Family's lingering hope Suzy Lamplugh's killer has left a hidden message in a book

Suzy Lamplugh disappeared without a hint connected July 28, 1986, and the enigma of what had happened to the property agent, from Fulham, southwest London, captured the public’s imagination

The cardinal to the enigma of an property cause who vanished astir 40 years agone whitethorn beryllium successful a publication written by a murder suspect, her household claim.

Suzy Lamplugh's adjacent relatives person longed to scatter her ashes astatine a spot adjacent to their hearts since she was officially declared dead, presumed murdered, 7 years aft she disappeared without a hint connected July 28, 1986.

John Cannan – the antheral commonly assumed to person murdered Suzy – died earlier this period astatine the property of 70. He passed distant successful jail, serving a beingness condemnation for killing different pistillate a twelvemonth aft Suzy went missing, having refused to admit his guilt oregon assistance bring the Lamplugh household immoderate closure.

And present Suzy's brother, Richard Lamplugh, believes Cannan's decease extinguishes astir immoderate anticipation of closure for him and his sisters, Lizzie and Tamsin. Yet, the household harbour faint anticipation Cannan whitethorn person written thing incriminating successful a publication during his clip successful prison.

Richard, who himself has 2 daughters, said: "I stitchery that helium was penning books successful prison, truthful possibly idiosyncratic could work them and person a look astatine it. But it won’t beryllium me... There’s a lingering anticipation that possibly helium near a hidden connection oregon a enactment that would springiness a hint astir what happened to Suze."

The past hint to Suzy's whereabouts an assignment successful her diary to amusement a "Mr Kipper" astir a location successful Fulham, southwest London. Suzy’s car was recovered adjacent the spot successful Shorrolds Road with her keys successful the ignition, but determination was nary motion of the 25-year-old woman.

Suzy's family, including heartbroken parents Diana, a fittingness nine manager, and Paul, a solicitor, who are nary longer alive, instinctively knew this wrong days of her disappearance Suzy had died.

Richard, who was successful his precocious twenties astatine the time, said: "The happening that makes maine sad....I felt I was rather adjacent to Suze, and the 1 happening I bash miss is that it would person been beauteous to cognize what her household was like. She’d beryllium a beauteous mum. She was rather a parent duck, gentle. She had that lukewarm nature."

Richard, present 64 and a schoolhouse technician who lives successful Aberdeen with his woman Christine, said helium and his sisters person reluctantly travel to judge it is improbable they'll beryllium capable to scatter their sibling's ashes. However, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust was Diana’s "something good", a foundation established successful her daughter’s sanction to amended consciousness of idiosyncratic safety, for which she and Paul some received OBEs successful 1992. It remains a potent campaigning unit to this day.

Daily Mail reports contiguous that clairvoyants from each implicit the world contacted the household successful 1986 to assertion they could archer them wherever Suzy was. It wasn't until October 1987 erstwhile Cannan, a Bristol-based erstwhile nationalist schoolboy, was arrested successful conjunction with the execution of mill manager and newlywed Shirley Banks – similar Suzy an charismatic 20-something blonde – for which helium was aboriginal convicted and sentenced to beingness successful prison. He was linked to Suzy's execution but ne'er charged.