U.K. Serial Killer 'Suffolk Strangler' Pleads Guilty to 1999 Teen Murder
In a significant development in a decades-old case, British serial killer Steve Wright, infamously known as the "Suffolk Strangler," has pleaded guilty to the murder of a teenager more than two decades ago. The admission came during a court hearing on Monday, marking the first time Wright has confessed to any killings, according to reports from Sky News.
Details of the 1999 Murder Case
Wright admitted to kidnapping and killing 17-year-old Victoria Hall in Suffolk, England, in 1999. Hall disappeared after visiting the Bandbox nightclub in Felixstowe on the evening of September 18, 1999. She was last seen alive leaving the club in the early hours of September 19.
Her body was discovered five days later in a ditch near the village of Creeting St. Peter, approximately 40 kilometres from the nightclub. In addition to Hall's murder, Wright also pleaded guilty to the attempted abduction of 22-year-old Emily Doherty, which occurred just one day prior to Hall's death.
Background of the 'Suffolk Strangler'
Steve Wright earned his chilling nickname following a murder spree in and around Ipswich, Suffolk, in 2006. According to BBC News, he was convicted in February 2008 for the murders of five women: Gemma Adams (25), Tania Nicol (19), Anneli Alderton (24), Paula Clennell (24), and Annette Nicholls (29).
All five victims worked as prostitutes in Ipswich's red light district and were murdered between December 2 and 12, 2006. Wright, who worked as a forklift driver at the time, killed the women by suffocation or strangulation. He is currently serving a life sentence for these crimes.
Justice After 26 Years
The guilty plea came as Wright was scheduled to stand trial for Hall's kidnapping and murder. By changing his plea to guilty, he spared Hall's family the ordeal of a trial. In a statement, Suffolk Police Assistant Chief Constable Alice Scott expressed relief that justice had finally been served after more than 26 years.
"Victoria's family have waited over 26 years for this day and I am so very pleased that we have been able to deliver justice for Victoria," Scott said, per Sky News. She acknowledged that while the conviction brings closure, the family will continue to live with the trauma of losing Victoria under such horrific circumstances.
Wright is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, adding another chapter to his life behind bars for his heinous crimes.
