A killer who murdered a woman and her son in the Scottish Highlands almost 50 years ago received compassionate care at the end of his life, an inquiry has ruled.
William MacDowell, 81, died at Forth Valley Hospital in February 2023, months after being jailed for killing his lover, Renee MacRae and her three-year-old son, Andrew.
A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) ruled that nothing could have been done to prevent his death.
His cause of death was listed as decompensated cardiac failure, hypertension, alcoholic liver cirrhosis and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.
He had evaded justice for 45 years before being given a life sentence for the murders which took place in November 1976.
MacDowell refused to reveal the location of the bodies which have still not been found.
The FAI, which was mandatory because MacDowell was in custody at the time, made no recommendations.
Sheriff Euan Gosney said: “Mr MacDowell received compassionate care as well as a good level of care planning around his daily care needs, consistent reviews and palliative considerations in order to manage his symptoms.
“There was no evidence to suggest any precautions which could reasonably have been taken whereby his death might realistically have been avoided, nor any defects in any system of working which contributed to his death.”
Andy Shanks, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: “We note the sheriff’s determination.
“The procurator fiscal ensured that the full facts and circumstances of Mr MacDowell’s death were presented in evidence at the mandatory fatal accident inquiry.”
In March, it was announced that detectives were working with military intelligence specialists as searches continued for the bodies of Mrs MacRae and her son.
A number of sites near Nairnside, east of Inverness, were surveyed, with military experts using drones and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) equipment.
Police said the results will be studied to assess whether further search activity is needed.
Mrs MacRae, 36, and her son left their home in Inverness on November 12th, 1976.
The car owned by Mrs MacRae – with whom MacDowell was having an affair – was found later that day on fire in a lay-by near Dalmagarry.