Suzy Lamplugh search latest: Police find no evidence in dig at former garden of prime suspect's mother

Suzy Lamplugh went missing in 1986 and was declared dead in 1994
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Police investigating the 1986 disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh have found no evidence after a search at the former garden of the prime suspect's mother.

Detectives had been excavating the back garden of a house once owned by the mother of the key suspect and convicted killer John Cannan.

But on Monday, Scotland Yard, which has been leading the investigation, said the search had been concluded and no evidence had been recovered.

Ms Lamplugh's family have been informed.

Prime suspect John Cannan
PA

Cannan, who is currently serving a lift sentence for abducting and murdering newlywed Shirley Banks in 1987, denies any involvement in Lamplugh's death and recently penned a letter from prison complaining about the "assasination" of his character.

Estate agent Suzy Lamplugh went missing in 1986, police digging at the house in Sutton Coldfield
Getty Images

Met Police officers said they had concluded the two-week search at the property in Sutton Coldfield which once belonged to the mother of convicted killer Cannan. The force had used an archaeologist to help with the dig.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Wood, who leads the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said the 1986 murder case “remains open” and that the force “remains committed to bringing Suzy’s killer to justice”.

He said: “This has been a landmark case for the Met, both in terms of its scale and complexity, and because of the huge sense of tragedy of a young woman’s life being cut short and the uncertainty around what happened to Suzy.

“A total of 32 years have passed since Suzy’s disappearance; years that have undoubtedly been hugely painful for her family and loved ones, and our thoughts remain with them at this time.

“This latest line of enquiry must have been traumatic for them, as well as bringing them some hope that they might find out more about what happened to Suzy, but they have always been supportive of our efforts to make progress in the investigation.”

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