Bushra Griffith
In 1983, a taxi driver in Aberdeen, Scotland, named George Dod Murdoch was murdered by an assailant who used cheese wire to strangle him. This incident, known as the Cheese Wire Murder, has remained unsolved for over four decades. Police have offered a £50,000 reward for information leading to the killer's capture. While there have been possible DNA matches and tips from former prisoners, the murderer has yet to be identified and brought to justice. In addition to this real-life incident, the term cheese or cheesy is also used in the context of gaming and fiction to describe unsportsmanlike or unfair tactics employed by players or characters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the dish | Jamie Oliver's Killer Mac 'n' Cheese |
| Type of dish | Comfort food |
| Ingredients | Elbow pasta, creamy cheese sauce, garlic, thyme, nutmeg, golden breadcrumb topping, strong cheddar, Parmesan, mustard |
| Recipe | Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until just shy of al dente. Add flavor by stirring in garlic, mustard, nutmeg, and thyme. Let it simmer for 2 minutes, then add grated cheddar and half the Parmesan. Stir until the cheese melts into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Combine pasta and sauce. Pour the mixture into a large baking dish. Scatter the breadcrumb mixture over the top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the top is golden and crispy and the sauce is bubbling at the edges. |
| Murder case | George "Dod" Murdoch, a 58-year-old Aberdeen taxi driver, was murdered with a cheese wire in 1983. |
| Murder weapon | Cheese wire |
| Murder mystery podcast | Who is the Cheese Wire Killer? |
| Murder mystery books | The Wedding Plot, Schooled for Murder |
| Game | Dead by Daylight |
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What You'll Learn
- The unsolved 1983 Aberdeen cheese wire murder of a taxi driver
- Police have 200 DNA matches to pursue in the hunt for the killer
- The victim, George Dod Murdoch, was found dead beside his vehicle
- A £50,000 reward is on offer for information leading to the killer's conviction
- Forensic scientists developed a male DNA profile from crime scene material
The unsolved 1983 Aberdeen cheese wire murder of a taxi driver
On the evening of September 29, 1983, 58-year-old Aberdeen taxi driver George "Dod" Murdoch was found dead beside his vehicle on Pitfodels Station Road, having been brutally strangled with a cheese wire. Two teenagers witnessed the man being strangled in the street and alerted the police, but help arrived too late. The killer stole Murdoch's fare money and wallet, which only contained £21, and disappeared into the night, leaving Murdoch to die alone.
Murdoch had picked up a fare in his taxi on Aberdeen's Queen's Road, and radioed through to the taxi control room that he and his passenger, a man in his 20s or 30s, were heading to Culter on the western outskirts of the city. After driving two miles towards Culter, he turned onto Pitfodels Station Road, where his vehicle stopped. It was here that Murdoch was attacked by his passenger, who used the cheese wire as a garrote. As the pair struggled, they spilled out onto the road, where they were seen by the two boys. Murdoch desperately called for help, but his attacker killed him before the police could arrive.
The murder, which made headline news nationally, was described as having sent shockwaves across Aberdeen and shocked the nation. Murdoch's wife, Jessie, never recovered from the murder, fearing that the killer would come for her too. She died in 2004, never knowing who killed her husband. The police launched a massive manhunt to find the murderer, visiting 10,000 homes and taking 8,000 statements. However, the killer was never caught, and the case went cold.
In 2022, the family of Murdoch and a local newspaper offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the killer, which was later increased to £50,000. The case featured on Crimewatch Live in March 2022, leading to dozens of people coming forward with new information. In September 2022, police revealed they wanted to trace a man seen in Wilson's Sports Bar in Aberdeen in 2015 wearing an Iron Maiden T-shirt, saying he may be able to assist with the inquiry.
In September 2024, ahead of the 41st anniversary of the killing, Police Scotland announced they had identified 200 possible genetic matches to pursue in the hunt for the killer. While these people are not being treated as suspects, the police plan to contact them to establish any family link to a male DNA profile from the crime scene. Despite these new leads, the case remains unsolved.
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Police have 200 DNA matches to pursue in the hunt for the killer
Police Scotland have made a breakthrough in the 1983 cold case of the murder of taxi driver George "Dod" Murdoch. They now have 200 possible genetic matches to pursue in the hunt for the killer.
Murdoch, 58, was found dead beside his vehicle in Aberdeen in September 1983. A cheese wire garrotte was found lying nearby, and it is believed that this was used to strangle him. A £50,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the killer's conviction.
