Sister desperate to see killer in court
Inverness businessman Gordon MacRae, on the year of her disappearance and lived with her sons Gordon and Andrew. Andrew was in fact Mr MacDowell’s son – a fact he only confirmed a few days after a major investigation was launched by Northern Constabulary. Mr MacDowell has always maintained he did not see the pair all day and both he and M r Ma c R a e were able to provide police with firm alibis for their whereabouts that evening four decades ago.
In
2004, Northern Constabulary launched a cold case inquiry and extensive excavations were carried out at Dalmagarry quarry, but to no avail.
Former chief constable Ian Latimer authorised the excavation and Morag said that was the only time she was kept updated on the investigation.
She said: “My criticism is not directed at the police involved in the search of the Dalmagarry Quarry. They kept me informed in everything they did.
“Up until then they never did and I don’t know what they are doing or planning to do just now. They don’t tell you anything.”
Leanach quarry in Culloden Moor has also featured heavily in police investigations.
Naval divers searched it for two days after an underwater camera filmed what appeared to be a head wrapped in a supermarket carrier bag.
It was not known if the right bag had been found but police said Leanach had been eliminated from the inquiry.
The image of the head was released to the press and published in November 1977.
Morag believes Leanach should not be ruled out unless the 40ft deep quarry is drained completely. The image of the head haunted her for years.
“That was horrendous for me,” she said.
“The police never told me they were going to do that, I opened a paper and saw it.
“Even the thought of it being one of them disturbs me.
“It has all got to be somewhere – two bodies, a pushchair and whatever luggage they had, it’s a lot of things to dispose of.
“So many years have gone by, I wonder if they will ever solve it.
“But bringing someone to court could make the difference.”