Where is Robert McKellar now, Sandy's brother? His role in Tony Parsons' murder

Netflix’s new three-part documentary, Should I Marry a Murderer?, has reignited interest in one of Scotland’s most unsettling recent true crime cases: the killing of charity cyclist and Navy veteran, Tony Parsons. The true crime show centres on Dr Caroline Muirhead, who discovered her fiancé, Alexander 'Sandy' McKellar, was hiding a deadly secret – and did the right thing by informing the police.

But alongside Sandy, viewers are now asking: what happened to his twin brother, Robert McKellar – the man who also allowed Parsons to die without seeking any medical help and who then assisted his brother in burying the body? And where is Robert McKellar now?

Robert McKellar is the twin brother of Alexander 'Sandy' McKellar, the man who admitted to killing 63-year-old Tony Parsons in a 2017 hit-and-run in the Scottish Highlands.

While Sandy was driving the vehicle that struck Parsons, Robert was in the passenger seat and crucially, became involved in what happened next.

Rather than calling emergency services, the brothers made a decision that would later horrify the public: they left the injured cyclist at the scene, later returning to dispose of his body in a remote area on the Auch Estate, where they ran a hunting business.

For years, Tony Parsons was listed as a missing person, with his family left in limbo about his fate.

Sandy McKellar and Caroline Muirhead

Although Robert wasn't the one to get behind the wheel after an evening of drinking alcohol and hit Parsons, prosecutors argued that his actions were key to the cover-up. After the collision, Robert helped his brother move and bury Parsons’ body, as well as conceal evidence that could have led to their arrest, such as returning home and swapping vehicles and clothes before travelling back out into the night to retrieve Parsons.

This meant that instead of the victim being found quickly – and potentially receiving help that could have changed the outcome of the situation – his body remained undiscovered for more than three years.

The case only broke open in 2020 when Sandy confessed the truth to his girlfriend, Dr Caroline Muirhead, shortly after they got engaged. It was Caroline who ultimately went to the police and helped lead investigators to the burial site, asking Sandy to take her to it and marking the spot with a can of Red Bull for officers to later excavate.

While it was Sandy who originally confessed to Caroline about Parsons' death, he initially made out that Parsons had died on impact. It was Robert who told Caroline the additional, harrowing details – and truth – that he had not died right away, and that they had actively chosen not to request medical attention.

Robert’s involvement was later described in court as part of a deliberate attempt to “defeat the ends of justice”, effectively helping to cover up a crime.

Both brothers initially faced murder charges, but these were later reduced. In 2023, Sandy McKellar pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and attempting to pervert the course of justice, while Robert pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

While Sandy was held directly responsible for Parsons’ death, Robert’s conviction centred on his role in hiding the crime rather than causing it.

Robert McKellar is currently serving a prison sentence in Scotland. He was sentenced to five years and three months behind bars for his role in concealing Tony Parsons’ death and obstructing justice.

Unlike his brother, who received a longer 12-year sentence, Robert’s punishment reflects the court’s view that he was involved in the cover-up rather than the killing itself.

As of 2026, there are no public reports suggesting he has been released, meaning he is likely still incarcerated or only recently eligible for release depending on parole conditions.