The loved ones of murdered Suzanne Pilley remain in a state of ‘limbo’ without a body to lay to rest, while her callous killer, David Gilroy, appears intent on taking the location to his own grave, in what is believed to be a disturbing bid for ‘power’
Edinburgh bookkeeper Suzanne Pilley vanished on the morning of May 4, 2010, never to be seen again. And even though her killer has since been caught, her family have never been able to lay her to rest.
After she failed to turn up for work after the bank holiday weekend, a move said to be out of character for the 38-year-old, Suzanne’s worried parents, Sylvia and Rob, raised the alarm. An investigation ensued, leading police to the door of Suzanne’s colleague and former lover, David Gilroy, who was arrested and charged with her murder.
Gilroy, now 62, was convicted of Suzanne’s murder by “unknown means” in 2012, with the High Court in Edinburgh hearing how the married father-of-two had become infuriated after she’d ended their “turbulent” relationship.
Although he’d returned to his wife after the split, Gilroy continued to harass Suzanne, bombarding her with hundreds of messages and even tampering with her email. Then, he responded with unthinkable violence, slaughtering Suzanne in the basement garage of the office block where they’d worked together in the city centre.
He then concealed her remains in an alcove while he fetched his car. Callous Gilroy proceeded with a number of seemingly ordinary appointments while her body was stuffed in the boot of his car. He even attended a school play and enjoyed a family dinner out.
From this point on, what happened to Suzanne’s body remains a mystery, and one that evil Gilroy appears intent on taking to his grave.
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It’s believed that Suzanne’s body was buried in a “lonely grave” in rural Argyll, with cold-hearted Gilroy having made the drive to the small, historic town of Lochgilphead
Edinburgh CID’s investigation focused on the Rest and Be Thankful and Argyll Forrest, where it is suspected Suzanne’s body was abandoned. However, despite extensive searching, nothing has ever been found, and her family have been left without a grave to visit.
Gilroy, who is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum of 18 years, continues to plead his innocence to this day, much to the heartache of her loved ones, who long for “a sense of closure”. Speaking after Gilroy’s conviction, Sylvia and Robert issued the following emotional statement: “Although the trial has ended, our ordeal goes on, and we hope that one day we can lay our daughter to rest.”
However, during a 2019 interview on the podcast Body of Proof, Gilroy made it clear that he wouldn’t be giving up his secrets, declaring that he would “fight until [his] dying breath” to prove his innocence. The killer, who has previously lost freedom bids at Edinburgh’s Court of Appeal and London’s Supreme Court, claimed: “I think I’ve been denied justice. I do believe that I have more than enough to prove my innocence beyond any doubt.”
Although the evidence against Gilroy was entirely circumstantial, each strand resulted in a “compelling” case against him. From the dirt and vegetation on his tyres, to the scratches on his hands he’d tried to hide with make-up, jurors weren’t taken in by Gilroy’s lies.
And there is one piece of evidence that proved particularly convincing. Officers tracked Gilroy’s journey to Argyll through CCTV and spotted an umbrella on the parcel shelf in the car boot. During his return journey, the umbrella was no longer visible, and it’s theorised that he placed the item in the boot once he’d disposed of Suzanne’s remains.
Explaining why Gilroy will likely never reveal where Suzanne’s body lies, Nicole Nyamwiza, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at The University of Law, Nicole Nyamwiza, told The Sun: “Refusing to reveal the location of a body is a pattern we’ve seen in several high-profile cases. It’s often about control.
“Even after conviction, the offender can still dictate the terms of closure. In the case of David Gilroy, the continued silence keeps the family in a state of suspended grief, and that in itself is a form of harm. This is not unique.
“Ian Simms, who was convicted of murdering Helen McCourt in 1988, never revealed where he left her body. That refusal went on for decades. Despite forensic evidence, despite a conviction, he held on to that final piece of power.
“For some individuals, particularly those with controlling or narcissistic tendencies, keeping that information back is deliberate. It sustains attention, preserves denial, or simply continues the exercise of control.”
Having never given up hope of locating Suzanne’s body, her brave family has continued to persevere all these years, even launching Suzanne’s Law in her name to stop killers who refuse to disclose where a victim’s body is located from being granted parole.
Reflecting on this “important step”, Nicole continued: “There is also a wider issue here about what justice really means. If someone can serve a sentence without ever disclosing what happened to a victim’s remains, we have to question how we assess accountability or rehabilitation.
“Proposals like Suzanne’s Law are an important step. They recognise that justice involves more than time served. For many families, justice starts with being able to bring their loved one home.”
Back in May 2020, on the tenth anniversary of Suzanne’s death, Police Scotland renewed its commitment to finding her body, issuing a fresh appeal for information. Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Houston, from Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division, said: “I am entirely confident that justice was served in terms of Suzanne’s murder. However, it is deeply regrettable that, as of now, we have been unable to recover her body and bring a sense of closure to her family.
“We will continue to revisit this investigation and conduct fresh search activity in the Argyll Forest area whenever we receive new information from the public. So, with that in mind, I’d urge anyone who believes they have any relevant information, but who hasn’t yet spoken with police, to contact us immediately.”
“Sadly, Suzanne’s father, Rob, passed away in February 2019 without ever knowing what happened to his daughter. We remain committed to finding these answers for Suzanne’s mother, Sylvia and sister, Gail.”
Meanwhile, heartbroken sister Gail Fairgrieve, stated: “For the past decade we have lived in a state of limbo, waiting for the news that Suzanne’s body had been found, but we’ve never been able to get that closure.
“We accept that Suzanne was murdered and believe that the person responsible is in prison, but we feel we cannot say a proper goodbye until her body is found.
“Both my mother and I want to again thank the public who have continued to contact the police, which has always given us hope that Suzanne has not been forgotten. We understand that only one person can tell us where Suzanne is, but has refused to do so. Police Scotland will respond to any information and are committed to bringing us some form of closure.
“Their investigation can only conclude when Suzanne is found, and so I would plead with anyone who knows something but hasn’t come forward to search their conscience and get in touch. Not for our sake, but for Suzanne’s. Please let us give her the burial and send-off she deserves.”
Those with information are asked to contact Police Scotland via 101. Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
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