Convicted killer Steve Wright, also known as the Suffolk Strangler, has confessed to the murder of Victoria Hall, a 17-year-old who went missing over 25 years ago. Additionally, Wright admitted to attempting to kidnap Emily Doherty, then 22, in Felixstowe the day before.
In 2008, Wright, a former QE2 steward, received a rare whole life order for the brutal killings of five prostitutes in Ipswich. This elevated him to the status of one of the most infamous criminals in the country.
Despite overwhelming evidence against him, Wright, in a letter sent to Anthony Bond from prison shortly after his conviction, continued to assert his innocence. His lack of remorse and deceit towards the victims’ families is particularly chilling when revisited today.
The murders of five sex workers in Ipswich almost two decades ago shocked the nation. The bodies of Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell, and Annette Nicholls were discovered in isolated locations near Suffolk, all having been strangled or suffocated.
During the trial, prosecutors detailed how Wright methodically targeted and killed the women after stalking the streets near his residence in Ipswich. Forensic evidence, including DNA and fibers linked to Wright’s clothing, house, and car, connected him to the victims.
Following his imprisonment, Wright penned a letter from Long Lartin prison that drew anger from the victims’ families.
However, with Wright’s recent confession to Victoria Hall’s murder, his previous claims of innocence appear even more deceitful. Particularly poignant was a paragraph in his letter asserting his nonviolent nature and innocence.
In response to the letter, Brian Clennell, father of victim Paula, expressed disbelief at Wright’s denial in light of the substantial evidence against him, wishing for his eternal damnation.
Now that Wright has confessed to one murder, the families of the other victims hope he will also admit to their deaths, seeking closure after years of suffering.