Police in Scotland investigating the unsolved murder of a taxi driver in 1983 have revealed they have 200 possible genetic matches in their search for the killer. George “Dod” Murdoch, 58, was found dead beside his car, with a cheese wire garrotte lying next to him. A £50,000 reward has been available for information leading to the killer’s capture. Police Scotland will now attempt to contact people from an initial list of 200 possible genetic matches to establish family links to a profile from the scene, but the individuals are not being treated as suspects.
Murdoch picked up a passenger in Aberdeen’s west end on the night of 29th September 1983, and told his control room he was driving to Culter. Two young cyclists saw him being attacked by the perpetrator roughly two miles into his journey and raised the alarm. When officers arrived, they discovered his body close to Pitfodels Station Road. His wallet and money had been stolen, and the motive for the murder has not been established.
Forensic scientists previously developed a male DNA profile from crime scene samples using more advanced evaluation techniques, but the police need to find a match to solve the case. Detective Inspector James Callander stated that the newly-identified “familial DNA” matching profiles would help trace people who would be able to provide relevant information about the case. Familial DNA analysis is based on the concept that DNA is inherited, and all members of a family share some portion of their DNA.
Callander went on to say, “The familial DNA links identified will assist in tracing people who can help with our inquiries. I would ask everyone to think back to when George was murdered. If you have any concerns at all from around that time, please don’t dismiss them and contact us. The solving of this horrific crime requires the help of the public. I would urge anyone with information to please come forward. We want to give George’s family some much-needed closure.”
In a statement, Murdoch’s family thanked the police for their hard work and dedication in the case, saying “This latest development with the familial DNA is a huge leap forward and we thank the police for their continued endeavor in getting to this stage. It is very encouraging and refreshes our hope that we can finally identify who is responsible for Dod’s murder.” Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact Police Scotland
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