Police search quarry in hunt for pair last seen in 1976
Police investigating the disappearance of a mother and her three-year-old son more than 40 years ago are revisiting key sites in the case for potential new leads.
Christine Macrae – known as Renee – and her son Andrew were last seen driving out of Inverness on 12 November, 1976.
Later that night, the 36-yearold mother-of-two’s BMW was found burned out in a lay-by on the A9 near Dalmagarry, 12 miles south of the city, and the pair have not been seen since.
The investigation into their disappearance has been subject to ongoing reviews, which includedafullcoldcasereview in 2004, resulting in a monthlong excavation of Dalmagarry quarry.
Officers have now started searching Leanach quarry near Inverness with forensic teams “in order to establish any further opportunities to progress enquiries”.
Detective Inspector Brian Geddes said: “As part of the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Renee and Andrew Macrae, officers are visiting key areas of interest in order to establish any further opportunities to progress inquiries. The passage of time is no barrier to the investigation of unresolved incidents of this nature.
“Police Scotland, along with our partners in the Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, will continue to pursue any opportunities to progress the investigation, which will hopefully provide answers for the family of Renee and Andrew Macrae.
“Anyone with new information that could assist the investigation can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
On the evening of her disappearance, Mrs Macrae, 36, had set off to meet her lover Bill Mcdowell in Perth but he insisted they never met.
There has been speculation that Mrs Macrae and her son were murdered and their bodies buried at either Dalmagarry quarry or at construction works for the A9.
In 2006, a report naming a suspect was sent to prosecutors but they decided there was insufficient evidence to take action.
In 2016, police said a groundpenetrating radar report carried out near where Mrs Macrae’s car was found had indicated “an anomaly” in the road surface.
However, that section of the road had not been under construction at the time of the disappearance.
In a message released two years ago to mark 40 years since her disappearance, Mrs Macrae’s family said: “Forty years have passed since the disappearance of Renee and
0 Renee Macrae and her three-year-old son Andrew were heading for Perth when they disappeared
Andrew and as a family we remain collectively heartbroken to have lost a much loved and cherished mother, sister, brother and friend to many.
“We cannot give up hope that somebody holds information which could help lead us to the answers as to what happened to our beloved Renee and Andrew.
“Our message is it is never too late. We are confident these answers will come from the local community and as a family we urge that person to come forward – until such time the person who caused harm to Renee and Andrew will continue to escape justice and we will be without closure.”