Police examine item found at 1976 murder probe quarry

Police are examining an item found near a quarry which has been at the centre of investigations into the murders of a mother and son almost 50 years ago.

Renee MacRae's car was found on fire in a lay-by near Dalmagarry Quarry, south of Inverness, on 12 November 1976 but there was no sign of her or three-year-old Andrew.

Her lover, William MacDowell, 81, was convicted of their murders in 2022. He died a few months later without revealing where he had disposed of their bodies.

The Inverness Courier has reported a potty and carpet were found during road work earlier this month.

Police Scotland said: "On Thursday 13 March officers attended the A9 near Dalmagarry after an item was recovered.

"The item is being examined and further inquiries are ongoing."

The force said it had no further comment to make on the discovery.

The quarry at Dalmagarry was searched during the initial murder investigation.

A young policeman had reported an unusual smell at the site but funds to continue this search ran out before its source could be found.

Police returned to Dalmagarry quarry in 2004 and over the course of three weeks had 35,0000 tonnes of earth and 2,000 trees excavated and removed at a cost of more than £100,000.

Forensic archaeologists and anthropologists were brought in to sift meticulously through the soil and debris.

They found nothing but old crisp packets, some men's clothing and animal bones.

MacDowell was given a life sentence with a minimum 30 years in September 2022.

He was found guilty following a trial at the High Court in Inverness. His lawyers had lodged special defences of incrimination and alibi.

Sentencing MacDowell, judge Lord Armstrong described the murders as "executions".

Mrs MacRae and Andrew disappeared on the same day her car was discovered on fire.

The trial in 2022 heard the discovery exposed married MacDowell's affair with Mrs MacRae, and that she had believed they would be meeting up for a weekend away before a planned move to Shetland.

The jury was told how MacDowell, who was living near Inverness at the time and better known by the name Bill MacDowell, was company secretary at a building firm owned by Mrs MacRae's estranged husband, Gordon.

MacDowell was sacked over the affair and the trial heard he had the boot floor of his company car replaced, and had also refused to hand back the vehicle until he had finished scrubbing it out.

The trial heard that Mrs MacRae, who is survived by her eldest son Gordon, was a devoted mother and had been deeply in love with MacDowell.

MacDowell, a prisoner at HMP Glenochil in Alloa, died at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in February 2023.