Ep 7. Greenock

As we delve deep into the second season of Murdertown, we enter a small town in Scotland called Greenock. While the picturesque beauty of the town may lure one into thinking of it as a peaceful place, Murdertown takes a deep dive into uncovering the horrors beneath the surface.

The episode begins with a news report from 1997 that rocked Greenock. The town was left reeling when 16-year-old Caroline Glachan was found bludgeoned to death on the banks of the River Clyde. The police investigations led them to a dead end, and the case remained unsolved for years. However, the case resurfaced in 200t when new DNA evidence was uncovered, following a ‘cold case review’. The episode explores the heinous crime that rocked the town two decades ago, revisiting how it unfolded and the collateral impact it had on the community.

The first witness to come forward, a friend of Caroline’s, spoke about the night of the incident. She had been with Caroline at a party that night, where they were drinking. That was the last place she saw her friend alive. Meanwhile, a group of boys on their way to the shop discovered Caroline’s body on the banks of the River. They had simply been walking home, and finding the body sent shockwaves through them.

As more and more witnesses came forward, it transpired that Caroline had been in the company of a local man called John Docherty in the early hours of the morning. He had walked her home from the party and left her at a pier. Docherty later claimed he had left Caroline there and returned home. However, his alibis failed, and he was charged with murder.

As the evidence started to pile up, Docherty’s demeanor started to change, and he withdrew from the investigation. While it looked like the case was coming to a close, it turned out to be more complicated than they could ever have imagined. When the trial started, the defense presented evidence that there was another suspect who had not been investigated properly by the police. This eventually led to a hung jury, and the murderer remained on the loose.

The town was haunted by Caroline’s murder, and the devastation it caused to the community is still palpable. The episode revisits heart-wrenching interviews of Caroline’s family, friends, teachers, and the community as a whole. They speak of how this incident changed their lives and the fear that lingered in the town for years. The interviewees even go on to talk about the impact on their mental health, with some suffering from PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Caroline’s brother has been left with a lifelong battle with drug abuse after the trauma he suffered.

The impact of the crime was not limited to Greenock, but it divided the country too. It had led to calls for change in how police investigated murder cases, while the public denounced Caroline's killer, who had evaded justice for so many years.

The episode takes a deep dive into the psychology of the killer and his motives, uncovering chilling details about him. This provides further insight into what really happened in the early hours of that fateful morning.

Through the interviews with police, witnesses, and loved ones, viewers gain an understanding of the painstaking process that goes into solving a cold case. With the advances in forensic technology, the team provides hope to the community that the identity of the killer might eventually be uncovered.

In conclusion, Murdertown's Greenock episode provides an in-depth portrayal of the impact of a notorious crime on a small town. The episode is not only about uncovering the conspiracy behind the murder but also reveals the long-lasting impact a tragedy has on a community and individuals, thereby making it a must-watch for lovers of true-crime documentaries.