True Crime All The Time Unsolved – "Alistair Wilson" (April 7, 2025)

Main Theme & Purpose

In this episode, hosts Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson ("Gibby") delve into the unsolved 2004 murder of Alistair Wilson, a Scottish banker gunned down on his doorstep in the tranquil seaside town of Nairn. With a focus on the personal life of the victim, the hosts explore theories ranging from mistaken identity to business conflicts and connections to organized crime, highlighting recent investigative developments and emphasizing just how baffling—and potentially solvable—the case remains two decades later.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction to the Case (03:35–06:08)

• Victim Profile: Alistair Wilson, 30, married to Veronica, with two sons aged four and two at his death.
• Setting: The Wilsons lived a seemingly idyllic life in Nairn, a crime-rare Scottish seaside town.
• Veronica’s Account: She describes Alistair as "genuine, honest … caring" (05:29).

Life Leading Up to the Murder (06:31–08:25)

• Alistair’s banking career led the family to Nairn in 2003.
• He was recently disillusioned at the bank, set to take a new job at BRE Highlands—just two weeks left in his notice period at the time of his murder.
• Notable Quote: "Does his job … have anything to do with the murder?" – Mike Ferguson (08:25)

The Night of the Murder (09:18–14:53)

• The family and friends had a typical weekend; the evening was unremarkable until a stranger came to the door (11:47).
• The visitor, described as a stocky, clean-shaven white man (35–40, 5'6"–5'10"), only asked for "Alistair Wilson".
• Alistair received a mysterious blue envelope addressed to "Paul", which was empty; visibly puzzled, he returned downstairs—then was shot (13:12).
• Memorable Quote:
  • "Safe but like what in the world just happened..." – Mike Ferguson (13:15)
  • "And the next thing you know, he [Alistair] is shot three times lying in his own blood." – Mike Ferguson (14:53)

Immediate Aftermath (15:03–18:33)

• Veronica finds Alistair badly wounded; blue envelope gone, the killer seen walking away.
• Witnesses rushed to his aid; Alistair died in the hospital about an hour later.
• Ballistics traced the weapon (an antique Haenel Schmeisser pistol) and old Eastern European ammunition found in a drain days later—not a common crime weapon.

Theories & Investigative Dead Ends (18:33–28:28)

• No evidence supporting rumors of money laundering or familial involvement. Son Andrew’s tragic memory: "The only memory of my dad I’m left with is the image of him lying on the doorstep." (18:32)
• Police examined the gun’s provenance and entertained theories involving Irish paramilitaries and money lending, but no definitive connection was established.
• Journalist Fiona Walker’s investigation into an anonymous tip ("Peter") provided plausible background details but lacked proof.
  • Notable Reflection: "Some believable information, but not solid enough to say, yeah, this is what happened." – Mike Gibson (25:07)

Theories of Mistaken Identity & Local Conflict (28:28–31:46)

• The blue envelope for "Paul" raises questions about mistaken identity.
• There was another Alistair Wilson living nearby (in his 60s).
• Alternate conflict: Alistair had recently complained—almost contemporaneously—to the council about the neighbor’s (Andy Burnett’s) hotel deck (43:21–46:11).

Suspects & Witnesses (34:00–48:37)

• Police sought Sean Douglas, a neighbor who moved away and refused to give DNA, stirring suspicion.
• Focus also turned to Andy Burnett, the hotel owner who arrived at the scene quickly, and was friends with Alistair (despite recent conflicts).
• Burnett was cleared as a suspect ("Andy Burnett is absolutely a key witness … not a suspect." – Det. Insp. Gary Winter, 40:25).
• In 2022, a new possible suspect emerged—a local man in his 20s at the time, later imprisoned for drug offenses, and linked to Burnett on social media.

The Decking Dispute & Timing (43:21–46:11)

• The decking complaint letter’s arrival at Burnett’s hotel just days before the murder frames a suspicious timeline, though few believe someone would kill over such a dispute.
• "What do you make of this decking issue? … It just is not adding up to me." – Mike Ferguson (45:45–46:11)

Possibility of Two Assailants (49:08–49:37)

• Police and ex-detective Peter Blexley theorize two men may have been involved: one to lure Alistair, another to do the killing, potentially to avoid identification.

