Family of Muriel McKay urge police to do more to help find her body
Police have been reviewing information for weeks that could lead to the search of a Hertfordshire farm where she is said to be buried
Last updated 9th Apr 2024
The family of Muriel McKay, who was murdered in Hertfordshire 54 years ago and whose body was never recovered, say they feel the Met Police could do more to help them find answers.
Police gathered information from Muriel's killer himself, following a visit to Trinidad, where he now lives, alongside evidence collected by the family itself on a visit made prior to police's.
The information is now being reviewed by police, and the family are hoping the pictures, videos, and audio recordings from both visits will suffice to issue a warrant to search the farm she is said to be buried at.
Muriel's grandson, Mark Dyer, however told Greatest Hits Radio police have made no contact with him in weeks and his family want answers.
He said: "We cannot be expected to wait for other people to find a way out of doing what we should be doing."
"When you have to do something to achieve something you will do whatever is necessary, and what we have done is not only create a relationship but we settled a lot of things that my mother and myself, and various family members have never had the answers to for over half a century."
What happened to Muriel McKay?
In 1969, Muriel McKay was kidnapped by Nizamodeen Hosein from London for a ransom and taken to a farm in Hertfordshire, where she was killed.
Although her body was never found, Hosein served a life sentence for her murder in the UK before being deported to Trinidad.
The location of her body was never revealed until her family finally made contact with the killer who signed an oath, in December, revealing information never disclosed before, after years of work to build a trusted relationship.
What has happened since December?
On a visit to Trinidad to meet Muriel's killer last January, her family collated evidence, cross-referenced maps to identify the location of her body, and were given answers to a lifetime of questions.
Upon their return, the Met Police met with the family and journalists present on the visit to assess evidence.
Shortly after, police flew to Trinidad themselves to meet with the killer, however Mark Dyer assures no contact has been made with him since to inform him of any progress in the case.
Mr Dyer issued the Met Police a letter with a deadline to be met before the family undergo their own investigation without their help, which is due to expire later today.
He said: "We got all the information, this is all our research, we've sank our hearts and souls into finding my grandmother."
"Here we are today, four weeks later, with my mother having had no contact, and me having had no contact."
"So we had to take this action, otherwise yet again we're having our expectations managed."
What happens now?
The letter issued to the Met Police contained photographic evidence of documents obtained by the family of Muriel McKay, affidavits from killer Nizamodeen Hosein and barrister working with the family in Trinidad Matthew Gayle, and background information into the case built by the family so far.
Although police have been working with the family in building a case of their own, Mr Dyer told Greatest Hits Radio they have had no communication in recent weeks and want answers.
The letter issued to police gave a deadline of 4pm Tuesday 9th of April, before the family 'take the matter in their own hands' and continue the investigation without their help.
What does the Met Police say?
Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin, Specialist Crime, who has been working with the family on this case, said in a statement: “Detectives have met Muriel’s family and others to speak to them and gather information obtained during their recent visit to Trinidad. We are grateful for their time and assistance."
“We will now review and assess this information to determine the next steps in our investigation. We understand how frustrating and difficult this matter has been for Muriel’s family and are still working to recover her remains."
“We remain in contact with the family and will keep them updated.”
A spokesperson for the Met Police previously said: " We understand how frustrating and difficult this matter has been for Muriel’s family and remain in contact with them."
"An extensive search for Muriel’s remains was carried out in March 2022 at a farm in Hertfordshire, unfortunately it concluded with nothing found."
"At that time there was no legal power to apply for a search warrant in these circumstances and so the search took place with the consent of the landowner."
"The investigation remains live and we continue to review and assess new information, keeping an open mind to all available options to recover Muriel."
Greatest Hits Radio approached the Met Police again for a comment following the letter issued by Mr Dyer, and a spokesperson said they have 'nothing further to add' to their existing statement at this stage.
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