Karen Hales

Karen Hales was a 21-year-old woman living in Lavenham Road, Ipswich, with her partner and their 18-month-old daughter.

On Sunday 21 November 1993 Karen Hales was stabbed to death in her home in Lavenham Road, Ipswich and an attempt had been made to set her body alight – in the presence of her young daughter.

On the day she was murdered there was at least two inches of snow on the ground and although it was not exceptionally cold, there were few people on the streets. Darkness fell that day around 4pm and Karen and her daughter were alone in the house, her partner having left for work earlier.

Shortly before 4.40 pm Karen’s parents called at the house and entered through the unlocked front door. They were confronted with smoke and flames within the house and found that Karen had been stabbed and an attempt made to set her alight.

Original Investigation

Despite extensive media attention over a long period of time, together with the huge investigation, which was carried out, Karen’s killer was not identified.

Since that time, the case has been subject to regular reviews and further media coverage, but this horrific case remains unsolved.

Home address of Karen Hales Nov 1993 & Sept 2014

 Why has this case been looked at again?

In line with Suffolk Police’s commitment to solving crime this case has been one of a number, which have been subject to regular review. This case now forms part the unsolved case review process and is subject of continual review for lines of investigation that can progress this case.

There may also be witnesses who might, for any number of reasons, have been unable or unwilling to provide Police with information they hold. With the passage of time, those witnesses may now be in a better position to come forward in order to assist.

 Current Progress

 A review of the forensic evidence has been carried out and the findings are subject of analysis to help provide direction to take the case forward.

Contact details

Senior Investigating Officer: Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Smith

Email: [email protected]

Previous release

25th anniversary appeal

21 November 2019

Police are continuing to appeal for information regarding the brutal murder of a young mother in Ipswich which occurred on this day in 1993, as the Senior Investigating Officer provides an update on the inquiry following the 25th anniversary appeal last year.  

Detective Superintendent Andy Smith, Head of the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team, said: “Despite the passage of time we are not giving up on this investigation.

“Last year, on the occasion of the 25^th anniversary of Karen’s murder, I conducted a number of media interviews alongside members of Karen’s family which was a very emotive day and an incredibly difficult thing for them to do. As a result of those interviews and the wider media appeal, we received 18 separate communications from members of the public and we are continuing to pursue a number of lines of enquiry as a consequence.

“This demonstrates to me that there remains the possibility that there are other people who have knowledge or information which could assist this investigation. My appeal to them is to make contact and help us solve this horrendous crime.

“In particular I want to be sure that we have established as much detail as possible about Karen’s life and personal circumstances, so would like to hear from people who knew her in whatever form, whether they were her friends, work colleagues or other acquaintances. We want to be sure we know as much about her as we possibly can, including places she was frequenting and everyone she was associating with, particularly in the days and weeks leading up to her brutal murder on 21 November 1993. Although I retain a completely open-mind as to who is responsible for killing Karen, I think there is a strong possibility that her attacker was known to her and that is why it is so important for us to know everything about her.

“Karen was just 21-years-old and the mother to an 18-month-old daughter who had to grow up never knowing her mum. Her murder was truly devastating for her entire family and if there is someone out there who can help us but is reluctant to do so, I would like them to think about a couple of things in particular that might help them to change their mind.

“Please think about that baby girl, left alone in the house where her mum had been stabbed to death and set alight and who was lucky to survive the fire. Please think about the parents who discovered their daughter’s body and rescued their granddaughter from the fire. If you think you can help, then please call us.

“Friends or relatives of the killer may have noticed a change in their behaviour around the time of the murder, but either didn’t think anything of it at the time, or had suspicions but felt obligated not to say anything, or may have been afraid to do so. If that applies to you, then please remember that it is never too late to come forward and we will treat any information we receive in the strictest confidence.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Unsolved Case Team on 01953 423819, or by emailing [email protected]

Alternatively, you can contact the charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously

Previous release

12 December 2018

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the brutal murder of a young mother at her home in Ipswich, as police renew appeals for people to come forward with information.

