The father of a young mother feared to be another victim of Steve Wright expressed his anger at the killer’s smirk in court, calling it disrespectful. John Bettles, aged 70, condemned the serial killer for grinning during a victim impact statement. He and Michelle’s mother, Denise, have been searching for answers for 23 years since their daughter’s body was discovered in woodland near Norwich in 2002.
They are pleading with the Suffolk Strangler, who has already been convicted of murdering five women in Ipswich, to reveal information about Michelle if he is aware of her fate. John appealed to the killer to end their suffering by providing closure. Wright recently received an additional 40-year sentence for the murder of 17-year-old Victoria Hall in 1999, the first murder he has admitted to.
Family members of the victims, like John, were outraged by Wright’s demeanor during court proceedings. The families believe Wright may be linked to the deaths of other women in Norwich, including Michelle. Michelle, a 22-year-old mother of three, was last seen on CCTV in 2002 heading away from her home toward the city center before her body was found in a wooded area.
John criticized the police for quickly ruling out Wright as a suspect in Michelle’s case, believing a different approach could have led to his earlier capture. He emphasized the impact of losing Michelle on their lives and expressed hope that DNA evidence found in 2022 might provide new leads.
As a cold case team continues to investigate Michelle’s case, John remains hopeful that Wright’s recent confession could lead to further revelations. Police have not confirmed if they are considering Wright in connection to other unsolved cases, such as the disappearances of Kellie Pratt and Amanda Duncan. Suffolk Constabulary has been contacted for a statement.
