Excavators searching for the remains of Muriel McKay have unearthed a bone at a location believed to be her burial site. This discovery, made in Hackney, East London, comes 57 years after McKay’s kidnapping. Law enforcement is now involved in examining the bone, which measures approximately nine inches in length.
Discovery of Bone in Hackney
The bone was found about a metre deep in the back garden of a betting shop on Bethnal Green Road. According to the Metropolitan Police, the area has been declared a murder scene as they investigate the origin of the bone.
Family Response
Mark Dyer, McKay’s grandson, expressed hope that this development may resolve their family’s long-standing mystery. “Four years of intense investigation have led us here,” he stated. The family is currently awaiting results to determine if the bone is indeed human.
Background of the Case
Muriel McKay, aged 55 at the time of her abduction, was mistakenly taken from her Wimbledon home by Arthur and Nizamodeen Hosein. The brothers, who were later convicted of her murder, believed she was the wife of newspaper mogul Rupert Murdoch. They demanded a ransom of one million pounds for her release.
Previous Investigations
- McKay’s case was notable for lacking any evidence of her remains during the original trial.
- Five years ago, the family confronted Nizamodeen Hosein, now 79, who claimed McKay died shortly after her kidnapping.
- Hosein alleged that he buried her body on their farm but subsequent police excavations found no evidence.
A New Lead
Last year, the McKay family offered a reward of £1 million for credible information regarding her whereabouts. This led to a tip from Hayley Frais in Israel, whose late father had connections to the Hoseins.
Frais stated that her father suspected McKay’s body was moved from the original burial site at the farm to the land behind the betting shop. This new information has prompted renewed efforts in the search for Muriel McKay’s remains.
