Inquiry to be held into death of man who raped and murdered vulnerable mum

An inquiry is to be held into the death of a man convicted of the rape and murder of a mum whose body is still missing.

George Metcalff was jailed for life in 2021 for the murder of vulnerable mother Patricia Henry before disposing of her body.

The 74-year-old died at the Golden Jubilee Hospital on August 30, 2024, while a prisoner at Barlinnie. He never revealed to Patricia’s family what he did with her remains.

A fatal accident inquiry is to be held into his death, as he was in legal custody and the care of the state at the time of his death.

A preliminary hearing will be held on December 1 at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

Patricia’s family previously told Scotland Tonight that prolonged court delays left them “in limbo” while her killer was free to walk the streets.

Patricia, known to friends and family as Patti, vanished from her flat in Girvan, South Ayrshire, in November 2017.

Following a large-scale police investigation, Metcalff, her neighbour, was charged with the 46-year-old’s rape and murder in July 2019.

The family then faced a long wait for a trial that was repeatedly delayed.

Despite the overwhelming evidence against Metcalff, he was released on bail during the Covid pandemic, leaving the family feeling vulnerable and tormented.

“It was torture, absolute torture,” Patti’s cousin Jacci Macarthy told Scotland Tonight.

“We were living in limbo, with no idea what had happened to Patti while he was walking the streets.

“Knowing he was out there, walking free, while we were grieving, was unbearable. It added another layer of trauma to an already devastating situation.”

Andy Shanks of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scotland’s death investigation authority, said: “The Lord Advocate considers that the death of George Metcalff occurred whilst he was in legal custody and as such a Fatal Accident Inquiry is mandatory.

“The lodging of the First Notice enables FAI proceedings to commence under the direction of the Sheriff.”