Police have called off their search to find the remains of Muriel McKay, after an unsuccessful eight-day search by specialist teams at a Hertfordshire farm, where it is thought she may have been buried.
Ms McKay, 55, wife of a newspaper executive Alick McKay, was kidnapped from her home in Wimbledon, south west London, more than 54 years ago. She was held ransom for £1 million by two men who had mistaken her for Anna Murdoch, the then-wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
She was traced to Stocking Farm, near Bishop’s Stortford, but her body was never found. Two brothers, Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein, were convicted of her kidnap and murder. The former died in prison in 2009, while the latter was deported to Trinidad and Tobago after serving his sentence.
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The farm was searched at the time of the murder, and again in 2022 using 30 police officers, ground penetrating radar and specialist forensic archaeologists, but nothing new was discovered. After the family was provided with new information by Mr Hosein last December and re-examination of all evidence, including speaking to Mr Hosein in Trinidad, the decision was made to search the farm again.
“After eight days of searching, unfortunately we have not been able to find Muriel’s remains. We all shared a hope and desire we would find her burial site and bring some closure to her family and I am so sorry we have not been able to do that. This is not the outcome any of us wanted,” said Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin, Specialist Crime.
“We have searched all the areas identified as the possible site for Muriel’s remains, including all of the former manure heap, and far beyond. This follows a search carried out at the farm in spring 2022 which unfortunately was also unsuccessful. We can conclusively say the information given by Hosein in the last two years is not correct, Muriel is not at the location he has indicated.
“As we have said previously, Muriel’s family are aware it would not be proportionate to carry out any further searches and that our investigation is now at an end. We are saddened that we were unable to bring them the closure they so desperately long for.”
“We are extremely grateful to the property owners for allowing us to search the land, causing considerable disruption to their daily lives.
Police say that although questions have been raised about why Mr Hosein was not brought to the UK to assist with the search, based on his reliability as a witness and the likelihood of a successful outcome, they stand by their decision not to do this.
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