Police have issued a renewed appeal for information to help locate the body of Suzanne Pilley.
Suzanne’s murder, along with the investigation to bring David Gilroy to justice and the ongoing investigation to locate her body will feature in Robbie Coltrane’s Critical Evidence, airing on the Crime + Investigation Channel at 10pm on Sunday 11th March.
Ahead of this programme, Suzanne’s mother and sister have spoken out for the first time in the hope it may prompt information that could lead police to where her body is.
Thirty-eight-year-old Suzanne went missing on her way to work in Thistle Street in Edinburgh on Tuesday 4th May 2010.
The following day David Gilroy who has since been convicted of her murder transported her body to Argyll and Bute in the boot of his car before driving back to the capital but there are gaps of several hours in his journey on both legs between Lochgilphead and Inveraray where officers believe he spent time hiding her body, which has never been found.
Today, just days after what would have been Suzanne’s 46th birthday, Police Scotland are releasing a video on its social media channels where Suzanne’s mother Sylvia and sister Gail have spoken of the effect Suzanne’s murder has had on the family and an appeal to the public for information.
Alongside their interview, police are issuing an animated map of the routes Gilroy drove to help jog people’s memories from almost eight years ago.
In early May 2010 –
• Iron Man 2 was the big new film at the cinema
• The first series of Luther premiered on television
• It was a 12 goal thriller at Fir Park in the SPL on Wednesday 5th May – Motherwell 6 Hibernian 6
• The top of the charts looked like this – She Said by Plan B at number 3, OMG by Usher featuring Will.I.Am at 2 and Good Times by Roll Deep at number 1
• The General Election was held on Thursday 6th May, with the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition being formed
• It was the May Day Bank Holiday on Monday 3rd May
Suzanne’s sister Gail said:“Every time she’s mentioned, you struggle with the fact she’s not been found. It’s hard to think about her because we just don’t know where she is and that’s the first thought that comes into your head when she’s mentioned is just, where are you? So it’s just extremely difficult to not know where she is and to not have laid her to rest.
“She wasn’t treated with any dignity in her death, she was discarded and we just do not know where she is. And that is just sometimes unbearable but we have to move forward and I would love to be able to just give her that funeral, that dignity that every person deserves but unfortunately we can’t do that.”
Suzanne’s mother Sylvia added:“I feel, and my husband feels that it’s as if she didn’t matter and she’s gone and we can’t do anything about it. So we have to rely on the public if they’re out and about in that area, maybe dog walkers, and we’ve been fortunate with the forestry workers who’ve been very good. Any position that looks as if it’s been disturbed they notify the police, and we’re very grateful for that because we hope that one day she will be found.”
New appeal from @policescotland for information in the Suzanne Pilley case pic.twitter.com/lemX2RK2Wb
— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) 8 March 2018
Detective Superintendent Stuart Houston continues to lead the inquiry to find Suzanne, he said:“Suzanne’s family have been dignified and composed throughout their ordeal and whilst I have been involved in many difficult and traumatic cases, I cannot begin to comprehend how they must feel every day not knowing where their daughter and sister is. My thoughts go out to them and their bravery in agreeing to speak so that we can try to get them the answers they deserve.
“Considerable searches have been carried out in Argyll but have sadly turned up nothing. Whilst David Gilroy continues to maintain he is innocent, the only avenue left open at this time is a new piece of information from a member of the public.
“The gaps in Gilroy’s journey, and the foliage and debris on his car tell us that he went off road somewhere near to the Rest and Be Thankful, so anyone who was in that area on 5th May 2010 and could have seen or heard something that might be the missing link in our investigation.
“Equally, I would appeal to anyone who may be walking or camping in the Argyll forest and may notice anything unusual. Any calls we receive will be followed up appropriately. Suzanne’s family have seen justice done, but we now need to bring her home so she can be laid to rest.”
Anyone information that could assist this investigation should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting Operation Mica, email SCDMITEdinburgh@scotland.pnn.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
