Renee and Andrew MacRae disappeared on November 12, 1976 and their bodies have never been found.
A fresh search for the bodies of Renee MacRae and her toddler Andrew is set to take at the former home of their evil killer William MacDowell.
Police and army experts are set to begin an excavation on land near the property, which spans several acres, 50 years on from their mysterious disappearance. Specialists from the Royal Engineers were drafted in after ‘disturbed ground’ dating back to the time of Renee and three-year-old Andrew’s disappearance was revealed in a historic survey of the site, The Scottish Daily Mail reports.
Forensics have been given the go-ahead to commence with digs around MacDowell’s old property. Renee and Andrew’s relatives have been made aware of the latest developments.
Renee and Andrew disappeared on November 12, 1976. Renee’s BMW car was found ablaze in a lay-by near Dalmagarry Quarry, some 12 miles south of Inverness.
MacDowell, 81, took his secrets of the whereabouts of the mother’s and son’s bodies to his grave after he died in hospital five months after his conviction. He had eluded punishment for 45 years before finally being found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
Police Scotland vowed to continue investigating until their remains have been discovered.
MacDowell, who was known as Bill rather than William, was living near Inverness at the time of the murders and worked as company secretary for a building firm. The company was owned by Renee’s estranged husband, Gordon, and married McDowell was sacked from his role at the company when their affair emerged.
At the time she vanished, Renee had believed she and McDowell would be meeting up for a weekend away before a planned move to Shetland. The devoted mum, who is survived by her eldest son Gordon, had been deeply in love with MacDowell.
Within a year of the affair starting, she had become pregnant with their child Andrew. MacDowell, a prisoner at HMP Glenochil in Alloa, died at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in February 2023, just one year into his sentence.
In March last year, there was a breakthrough in the case when items – believed to be a potty and a carpet – were found next to the A9.
They were found near to a lay-by close to Dalmagarry Quarry, south of Inverness. Renee’s car had been found on fire in the lay by on November 12, 1976, but there was no sign of her or her son.
Detective Superintendent 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.”
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