Military intelligence specialists from the Ministry of Defence have been helping in the painstaking search for the remains of a mother and son who were murdered nearly 50 years ago.
Renee MacRae, 36, and her three-year-old son Andrew were killed by William MacDowell in November 1976.
Married MacDowell, who had been having an affair with Mrs MacRae, was convicted in 2022 but died behind bars at the age of 81 without revealing where he had disposed of their bodies.
Police Scotland said a number of sites near Nairnside, east of Inverness, had been subject to detailed analysis since the start of this week.
The force said the survey work was conducted by members of the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI) – part of Military Intelligence Services (MIS) – using drones and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) equipment.
Detective Superintendent Brian Geddes said: “The results of this scoping activity will be studied to assess whether further search activity is required.
“I want to thank our military colleagues who have assisted and provided their expertise to this survey, and also the landowners for their assistance with access through the week.
“Our work continues as we try to ensure the family get the answers they deserve.”
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Armed forces minister Al Carns said: “Our world-class professionals have once again shown how the armed forces can bring real value to supporting their civilian partners at home in the UK.
“I want to congratulate our specialists from the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence on a successful operation to support Police Scotland’s search for Renee and Andrew MacRae.
“This shows our whole-of-society approach in action, and we will continue to support Police Scotland in any way we can.”
Mrs MacRae and Andrew have been missing since 12 November 1976.
The pair left their home in Inverness, with Mrs MacRae’s BMW car found later that day on fire in a layby on the A9 near Dalmagarry.
MacDowell and mother-of-two Mrs MacRae had been having an affair for more than four years when she vanished.
Mrs MacRae was estranged from her husband, Gordon, who was MacDowell’s boss at Hugh MacRae Builders Limited.
At his trial, MacDowell denied any wrongdoing and was brought to the High Court in Inverness each day in a wheelchair by his wife Rosemary.
However, jurors rejected his claim the killings were committed by somebody else and convicted him of the crimes.
Judge Lord Armstrong described the murders as “executions” as he handed down a life sentence with at least 30 years behind bars.
MacDowell, an inmate at HMP Glenochil in Clackmannanshire, died at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in February 2023.
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Investigations have continued since 1976, and an extensive search of Dalmagarry Quarry was carried out during a month-long excavation in 2004.
Officers returned to the area last year following the discovery of an item during roadworks on the A9.
In 2019, Leanach Quarry was excavated as part of the probe.
In August 2023, police said officers were looking into properties linked to MacDowell, as well as other places he may have met Mrs MacRae during their relationship.
DS Geddes added: “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 to provide them with the dignity they deserve.”
