Man who killed Renee and Andrew MacRae dies - less than five months after being jailed
Last year, William MacDowell was convicted of murdering his lover and their three-year-old son more than 45 years ago.
Last updated 15th Feb 2023
The man who murdered Renee MacRae and their 3-year-old son Andrew has died.
Last year, William MacDowell was found guilty of murdering his lover and their three-year-old son more than 45 years ago.
MacDowell was convicted by a jury at the High Court at Inverness.
He was also found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of their bodies and personal effects.
The mother and child's bodies have never been found since they were last seen alive in November 1976.
Police Scotland confirmed an 81-year-old man died at Forth Valley Royal Hospital and his death is not being treated as suspicious.
Murders "carried out in the most calculated way"
For decades, the disappearance of Renee and Andrew MacRae was Scotland's longest running missing persons cases.
MacDowell denied murdering Ms MacRae and their son at a layby south of Inverness on November 12, 1976 - in a trial which lasted nearly two weeks.
Passing sentence after MacDowell, of Penrith, Cumbria, was found guilty of murder at the High Court at Inverness, judge Lord Armstrong, told him: "These murders appear to have been premediated, planned and carried out in the most calculated way - not a spontaneous event or spur of the moment."
He added: "These appear, in effect, to have been executions.
"You murdered your victims and then disposed of their bodies and personal effects, including the boy's pushchair.
"You then took steps to conceal the crimes you had committed."
"Not knowing where their remains lie only compounds the pain."
On the day of the guilty verdict, Mrs MacRae's sister Morag Govans outlined how they feared justice would never come.
She said: "Almost 46 years on, the pain of losing Renee and Andrew in such a cruel and brutal fashion never fades.
"Today there is finally justice for them. It’s a day we feared would never come.
"They were both so precious to us and a day never passes without them both in our thoughts.
"Renee was a compassionate and caring mother.
"Both Andrew and his elder brother Gordon were her life. She adored them and was so proud of her boys.
"Andrew would be 48 today, he was never given the chance to build his own life.
"The passage of time has not eased the anguish we feel, we have never been able to lay Renee and Andrew to rest or properly mourn their loss.
"Not knowing where their remains lie only compounds the pain.
"Thinking of the terror they both must have felt before they died continues to haunt us.
"We will never comprehend why their lives had to be taken in such a calculated and callous manner by William MacDowell."
When approached for comment today on MacDowell's death, Police Scotland provided the following statement.
A spokesperson said: "Around 11:05, officers were made aware of the death of an 81-year-old man at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.
"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal."