The land where a 19-year-old girl was murdered by her caregivers has been sold at a reduced price. Margaret Fleming, who had learning disabilities, is believed to have been killed in the home she shared with her caregivers more than 25 years ago, but her body was never located.
Fleming resided in the residence in the village of Inverkip in Scotland with her caregivers Edward Cairney and Avril Jones, who managed her disability benefits following her father’s passing in 1995. In 2016, changes in the social security system required Fleming to reapply for benefits, prompting concerns when Jones completed the application on her behalf.
Subsequently, it was revealed that social services had not been in contact with Fleming for 17 years, leading to a missing person’s inquiry. The last documented sighting of Fleming occurred in December 1999.
Cairney and Jones were found guilty of murdering Fleming between December 1999 and January 2000. They were also convicted of obstructing justice, each receiving a life sentence. Furthermore, Jones was convicted of fraud and ordered to repay £182,000 in benefits claimed under Fleming’s name.
Despite a thorough search of the property and its grounds, Fleming’s body was never discovered. Cairney passed away in hospital in October 2023, while Jones remains incarcerated.
In 2021, the bungalow was demolished after developers purchased it, but the plot has remained vacant for four years despite having planning approval for two upscale residences. Earlier this year, the price was reduced from £350,000 to £332,500, and property agents McEwan Fraser Legal confirmed the sale of the 0.6-acre plot.
The agents described the design of the two 4000 sq-ft homes as featuring modern materials, two levels of well-lit living space with private parking and gardens.
Following the sentencing of Cairney and Jones in 2019, the judge, Lord Matthews, admonished them, stating that only they knew the truth about Fleming’s whereabouts. He emphasized that Fleming was in their care and they had betrayed the trust placed in them.
Det Supt Paul Livingstone, the lead investigator, urged Cairney and Jones to disclose the location of Fleming’s body, appealing to their sense of decency. He offered to meet with either of them to provide closure to Fleming’s family and allow for a proper farewell.
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