Family of Suzanne Pilley issue emotional plea to help find body ten years after her murder

The 38-year-old’s former lover, colleague David Gilroy, was convicted of her murder in 2012

The family of murdered Suzanne Pilley has pleaded for help to find her body as they marked the 10th anniversary of her disappearance.

Ms Pilley’s sister said loved ones have been left in “limbo” since she went missing in Edinburgh city centre, unable to “say a proper goodbye” until her body is found. Her father passed away knowing Ms Pilley had not been found.

The 38-year-old’s former lover, colleague David Gilroy, was convicted of her murder in 2012 and was ordered to serve minimum 18 years behind bars.

Family of Suzanne Pilley issue emotional plea to help find body ten years after her murder

But Gilroy, now 57, mantains his innocence to this day and will not reveal where Ms Pilley’s body was hidden.

The military, police, mountain rescuers and other experts scoured the huge Argyll Forest Park – which is not scheduled for be felled for decades – in an attempt to find her, without success.

A decade on from when Ms Pilley was last seen on her way to work as a bookkeeper at a Thistle Street office in the Capital, her sister Gail Fairgrieve said: “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.

Ms Pilley was last seen on her way to work as a bookkeeper at a Thistle Street office in the Capital

“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.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Houston, from Police Scotland’s specialist crime division, added: “I am entirely confident that justice was served in terms of Suzanne’s murder.

“However, it is deeply regretful 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 died 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.”

Anyone who may have information is asked to contact Police Scotland by calling 101, or can contact charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.