Detectives investigating the murder of sex worker in 1993 arrest a suspect 30 years after her body was dumped beside canal
- Carol Clark was found strangled near Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in 1993
- Police arrested a 66-year-old man from Gloucestershire on suspicion of murder
Detectives investigating the murder of a sex worker in Gloucestershire in 1993 have arrested a suspect – 30 years after her body was found beside a canal.
Carol Clark, 32, was found strangled alongside the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in Bristol in March 1993.
Gloucestershire Police launched a large-scale murder investigation after Ms Clark’s body was found, but despite interviewing more than 3,500 people the case has never been solved.
Last month on the 30th anniversary of the discovery of Carol’s body on March 28, officers working as part of the South West Major Crime Investigation team announced it was reopening the investigation after receiving ‘new and significant’ information.
The force said today: ‘A 66-year-old man from Gloucestershire was arrested today, Tuesday 4 April, on suspicion of the murder of Carol Clark.
Police have arrested a 66-year-old man in connection with Carol Clark’s murder in 1993. Carol (pictured) was strangled and found dumped by a canal
Her body was found strangled alongside the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in Bristol (pictured) in March 1993. Her neck had been broken in the fatal attack
‘He remains in police custody for questioning. Carol was 32 when she was strangled, her neck broken and her body dumped in reeds and undergrowth at the side of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal.’
Ms Clark was last seen getting into a car in the Montpelier area of Bristol, where she lived, at about 11.30pm in March 1993. She was wearing a black baseball cap, brown leather jacket, blue denim mini skirt, black polo necked jumper and plain blue t-shirt at the time.
A dog walker discovered her body in reeds and undergrowth close to the water at Sharpness Docks on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal two days later. She had been strangled and her neck was broken.
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Usher of Gloucestershire Police said: ‘We are determined to get answers and justice for Carol’s family, and this arrest is a positive development in our ongoing investigation.
‘There is a dedicated team of staff working on this case, and while progress is being made, I’m still asking people to come forward if they feel they may have information which could assist us.
‘The location where Carol was found was overlooked by the Severn Way, and on the weekend she was discovered it was the 200th anniversary celebrations of the British Waterways, so it would have been very busy, with foreign-registered vessels in the dock.
‘Maybe you were there at the time but travelled back home without hearing about the case until now. Whatever the reason, if you were there and now recall something please report it.
‘My thoughts remain with Carol’s family, who have been updated by police family liaison officers on these latest developments.
Ms Clark (pictured) was last seen getting into a car in the Montpelier area of Bristol, where she lived, at about 11.30pm on Friday, March 26, 1993
‘They have asked that their privacy is respected and that they are not approached by media at this time.’
Anyone with information should call police on 101 and quote incident 264 of 27 March 2023 – or report online. Alternatively, you can give information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
DailyMail
