One of Suffolks biggest-ever murder hunts was triggered by the appalling death of Karen Hales, who was stabbed and then set on fire in her home in front of her own baby daughter on Sunday, November 21st, 1993. Despite following up more than 1,400 leads, police could find no apparent motive.
Ten years after the murder Suffolk Police decided to re-open the case. They particularly wanted to determine whether advances in forensic science which did not exist at the time of the original investigation might help things forward. Karen, who was 21, lived in Lavenham Road, Ipswich.