Police vow to maintain search for Renee and Andrew MacRae's remains following William MacDowell murder conviction
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Detectives have pledged to keep up the search for the bodies of murdered Renee and Andrew MacRae following the conviction of her former lover William MacDowell for their double murder in 1976.
MacDowell had been on trial at the High Court in Inverness accused of the murder 46 years ago and was convicted by a jury yesterday despite denying his involvement.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Geddes led the cold case review which led to the conviction of the killer.
Speaking after the verdict, DCI Geddes pledged that although one part of the case had finally snared the suspect – a former lover of married housewife Renee (36) and father to their three-year-old son Andrew – he and his team would endeavour to finally give the family the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle by discovering their remains.
The DCI admitted that no previously unknown evidence had come out during the trial that would lead directly to new locations being searched.
DCI Geddes said: “This was a dual objective right from the word go: to find the person or persons responsible for the murder of Renee and Andrew and also recover their bodies.
“As we all probably know Leanach quarry was subject to a search a couple of years ago now [2018] and there were no other stand-out locations at that point.
“Our intention – this never stops.
“If there is maybe new information that comes to light or something that maybe directs us to existing information or enhances that then that would be something we would pick up on and look to progress.”
DCI Geddes said one of the key hopes following the conviction was that MacDowell may decide to finally share the secret of the murders that have plagued the Highlands for four decades.
He said: “On the back of the conviction we will be looking to anyone who has information about Renee and Andrew’s remains and the whereabouts of them and we will be discussing and taking action in terms of William MacDowell and whether he is willing to engage with us to give us the answers that us – and more importantly the family – want and deserve.”
Call police on 101 with information.