Frustration with Investigation Progress (50:18–54:03)

• The Wilson family was told a suspect would be arrested in May 2023—didn’t happen, leading to a misconduct ruling against a senior officer.
• In September 2024, Scotland’s top law officer ordered Operation Sabine, a thorough cold case review.
• Hosts lament the lack of transparency: "They could shut down some of those rumors … but they don’t want to disclose that information." – Mike Ferguson (53:17)

Ongoing Theories & Final Thoughts (46:30–54:03)

• The hosts debate the plausibility of various scenarios—business fallout, mistaken identity, criminal underworld debt, local disputes.
• Modern forensic techniques (e.g., DNA24) have yet to yield answers.
• Hosts remain optimistic but realistic about the difficulties of solving such a cold case: "It does sound like they are going to throw some resources at this thing … I do think it’s a case that could be solved." – Mike Ferguson (54:01)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "Six weeks, that is really fast [to get engaged]." – Mike Gibson (04:29)
• "It was very nice having somebody who just instantly cared so much." – Veronica (as quoted by Mike Ferguson, 05:29)
• "[Alistair] was a loving father. His sons were his priority." – Mike Ferguson (06:10)
• "The Wilsons lived on a quiet street … directly across from the Havelock Hotel … a lively bar." – Mike Ferguson (07:44)
• "She didn't feel nervous … assumed he had something to do with his work." – Mike Ferguson (11:47)
• "The only thing that makes any sense to me was that it was the wrong Alistair Wilson." – Veronica Wilson (28:09)
• "Maybe he stumbled across some things that were shady. … Maybe it’s part of the reason why he wanted to leave." – Mike Ferguson (27:02)
• "Alistair's objection was discussed at the bar … but locals are skeptical about this theory." – Mike Ferguson (43:21–45:30)
• "Andy Burnett is absolutely a key witness in this investigation and not a suspect." – Det. Insp. Gary Winter (40:25)
• "It’s kind of pretty hard to take anything completely off the table." – Mike Ferguson (27:11)
• "With the reinvestigation and advancements in DNA technology, it’s possible the murder may be solved one day." – Mike Ferguson (51:44)
• "There’s a lot of rumors … the police not … saying what they found in their dissection of Alistair’s finances. They could shut down some of those rumors." – Mike Ferguson (52:57–53:17)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:35 – Start of Alistair Wilson case, background & family
• 09:18 – Events of the day leading to murder
• 11:47 – Description of the killer and delivery of the envelope
• 13:12 – Alistair is shot; blue envelope gone
• 15:03 – Neighbors respond, ambulance arrives
• 17:14 – Discovery of murder weapon
• 18:32 – Son Andrew’s memory & aftermath for the family
• 20:23 – Police inquiries into gun origin & paramilitary theories
• 22:36 – Media tipster “Peter” and the unexplored lead
• 25:58 – Veronica’s skepticism toward the “Peter” lead
• 28:09 – Mistaken identity theory discussed by Veronica
• 34:00 – Sean Douglas (neighbor) introduced as a person of interest
• 36:20 – Andy Burnett’s statements about the deck conflict & police interviews
• 40:25 – Police officially state Burnett is a witness, not a suspect
• 43:21 – Timeline and implications of the deck dispute
• 46:30 – Possibility of alternate suspects and two assailants
• 50:18 – Wilson family complaint regarding the investigation
• 50:51 – Launch of Operation Sabine (major new cold case review)
• 54:01 – Hosts’ reflection on the case's solvability and ongoing rumors

Summary & Takeaway

• Decades Later, No Closure: Two decades on, the motive for Alistair Wilson’s murder remains elusive. Despite plausible theories—from mistaken identity to business or neighbor conflicts—no conclusive evidence or suspects have emerged.
• Recent Renewed Interest: New forensic techniques, suspect descriptions, and Scotland’s top law enforcement resources are being brought to bear in an effort to finally break the case.
• Enduring Impact: The episode highlights the toll unresolved cases take on families and communities, as well as the persistent shadows cast by rumor and speculation.
• Balanced Tone: As always, Mike and Gibby keep the tone conversational and occasionally light, but never lose sight of the case's tragedy and gravity.

For listeners who missed the episode, this summary offers a clear roadmap through the twists and uncertainties of one of Scotland’s most enigmatic unsolved murders.