Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Martin Fricker

Police re-open cold case of woman who was murdered and dumped in canal 30 years ago

Police have reopened the case of a woman murdered 30 years ago after new ­information came to light.

Carol Clarke was last seen getting into a car in March 1983.

Her body was discovered by a dog walker in reeds near a canal two days later.

The 32-year-old had been strangled and her neck was broken. Detectives launched a murder investigation but the killer has remained at large.

But Det Chief Insp Wayne Usher said officers have now received “new and significant­ information” that could unlock Carol’s mystery case.

He added: “While I cannot say more at the moment without putting inquiries at risk, it is an ­encouraging ­development.”

Mr Usher said the fresh lead had made detectives “more ­determined than ever to find Carol’s murderer”.

Sharpness Docks in Gloucestershire, where Carol's body was found (Gloucestershire Constabulary / S)

And he made a new appeal to the public for information about her disappearance from the Montpelier area of Bristol.

She was found at Sharpness Docks in Gloucestershire by the Severn Way.

Mr Usher added: “Carol lived and worked in a very close-knit community. It’s likely that some people with i­nformation about what happened to her remained silent, perhaps through fear or misplaced loyalty.

“In the time that’s passed since, allegiances and loyalties will have changed. I’m asking those people to search their consciences once again.

“I urge people to think about the impact this continues to have on her loved ones and help bring the culprit to justice”. Carol’s body was found on the 200th anniversary ­celebrations of British Waterways.

Mr Usher said: “It would have been very busy in the dock. Maybe you were there at the time but travelled back home without hearing about the case until now. If you were there and now recall something please report it.”

Carol's body was found dumped in reeds near a canal (Gloucestershire Constabulary / S)

In a ­statement released by police, Carol’s family said: “We hope that this i­nvestigation will allow us some closure.”

Mr Usher praised her ­relatives for remaining “so ­dignified and quietly determined through the most traumatic ordeal any family could ­experience”.

When Carol vanished she was wearing a black baseball cap, leather jacket, blue denim mini skirt, black polo necked jumper and blue T-shirt.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.