Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Readers are advised to exercise caution.
Execution after more than 45 years after the commission of the crime, after reaching the age of 80
Renee MacRae and her husband, Gordon MacRae, were divorced before she and her son Andrew disappeared in 1976. Renee, a 36-year-old mother of two, and her son reportedly vanished from Inverness on November 12 of that year. That same night, her BMW was found burning in a car park in Dalmagarry. Authorities have searched for the mother and son duo for decades, but have found no clues that could lead them to their remains.
From the beginning, detectives suspected Renee MacRae's lover, William MacDowell, of killing her and Andrew. Decades later, in 2022, a jury convicted MacDowell of murdering Renee and her three-year-old son. He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 30 years. MacDowell died in prison months after his conviction.
BBC's Murder Trial: The Disappearance of Renee and Andrew MacRae revisited the mysterious disappearance. The documentary attempted to find new clues in the case of Renee and Andrew MacRae.
