A quiet mother who was brutally murdered in her Inverness home had not spoken to members of her family in the city for more than a decade, it has emerged.
It is understood 60-year-old Liz Mackay had been estranged from some close relatives for at least 15 years.
Police described the victim as a “loner” this week, while admitting it was unusual to have so little information about a murder victim as they appealed to the public to help fill in the blanks.
By last night, the force was still to release a photograph of Ms Mackay to assist with their appeal – five days after she was found in a pool of blood at her home in the Hilton area of Inverness.
Ms Mackay is not believed to have any social media accounts and relatives may not have up-to-date images.
Even close neighbours have reported being unaware of Ms Mackay’s name until the murder was reported at the weekend.
Ms Mackay’s elderly mother and two sisters – one of whom is two years older and another who is 11 years younger – live in Inverness.
The victim’s daughter is believed to have lived in Aberdeen until recently.
Terence Muir, who married Ms Mackay when they were both teenagers in 1973, before they divorced in 1992, told reporters at his home in Bournemouth this week that he was “absolutely devastated” by the news of her death.
Ms Mackay’s body was found just two weeks after her 60th birthday at 5 Kintail Court – where Brian Grant murdered hairdresser Ilene O’Connor a decade ago.
The police have said the two murders are unrelated.
And yesterday the force also ruled out any connection between her death and the murder of 67-year-old pensioner Brian McKandie, whose badly-beaten body was found at his home near Rothienorman on March 12.
Inverness MP Drew Hendry yesterday urged members of the public with any information about Ms Mackay to contact the police.
He said: “This is a devastating shock to the entire community and our thoughts are with Ms Mackay’s family at this very difficult time.
“I know that in particular, Ms Mackay’s neighbours and the wider community of Hilton will be especially shocked and unsettled.
“Anyone who knows anything that may assist the investigation, however small it may seem, must get in touch with the police. It is vital everything possible is done to ensure that the perpetrator of the horrendous crime is brought to justice.”
Inverness Ness-side councillor Jean Slater lives in Hilton and was a long-serving chairwoman of the local community council, said: “It has shocked everyone.
“There’s not a lot of talk about it actually when I’ve been out and about – I think people are still stunned.
“Hilton is a quiet area. I live in Hilton and I’ve got every faith in our local police. We’ve got an extremely good community beat officer.”