Slain Renee MacRae's family urges killer to reveal where he hid bodies of ex-lover and son in 1976 murder
INVERNESS, SCOTLAND: A murderer who has recently been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of killing his ex-lover and their three-year-old son more than 45 years ago has been urged to reveal where he hid their bodies.
William MacDowell, now 80, was sentenced to life in prison with a recommendation that he serves a minimum of 30 years for murdering ex-lover Renee MacRae and son Andrew in November 1976. Even after four decades and several major investigation operations, the officials have failed to find the body of the 36-year-old mother and her 3-year-old son.
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Speaking outside the court after the sentencing, MacRae’s sister Morag Govans requested MacDowell to reveal what he did with their bodies. "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. If he has a shred of decency in his body, he will now reveal where they both lie," Govans said.
Apart from being found guilty for the murder of MacRae and Andrew, MacDowell was convicted of attempting to delay the process of justice by disposing of their bodies and personal effects. Delivering the sentence, judge Lord Armstrong told him, "These murders appear to have been premeditated, 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."
The court of Inverness heard MacDowell had murdered or abducted his ex-lover MacRae and son Andrew at a layby on the A9 near Dalmagarry on November 12, 1976. Later that day, MacRae’s BMW car was spotted on fire in a lay-by near Dalmagarry but their bodies were not found near the scene. During the investigation, the officers discovered that MacRae, who was separated from her first husband, had been in a secret affair with MacDowell, who was already married to Rosemary.
Even after knowing about their relationship, Rosemary stood by his husband’s side and was even seen pushing his wheelchair into the high court. MacDowell was first arrested back in September 2019 after detectives from Police Scotland's Major Investigation Team and local officers reopened the case and reinvestigated the whole mystery on the basis of work recorded since 1976.
In the initial days of the investigation, police interrogated MacDowell but he refused to admit any association with the victim, only revealing this in a second interview later the same day. The court heard that his Volvo was also spotted near the site where the officers found MacRae’s burning BMW. MacDowell admitted to burning part of the BMW's boot.
After three major investigations in 1986, 2004, and 2018 didn't yield results, police started Operation Abermule to find the real murderer. This investigation involved more than 1500 witnesses, many of whom either died or were not long able to be present in court.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Geddes, who led Operation Abermule, said, "Renee and Andrew's family, and friends, have waited decades for justice and I hope that the outcome in court today can provide some form of closure for them. They have carried themselves with absolute dignity throughout and they are very much in my thoughts today."
"The murders of Renee and Andrew MacRae have had a significant impact on people in Inverness, and beyond for decades," he added. "It is fitting to know that despite the passage of time, justice has finally been served."