Now the story of how they were caught and brought to trial will be revealed in a new two-part documentary for BBC Two.
Made by Firecrest Films, The Girl in the River follows one of the nation’s biggest cold cases as the murder suspects go on trial.
As the truth begins to emerge in the murder trial, chilling details are revealed for the first time, shedding light on a crime which has proved impossible to solve for years.
Caroline Glachan was just 14 years old at the time of her death (Photo: Police Scotland/PA)She was the only child of William and Margaret Glachan. The latter had suffered a series of miscarriages before the birth of her daughter.
At the age of 14, she had begun a relationship with 18-year-old drug user Robert O’Brien in the summer of 1996 and the pair had attended an Oasis concert together.
Caroline was said to be “infatuated” with O’Brien, who had physically abused the teenager previously and whose family police described as being known locally to have “a lot of control” in the area.
But in the end, she went out to Black Bridge over the River Leven, between the villages of Renton and Bonhill, just before midnight to meet O’Brien.
Brand had previously threatened to “batter” Caroline sparked by jealousy over her relationship with O’Brien.
She was pushed or fell into the undergrowth and her body was eventually found the next afternoon in the River Leven, a mile from her home, by a passer-by.
Pathologist Dr Marjorie Turner told the jury at the murder trial “she was still alive when she was in the water” but had been knocked unconscious.
Robert O’Brien, Donna Marie Brand and Andrew Kelly, from left to right, were convicted of murdering Caroline (Photo: Police Scotland/PA)
How were Caroline Glachan’s killers finally caught?
Although suspicions were raised about the involvement of the group in Caroline’s death at the time, the four had stuck to the same alibi that they had never left home that evening.
Archie Wilson, who was just four at the time of the murder and was being babysat along with his two-year-old brother by Kelly and O’Neill, had told his mother and then detectives that he had witnessed the attack.
He also recalled there was “metal in her eye”, a detail detectives said could only have been known if you were present.
But at the time, the statement was reported to be considered insufficient to prosecute.
She said she had seen the group of four teens leave the flat, pushing a buggy with Archie holding on to the side, just before midnight.
This was at odds with the group’s alibi.
O’Brien, Brand and Kelly were eventually charged with Caroline’s murder in November 2021.
The three went on trial in Glasgow in November 2023 and were convicted of murder in December that year.
She recalled how her young son had not woken until lunchtime and had told her he had been taken down to the River Leven late that night and saw a “lassie” being “battered” and falling into the water.
His account of the night’s events came hours before Caroline’s body was discovered.
Caroline’s mother, now known as Margaret McKeich, said after the trial: “For the past 25 years they have lived their lives and they have had their Christmases and birthdays and my Caroline was in the ground.
“This is a day we never thought we would see and now I think Caroline can rest in peace.”
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