Senior investigating officer, Det Insp James Callander, has described the development of a "familial DNA" list as a "major advance" in the case. He said: "This new DNA data is significant and will help take us a step closer to getting justice for Mr Murdoch's family. The familial DNA links identified will assist in tracing people who can help with our inquiries."
The 200 people identified are not being treated as suspects, but police hope that they may be able to help with their investigation. Mr Murdoch's nephew, Alex McKay, who has campaigned for years to get justice, said he was "beyond delighted" with the DNA news and described it as a "quantum leap forward". He urged anyone with information to come forward, saying, "It's the killer they are targeting."
Police Scotland can be contacted via 101 or emailed through a dedicated inbox at SCDHOLMESAberdeen@scotland.pnn.police.uk.
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The victim, George Dod Murdoch, was found dead beside his vehicle
Murdoch's body was discovered on the side of the road, and the killer fled the scene, leaving Murdoch to die alone. This case, known as the "Cheese Wire Murder," has remained unsolved for four decades. However, there have been significant developments in the investigation. Forensic scientists have developed a male DNA profile from crime scene material, and police now have 200 possible genetic matches to pursue.
The police are treating this new DNA data as a major breakthrough and believe it will help them get closer to finding Murdoch's killer and obtaining justice for his family. The DNA profile has allowed them to create a "familial DNA" list, which will enable them to search for anyone related to the DNA sample. This development has provided a second track for the investigation, in addition to relying on tip-offs from the public.
Murdoch's family has been actively campaigning for justice, with his nephew, Alex McKay, leading the efforts. They have offered a £50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. The family believes that the killer may have confessed to other prisoners while serving time, and they have received several tips from former prisoners.
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A £50,000 reward is on offer for information leading to the killer's conviction
In 1983, Aberdeen taxi driver George "Dod" Murdoch was murdered with a cheese wire. His body was found beside his vehicle, with the cheese wire lying nearby. The killer has never been caught, but the police continue to investigate this cold case.
In 2024, Police Scotland revealed that they had 200 possible genetic matches to pursue in the hunt for the killer. They clarified that these 200 people were not being treated as suspects but that they would be contacted to establish any family link to a profile from the scene. This was made possible by advances in analysis techniques, allowing detectives to find a match for the male DNA profile previously developed from crime scene material.
George Murdoch's family has offered a £50,000 reward for information that will lead to the killer's conviction. Additionally, a £10,000 reward is on offer for any matching family DNA. Mr Murdoch's nephew, Alex McKay, has campaigned for years to get justice for his uncle, who was murdered when he was 26 years old. The family has urged anyone with information to come forward, even if they wish to do so anonymously, and has appealed specifically to former prisoners, believing that the killer may have confessed behind bars.
Anyone with information that could help bring George's killer to justice is encouraged to contact the police or the family directly through the George Murdoch Facebook Appeals Page or via email.
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Forensic scientists developed a male DNA profile from crime scene material
In 1983, a taxi driver, George "Dod" Murdoch, was murdered in Aberdeen. Murdoch was found dead beside his vehicle, with a cheese wire garrotte lying nearby.
Forensic scientists developed a male DNA profile from the crime scene material. This was made possible due to advances in analysis techniques. DNA profiling has become the gold standard in forensic science. It involves four basic steps: DNA extraction, DNA quantification, DNA amplification, and detection of the DNA-amplified products.
In this case, the Y chromosome was likely analyzed to develop the male DNA profile. The Y chromosome is only present in males, so investigators expect to find it at the crime scene in cases involving male perpetrators.
The male DNA profile developed from the crime scene material is then compared to profiles in a database. This process involves matching the loci from the unknown evidence sample collected at the crime scene to the samples in the database. A match at all 13 or 20 loci is ideal, but partial profiles with fewer matches can still be useful.
The development of the male DNA profile from the crime scene material is a significant step forward in the investigation, as it can help identify the perpetrator and bring closure to the victim's family.
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Frequently asked questions
The Cheese Wire Killer case refers to the unsolved murder of Aberdeen taxi driver George "Dod" Murdoch in 1983. Murdoch was strangled with a cheese wire by his passenger.
The murder case is named after the weapon used to kill George Murdoch, which was a cheese wire.
No, the Cheese Wire Killer has not been caught. However, there have been several promising leads. Police have identified 200 possible genetic matches and are offering a £50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
Forensic scientists have developed a male DNA profile from crime scene material, and are now searching for anyone related to the DNA sample. The investigation is ongoing.
