S17E06 | Renee and Andrew MacRae (Dalmagarry, Scottish Highlands, 1976)

In November 1976, 36-year-old Renee MacRae and her 3-year-old son Andrew vanished without a trace after leaving their Inverness home for what was meant to be a weekend away.

What followed was one of the most baffling missing persons cases Scotland has ever seen - a case with no suspects, no evidence and no answers for over four decades.

When I first began researching this one, I knew nothing about it. What unfolded before my eyes as I dug deeper left me stunned. Layer by layer, the truth began to surface, and by the time it did, the damage had already been done.

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Intro music:⁣
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣
davidjohnbrady.com

Disclaimer:
The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

References:
10-man team takes over wife hunt. (1976, December 3). Daily Record, 2.
Airs, G. (1976a, November 24). HUNT FOR ZAPATA. Daily Record, 1.
Airs, G. (1976b, December 13). NEW OPROBE IN MISSING WIFE HUNT. Daily Record, 13.
Airs, G. (1977, May 13). THE SECRET WITNESS. Daily Record, 1–11.
Anderson, G. (1976, November 18). MY SISTER IS DEAD: SHOCK AS HUNT GOES ON FOR CAR BLAZE MUM. Daily Record, 1.
Barker, D. (2022, September 26). Murder accused told handyman: ‘I did and I didn’t’ kill Renee MacRae, court told. The Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/renee-macrae-rosemary-inverness-bmw-valium-b1028146.html
Beattie, B. (1976, November 21). “Fingers pointed at me over missing mother.” Sunday Express, 11.
Bisset, A. (1976, November 20). Join-in-search plea for 200 volunteers. Aberdeen Press and Journal, 1.
BLAZE RIDDLE AS WIFE AND SON VANISH. (1976, November 16). Aberdeen Evening Express, 1.
Blood in the boot. (1977, October 28). Aberdeen Evening Express, 13.
“BODY” IN SACK TURNS OUT TO BE RUBBISH. (1977, November 7). Aberdeen Evening Express, 1.
Concern rises for blaze car pair. (1976, November 17). Aberdeen Evening Express, 1.
Dow, A. (1976a, November 19). MY WIFE’S SECRET LOVER. Daily Record, 1–48.
Dow, A. (1976b, November 20). THE LAST HOURS OF A LOST WIFE. Daily Record, 9.
Dow, A. (1977a, January 4). BLOOD CLUE IN HUNT FOR WIFE. Daily Record, 28.
Dow, A. (1977b, June 2). DOGS JOIN JUNT FOR MacRAES. Daily Record, 13.
Dow, A. (1977c, November 2). A FACE UNDER THE WATER. Daily Record, 1.
Five police theories in Macrae mystery. (1977, January 19). The Scotsman, 11.
FLOORS RIPPED UP IN HUNT FOR PAIR. (1976, November 22). Aberdeen Evening Express, 1.
Forensic breakthroughs in cold cases: The MacRae mystery solved. (2024, November 9). Newshub. https://www.newshub.co.uk/automotive/various/2024/11/09/forensic-breakthroughs-in-cold-cases-the-macrae-mystery-solved/
Forsyth, V. (2024, March 22). Walk in the Past: Murderer Bill McDowell at Glenochil. Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser. https://www.alloaadvertiser.com/opinion/24194117.walk-past-murderer-bill-mcdowell-glenochil/
Four decades on, the many twists and turns of the Renee and Andrew MacRae case. (2023, September 4). Press and Journal. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/inverness/3405430/four-decades-renee-andrew-macrae-case-murder/
HMA v William MacDowell. (2022, September 30). Judiciary of Scotland. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.judiciary.scot/home/sentences-judgments/sentences-and-opinions/2022/09/30/hma-v-william-macdowell
HUNT: TROOPS OUT TODAY. (1976, November 18). Aberdeen Press and Journal, 1.
IS RENEE MACRAE IN MIDDLE EAST? (1976, November 21). Sunday Post, 1.
IT’S TIME FOR ONE LAST PUSH. (1977, October 25). Aberdeen Evening Express, 8.
Love, J. (1976a, November 24). “MEXICAN” BOOST IN BIG SEARCH. Aberdeen Evening Express, 1.
Love, J. (1976b, November 30). New squad face huge task. Aberdeen Evening Express, 9.
Love, J., & Bisset, A. (1976, November 23). Search shifts to husband’s firm. Aberdeen Press and Journal, 1.
Love, J., & Love, D. (1976, November 27). Blue pushchair sought in Highland mystery. Aberdeen Press and Journal, 1.
Love, J., & MacPhail, N. (1976, November 20). SHE’S ALIVE, CLAIMES OTHER MAN. Aberdeen Evening Express, 11.
Love, J., McPhail, N., & Taylor, B. (1976, November 25). THE NIGHT I FOUND MACRAE BLAZE CAR. Aberdeen Evening Express, 1.
Man, 80 guilty of murdering Renee and Andrew MacRae in 1976. (2022, September). Police Scotland. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2022/september/man-80-guilty-of-murdering-renee-and-andrew-macrae-in-1976/
McLaughlin, R. (2022, September 29). RENEE AND ANDREW MACRAE: The trial of William MacDowell in full. Inverness Courier. https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/the-trial-in-full-the-day-to-day-evidence-that-led-to-the-c-289200/
Missing wife: police seek men. (1976, November 22). Coventry Evening Telegraph, 1.
Mowat, B. (1976, November 26). BLAZE CAR CLUE IS FOUND. Daily Record, 4–48.
Mowat, B., & Airs, G. (1976, November 17). RIDDLE OF CAR WIFE. Daily Record, 36.
MY SECRET FEAR. (1977, October 26). Aberdeen Evening Express, 11.
NEW SIGHTING IN MACRAE HUNT. (1976, November 23). Aberdeen Evening Express, 1.
North police use big digger in new MacRae search. (1977, April 2). Aberdeen Press and Journal, 1.
Pledger, A. (1976, November 19). Woman and son feared dead. The Scotsman, 1.
Renee and Andrew MacRae: Man, 77, charged with murders. (2019, September 11). BBC News. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-49661128
Renee MacRae murder: Police hope for fresh clues in search for bodies. (2023, August 18). BBC News. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-66498071
Renee MacRae: Prosecution says accused “only person to benefit.” (2022, September 27). BBC News. Retrieved April 7, 2025, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-63048273
Shields, A. (2023, February 15). BREAKING: Police confirm Inverness double murderer William MacDowell has died following conviction for killing Renee MacRae and son Andrew in 1976. Inverness Courier. https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/renee-macraes-murderer-dies-in-jail-303605/
THE FATHER OF MISSING RENEE’S CHILD. (1987, December 17). Daily Record, 7.
THE KEY TO THE MACRAE MYSTERY. (1976, November 24). Aberdeen Evening Express, 8.
Tributes after ‘pivotal’ witness in Renee MacRae murder trial passes away. (2024, November 14). Inverness Courier. https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/tributes-after-pivotal-witness-in-renee-macrae-murder-tria-366337/