Suffolk Strangler, 66, charged with kidnap & murder of Victoria Hall – 24 years after teen, 17, discovered dead in ditch
THE Suffolk Strangler has been charged with murdering Victoria Hall – 24 years after the teen was discovered dead in a ditch.
The 17-year-old was last seen on September 19, 1999, after a night out with pals at a nightclub in Felixstowe, Suffolk.
Tragically, Victoria never returned home with her body discovered five days later in a water-filled ditch 25 miles away near Stowmarket.
Suffolk Police have today charged Steve Wright with kidnap and murder.
The 66-year-old – known as the Suffolk Strangler – has also been charged with one count of attempted kidnap in connection with a separate incident involving a 22-year-old woman.
Police said this took place the night before Victoria’s disappearance.
The alleged victim reported that a man approached and followed her in Felixstowe.
Wright has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on June 3.
Victoria was walking home from the Bandbox nightclub with best friend Gemma Algar in the early hours of the morning when she vanished.
The pair had stopped at a takeaway before saying goodbye at 2.30am just 300 yards from Victoria’s home.
Gemma later heard screams but believed someone was messing around.
Her parents woke up the next morning and realised Victoria had not come home – and alerted the police.
Tragically Victoria’s body was discovered on September 24.
Suffolk Police reopened its investigation in 2019 after receiving fresh witness information, which it would not expand upon.
Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in the East of England, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Suffolk Police to charge Steve Wright, 66, with the kidnap and murder of Victoria Hall and the attempted kidnapping of another woman in September 1999.
“He will appear at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on 3 June.
“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”