Family of cheese wire murder victim in Aberdeen urges killer’s relatives to share DNA to solve 1983 cold case.
George’s body was found by his taxi in 1983, shortly after he picked up a fare nearby with the cheese wire found close to the scene. Despite initial investigations, the killer was never caught, and the case remains an open investigation for cold case detectives.
Police found two hundred possible DNA matches last year and hope to find a family link to crime scene DNA. George’s family fears some relatives suspect a deceased family member and, as a result, may be hesitant to come forward to the police.
Alex McKay, George’s nephew, spoke about their need for closure, saying that he believes someone knows the killer’s identity. Alex hopes their conscience will encourage them to act and finally come forward to police.
Even if the killer is now deceased, the closure still remains key to the family. Alex asks people to think of his family’s pain and to cast aside any instinct to protect someone who may have been involved.
The family is offering a substantial reward for information leading to the identification of the killer. They will pay £50,000 if it results in solving the case, with an additional £10,000 offered earlier for a helpful DNA swab.
Scientists developed a male DNA profile from crime scene evidence through the use of modern analysis techniques, marking a significant breakthrough. Detectives now need to find a DNA match to this profile.
Alex says the killer could come from anywhere in the world. Aberdeen’s oil industry made it a global and diverse hub at the time. Police initially contacted two hundred people, and now, Alex is asking those resisting DNA tests to think of his family.
George, known as Dod, picked up a fare at 8:30 PM on September 29, 1983, at the New Marcliffe Hotel. He told dispatch he was going to Culter, before he was attacked and killed on Pitfodels Station Road.
Two cyclists witnessed the assault and alerted the police to the crime. Sadly, George died before police arrived to help. His wallet was stolen during the attack; tragically, his wife Jessie passed away in 2004, never seeing justice for her husband.
Detective Inspector James Callander spoke about the case, stating that the family deserves answers for this brutal murder. He reinforced that the police keep focusing on family DNA, which may eventually lead to people who can help them find George’s killer.
He clarified that the DNA donors are not currently suspects in the case. He stated that police are still receiving tips from the public and that all new information gets full investigation. He asked anyone with info to contact officers, as they need to give George’s family closure.