Police Launch Fresh Appeal in 33-Year-Old Murder Case of Carol Clark
This weekend marks the 33rd anniversary of the discovery of Carol Clark's body, prompting detectives to issue a renewed appeal for information in the unsolved murder case. The partially clothed body of the 32-year-old sex worker was found by a dog walker in reeds and undergrowth at the side of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal on 28 March 1993.
Details of the Crime and Investigation
Carol Clark, who lived in Bristol, had been strangled and her neck was broken. She was last seen getting into a Volvo car in the Montpelier area of Bristol at approximately 11:30 PM on 26 March 1993. At the time, she was wearing distinctive clothing: a black baseball cap, brown leather jacket, blue denim mini skirt, black polo-neck jumper, and a plain blue T-shirt.
Hours before her disappearance, she left a note for her boyfriend stating she was going out to find work and planned to return by 2:30 AM, but she never came home. When her body was discovered two days later near Sharpness Docks, she was wearing only her underwear and boots; the rest of her clothes have never been recovered.
Ongoing Police Efforts and Suspects
Gloucestershire Police launched a large-scale murder investigation, with extensive enquiries and case reviews conducted over the years. The case was reopened three years ago after a witness reported seeing a woman matching Clark's description walking along the Berkeley bypass with two men. Since then, three men have been arrested on suspicion of her murder: a 69-year-old from Gloucestershire, a 48-year-old from Lincolnshire, and a 66-year-old from Newcastle. The man from Newcastle has been ruled out of the inquiry, but the other two remain under investigation.
Appeal for Public Assistance
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Usher, leading the investigation, stated: "We strongly suspect Carol was alive all of Saturday 27 March 1993 and she was potentially with two men. We also suspect Carol's body was left at Sharpness Docks in daylight hours during celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the British Waterways, when many people were around."
He emphasized the distinctive clothing Clark was wearing and urged anyone who saw her that Saturday or noticed suspicious behavior to come forward. "You could have the final piece of the jigsaw which helps us catch those responsible for her death," he added, noting the commitment to securing justice for Clark and her family on this 33rd anniversary.
