Science advances looked to for truth about Renee MacRae and her son
A SENIOR police officer believes advances in forensic science could still uncover the truth behind the disappearance of an Inverness businessman's wife and her three-year-old son – 42 years later.
Police are treating the mystery of Renee MacRae and her son Andrew as a murder inquiry.
Detective Inspector Brian Geddes remains hopeful that new leads can still be found from sites which are at the centre of their enquiries.
On November 12, 1976 Mrs MacRae and Andrew left home heading south on the A9. Later that same day their BMW was discovered on fire beside the road near Dalmagarry.
Neither Renee (36), nor Andrew have been seen since that night. A pram and suitcase that are believed to have been in the car, also have not been recovered.
There is also an anonymous letter, received by the police in 1982, which relates to suspicious activity seen around a quarry near Inverness that night. Police wish to spoke to the author.
"All the indications are that Renee and Andrew came to harm 42 years ago and as such this is being progressed as a murder investigation," DI Geddes said.
"The chances are that the person or persons responsible for the murders of Renee and Andrew will have enjoyed a life, something which was denied to Renee and Andrew.
"The initial investigation and the various reviews and re-investigations since 1976 appear to have been very thorough and have generated a great deal of material.
"We are applying the most modern investigative techniques in a bid to progress the investigation and this will include utilising advances in forensic science.
"For me the advancement in DNA and the sensitivities around what we can do now, compared with 10 years ago, includes real leaps forward."
He said two sites which are of particular interest to the investigating team are Leanach Quarry near Culloden and the lay-by on the A9 at Dalmagarry where Mrs MacRae's burned out BMW was found.
"The advances in forensic science mean we can have a fresh look at these locations," DI Geddes said.
He added they had not ruled out draining Leanach Quarry where some people believe the bodies may have been dumped.
Officers from Police Scotland’s major investigations team and marine investigation unit spent several days at Leanach Quarry last month.
Morag Govans, Renee's sister and Andrew's aunt, said: "More than four decades on the pain of losing Renee and Andrew doesn't ease. Not a day goes past that both are not in my thoughts.
"Andrew was just three years old, a mischievous and fun-loving wee boy. It is impossible to take in that his life was brought so cruelly to and end at such a young age.
"He would have turned 45 in October and I often wonder what he would have been doing now with the life that he was never given the chance to build."
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
