Suzy Lamplugh Disappearance: Detectives Reflect on Enduring Unsolved Case 40 Years On

The ongoing inquiry into the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh in July 1986 is expected to conclude in July 2025. Metropolitan Police detectives, who have managed the high-profile missing person case for decades, describe it as a significant and enduring challenge.

Ms Lamplugh, then 25, was last seen meeting a client named 'Mr Kipper' for a property viewing in Fulham, West London. Her Ford Fiesta was later discovered, unlocked, a mile from the property, with her purse still inside. Despite extensive investigations, her body has never been found, and no one has been formally charged in connection with her disappearance.

John Cannan, a convicted murderer, was named as the prime suspect in 2002. He denied any involvement. Police previously stated that the file on Ms Lamplugh's case, which shifted from a missing person inquiry to a murder investigation in 1994, would only be closed if a definitive resolution, such as the discovery of her remains, occurred. The upcoming closure signals a shift in approach for the Special Casework Team.