Loved ones of Arlene Fraser highlight decades-long legal battle and emotional suffering while demanding convicted husband Nat Fraser reveal location of her body

More than 28 years after Arlene Fraser, a mother-of-two, vanished in Elgin, her family is demanding answers from her convicted killer husband, Nat Fraser.

Despite Fraser serving a lengthy prison sentence, the exact location of Arlene’s body remains unknown, leaving her loved ones in agonizing uncertainty.

Her sister, Carol Gillies, has now appealed directly to Fraser, urging him to reveal the truth or “go back to your cell.”

A Landmark Change in Parole Law Brings New Hope

The recent introduction of Suzanne’s Law in the Scottish Parliament has offered the family a renewed chance for justice.

Previously, the Parole Board could consider—but was not obligated to weigh—a killer’s refusal to disclose the location of a victim’s remains.

From next month, the law will require the board to take this refusal into account, potentially affecting Fraser’s parole eligibility in 2028.

Gillies believes this may be the family’s final opportunity to learn what happened to Arlene.

The Agony of Not Knowing

In the new BBC documentary, Murder Case: The Hunt for Arlene Fraser’s Killer, Carol Gillies describes the psychological toll of Fraser’s silence.

“He controlled Arlene when she was alive and he is controlling her when she is dead. It’s a form of mental torture,” she says.

The 63-year-old adds that Suzanne’s Law now gives Fraser a stark choice: cooperate or face continued imprisonment.

“We need to believe that one day we might get somewhere near the truth,” Gillies explains, holding on to the hope that justice may finally extend beyond a conviction.

A Life Cut Short

Arlene Fraser disappeared on April 28, 1998, after waving her children off to school.

The children returned to an empty home, sparking one of the largest police investigations in Scottish history.

Detectives quickly uncovered troubling elements of her marriage, including Fraser’s history of violence.

In March 1998, he had throttled Arlene, for which he received 18 months in prison—a sentence criticized by the family as too lenient.

Legal Battles and Convictions

Nat Fraser’s first murder conviction came in 2003, resulting in a 25-year sentence, though he continued to protest his innocence.

After a successful appeal, the Supreme Court quashed his conviction in 2011.

A retrial in 2012 saw him found guilty again, receiving a 17-year sentence backdated to June 2011.

The court heard that Fraser had hired a hitman to kill Arlene, disposing of her body so efficiently that no trace has ever been found.

The Emotional Toll on the Family

Detective Superintendent Alan Smith, who worked on the case, describes the family’s suffering: “They don’t have a headstone, they don’t have a grave to visit.

That’s an extension of the torture that Nat Fraser has exerted on them.”

Gillies also emphasizes the broader issues of violence against women and the challenges in the parole system for cases where the body is never recovered.

Documentary Sheds Light

Produced by Firecrest Films, the BBC documentary explores the case from Arlene’s disappearance through decades of trials, appeals, and public scrutiny.

Mick McAvoy, the executive producer, highlights the story’s enduring place in Scottish public consciousness, noting the family’s advocacy for changes to the parole process for “no body” murderers.

What’s Next?

Nat Fraser becomes eligible for parole in 2028, and with Suzanne’s Law now in effect, the family hopes this will be the moment the truth about Arlene’s remains comes to light.

Carol Gillies continues to push for answers, not only for closure but also to shine a spotlight on violence against women and the flaws in the parole system.

Summary

Arlene Fraser, a mother-of-two, vanished in Elgin in 1998.

Her husband, Nat Fraser, was convicted of her murder, yet her body has never been found.

Suzanne’s Law, effective next month, requires the Parole Board to consider a killer’s refusal to reveal the victim’s location when deciding parole.

Fraser’s sister, Carol Gillies, calls this the family’s final chance to uncover the truth, emphasizing the emotional toll of decades of uncertainty.

Fraser’s parole eligibility is set for 2028, giving the family hope that the law may finally compel him to disclose Arlene’s remains.