Suspected ‘murder-suicide’ in remote village as OAP ‘killed in home’ and woman found dead in castle grounds
A WOMAN killed a pensioner pal in a suspected murder- suicide before taking her own life near a ruined castle.
The 39-year-old is thought to have attacked the man, 74, at her home then fled to Keiss Castle in Caithness, on the North Coast 500 tourist route.
Stunned locals in the remote fishing village told of their horror following the deaths.
Neighbours were left reeling after the body of the man, 74, was discovered in his friend’s bungalow where he had been fatally attacked.
Hours later, the woman was found dead less than a mile away near the ruins of Keiss Castle after apparently taking her own life.
It’s understood the OAP was not from the area and had been visiting his alleged killer when he was found murdered just after midnight on Sunday.
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A major land and sea search was launched before cops discovered his lifeless pal in a wooded area 20 hours later.
Forensic experts and detectives remained at both scenes as locals spoke of their shock at the double tragedy.
The village’s picturesque harbour area was previously used for scenes in Netflix drama The Crown and is on the famous North Coast 500 tourist route, just eight miles south of John O’ Groats.
One resident, 35, who lives with her young family on the street where the man died said she arrived home from work at 1am to find it swarming with cops.
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She told The Scottish Sun: “I’d see the elderly man visit the woman and stay with her a few times.
“They were friends. I heard that she killed him then killed herself.
“Nothing like this happens up here so we’re all in shock and horrified.
“I walked home from work and there were five police cars and a couple of vans, the whole place was taped off.”
Another neighbour John Sutherland said of the dead woman: “She kept herself to herself but she seemed pleasant enough.
“She used to walk her dog through the village. On Sunday I opened my curtains and all I could see were police cars.
“It has really shaken people here.”
John also recalled his neighbour being visited from time to time by an older man.
He added: “He’d stay for a couple of days at a time.”
A third local said: “It’s dreadful. I just can’t believe it.
“I used to see her walking her greyhound and we chatted a few times.”
Wick and East Caithness councillor Jan McEwan said: “My thoughts are with their families at this terribly sad time.”
The woman’s council house remained cordoned off yesterday with a police tent erected outside.
Neighbours say she moved there 12 to 18 months ago from Dundee.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Geddes said: “Following concerns being raised, around 12.05am on Sunday, the body of a 74-year-old man was found in a property in Keiss.
His death is being treated as murder.
“The body of a 39-year-old woman was found within the grounds of Keiss Castle around 8pm during a police search.
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“An investigation is ongoing but we are treating these incidents as linked.”
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