Scotland’s notorious cold case: the shocking cheese wire murder of George Murdoch

One of the most intriguing unsolved murders in Scottish history, known as the “Cheese Wire Murder,” took place on September 29, 1983, in the Scottish port city of Aberdeen. On that day, 58-year-old taxi driver George Murdoch was brutally murdered with a cheese wire. George Murdoch was a popular man who was born in Aberdeen in 1925, where he lived until his gruesome murder. George, who was affectionately known as “Dod,” was described by everyone as friendly and down-to-earth. His family and friends described him as “an ordinary working man” who was passionate about pigeon breeding and boating. After 37 happy years of marriage to his wife Jessie, he had to give up his job in a factory in the late 1970s and began working as a taxi driver to make ends meet, even though he did not particularly like the job and his wife was constantly concerned for his safety. On Thursday, September 29, 1983, Murdoch was working the night shift. At around 8:30 p.m., he stopped his light blue Ford Cortina taxi on the busy Queen’s Road in Aberdeen to pick up a young man in his twenties. He radioed the taxi center that his fare was heading towards Culter in the west of the city. After about two miles, Murdoch turned onto Pitfodels Station Road on the outskirts of Braeside, where his car suddenly stopped. What happened next shocked not only Aberdeen, but the entire country. Murdoch was brutally attacked by his passenger, who had used a cheese wire as a weapon. During the struggle, the two fell out of the vehicle onto the road, with Murdoch desperately calling for help. Two boys on bicycles who happened to be passing by and witnessed the attack immediately rushed to alert the police. Unfortunately, the police did not arrive in time to save Murdoch. The perpetrator had stolen Murdoch’s fare and his wallet. However, it remains unclear whether robbery was the actual motive. The police launched a massive search operation, visiting 10,000 households, taking 8,000 witness statements, and publishing a detailed description of the perpetrator. He was described as a man aged between 20 and 30, 1.70 meters tall, slim, with dark, short hair and dark clothing, which was believed to have traces of blood on it. It turned out that the killer had most likely gone out with the intention of harming someone, as he already had the cheese wire with him. A clue emerged when a man with blood-stained hands was seen shortly after the crime at a nearby snack bar called “Mr Chips” on Great Western Road. The employee of this snack bar had served the man and remembered him. However, despite matching the description of the perpetrator, this person was never identified. At that time, Aberdeen was undergoing rapid change due to the oil boom, which brought many strangers to the city. The police also took these factors into account as they tried to track down the killer. Over the years, various cold case investigations yielded no significant results. Nevertheless, even 38 years after the murder, Murdoch’s family still hoped for justice. In 2022, although George’s wife Jessie had already passed away in 2004, the Murdoch family teamed up with a local newspaper to offer a £20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer. The case was featured on Crimewatch Live on March 14, 2022, which led to new leads. Dozens of people came forward with new information, and investigators said the case had clearly struck a chord. In September of that year, the police made a new appeal to the public. They were looking for a man who had been seen at Wilson’s Sports Bar in Aberdeen in 2015. The man was wearing an Iron Maiden T-shirt and was described as short, stocky, and in his 60s or 70s. It is believed that he could provide valuable information about the murder case. The police made a significant breakthrough in September 2023 when they announced that they had isolated the DNA profile of the alleged perpetrator. This was a turning point in the investigation. They appealed not only to people who know the possible suspect, but also to those who believe they may be related to the perpetrator. A simple DNA sample could clarify whether there is any connection. The current head of the investigation, James Callander, emphasized the importance of continued public support in order to close the case and finally give the family the certainty they long for. With an increased reward of £50,000 for information, there is hope that after forty years, justice can finally be served for George Murdoch. The murder of George Murdoch remains a dark chapter in Aberdeen’s history, but the ongoing efforts to solve the case reflect an unwavering determination to give the victim and his family the justice they deserve. In the hope of finally finding answers one day, the search for the “Cheese Wire Killer” continues.