The property where a 19-year-old was murdered by her caregivers has been sold at a reduced price. Margaret Fleming, who had learning challenges, is believed to have been killed in the home where she resided over 25 years ago, though her body was never located.
Fleming lived in a residence in the village of Inverkip in Scotland, under the care of Edward Cairney and Avril Jones, who handled her disability benefits following her father’s passing in 1995. In 2016, a change in the social security system required Fleming to reapply for benefits, leading to concerns when Jones submitted the application on her behalf.
It was later revealed that social services had not been in contact with Fleming for 17 years, prompting a missing person’s inquiry. The last confirmed sighting of Fleming was in December 1999.
Cairney and Jones were found guilty of murdering Fleming between December 1999 and January 2000. They received life sentences for the crime, with Jones also convicted of fraud and ordered to repay £182,000 in benefits claimed under Fleming’s name.
Despite an extensive search of the property and garden, Fleming’s body was never located. Cairney passed away in the hospital in October 2023, while Jones remains incarcerated.
In 2021, the bungalow was demolished after developers purchased it, but the land has been vacant for four years despite having planning approval for two luxury residences. Recently, the price was reduced from £350,000 to £332,500, and McEwan Fraser Legal, the property agents, have confirmed the sale of the 0.6-acre plot.
The agents described the design for the two 4000 sq-ft houses as featuring modern materials, two levels of bright living space, private parking, and gardens. The ground floor includes four bedrooms, an entertainment room, and a double garage, while the first floor offers an open-plan living area, dining and kitchen space, a utility room, a luxurious master en-suite, and two balconies with captivating views of the Clyde.
Following the sentencing of Cairney and Jones in 2019, Judge Lord Matthews addressed them, emphasizing that only they knew the truth about the victim’s whereabouts. He highlighted Fleming’s vulnerability and the breach of trust by her caregivers.
Detective Superintendent Paul Livingstone urged Cairney and Jones to disclose the location of Fleming’s remains, appealing to their conscience and offering closure to her family.
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