Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Usher, leading the investigation into the murder of Carol Clark, remains convinced that someone holds critical information that could finally bring justice in this decades-old cold case.
Carol Clark’s partially clothed body was found on March 28, 1993, in reeds and undergrowth along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal near Sharpness Docks. Her death shocked the community and left many questions unanswered. This year marks the 33rd anniversary of that grim discovery.
DCI Usher emphasized that Carol’s body was likely placed at the canal during daylight, a time when numerous people could have witnessed suspicious activity. “We strongly suspect Carol was alive on Saturday, March 27, 1993 — the day after she was last seen — and potentially accompanied by two men,” he revealed.
READ MORE: South Gloucestershire Drugs Laboratory Raided, Six Arrested
READ MORE: Slater Cup: Gloucester vs Leicester Tigers – A Battle Beyond Rugby
Carol, a 32-year-old sex worker, was last seen on Friday, March 26, 1993, around 11:30 pm, entering a Volvo car on Picton Street in Bristol’s Montpellier area. Hours earlier, she had left a note for her boyfriend indicating she intended to return home by 2:30 am, which she never did.
At the time of her disappearance, Carol was wearing a distinctive outfit: a black baseball cap, brown leather jacket, blue denim mini skirt, black polo neck jumper over a plain blue t-shirt, and cowboy boots. When her body was found two days later, she was wearing only underwear and boots; the rest of her clothing remains missing.
The investigation revealed that Carol had been strangled, and her neck was broken, confirming a violent end. Over the years, authorities have reopened the case multiple times, re-examining evidence and interviewing witnesses. Significant new information emerged three years ago, prompting Gloucestershire’s Major Crime Investigation Team to revive the inquiry.
A witness reported seeing a woman matching Carol’s description walking along Berkeley Bypass with two men, leading to multiple arrests. Three men have been detained on suspicion of the murder: a 69-year-old from Gloucestershire, a 48-year-old from Lincolnshire, and a 66-year-old from Newcastle. The Newcastle suspect has since been eliminated from the investigation, but the other two remain persons of interest.
DCI Usher urged the public to come forward with any information. “We believe someone out there knows what happened to Carol,” he said. “With this anniversary, we appeal again to anyone who saw Carol on that Saturday or noticed suspicious behavior. Your information could be the final piece that helps us bring those responsible to justice.”
The detective also reassured that the investigation team stays in close contact with Carol’s family, providing updates on any meaningful progress.
As the community remembers Carol Clark more than three decades later, the call for answers and closure remains as urgent as ever.