UK UK - Muriel McKay, 55, ‘kidnapped from her Wimbledon home’ 29 Dec 1969

[imstilla.grandma]

Ian McKay, 82, said: "The officer in charge told me my sister Di is banned and won't be allowed to visit. I was dumbfounded.

"He wouldn't say why, but I think it must be that she complained before about his outrageous behaviour towards her and he's now under internal investigation

The search, which began on Monday, is being done with the permission of the farm owner Ian Marsh. Footpaths that go through the farm have been blocked off and an air exclusion zone has been imposed.

Hosein, who was 22 at the time, kidnapped Muriel, 55, just after Christmas in 1969 with his older brother Arthur.

MSN

 

[RichardKimble]

Not unexpected imo.

Police search for murdered Muriel McKay's remains is 'unsuccessful': Detectives say they have found 'no evidence relating to her kidnap and murder' - after they ruled out flying her killer over from Trinidad to join dig at farm​

Police say search for Muriel McKay's remains was 'unsuccessful'

Police have announced the search for Muriel McKay's remains was 'unsuccessful' 55 years after her murder.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Grouse]

A new BBC podcast about the case for those that can access it - "Worse Than Murder"

 

[dotr]

Worse Than Murder tells the story of a kidnap and murder case that refuses to remain closed

Halfway through production of the podcast, police started digging for a body. The series’ presenter told GQ what happened next

www.gq-magazine.co.uk

By Josiah Gogarty 31 July 2024

''But in January, Muriel’s daughter Dianne, and Dianne’s son Mark Dyer, flew to Trinidad to speak to Nizamodeen Hosein, who had by then served his time and outlived his brother Arthur. Hosein told them where exactly on the farm Muriel had been buried over 50 years previously – and after the Metropolitan Police flew out to interview him too, a fresh dig at the site was carried out this month. It turned up nothing – Hosein, it seems, lied. But it drew MacSorley into a live investigation alongside the McKay family members, who she had at that point been interviewing for months.''

 

[Grouse]

Worse Than Murder tells the story of a kidnap and murder case that refuses to remain closed

Halfway through production of the podcast, police started digging for a body. The series’ presenter told GQ what happened next

www.gq-magazine.co.uk

By Josiah Gogarty 31 July 2024
View attachment 521684
''But in January, Muriel’s daughter Dianne, and Dianne’s son Mark Dyer, flew to Trinidad to speak to Nizamodeen Hosein, who had by then served his time and outlived his brother Arthur. Hosein told them where exactly on the farm Muriel had been buried over 50 years previously – and after the Metropolitan Police flew out to interview him too, a fresh dig at the site was carried out this month. It turned up nothing – Hosein, it seems, lied. But it drew MacSorley into a live investigation alongside the McKay family members, who she had at that point been interviewing for months.''

So much for his request to come to the UK then. It would have no doubt been a fiasco like the one with Ian Brady up on Saddleworth Moor - just after a trip out

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1966886726917316671

 

[RichardKimble]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1966886726917316671

Muriel McKay may be buried in East End

On December 29, 1969, the 55-year-old vanished after two brothers mistook her for the then-wife of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch .

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Grouse]

Muriel McKay may be buried in East End

On December 29, 1969, the 55-year-old vanished after two brothers mistook her for the then-wife of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch .

www.dailymail.co.uk

Wow, that seems a bit mean! - "They have also contacted the leaseholder of the Bethnal Green property who said they cannot carry out a scan with a ground-penetrating rador.

Mrs McKay's grandson said: 'We are so desperate for some closure. If someone believed that a body was buried in your garden, surely you would let them in to scan?"

 

[Ssschu]

A woman who was kidnapped for ransom in 1969 has been officially declared dead by a High Court judge.

After receiving a tip-off this year, the McKay family had requested to use scanners to search for her body behind a shop in east London, but said they were denied access by leaseholders.

They hope the declaration of her death will help them pursue an injunction to formally search the site for Mrs McKay's remains.

It grants "letters of administration" to Mrs McKay's son and daughter, "for the limited purpose of obtaining the body of Muriel Frieda McKay".

Mrs McKay's son Ian told Radio 4's Today programme: "The decision by the High Court now allows us to proceed with what we believe - what I believe - what we believe generally is the hottest lead we had in the entire investigation.

"I'm 83 now and I'm keen to have a final answer on this.

Muriel McKay is declared dead after her 1969 kidnap and murder

The High Court declaration now allows her family to pursue an injunction to search for her remains.

www.bbc.com

 

[dotr]

Why oh why was permission to search the property denied?
10 October 2025 lengthy article, rbbm.

