Scots quarry is drained in unsolved murder case
Police are “extremely confident” of finding vital evidence after draining water from a Scottish quarry in a bid to solve a historic cold case.
Leanach quarry, near Inverness, has been drained as officers search for new leads in the search for Renee Macrae and her threeyear-old son Andrew, who disappeared almost 43 years ago.
Ms Macrae’s BMW was found burnt out in a lay-by on the A9 in November 1976, but the pair were never seen again.
Detective Inspector Brian Geddes said: “Silt and debris from the bottom of the quarry are now being removed by lorry to undergo forensic tests at another location.”
A quarry has been drained of water allowing police to look for new leads in the search for am other and son who disappeared more than 40 years ago.
Renee Macr ae and three - year-old Andrew were last seen driving out of Inverness on 12 November 1976.
The 36-year-old’s BMW was found burned out in a lay-by on the A9 near Dalmagarry, 12 miles south of the city, but the pair were not seen again.
Officers have now begun searching Lean achquarry,whichh as been drained of water, in the latest development of what police are treating as a murder investigation.
The site was previously deemed too dangerous to use divers but police are“extremely confident that vita levidence” will be found after what has been described as “fantastic progress”.
DI Brian Geddes said: “The team involved at Lean ach quarry have put in an incredible amount of work and their tireless efforts mean we have now started the detailed searching phase of the operation.
“Pumping the water clear was a huge challenge, but we have made fantastic progress in a very short time.
“Si lt and debris from the bottom of the quarry are now being removed by lorry to undergo forensic tests at another location.
“The whole team remains extremely confident that vital evidence we believe was hidden in Leanach will be recovered in the coming weeks.”
He added: “I want to reassure the family and friends of Renee and Andrew that we will not be leaving here until every last inch is searched.”
In 2004, a full cold case review resulted in a monthlong excavation of Dalmagarry quarry.
Several days were spent at Lean ach quarry last Oc toberwh en officers released an image of young Andrew around the time of what would be his 45th birthday.
A picture of a Silver Cross push chair, identical to the one used by Ms Macr ae for her son, was also released.
It was believed to have been with them when they went missing although it too was never recovered.
In 2006, a report naming a suspect was sent to prose - cutors but it was later 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.