Army joins search for remains of mother and son killed 50 years ago

Specialist members of the army are being called in to assist police in a fresh search for the remains of a mother and son who were murdered nearly 50 years ago.

Renee MacRae's car was found on fire in a lay-by near Dalmagarry Quarry, south of Inverness, on 12 November 1976 but there was no sign of her, or three-year-old Andrew.

MacRae's lover, William MacDowell, 81, was convicted of their murders in 2022. He died a few months later without revealing where he had disposed of their bodies.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said the Army was supporting Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency following a request for specialist expertise.

The exact location of the search has not been confirmed.

Det Sup Brian Geddes said: "Our investigation into the murders of Renee and Andrew MacRae remains ongoing and officers continue to examine all available lines of investigation."

An extensive police investigation at the time involved searches of moorland and a flooded quarry. The case has been reinvestigated several times over the last four decades.

Dalmagarry Quarry was searched during the initial murder investigation and police returned to the site in 2004.

Over the course of three weeks they had 35,0000 tonnes of earth and 2,000 trees excavated and removed.

Last year, during another search at the same location, it was reported that a potty and carpet were found at the site.

Other locations, including the Blackfold area above Loch Ness, Inverfarigaig, Nairnside and Daviot have also been considered as part of the investigation.

MacDowell was given a life sentence with a minimum 30 years in September 2022.

He was found guilty following a trial at the High Court in Inverness. His lawyers had lodged special defences of incrimination and alibi.

Sentencing MacDowell, judge Lord Armstrong described the murders as "executions".

MacRae and Andrew disappeared the same day her car was discovered on fire.

The trial in 2022 heard the discovery exposed married MacDowell's affair with MacRae, and that she had believed they would be meeting up for a weekend away before a planned move to Shetland.

The jury was told how MacDowell, who was living near Inverness at the time and better known by the name Bill MacDowell, was company secretary at a building firm owned by MacRae's estranged husband, Gordon. MacDowell was sacked over the affair.

The trial heard that MacRae, who is survived by her eldest son Gordon, was a devoted mother and had been deeply in love with MacDowell.

MacDowell, a prisoner at HMP Glenochil in Alloa, died at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in February 2023.

An inquiry this month found he died from cancer and alcoholic liver cirrhosis.