Muriel McKay family 'blocked' from radar yard scan search

Muriel McKay's family say a deathbed confession points to a new site where she could be buried.

www.bbc.com

Muriel McKay was married to Alick McKay, deputy to Rupert Murdoch, and was kidnapped after being mistaken for Mr Murdoch's then-wife

Arthur Hosein, left, worked at a tailor's shop in Bethnal Green and the tailor had also visited Rooks Farm

''The family of a woman who was kidnapped for ransom in 1969 said they were "being blocked" from locating her body after "new evidence" emerged.''

''The McKay family wants to conduct "a simple ground scan" of the yard, but claimed they were being denied access by some of the leaseholders.''

The McKay family say they want surveyors to carry out "a non-invasive ground penetrating radar scan" of the yard.

They said it would be a simple process taking a few hours, "with no digging or disruption".

 

[Grouse]

Why oh why was permission to search the property denied?
10 October 2025 lengthy article, rbbm.

Muriel McKay family 'blocked' from radar yard scan search

Muriel McKay's family say a deathbed confession points to a new site where she could be buried.

www.bbc.com

View attachment 624782
Muriel McKay was married to Alick McKay, deputy to Rupert Murdoch, and was kidnapped after being mistaken for Mr Murdoch's then-wife
View attachment 624783
Arthur Hosein, left, worked at a tailor's shop in Bethnal Green and the tailor had also visited Rooks Farm

''The family of a woman who was kidnapped for ransom in 1969 said they were "being blocked" from locating her body after "new evidence" emerged.''

''The McKay family wants to conduct "a simple ground scan" of the yard, but claimed they were being denied access by some of the leaseholders.''

The McKay family say they want surveyors to carry out "a non-invasive ground penetrating radar scan" of the yard.

They said it would be a simple process taking a few hours, "with no digging or disruption".

It's seems very odd, and possibly a bit suspicious (MOO!) that the leaseholders are blocking this. Surely a warrant can be obtained to make the search.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1989279520046624894

 

[RichardKimble]

It's seems very odd, and possibly a bit suspicious (MOO!) that the leaseholders are blocking this. Surely a warrant can be obtained to make the search.

Recent digs occurred at the farm she was held at way back in 1969, the digs in 2024 were based on information from her surviving killer, now why would you put yourself in for significant disruption unless there is irrefutable evidence that her remains are at your premises.

 

[Gators North]

Quoting @dotr:

“The McKay family say they want surveyors to carry out "a non-invasive ground penetrating radar scan" of the yard.

They said it would be a simple process taking a few hours, "with no digging or disruption".

So there would be no disruption.

 

[Grouse]

Quoting @dotr:

“The McKay family say they want surveyors to carry out "a non-invasive ground penetrating radar scan" of the yard.

They said it would be a simple process taking a few hours, "with no digging or disruption".

So there would be no disruption.

Exactly. That's why I think it's odd to say the least.

 

[Grouse]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1989279520046624894

"'not appropriate' to apply for a search warrant or to 'commit police resources to an excavation'." - when it's not actually an excavation that is being requested and not expected to take a lot of time???!

 

[Dotta]

How strange!
I would think Police want to close this tragic case.
If the body has not been found,
the case is still open - though cold, no?

I guess
the owners of the property may be worried
the house could become difficult to sell in future
if it is connected to murder case.

What a tragedy!

Why was the poor woman murdered if family was ready to pay?
And to think she was kidnapped by mistake.

Horrific

RIP to the victim.
I wish strength to the family

JMO

 

[Grouse]

How strange!
I would think Police want to close this tragic case.
If the body has not been found,
the case is still open - though cold, no?

I guess
the owners of the property may be worried
the house could become difficult to sell in future
if it is connected to murder case.

What a tragedy!

Why was the poor woman murdered if family was ready to pay?
And to think she was kidnapped by mistake.

Horrific

RIP to the victim.
I wish strength to the family

JMO

BBM

I would have thought doing the search would have the opposite effect - if either nothing is found, or if remains are found and put to proper rest, it should be easier to sell than with a big question mark hanging over it.

 

[RichardKimble]

I see its going to the high court.


The family of Muriel McKay will find out today whether a High Court judge has granted an injunction to scan the premises in Bethnal Green for her remains.

Relatives of murdered mum believe body is buried in east London garden

The family of Muriel McKay will find out today whether a High Court judge has granted an injunction to scan the premises in Bethnal Green for her remains.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[RichardKimble]

The judge is unimpressed by family.


Mr Justice Richard Smith described the behaviour of some of Muriel’s relatives as ‘appalling’ and ‘possibly unlawful’ after the family initially used deception to access the premises.

Mr Smith said there had been ‘threats, deception, dishonesty, lies, bullying and harassment’ towards Madeleine Higson and other leaseholders.

‘There was no justification for it,’ he said.

Judge denies family of Muriel McKay injunction to search garden

Mr Justice Richard Smith described the behaviour of some of Muriel's relatives as 'appalling' and 'possibly unlawful' after the family initially used deception to access the premises.

www.dailymail.co.uk