A vile killer jailed for the brutal murder and butchering of a teenage mum who 'looked at him as a father figure' has died behind bars.
Michael McArthur was found dead by prison guards at HMP Dumfries on Monday, April 11.
The 74-year-old was caged for life at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2004 after being found guilty of murdering and then dismembering the body of 19-year-old Amy Anderson two years prior.
Tragic Amy had been a promising college student in her hometown of Dumfries, before giving birth to a baby girl at the age of 18.
But after becoming addicted to heroin, she found herself on the streets.
Reports from the time of McArthur's trial stated he had taken his victim in and let her sleep in his shelter, becoming a 'father figure' to her when she had nowhere else to go.
At the time of her murder, it was also speculated that the teenager was pregnant with her second child.
Her torso was found on the banks of the River Leven in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, in May 2002.
Her pelvis was found more than a year later in November 2003 in a pond near the river.
Amy's head, arms and legs have never been found.
Speaking during his trial, McArthur said: ''I last saw her the Friday before she went missing. I was talking to her round at the Salvation Army. She told me she was pregnant. She said she was about nine weeks."
Jurors heard how evil McArthur suffocated the teenager and then went on to burn parts of her body after dissecting it.
During the trial, temporary judge Alastair Stewart QC described the killing as "horrific" and "brutal".
He told McArthur: "You were convicted by the jury of a quite appalling murder.
"It is bad enough, as you did, to deprive a young woman of her life, but you compounded the crime by what can only be described as butchering the body and disposing of it in such a way that parts of it have not been found.
"The effect of this on the victim's family can only be imagined.
"The horrific and brutal nature of this crime must be reflected in a lengthy punishment."
Following the court case, Miss Anderson's mother, June, urged parents to be aware of the dangers of their children taking drugs and to ensure they could always discuss their problems.
She told BBC Scotland: "I looked on Amy as a victim of crime because she wasn't a criminal, she was a lovely, well brought-up young girl.
"It's the people who supply these (drugs) who are the criminals.
"I would say that to any parent who is having difficulty, that your child is a victim and victims need support and help.
"It's not always easy to give because I know how difficult it can be to deal with these type of children. But just always let them know that you are there for them."
The prison death has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
A Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held in due course.
A Scottish Prison Service spokespersons said: "Michael McArthur, 74, a prisoner from HMP Dumfries has died on April 11, 2022.
"He was convicted at Edinburgh High Court in 2004. Police Scotland have been advised and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
"A Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held in due course."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
