of their beloved daughter. Today, Suzy’s siblings still wait for justice. They believe John Cannan murdered their sister. Richard Lamplugh has said he only wants to recover his sister’s remains so she can receive a proper burial.