Police renew appeal in search for bodies of mother and son murdered by former Borders bar boss
Last updated 30th Aug 2023
Detectives have confirmed they're looking into properties linked to the killer of a Scottish mum and her three-year-old son.
Last year, William MacDowell - who used to run the Crook Inn in Tweedsmuir - was found guilty of murdering Renee and Andrew MacRae in November 1976.
He never revealed where he left their bodies and died in prison in February, five months after his guilty verdict.
During the trial, the High Court in Inverness heard evidence from convicted Lanarkshire safe-cracker Mitchell Yuill, now deceased, who said when he asked Bill MacDowell if he had done it: "He replied: I did – and I didn't."
Yuill had been employed by MacDowell in 1986 when the former Inverness man owned the Crook Inn, near Peebles.
Renee, 36, and her son Andrew left their home in Inverness on November 12th, 1976. Their BMW car was discovered on fire in a lay-by near Dalmagarry later that evening.
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DCI Brian Geddes, from Police Scotland, said: "Renee and Andrew’s family and friends waited decades for justice, which was served last year.
“However, their bodies have not been found and our investigation continues to explore all possible opportunities open to us to help answer that final, most important question in order to provide Renee and Andrew with the dignity they deserve.
“We continue to review the available evidence to identify any further areas of interest, while also considering whether there are any opportunities that modern technology could assist with in identifying possible deposition sites.
“This review includes considering any properties which may be linked to William MacDowell which he could have used, possibly a derelict building, an empty one or even an occupied one he had use of.
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“The time scale would be the early to mid-1970s and we are hoping someone may remember seeing Renee MacRae’s BMW car in an area perhaps with MacDowell's company Volvo or the family white Range Rover."
He added: “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 and I would urge anyone who may be able to assist, no matter how small you may feel your information is, to come forward.”
Anyone who can assist police should contact 101.
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