Father's Desperate Plea to Suffolk Strangler After 23 Years of Anguish
A heartbroken father has branded serial killer Steve Wright a "low life" for smirking in court as victim impact statements were read, calling the behaviour "an insult to his victims and the system." John Bettles, 70, has spent over two decades searching for answers about who killed his daughter Michelle, whose body was found in woodland near Norwich in 2002.
Decades of Uncertainty and a Courtroom Insult
John Bettles and Michelle's mother Denise, 67, have endured 23 years of desperate uncertainty since their 22-year-old daughter's body was discovered in Scarning village. Their anguish was compounded recently when Wright, already convicted of killing five women from Ipswich's red light area, was seen grinning at the Old Bailey during harrowing testimony about another victim.
"It's an insult," John told reporters. "It shows he's a low life — he should be put down like an animal." The courtroom incident occurred as Steven Hall gave emotional testimony about his sister Victoria, whose murder Wright recently admitted after 26 years of mystery.
Possible Connection to Unsolved Norwich Murders
Experts now believe Wright may be responsible for several other unsolved murders of Norwich women involved in sex work, including Michelle Bettles. The young mother-of-three was last seen on CCTV walking toward Norwich city centre on March 28, 2002, dressed in a long black coat and high-heeled boots. Her strangled body was found three days later.
John Bettles questions why police ruled Wright out so quickly from Michelle's case. "The police always said that Steve Wright wasn't in Norwich the day Michelle disappeared," he explained. "But I don't know how they can say that with 100 percent certainty because you can be 60 miles away in just an hour."
Patterns and Police Investigation Concerns
Michelle's case shares disturbing similarities with Wright's confirmed victims — all were left near water within a certain radius of Norwich. John believes other cases received more detailed attention while Michelle's investigation was prematurely dismissed. "The police were running around like headless chickens," he recalled. "My relationship with them in the beginning was not good."
On the 20th anniversary of Michelle's death in 2022, police discovered new DNA samples on her belongings and appealed for anyone with legitimate contact that night to come forward. A cold case team continues to review evidence, but John hopes Wright's recent confession might prompt further revelations.
A Father's Unending Grief and Hope
Addressing Wright directly, John made an emotional plea: "Put us out of our misery, otherwise our sentence will continue until the day we die. We just want to know one way or another for our own peace of mind."
He described Michelle as "a very happy child, hugely intelligent and had university potential" who brought immense pride to her family. "A day doesn't go by without myself and Denise, Michelle's mum, talking about her," he shared. "We laugh about things and remember her for the person she was."
Wright's recent sentencing for Victoria Hall's murder — which added 40 years to his existing life term — has renewed attention on other unsolved cases. Police have yet to confirm if they're considering Wright in relation to Michelle's murder or other disappearances including Kellie Pratt in 2000 and Amanda Duncan in 1993.
"Somebody out there knows where Steve Wright was that night," John said, clinging to hope after 23 years. "We've always got hope — it's what keeps you going."
