Search for Bodies Near Former Home of Convicted Killer
Detectives and military intelligence specialists have conducted a search for the bodies of a mother and her son near the former residence of their convicted killer.
William MacDowell was convicted in 2022 of murdering his lover, Renee MacRae, aged 36, and their three-year-old son, Andrew, in 1976. However, he died months later without disclosing the location of their remains.
A number of locations in a field and woodland near Nairnside, situated southeast of Inverness, were examined using drones and LiDAR technology. LiDAR employs laser scanning to create three-dimensional digital images of the Earth's surface.
Police Scotland stated that the survey results would be analyzed to determine if additional searches are necessary.
MacDowell was sentenced to prison in September 2022 following a trial and passed away in hospital less than five months later at the age of 81.
Background of the Case
Renee MacRae and her son disappeared on 12 November 1976. That same night, Mrs. MacRae's car was discovered ablaze in a lay-by on the A9 at Dalmagarry, south of Inverness.
During the trial, it was revealed that the discovery of the car exposed MacDowell's affair with Mrs. MacRae. She had believed they were meeting for a weekend getaway before relocating to Shetland.
The jury learned that MacDowell, who was residing near Nairnside at the time and commonly known as Bill MacDowell, served as company secretary at a building firm owned by Mrs. MacRae's estranged husband, Gordon.
Survey Operations and Military Involvement
Detectives and personnel from the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI) began surveying the area around Nairnside on Monday. The region comprises farms and woodland.
NCGI, based at RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire, specializes in analyzing and interpreting satellite imagery, aerial photographs, maps, and geographic information.
Detective Superintendent Brian Geddes expressed gratitude towards the military personnel for their support.
"This case will never be considered resolved until we find Renee and Andrew.
We owe it to the family and friends to make every effort to recover Renee and Andrew's bodies to provide them with the dignity they deserve."
"The results of this scoping activity will be studied to assess whether further search activity is required.
I want to thank our military colleagues who have assisted and provided their expertise to this survey, and also the landowners for their assistance with access through the week."
Previous Searches Near Nairnside
Another location near Nairnside was searched previously. The abandoned and flooded Leanach quarry, known as a fly-tipping hotspot near Culloden Moor, was investigated in the 1970s by Italian divers who were in the area searching for the Loch Ness Monster.
Police commended the divers for undertaking hazardous work in the polluted, debris-filled water.
The site was revisited in 2019. Approximately 13 million litres of water were drained from the quarry, and over 100,000 tonnes of earth, silt, and other materials were removed.
More than 50 vehicles were discovered dumped at the location.
Parts of a pram were also recovered from the quarry and sent for forensic examination.
