Where Is Alexander McKellar Now? Life After His Fiancée Helped Convict Him

Alexander “Sandy” McKellar appeared to be a solitary Highland gamekeeper who found love on Tinder — but his romance with Dr. Caroline Muirhead took a shocking turn when he confessed to a 2017 hit-and-bury incident. The case, and Muirhead’s role in helping police recover the victim’s body, is detailed in the Netflix series Should I Marry a Murderer?.

Alexander McKellar.Credit: Netflix

Background

McKellar worked as a hunter and gamekeeper on the 68-square-mile Auch Estate near Bridge of Orchy in the Scottish Highlands. On his Tinder profile he described himself as a “6ft 4 Highlander” and matched with Dr. Caroline Muirhead, a forensic pathologist, in October 2020. They bonded quickly despite warnings from friends and Alexander’s twin brother, Robert, who reportedly told Muirhead Alexander was "not right in the head." Muirhead also described occasions when Alexander became loud and belligerent after drinking.

Credit: Netflix

The Confession

After McKellar proposed in November 2020, he told Muirhead that three years earlier, on the night of Sept. 29, 2017, he had driven drunk and struck a cyclist named Parsons. According to prosecutors and forensic experts, Parsons suffered severe blunt-force injuries and may have survived for up to half an hour after the collision. Instead of seeking help, prosecutors say Alexander and his twin Robert dragged the injured cyclist from the road, returned to the Auch Estate, and later buried Parsons on estate grounds.

Credit: Netflix

Muirhead’s Investigation

Horrified by the confession, Muirhead did not immediately contact police. In late December 2020 Alexander asked her to help move remains because new owners planned construction at the burial site. At that point she alerted police. Officers arrested Alexander and Robert on Dec. 30, 2020, but released them without charge when the body had not yet been located and the twins declined to speak.

The widow of Tony Parsons, Margaret Parsons, leaves the High Court, Glasgow, with their children, Mike and Victoria, following the sentence hearing of the McKellar brothers on August 25, 2023.Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty

Continuing the relationship as part of her effort to gather evidence, Muirhead secretly recorded conversations and covertly marked the burial spot by dropping a crushed Red Bull can while Alexander showed her the location. In January 2021 police found the can and excavated the site, recovering Parsons’ remains exactly where Muirhead had indicated.

Caroline Muirhead leaves the High Court, Glasgow, following the sentence hearing of the McKellar brothers on August 25, 2023.Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty

Legal Outcome

Once autopsy results were available, prosecutors charged both McKellar brothers with murder. The siblings later reached plea agreements: both pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice, and Alexander pleaded guilty to culpable homicide. Alexander was sentenced to 12 years in prison; Robert received five years and three months. In January 2025, BBC News reported Alexander settled a civil claim when his insurer paid Parsons’ family a six-figure sum.

Alexander McKellar.Credit: Police Scotland/X.com

Aftermath and Media

The case raises questions about trust, professional ethics and the difficult choices faced by witnesses. Netflix’s Should I Marry a Murderer?, which premiered on April 29, explores Muirhead’s inner conflict as a forensic expert who became both partner and key witness. The series highlights how persistence, forensic knowledge and careful documentation can make the difference in a cold case.

Key takeaway: Muirhead’s decision to document and report the confession — including marking the burial spot — was pivotal in recovering Parsons’ body and securing convictions.