Murder in the Granite City

Murder in the Granite City

The death of brilliant scientist Dr Brenda Page remained a mystery for more than 40 years - becoming one of Britain's longest-running unsolved murders. The young and talented 32-year-old was bludgeoned to death in her flat in Aberdeen - the Scottish city famous for its granite buildings and oil industry. On July 13, 1978, Brenda - originally from Ipswich, England - left her laboratory at the University of Aberdeen where she headed up the genetics department, and joined two rich businessmen for dinner at a plush hotel in the city. The following day, worried colleagues went to check on her after she failed to turn up for work - and made the grim discovery of her body. Brenda had been beaten to death in a violent and frenzied attack with a blunt instrument. When it was revealed that she'd been living a double life, rumours spread about the identity of her killer. In this seven-part series, award-winning journalist Ruth Warrander explores three theories as to who could have killed Brenda, before she reveals the shocking truth. New episodes every Friday - follow the podcast to never miss an episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

June 2, 2023 1 min
The death of brilliant scientist Dr Brenda Page remained a mystery for more than 40 years - becoming one of Britain's longest running unsolved murders. The young and talented 32-year-old was bludgeoned to death in her flat in Aberdeen - the Scottish city famous for its granite buildings and oil industry. On July 13, 1978, Brenda - originally from Ipswich, England - left her laboratory at the University of Aberdeen where she headed ...
Mark as Played
Brenda moved to Aberdeen when she secured a job in the genetics department at the university in 1973. In this episode, we explore why she was working as an escort, the impact of the oil boom in Aberdeen and what the police uncovered in their investigation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played
June 16, 2023 40 mins
"If ever I'm found dead and it looks like suicide, don't believe it..." Those were Dr Brenda Page's words to her close friend Jessie Milne. It seems that all was not well in Brenda's marriage right from the very beginning. Her sister and two of her closest friends open up to journalist Ruth Warrander about Brenda's relationship with her husband, Dr Christopher Harrisson. What they tell her is shocking. Follow the podcast wherever ...
Mark as Played
June 23, 2023 31 mins
The people of Aberdeen were shocked to find out Dr Brenda Page, an outstanding geneticist, was also working as an escort, wining and dining businessmen. Rumours circulated in the city that Brenda's killer may have been one of her 'clients'. Newspapers portrayed her as a 'call girl'. So why was Brenda doing this extra work? Her friends and family open up to journalist Ruth Warrander about the other side of her life. And we hear fr...
Mark as Played
June 30, 2023 32 mins
Did Brenda Page's groundbreaking work as a geneticist put her life in danger? She was investigating diver safety in the North Sea at a time when there was a rush to get oil ashore as quickly as possible. People investigating diver safety in the Norwegian oil industry had died in mysterious circumstances. A former colleague of Brenda's reveals his relationship with her was more than professional and he had to identify her body. Host...
Mark as Played
Journalist Ruth Warrander visits Dr Brenda Page's ex-husband and discovers a shocking detail from his past. She reveals the identity of the suspect seen in posters all over Aberdeen after Brenda's murder and hears alarming news about the original police investigation. Forensic scientists uncover how advances in DNA have led to cold cases being solved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about you...
Mark as Played
July 14, 2023 29 mins
In the final episode, journalist Ruth Warrander comes face to face with Dr Brenda Page's killer at the trial. She reveals the true extent of the abuse Brenda suffered and we find out how advances in DNA technology were crucial in bringing the case to court. This episode is available from 14 July 2023 - the 45th anniversary of Brenda's murder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choi...
Mark as Played
December 20, 2023 32 mins
The series begins with an investigation into what happened on the night of Brenda's murder. Presenter Ruth Warrander finds out that it was Brenda's work colleagues who alerted her neighbour that she hadn't turned up for work. They found her in her bedroom with extensive head injuries. Brenda's friends and family tell Ruth about Brenda's relationship with her husband, Dr Christopher Harrisson, known as Kit. Journalist Graham Smith, ...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.