‘New and significant’ information has led to an investigation into the brutal murder of a Bristol woman being reopened three decades later.
Carol Clark 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.
Carol lived in Picton Street in the Montpelier area of Bristol and was last seen getting into a car there at around 11.30pm on Friday 26 March 1993.
Carol was wearing a black baseball cap, brown leather jacket, blue denim mini skirt, black polo necked jumper and plain blue t-shirt.
Two days later, on Sunday 28 March 1993, a dog walker found Carol’s body close to the water at Sharpness Docks and a large-scale murder investigation was launched.
Sadly, despite extensive enquiries and reviews of the case, the murderer has remained at large.
But now, Gloucestershire Constabulary officers working as part of the South West Major Crime Investigation Team, have received information that could unlock the case and, on the anniversary of the discovery of Carol’s body, are appealing for information that will help further.
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Usher said: “I have received new and significant information about this case and while I cannot say more at the moment without putting enquiries at risk, it is an encouraging development and one which has all my officers more determined than ever to find Carol’s murderer.
“But I still need the public’s help. Carol lived and worked in a very close-knit community and it’s likely that some people with information about what happened to her remained silent, perhaps through fear or misplaced loyalty.
“In the time that’s passed since, allegiances and loyalties will have changed though, so I’m asking those people to search their consciences once again, 30 years after her death, to look at her photo, to think about the impact this continues to have on her loved ones, and help bring the culprit to justice.
“And I still want information from anyone who may have seen something near the spot where Carol was found to come forward if they recall anything. The location was overlooked by the Severn Way and on the weekend Carol was found 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 remained so dignified and quietly determined through the most traumatic ordeal any family could experience.
“They have been updated about the developments by family liaison officers and request that they are not approached by media at this time.”
Carol’s family has released the following statement: “We are aware that the investigation into Carol’s death is being re-opened based on new evidence and that new enquiries are being pursued. We hope that this investigation will allow us some closure.
“We are being updated by police family liaison officers, and ask for our privacy to be respected at this time.”
Anyone with information should call 101 and quote incident 264 of 27 March 2023 – or report online: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/. Alternatively. you can give information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
