Sister tells of heartbreak as police scour death scene

THE distraught sister of the missing mother of three whose body was found in dense undergrowth in a city centre yesterday spoke of her heartbreak at the discovery.

• Scene of crime police officers examine the roundabout where the body was found. Picture: PA

Michelle Rodger, the younger sister of Mary McLaren, whose death is now at the centre of a major police investigation, had been out clubbing with the 34-year-old housewife on the night she vanished two weeks ago.

The sisters, from Dundee, had started the evening together in the city's Gauger Bar, before making their way to the popular nightclub Fat Sam's, where Mrs McLaren was photographed dancing in the arms of a man now said to be assisting detectives.

Mrs McLaren's body was discovered by a police officer on Wednesday afternoon, lying in thick undergrowth on a tree-lined embankment flanking the Ladywell roundabout in the city centre.

Tayside Police have still to officially confirm that the body is that of Mrs McLaren, of Rowantree Crescent, Dundee.

However, Ms Rodger, who was speaking for the first time since the body was found, said: "We know it's definitely Mary. But we don't know what's happened to her."

She said the discovery of the body, exactly 14 days after their last night out together, had left the family completely devastated.

Yesterday, police family liaison officers were continuing to offer support to Mrs McLaren's family – her husband Scott, 40, and children Sarah, 17, Aaron, 14, and Dylan, ten.

Ms Rodger said: "It's breaking everybody up. The family aren't bearing up well at all."

Speaking of their last night out together, she said: "I don't really remember much to be honest. I would love to remember – but I don't."

The roundabout where Mrs McLaren's body was discovered was at the centre of intense police activity for a second day.

Because of the need to preserve as much forensic evidence as possible, Tayside Police left the body undisturbed at the scene throughout the night.

Officers guarded the scene until the early morning, when a large team of forensic officers arrived to continue a painstaking examination of the area.

Across the road, floral tributes were left by members of Mrs McLaren's family. One of the tributes bore the poignant message: "Forever in our hearts our beloved daughter. Always remembered. Mum and Dad."

Another tribute was left on behalf of Ms Rodger and her other sister, Lisa Hendry. It read: "To our loving sister. Taken so young but too soon. Never forgotten. You will live in our hearts, love Lisa and Michelle."

Later, before the body was removed, two double-decker buses were brought in to screen the area from the media and the public.

It is understood that it could be as late as Monday before detectives are informed of the results of a post-mortem examination.