On 25 August 1996, Caroline Glachan, a fourteen-year-old Scottish girl, was found murdered in the River Leven in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The case was unsolved for 27 years until the conviction of three people in 2023.[1]
Glachan lived in Bonhill.[4] On the night of 24 August, Glachan planned to meet her boyfriend at a bridge after being cautioned against this by her best friend.[5] Caroline was last seen as she walked along Dillichip Loan to a friend's house from shops on the Ladyton estate at Renton after spending the evening with friends.[6] She was walking towards Dillichip Bridge and then on to the river towpath as a shortcut.[7]
Her partly submerged body was found in the River Leven, near Place of Bonhill in Renton the following day by a passer-by.[8] She was found with extensive injuries to her scalp, face and neck sustained from blunt force trauma. The day her body was discovered by police was on her mother's 40th birthday.[9] A pathologist found that ten "significant blows" to the head had rendered her unconscious before she went into the river.[10] A group of teenagers verbally abused her and repeatedly kicked and punched her on the head and body using a blunt instrument of some kind.[11] The cause of death was considered to be drowning.[12]
Glachan's funeral was held on 26 February 1997 in Alexandria.[13]
Investigation
The prime suspect was her boyfriend at the time, Robert O'Brien.[14] A taxi driver who knew Caroline witnessed a hooded figure further down the street, walking about 30 yards behind her.[15] One key witness was a four-year-old boy.[16] He had claimed witnessing a girl fall into the river.[17]
In September 2006, a £15,000 reward was offered for information.[18] In 2015, a further appeal was made by Police Scotland.[19]
Media coverage
On 5 September 2016, the case featured on BBC Crimewatch.[20] This followed the original appeal on the programme on 10 December 1996.[21]
In November 2021, three people were charged with the murder of Caroline Glachan.[23] The trial began at the High Court in Glasgow in November 2023.[24][25] On 14 December 2023, Robert O'Brien, aged 45, Andrew Kelly, 44, and Donna Marie Brand, also aged 44, were convicted of Glachan's murder at the High Court in Glasgow. All three had been teenagers at the time the crime was committed. A fourth, Sarah Jane O'Neil, died before being charged.[26] In January 2024, O'Brien and Kelly were sentenced to life in prison, with O'Brien eligible for parole after 22 years and Kelly after 18.[27]
