West Lothian police mount fresh searches in case of missing Billy McDowell

Officers in West Lothian will carry out fresh searches in the Whitburn area as the investigation into the disappearance of Billy McDowell continues.

The 58-year-old, who requires daily medication, was reported missing on Sunday, August 2, 2020.

Police said the last confirmed sighting of him was on Tuesday, July 28, at around 11:40am in West Main Street, Whitburn.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He is thought to have visited a number of locations in his home town before he disappeared.

Officers in West Lothian will carry out fresh searches in the Whitburn area as the investigation into the disappearance of Billy McDowell continues.Officers in West Lothian will carry out fresh searches in the Whitburn area as the investigation into the disappearance of Billy McDowell continues.
Officers in West Lothian will carry out fresh searches in the Whitburn area as the investigation into the disappearance of Billy McDowell continues.

Extensive searches and police enquiries have so far been unsuccessful.

But officers will be carrying out further searches today and tomorrow - Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16 - with the support of partners from Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team.

Inspector Myles Marshall of Livingston Police Station said: "It is now 11 weeks since Billy was last seen and our enquiries remain ongoing.

"It has been an incredibly challenging time for his family and we are keeping them fully informed of the work we are carrying out.

The 58-year-old, who requires daily medication, was reported missing on Sunday, August 2, 2020.The 58-year-old, who requires daily medication, was reported missing on Sunday, August 2, 2020.
The 58-year-old, who requires daily medication, was reported missing on Sunday, August 2, 2020.

"I would take the opportunity to thank the wider Whitburn community for their support of our enquiries.

"I would urge anyone with information about Billy or his whereabouts to contact police via 101, quoting incident number 1621 of 2 August."

In a heartfelt plea earlier this month, Billy’s sister, Susan Bracken, said: “The end of another week, still no news at all.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Prayed so hard this week, for just one phone call of a sighting of our Billy, because that would give us hope and it would give us brothers and sisters somewhere to go and look to find him and bring him home and end this nightmare.

"Nine weeks have passed and absolutely nothing, this is our brother our Billy who we all love dearly."

His family are currently offering a reward for £5,000 for information from the public that leads to Billy’s safe return home.

Sister Liz Thomson said at the start of October: "It's been just over nine weeks since our brother was last seen and we still don't know where Billy is.

"It's heartbreaking for all the family we just want him home.

"Thank you to everyone who keeps sharing my posts, it's much appreciated."

A Message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to the Edinburgh Evening News online and enjoy unlimited access to trusted, fact-checked news and sport from Edinburgh and the Lothians. Visit https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director