Karen Hales’ body was discovered at her home address in Lavenham Road by her parents at approximately 4.40pm, on Sunday 21 November 1993.

21-year-old Karen was found in the kitchen and had received multiple stab wounds and her body had been set alight. Her 18-month-old daughter was also in the house, but was fortunately unharmed.

A post-mortem examination concluded that the cause of death was attributed to shock and haemorrhage, secondary to multiple stab wounds.

Suffolk Police immediately launched a murder inquiry, involving a dedicated team of around 50 officers.  They interviewed witnesses, carried-out fingertip searches, forensically examined Karen’s home and surrounding area, conducted house to house enquiries and questioned over 400 motorists in the hope that they might have seen something.

At the time, the investigation was one of the biggest murder hunts in Suffolk’s criminal history.

Detectives involved in the investigation followed up more than 1,400 lines of enquiry and a major publicity campaign created a vast flow of information from members of the public to the incident room.

Karen had been living at her home address in Lavenham Road with her long term partner Peter and baby daughter Emily.

On the day Karen was murdered, Sunday, 21 November 1993, the day started ordinarily enough. Karen and Peter had spent the day visiting family and watching the television.

At 3pm Peter started getting ready for his afternoon shift at his place of work. Karen made him sandwiches and at 3.50pm, she and Emily waved goodbye from the window.

Ten minutes later Peter arrived at work. Soon after, Karen’s parents Geraldine and Graham Hales came to talk to him about a problem they were having with their car. When he told them Karen was alone at home they decided to visit her.

At 4.40pm they knocked on her door, but there was no answer. Graham let himself in and could immediately smell smoke coming from the kitchen and it was there he found his daughter.

25 years on from Karen’s death, detectives are renewing their appeal to the public in the hope that someone will come forward with vital information which could help solve this murder.

Detective Superintendent Andy Smith, who is now the senior investigating officer for this unsolved case, said:

“It is hard to find the right words to appropriately reflect the utterly depraved nature of this shocking murder.

“Karen was a 21-year-old mother when she was brutally murdered in her own home. She was stabbed multiple times and set fire to in the presence of her then 18-month-old daughter Emily. Tragically her parents discovered her body shortly after she had been murdered.

“25 years on Karen’s murder continues to torment her family on a daily basis.

“It is for these reasons we will not give up in our efforts to pursue the person responsible for this horrendous crime.

“Following the initial murder inquiry, there have been a number of subsequent reviews including an ongoing focused re-investigation.

“As part of our current investigation, we have conducted a range of enquiries. This includes revisiting a number of witnesses, reviewing hundreds of items seized during the original inquiry and investing heavily in targeted forensic examinations utilising modern scientific techniques which were previously unavailable.

“This 25 year anniversary presents as another significant opportunity to make a renewed appeal for information which may lead us to the person responsible. In that regard I am making specific appeals for information.

“Whilst we have interviewed numerous people who knew Karen, I want to be absolutely sure we have spoken to everyone, especially those people who had some form of interaction with her, no matter how minor, in the weeks and days leading up to her murder on Sunday 21 November 1993.

“I would also appeal to the many people whom we have spoken to previously  to carefully reflect on what they have told us and ask them to contact us if they have anything new, or additional, they would now like to tell us, again no matter how minor or seemingly unimportant.

“Another aspect of my appeal is to those who may know or have known the person responsible. Whilst the motive for Karen’s murder remains unclear it is likely that someone close to the killer, a relative, friend or other acquaintance may have noticed unusual behaviour either before, or after, Sunday 21 November 1993.

“For whatever reason you may not have felt you could come forward at the time, but for the sake of Karen’s family we would ask you to please come forward now.”

Anyone who believes they may have information which could assist with the investigation into this murder should contact the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Crime Review Team:

• either by uploading information to the online portal https://mipp.police.uk/operation/3637020114K39-PO1;
• by calling 01953 423819;
• or by emailing [email protected]
• Alternatively you can contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111, or online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously