John Cannan, the convicted killer and prime suspect in one of Britain’s most infamous unsolved cases, the disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, has died in prison at the age of 70. Cannan, who had been serving a life sentence for the rape and murder of newlywed Shirley Banks, passed away in HMP Full Sutton without ever disclosing crucial details that might have resolved the mystery of Lamplugh’s fate.
Cannan was jailed in 1989 with a minimum term of 35 years after being convicted of murdering Shirley Banks, whose body was discovered a year after she vanished in Bristol. In 2002, Scotland Yard named Cannan as the prime suspect in the 1986 disappearance of 25-year-old Lamplugh, who vanished after meeting a client known only as “Mr Kipper” to show a property in Fulham. Despite extensive investigations, Lamplugh’s body has never been found, and Cannan was never formally charged in connection with her case due to insufficient evidence.
Cannan’s death has brought an end to any hopes of closure for Lamplugh’s family, who had pleaded with him in recent years to disclose what he knew. In 2022, as he received end-of-life care due to cancer, Lamplugh’s brother, Richard, urged Cannan to reveal any details, saying, “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.”
The mysterious disappearance of Lamplugh, who was declared dead in 1993, remains one of the UK’s most notorious cold cases. The only clue was an entry in her diary on the day she disappeared, noting an appointment with “Mr Kipper” at a property on Shorrolds Road in Fulham. Cannan, who was released on license from a bail hostel just three days before Lamplugh’s disappearance, was known to have frequented South-West London bars and allegedly showed an interest in well-dressed women, characteristics that matched “Mr Kipper.”
Despite his consistent denials, Cannan’s past is littered with violent crimes. In addition to the murder of Banks, he had a history of attacks against women, including rape and attempted abductions. Police investigations connected him to a number of incidents, and his resemblance to the composite sketch of “Mr Kipper” only deepened suspicions.
In recent years, police conducted excavations at the former home of Cannan’s mother in Sutton Coldfield, but found no evidence to further the case. The Lamplugh family, particularly Suzy’s parents, Paul and Diana, spent much of their lives campaigning for answers and promoting personal safety through the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. Both parents passed away without seeing justice served.
Cannan’s passing has prompted renewed calls to examine cold cases and apply modern forensic techniques to unresolved mysteries. While the case of Suzy Lamplugh remains unsolved, the legacy of her family’s dedication to public safety lives on through their trust, serving as a reminder of the importance of personal safety in memory of their lost daughter.
