Stephen Shaun Griffiths was born on December 24, 1969, in Dewsbury, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He grew up in a working-class environment. Griffiths did not have an easy childhood. Reports indicate that he faced challenges at home, which affected his development as a young individual. He was known to be shy and awkward in social situations when he was a child.

He went to school in Dewsbury and later attended the University of Bradford. At the university, Griffiths studied criminology and aimed to focus on homicide studies in his postgraduate work. He was known to have a keen interest in criminal behavior, which shaped his future studies and aspirations.

Griffiths had a troubled early life; he struggled to establish friendships and often felt isolated. At the age of 17, he was involved in a violent incident where he attacked a supermarket manager with a knife. This incident led to his conviction and a three-year prison sentence.

In his late teens and early twenties, Griffiths continued to have legal issues. He had a history of violence, including an incident where he held a knife to a girl's throat. By 1991, he was diagnosed as a "schizoid psychopath" by mental health professionals. This diagnosis caused concern about his psychological state and potential violent behavior in the future.

Despite these challenges, Griffiths returned to his studies and enrolled at the University of Bradford again, showing a persistent interest in criminology. His academic pursuits in homicide studies revealed not only his fascination with crime but also raised red flags due to his past behavior.

As he continued his education, he was under observation by law enforcement due to his history and interests. Police noted his behavior, including reading books on dismemberment, which increased their concerns regarding his potential for violence. During this time, Griffiths lived in a flat in Bradford. 

Stephen Shaun Griffiths was involved in the murders of three women in Bradford, England. The victims were Susan Rushworth, Shelley Armitage, and Suzanne Blamires, all known to be sex workers. Susan Rushworth disappeared on June 22, 2009. Shelley Armitage was last seen on April 26, 2010, and Suzanne Blamires went missing on May 21, 2010. Parts of Suzanne Blamires's body were found in the River Aire on May 25, while other human tissue identified as belonging to Shelley was also discovered in the river. The remains of Susan Rushworth were never found.

On May 24, 2010, Griffiths was arrested. During the investigation, it was noted that he had been under police surveillance for two years before the murders. He was observed with hunting weapons and reading materials on dismemberment. 

Griffiths was charged with the murders and, on December 21, 2010, he pleaded guilty to all three counts. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order, meaning he would not be eligible for parole.

Detectives also investigated possible links between Griffiths and the unsolved murder of Rebecca Hall, a 19-year-old sex worker who disappeared in April 2001. Hall's body was found later that month, not far from Griffiths's residence. However, Griffiths refused to answer questions regarding her case. Police also looked into the murder of another prostitute, Dawn Shields, but found no strong connections to Griffiths.

After his conviction, Griffiths claimed to have killed five women, suggesting there might be two more victims. However, he did not provide any further information that could lead to investigations into additional cases.