The Bradford Murders: The Crimes of the “Crossbow Cannibal”

The Bradford murders were a series of brutal killings that took place in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, between 2009 and 2010. The victims—43-year-old Susan Rushworth, 31-year-old Shelley Armitage, and 36-year-old Suzanne Blamires—were all sex workers based in the city. Their disappearances and subsequent discoveries of mutilated remains horrified the public, and the man behind these crimes, Stephen Shaun Griffiths, would come to be known by a chilling alias: the “Crossbow Cannibal.”

A City Gripped by Fear

The first victim, Susan Rushworth, vanished on 22 June 2009. Despite public appeals and extensive searches, no trace of her was ever found. The second woman, Shelley Armitage, disappeared on 26 April 2010. Less than a month later, on 21 May, Suzanne Blamires went missing. Days later, parts of her body were discovered in the River Aire near Shipley. Police searching the area subsequently recovered more human tissue, which was later identified as belonging to Armitage.

It was clear that the disappearances were not isolated incidents. West Yorkshire Police were now dealing with a suspected serial killer.

The Arrest and Shocking Confession

Stephen Shaun Griffiths, 40, was arrested on 24 May 2010. A postgraduate criminology student at the University of Bradford, he lived in Holmfield Court—an address in close proximity to where his victims were last seen. During his first court appearance, Griffiths declared his name as “the Crossbow Cannibal,” revealing not only a desire for infamy but also the gruesome nature of his crimes. CCTV footage later showed him shooting Blamires in the head with a crossbow and then dismembering her body in his flat.

Griffiths was charged with the murders of all three women. In December 2010, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order—ensuring he will never be released.

A History of Violence

Griffiths had a lengthy and disturbing criminal history. At age 17, he was jailed for a violent, unprovoked knife attack. He had long expressed fantasies about murder and was diagnosed in 1991 as a “schizoid psychopath.” A year later, he served two years in prison for holding a knife to a girl’s throat. In the years leading up to the murders, he showed clear warning signs—reading books about dismemberment and amassing weapons. Police had even seized hunting weapons from him and reported concerns to the local housing authority, which then upgraded the CCTV surveillance in his building.

Despite being closely monitored, Griffiths ultimately carried out the murders. After his conviction, he attempted suicide multiple times and staged a 120-day hunger strike, isolating himself from others in prison.

Political and Social Reaction

The murders reignited national debates about the legal status and protection of sex workers. Prime Minister David Cameron called the crimes a “terrible shock” and suggested that the decriminalization of prostitution-related offenses should be reconsidered. However, he also cautioned against rushed policy changes and emphasized the importance of addressing root causes like addiction and exploitation. Cameron called for increased cooperation between social services and law enforcement to help vulnerable women exit street-based sex work.

Potential Links to Other Crimes

During his interrogation, Griffiths claimed he had murdered five women, implying that there may have been two other victims. However, after his conviction, he ceased cooperating with police, leaving those cases unresolved.

One potential earlier victim was 19-year-old Rebecca Hall, a sex worker murdered in April 2001. Her body was found near Griffiths’ flat, and she was known to have visited him regularly. Although he was questioned, he refused to speak. His ex-partner later told investigators that Griffiths had enthusiastically shown her the location of Hall’s murder. Police also investigated another potential suspect, John Taylor, a convicted murderer linked to other crimes in the area.

Hall’s case was reopened multiple times. In 2016, forensic advancements prompted a review, and two partial DNA profiles were recovered from her clothing. In 2019, police arrested a woman in connection with the case, though she was later released under investigation.

Other Possible Victims

Criminologist David Wilson examined other cold cases for links to Griffiths in his 2013 documentary Killers Behind Bars. One of those cases was the 1994 murder of Dawn Shields, a Sheffield-based sex worker. Ultimately, Wilson concluded that Griffiths was unlikely to be responsible. Instead, the main suspect in Shields’ murder was Alun Kyte, another known killer of sex workers.

A Killer Obsessed

Griffiths’ fascination with serial killers and violent fantasy was no secret. He idolized figures like Peter Sutcliffe—the Yorkshire Ripper—and even once expressed admiration for their ability to dominate the news cycle. His academic pursuit of criminology was not a coincidence but rather a disturbing outlet to fuel his obsession.

At the time of his arrest, Griffiths had almost completed his PhD proposal focusing on homicide. This academic veneer masked a dark and violent interior—a man who did not just study serial murder, but longed to commit it.

Legacy and Continuing Impact

The Bradford murders left a lasting scar on the city. They prompted introspection within law enforcement about missed opportunities and how known warning signs went unheeded. The case also intensified discussions around sex work, safety, and societal neglect of marginalized women.

While Griffiths remains imprisoned for life, the full extent of his crimes may never be known. The fates of Susan Rushworth and any other potential victims continue to haunt the public conscience.

The “Crossbow Cannibal” case stands as one of the most horrifying modern serial murder cases in the UK—a stark reminder of the consequences of untreated mental illness, societal neglect, and system failures in protecting the vulnerable.