Detectives have renewed an appeal for information as they continue efforts to locate the bodies of Renee and Andrew MacRae.
Renee, 36, and her three-year-old son Andrew left their home in Inverness on November 12, 1976.
Their BMW car was discovered on fire in a lay-by near Dalmagarry later that evening. Their bodies have never been found.
William MacDowell, then aged 80, was found guilty of their murders at the High Court in Inverness in September 2022. He died in February 2023.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Geddes 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.
“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.
“We are also considering possible sites where they may have met during their relationship, possible including the Blackfold area above Loch Ness, Inverfarigaig, and between Nairnside and Daviot.
“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 believes they can assist police is asked to contact 101 or you can email SCDHOLMESInverness@scotland.police.uk. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Edinburgh Castle will welcome visitors after dark to experience the wonder of Castle of Light as the immersive experience officially opens to the public this evening (19 November).
Guests were treated to a sneak peek of what’s in store at this year’s event at a preview evening last night, where Paul Marshall from Portobello had the honour of switching on Castle of Light: Hidden Treasures for the first time.
Promising to uncover incredible tales, old and new, Castle of Light: Hidden Treasures brings Scotland’s lesser-known stories to life with the use of stunning visuals, state-of-the-art projections and captivating storytelling.
Following a national hunt for Castle of Light’s own ‘wee treasure’, 21-year-old Paul Marshall was selected as the deserving winner chosen to switch on this year’s event after tallying up an astonishing 199 individual nominations in his name.
Paul, who has one of the rarest brain diseases in the world which has left him partially sighted and with learning difficulties, was nominated by locals, family and friends as a ‘wee treasure’ due to his winning personality and devotion to helping others.
One anonymous nomination, submitted to Edinburgh Castle as part of the Wee Treasure search, noted: “Paul brings a smile to the whole community, he’s the bright light in everyone’s day. When he was a year old, his mum was told that he would never walk or talk due to his rare brain disease.
‘Despite this, he has beaten all the odds and spreads love and happiness wherever he goes. No job is too small for him to help with. He didn’t miss a night during clap for carers and always has the biggest smile on his face. He truly is a wee treasure.”
During lockdown, Paul became a familiar presence in the community as he cheered on the UK’s key workers on a Thursday evening from his front door.
He became such a cheerful and welcoming part of the Edinburgh landscape during this difficult time that the bus drivers in the city gave him his own Lothian Buses jacket on his birthday to thank him for his support.
He also received hundreds of cards from people in the community to help him celebrate his 21st.
Castle of Light’s creative director Andy McGregor, who is working alongside Double Take Projections, NL Productions and War Productions Ltd, in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, on this year’s event, said: “As Castle of Light: Hidden Treasures is all about putting a spotlight on the lesser-known stories from Scotland’s past, we wanted to find other unique stories about the special people who make up our country today. And we knew there would be some gems right on our doorstep.
“We were overwhelmed by nominations for Paul, who is clearly a shining star in the community. We can’t think of a more deserving person to help us light up the city with Castle of Light – just as Paul has done in his own local area with his unwavering support and joyful spirit.”
Castle of Light: Hidden Treasures brings light, legend, mystery and magic to the capital for eight weeks through the festive season, from Friday 19 November 2021 to Sunday 9 January 2022 (on select dates, Thursday – Sunday).
A selection of street food vendors, including Hector and Harriet, specialising in artisan blend barista coffee and unique home baked goods, the Prime Street Food wagon boasting restaurant quality bites and The Haggis Box, serving up traditional Scottish scran, will also be onsite to ensure visitors can spend the full evening exploring Edinburgh Castle’s grounds.
Caterers Benugo will also be found serving food and drink outside the castle’s Redcoat Café, alongside an Edinburgh Gin cocktail bar serving mixed drinks, with bottles of Edinburgh Castle Gin available to purchase. Various other retail pop-ups will be open exclusively to Castle of Light visitors, with over 18s welcome to visit the Whisky and Finest Foods shop for free samples, including a taste of the delicious Magnum Scotch whisky cream liqueur.
Tickets are also available for an ‘Access’ night taking place on Thursday 25 November, designed to cater for people with additional support needs, including autism and dementia.
To ensure that as many people as possible can experience the animated storytelling tour, the evening will feature a range of specific support, including British Sign Language interpretation and audio described tours, as well as a designated quiet space and ear defenders to help manage noise.
For more information and to get your tickets, visit CastleofLight.scot.
The brother of a woman from London who went missing five years ago and whose body was found on the outskirts of Edinburgh five months later has renewed his appeal to the public to help find out what happened to her.
Saima Ahmed was 36 when she left her home in north London and is believed to have travelled to Edinburgh by train via Hemel Hempstead and Birmingham on 30 August, 2015. Her remains were found at Gogarburn Golf Course on 9 January, 2016. Her death remains unexplained and the police investigation into what happened to her remains open.
Sadat Ahmed, 37, re-visited the area for the first time in four years to ask the public to come forward with any information that may help his family to find out what happened to Saima once she arrived in Edinburgh.
Speaking at the golf course, he said: “As a family we think about her every day. Time has not helped. There is so much we don’t understand. She never talked about coming to Edinburgh and as far as we know she did not know anyone in Edinburgh.
“She was a very inquisitive person so if she was in an area she had never been to before she would have asked questions, she would have spoken to people. We think she probably met someone but who don’t know who or why.
“How you get to Edinburgh and then here, it is not somewhere you would walk to by mistake. She must have had contact with people. It is unbearable not knowing, from day one to now, we still don’t have answers to the questions, and it is really hard.
“Someone must know something. I would like them to come forward and tell us. We will never give up hope. We will keep looking for answers.”
Saima was around 5ft 5ins tall, of medium build, with shoulder length straight dark hair. She was last seen wearing a dark long v-neck top, black trousers, black shoes and a black jacket.
Detective Superintendent Martin MacLean said: “Police Scotland has carried out a painstaking investigation into Saima’s death and we continue to support Sadat and his family. There is no evidence of criminality at this stage.
“There were sightings of a woman that appear to meet Saima’s description at Portobello beach on the Sunday evening and again on the Monday morning by a dog walker. We are appealing to anyone who may have similar information, whether it was a taxi driver, or a bus driver. Perhaps she stayed in a bed and breakfast on the Sunday night in the Portobello area?
“Edinburgh would have been very busy as it was the end of the Festival and also the height of the tourist season. If you were on holiday in the city, wherever you might be now, please think back to see if you can help. I would ask anyone who may have seen her or have any information, no matter how insignificant they might think it is, to get in touch.
“We still don’t truly understand why Saima came to Edinburgh and what her movements were when she was here. These are gaps we are very keen to fill. From every appeal that we have had, we have always obtained some small piece of information from the public.
“The investigation remains open so if there is anyone out there who can help please call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 2194 of 9 January, 2016, and help provide some of the answers that Sadat and his family are seeking.”
