Murderer died in hospital from cancer and liver cirrhosis

A murderer jailed for killing his lover and their son died in hospital from cancer and alcoholic liver cirrhosis, an inquiry has found. William MacDowell, 81, died at Forth Valley Hospital in February 2023 - less than five months after being jailed for killing Renee MacRae and their three-year-old son Andrew. MacDowell had been receiving end of life care, but a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) was mandatory because his death occurred while in custody. Renee and Andrew MacRae were murdered in the Highlands in 1976. Their bodies were never found. The 81-year-old, from Penrith in Cumbria was known to palliative care services in Carlisle before he was jailed. The FAI noted a do not resuscitate order was put in place in August 2022, before he was jailed. MacDowell was sent to HMP Grampian before being transferred to Glenochil to ensure his care was more appropriately managed. He arrived at the prison with a life expectancy of "weeks to a couple of months". He received end of life care at the prison until his health deteriorated and he was transferred to Forth Valley Hospital on 7 February. While he was in hospital he was under 24-hour guard by prison officers but it was not deemed necessary