Serial Killer Admits Decades-Old Crime
Steve Wright, the notorious serial killer dubbed the 'Suffolk Strangler,' has dramatically pleaded guilty to the 1999 murder and kidnapping of 17-year-old Victoria Hall. The confession, made on February 2, 2026, at the Old Bailey in London, brings a resolution to a case that had remained unsolved for nearly 27 years.
Wright, aged 67, also admitted to the attempted kidnapping of another woman, Emily Doherty, then 22, the day before Victoria Hall's abduction. This marks the first time Wright has admitted to any killings, despite already serving a whole-life sentence for the murders of five women in Ipswich in 2006.
The Disappearance of Victoria Hall
Victoria Hall, an A-Level student from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk, disappeared on September 18, 1999, after a night out with a friend at the Bandbox nightclub in Felixstowe. She was last seen alive around 2:20 a.m. when she parted ways with her friend, Gemma Algar, just yards from her home.
Five days later, on September 24, 1999, Victoria's naked body was discovered in a ditch in Creeting St Peter, approximately 25 miles from where she was last seen. Post-mortem examinations indicated suffocation as the cause of death.
Breakthrough in a Cold Case
The case remained cold for over two decades, despite extensive police investigations. However, advances in DNA technology and new witness testimony led to a renewed investigation. Wright was initially arrested in connection with Hall's murder in July 2021 and formally charged in May 2024.
The prosecution had highlighted similarities between Victoria Hall's murder and the five murders for which Wright was previously convicted, noting that all six victims were asphyxiated and their bodies left in similar locations. The trial was anticipated to last four weeks, but Wright's unexpected guilty plea brought an abrupt end to proceedings.
Previous Convictions and Sentencing
Steve Wright was convicted in February 2008 for the murders of five women in Ipswich between October and December 2006. These victims were Tania Nicol, Gemma Adams, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell, and Annette Nicholls. He was sentenced to a whole-life order, meaning he will spend the rest of his life in prison. He is currently held at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire.
The guilty plea for Victoria Hall's murder provides long-awaited answers for her family, who had appealed for help to bring her killer to justice years ago. Sentencing for the murder of Victoria Hall and the attempted kidnapping of Emily Doherty is scheduled for February 6, 2026.
5 Comments
Bermudez
While it's good that Wright has finally admitted his guilt, the discussion around such cases often overlooks the broader preventative measures. We need to focus on why these individuals commit such horrific acts in the first place, beyond just punishment.
Habibi
It's a relief that advanced DNA technology finally brought justice in this cold case, demonstrating its vital role. However, it's disheartening to think how many other cases remain unsolved without such breakthroughs.
ZmeeLove
This admission of guilt is significant for the Hall family, even though Wright is already imprisoned for life. It doesn't change his sentence, but it formally acknowledges another devastating crime he committed.
Coccinella
Why now? Just trying to avoid more public scrutiny, I bet.
Bella Ciao
27 years? The system failed Victoria and her family for far too long.