Aberdeen taxi driver George Murdoch, known as Dod, was 58 when he was killed on Thursday 29 September 1983. No one has been arrested. On Sunday, Aberdeen play St Johnstone at Pittodrie, and the club’s Red Matchday programme asks anyone who remembers that night to contact the police.
At 8.35pm he told his control room he was heading to Culter to pick up a fare. He never got there. Police Scotland says he was attacked after he turned onto Pitfodels Station Road, on the outskirts of the city near the Deeside railway line, and that a cheese wire was used. He died. The BBC reports that two cyclists saw the assault and raised the alarm, and that his wallet and cash were taken. Police have not said that robbery was the motive (Police Scotland, 2022).
His widow, Jessie, died in 2004. His nephew, Alex McKay, was 26 at the time. He told the BBC he is sure someone still knows what happened, and that a detail which seems small may be the one that matters. His wife, Robina McKay, said a name would be enough.
The DNA
In September 2023 Police Scotland said a DNA profile from the scene had been identified. In September 2024 that profile was enhanced for a familial search, which looks for relatives rather than for the profile itself on the database. With the National Crime Agency, police compiled an initial list of 200 possible genetic matches. Detective Inspector James Callander said those people are not suspects. Officers were to try to contact them to see if any family link helps. The family called it a huge step. Police also still want to identify a man seen in an Iron Maiden T-shirt in Wilson’s Sports Bar on Market Street in 2015 (Police Scotland, 2024).
In 2022 the family doubled its reward to £50,000 for information leading to a conviction. The club and the family’s appeal this week both still cite that £50,000 (family reward).
Sunday’s programme
The family asked the programme editor for help. Red Matchday, on sale at the ground on Sunday for £4, includes a letter from Robina McKay and the story of how the club was drawn in during October 1983. About three weeks after the murder, police stood at the Pittodrie turnstiles for an Aberdeen match against Celtic. Robina McKay told the BBC they checked the hands of men aged about 20 to 30 at all 44 turnstiles, because detectives thought the attacker would have cuts to his hands and possibly bruises to his face (BBC News).
The club says the programme is there so that a memory might finally put a name to the case (Red Matchday). Information can go to Police Scotland on 101, or by email to SCDHOLMESAberdeen@scotland.pnn.police.uk. The family also has a public appeal page.