Scottish police are currently reviewing three unsolved murders that have been linked to Scotland’s most notorious alleged serial killer. The renewed interest comes after the release of journalist Audrey Gillan’s award-winning BBC podcast, Bible John: Creation of the Serial Killer, in late 2022. The podcast focuses on the cases of Helen Puttock, Jemima MacDonald, and Patricia Docker, who were all killed after leaving Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom in 1968 and 1969, according to the Independent. The killer was nicknamed Bible John because he quoted scripture while sharing a taxi with Puttock and her sister shortly before Puttock’s murder on October 30, 1969. Despite an extensive investigation, the police never made an arrest. However, the podcast alleges that the police chief in charge of the case knew the true identity of Bible John and concealed it from the public.
According to the podcast, evidence points to the man being John Irvine McInnes, who was the cousin of senior police officer Jimmy McInnes. The series suggests that senior police chief Joe Beattie, who was a close friend of Jimmy McInnes, ensured that McInnes’ name was never officially recorded in connection with the case. The investigation into the killings involved more than 7,000 interviews and 4,000 statements, making it one of Scotland’s largest investigations at the time. By the time McInnes’ name came to light, he had already died by suicide in 1980. In 1995, his body was exhumed for DNA comparison with a sample taken from Puttock’s clothing, but the results were inconclusive. However, detectives who revisited the case in 1995 stated that McInnes would have been arrested if he had been alive, according to the BBC.
Police Scotland has now confirmed that they are reevaluating the cases in light of the podcast. A representative for the police states that they are consulting with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and will investigate any new information regarding the deaths of Puttock, MacDonald, and Docker, as reported by the Guardian. Family members of the victims have been informed of the police’s plans. Allan Mottley, the youngest son of Jemima MacDonald, expressed his surprise at the developments, stating that he never imagined they would come this far. However, he remains skeptical about the outcome and hopes that the police will acknowledge the mishandling of the initial investigation and offer an apology. (Read more cold cases stories.)
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