Hundreds of police to join serial killer manhunt
Friday, 15 Dec 2006 08:27
All five women went missing over the last few weeks
Nearly 300 police are set to join the police force in Suffolk in their hunt for a serial killer who has killed five prostitutes.
The bodies of five prostitutes have been found in the Ipswich area since December 2nd, two of which were discovered in woodlands near the village of Levington on Tuesday.
"We have 244 officers joining to assist us from nine police forces but that number is continuing to rise," said assistant chief constable Jacqui Cheer.
Today, police are expected to confirm the identity of the fifth body found, the second body recovered from the woodlands. It is thought that the body is that of 29-year-old Annette Nicholls.
Yesterday, police confirmed that one of those bodies was that of 24-year-old sex worker Paula Clennell, who had not been seen since about 12:20 GMT last Sunday morning on Handford Road, Ipswich.
Three other bodies have already been identified as missing prostitutes Anneli Alderton, 24; Gemma Adams, 25; and Tania Nicol, 19.
A post-mortem into Ms Clennell's death found that she had been killed by compression to the neck and police are treating it as murder.
Detective chief superintendent Stewart Gull, who is leading the investigation for Suffolk police, asked the public to help find the latest confirmed victim's killer.
"We want to hear from anyone who saw Paula after this time in the early hours of Sunday morning," he said.
"It is quite possible that Paula picked up a client or clients after this time, who could have crucial information. I would appeal to them to come forward as a matter or urgency.
"We would also like to hear from friends or associates of Paula who may have information."
Ms Clennell's body was found close to the Old Felixstowe Road near Levington, 150 yards from the location of the only remaining unidentified set of remains.
On the day she disappeared police say she was wearing a navy blue anorak with a horizontal light blue band across the chest and one sleeve, a grey hooded top, light-coloured jeans with a pattern on the pockets and Reebok classics trainers with a navy blue and light blue/grey flash.
All five bodies were naked, but police have so far only formally linked the murders of Ms Adams and Ms Nicol.