The father of a Fife woman left in a critical condition following an arson attack which killed her boyfriend has thanked the thousands of well-wishes who have left messages of support for the family.
Phill Williams said his daughter Rebecca is “fighting hard” after the blaze which killed 23-year-old Cameron Logan at his family home in Achray Place, Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
Rebecca, who is better known as Bex and originally comes from Wormit, had been out celebrating Hogmanay with Cameron before returning to the property which was later targeted in the early hours.
Detectives are hunting the person responsible for the deliberate fire, but have as yet been unable to speak to Bex, 24, who still in intensive care at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Reports have suggested that Bex’s condition is showing signs of improvement, although her dad Phill has confirmed on social media that there has been little change.
He wrote on Facebook: “Thanks for all the thoughts and wishes. No real change yet but I will try to put up news when I can. She’s fighting hard.”
Police investigating the fire have said they want to trace a number of people seen close to the property around the time of the blaze.
Emergency services were called to the fire at about 7.25am and are keen to trace a man wearing a grey hooded top and walking a pitbull in nearby Craigton Wood around the time of the fire as well as another man wearing a dark top seen walking along Craigton Road onto the West Highland Way with two Springer Spaniels.
Another dog walker, wearing a hooded jacket and darker trousers, seen on nearby Craigton Road at 7.42am and two joggers – a man and a woman – running together on Craigton Road at 8.10am are also being sought.
Cameron’s body was found in the property, although Mr Logan’s parents David and Cathy were released from hospital after treatment for smoke inhalation. The Logans’ family dog, Gomez, also died in the fire.
It is understood a neighbour managed to pull Bex, who works as a broadcast journalist for Global Radio, from the burning building and she was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Livingstone said: “It’s crucial that we speak to these people seen on CCTV as they may have seen something important, even unwittingly, that could really help with this investigation.
“They may have seen the dark-coloured car that reportedly had its engine running in the lay-by on Craigton Road or they may have seen other people out walking, driving, cycling or running, anything that could help us find who is responsible for this fatal fire.
“It could be they are in a routine out walking their dog at the same time every morning.
“They’ll know the people who move about at that time of the morning, so they’ll know if something is out of place or if there’s a new face.”
The detective confirmed Mr Logan and Ms Williams walked home from a house party in Milngavie after celebrating New Year with friends.
He said: “It was all friends, everybody knew each other, we’ve spoken to some partygoers who were at that house. It was in good spirits, everyone was getting on, there were no fallouts or disagreements, all in good spirits.”
Police have said there is nothing to suggest the wrong house was targeted in the fire and stress they are keeping an open mind about who the intended victim or victims were.
Tests to confirm the exact cause of the fire “could take some time” but officers have been scouring woodland near the property on Wednesday.
The investigation team are also trying to trace the occupants of a dark car seen parked on Craigton Road around the time of the fire with its passenger door open and engine running.
