EDINBURGH, Scotland – Edward Cairney, a convicted murderer who killed vulnerable woman Margaret Fleming over two decades ago, has passed away while serving his sentence in prison. Cairney, 82, was found guilty along with his co-accused Avril Jones in 2019 for the murder of Ms. Fleming at their residence in Seacroft, Inverkip. Their trial revealed that the duo was entrusted to care for Ms. Fleming, but her body has never been recovered.

Ms. Fleming, who had learning difficulties and would have turned 38 this year, had not been seen for 20 years prior to the gruesome discovery. Investigators found that she lived in squalid and uninhabitable conditions while residing with Cairney and Jones. The court determined that they had bound her, cut her hair short, and subjected her to starvation before ultimately taking her life.

It wasn’t until October 2016, when Ms. Fleming’s disappearance was reported, that authorities discovered the extent of the crime. Shockingly, Jones continued to collect £182,000 in benefits while hiding the truth about their victim.

Edward Cairney’s death was confirmed by a spokesperson from the Scottish Prison Service, who stated that the 82-year-old prisoner passed away on October 15 at HMP Edinburgh. Cairney had been convicted at Glasgow High Court in 2019. The matter has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal, and Police Scotland has been informed. A Fatal Accident Inquiry will be conducted in the future to further investigate the circumstances of Cairney’s death.

The case of Margaret Fleming’s murder and the subsequent attempts to cover up her disappearance shocked Scotland. With the passing of Edward Cairney, the search for answers about her whereabouts and the full extent of her tragic fate remain unanswered. The hope of finding closure for Ms. Fleming’s loved ones persists as authorities seek to uncover any remaining evidence related to this heart-wrenching case.