In 1976, William MacDowell was found guilty of killing his lover and son

In November 1976, Renee and Andrew, both three years old, were murdered by William MacDowell. He then attempted to thwart the legal system by disposing of their remains.

This Article Contents

A PENSIONER who was charged with killing Renee MacRae and her infant son in 1976 was convicted of the crimes.

In November 1976, Renee and Andrew, both three years old, were murdered by William MacDowell. He then attempted to thwart the legal system by disposing of their remains. This afternoon, a jury at the High Court in Inverness found MacDowell guilty of the murders. The offenses were allegedly committed in a layby on the A9 at Dalmagarry, close to Inverness, as well as other locations.

MacDowell, now of Penrith, Cumbria, was also convicted of torching a BMW motor, getting rid of a trunk hatch off a Volvo, and discarding a stroller to conceal the deaths. He was given a life sentence with the recommendation that he serve at least 30 years in jail for the killings. “These killings appear to have been premeditated, planned, and carried out in the most deliberate fashion – not a spontaneous act or spur of the moment,” judge Lord Armstrong said as he handed down the sentence following MacDowell.

“You murdered your victims, removed their bodies, and then threw away their belongings, including the boy’s pushchair. The sister of Mrs. MacRae, Morag Steventon, later said: “After more than 45 years, the agony of losing Renee and Andrew has not subsided. You then took efforts to hide the atrocities you had perpetrated. Not a day goes by that neither are in our thoughts.

Andrew Vanished

The BMW of the 36-year-old mother of two was discovered burned out at the scene, but the pair vanished without a trace. The court had been informed of Mrs. MacRae’s affair with married MacDowell at the time she and Andrew vanished. Mrs. MacRae and her husband were divorcing at the time. On November 12, 1976, Mrs. MacRae left her home to meet McDowell. Despite being at the center of the investigation, McDowell vehemently denied any role in her abduction.

His attorneys had presented unique incrimination and alibi defenses during the trial, but the prosecutor, Alex Prentice KC, said that there was a strong circumstantial case against him. The motive for murder, he said, was that Mrs. MacRae was growing demanding about Mr. MacDowell leaving his life. They will start a new life in Shetland, he had assured her.

The senior officer who caught MacDowell, Detective Chief Inspector Brian Geddes, continued, “His motive for killing them is that things were coming to a head for William MacDowell. He had to act because he foresaw that Renee MacRae’s relationship with the public and his employer would come to light. He did this to protect his own life. William Macdowell was used to a particular quality of life and wanted to remain with his wife and their two children.

Operation Abermule

The remains of Mrs. MacRae and her son Andrew have never been located. The senior officer who shot MacDowell has promised to meet with him in an effort to find the remains of the victims. Operation Abermule, a specialized review with a team of committed officers tasked with reviewing all the material, was introduced by Police Scotland in 2019.

When they made a breakthrough, MacDowell—who resided in Penrith, in the north of England, with his wife—was taken. “I fully want to continue engaging with MacDowell,” DCI Geddes stated. “This would be a request for him to reveal the whereabouts of the bodies. “Nothing in the investigation so far has pointed us in the direction of any other places the bodies may be.

“As everyone knows we explored Leanach Quarry a couple of years but nothing was found. “I beg MacDowell to kindly tell us where the bodies are for the sake of Renee and Andrew’s family and friends. “The family has waited since 1976 to have that closure, and they deserve it. “He simply needs to notify us and that will allow us to make the effort to discover them.

Operation Abermule Remains Open

“We won’t give up trying to find them. Operation Abermule remains open because the bodies are still outstanding. “I’m still hopeful, and I’m hoping MacDowell will talk to us and tell us where Renee and Andrew are. “We must continue, and we are certain now. We’re hoping he will now talk to us. The case was originally examined when the two went missing, in 1987, and then again in 2004. Then, in 2018, a brand-new team of committed officers was given full responsibility for this case. Despite their success, the cops worried that MacDowell’s deteriorating health might prevent him from going to trial.

A number of the witnesses in the case had already died away, but officers read their testimony from their witness statements at the time to the court. However, despite the conviction, DCI Geddes warned, “We might never find out what happened to Renee and Andrew at the layby that night. There’s a chance we’ll never understand how something happened.

William MacDowell Age, Family, Early Life

William MacDowell is 80 years old. He holds British nationality and he belongs to white ethnicity. His actual birth date and Zodiac sign are unknown.

william macdowell family
Source: DAILYMAIL

There is currently no verified information about William MacDowell’s parents yet.

William MacDowell Wife, What about his Children?

They vanished after leaving their house in Inverness with son Andrew, 3, and William MacDowell was found guilty of their deaths.

William MacDowell Career, What is his profession?

There is no information available on the internet about William MacDowell’s professional career.

How much is William MacDowell Net Worth?

So yet, we do not have any specific information regarding William MacDowell’s net worth.

Also Read: Connor Richards, 23, dies in a fatal car accident

Which school and college did he go to?

The name of the school William MacDowell attended and the topic he studied, however, is unknown.

Is he available on any kind of social media platform?

William MacDowell is not active on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Physical Appearance of William MacDowell’s Height, Weight

HeightNot Available
Hair ColorWhite
Eye colorBrown
WeightNot Available
Body typeFit
Sexual orientationStraight

Interesting facts about William MacDowell’s should be knows

NationalityEnglish
Ethnicitywhite
Zodiac signNot Available
Relationship StatusMarried

close