The Tragedy and Legacy of Paige Dockerty

Mr Angry

Alright, welcome everyone to Murder UK Crime here on London Shout Out Talk Radio, where we dive straight into the gritty, gripping world of true crime. I'm your host, and if you're unfamiliar with me, well, they don't call me Mr. Angry for nothin'.

Claire

And I’m Claire! Okay, for real, if you’ve got a thing for those mind-blowing, edge-of-your-seat stories—and I mean, stories that kinda, like, stick with you forever—then you are so in the right place.

Mr Angry

Right, right. None of that candy-coated fluff here. We’re talking real-life mysteries, intricate investigations, and yeah, the kind of cases that might just keep you up at night. Trust me, these stories aren’t coming from the back pages of some dusty book.

Claire

Oh my gosh, not at all. What we’re diving into is real. Like, actual people, actual places—and, you know, these are stories that show just how much a community can be completely, like, torn apart by tragedy. It’s heavy, but it’s also really, really important to talk about, don’t you think?

Mr Angry

Exactly. And one of those stories—the one we’re covering today—it's tough. It’s raw. The kind of case that shakes a whole town to its core. It’s the murder of Paige Dockerty, a tragedy that left an entire community reeling.

Claire

I still, like, can’t believe how young she was. Fifteen, you know? I mean, most of us at that age are, like, just dreaming about what we wanna be someday, and here she was trying to make real moves with her life. She had so much ahead of her—

Mr Angry

And then it was all taken away, just like that. Like I said, we’re not here to sugarcoat anything. This case, Paige’s case, it’s one that shows you the frightening underbelly of what happens right here, in communities we think are safe. So buckle in, because this isn’t going to be an easy ride.

Claire

Yeah, but also, we’re gonna, like, explore how people came together too, right? There’s something about the way communities rally in the face of loss... it’s so—

Mr Angry

Save that, Claire—we’ll get there. For now, let’s start at the beginning—the day Paige disappeared.

Mr Angry

Alright, so let’s start at the beginning. It’s March 19th, 2016, a Saturday. Paige, ever the responsible one, left her friend’s house early that morning, ready to head to work at a salon. This wasn’t the kind of girl who’d just flake on her plans, no—she had her head on straight.

Claire

Totally. I mean, everyone said she was bubbly, outgoing—just so full of life. The kind of person you notice when she’s not around. And they noticed, right away.

Mr Angry

Exactly. Her mum, Pamela, realized something was wrong almost immediately. Paige hadn’t shown up to work, hadn’t contacted anyone. And for a 15-year-old who practically lived on social media, that kind of radio silence? It was glaring.

Claire

Oh my gosh, I would’ve been freaked out. Like, you expect teens to be glued to their phones, right? It just doesn’t feel normal when there’s... nothing.

Mr Angry

And it wasn’t normal. The family didn’t waste a second—they reached out to friends, coworkers, tried to piece things together. Then, social media took over. By late Saturday night, Paige’s picture was everywhere. A beautiful young girl with her whole life ahead of her—

Claire

It’s just heartbreaking. You’ve got the town pulling together, sharing posts, hoping for any sign, right? And I mean, it’s not just about finding her—it’s that fear, that sick feeling something might be... very wrong.

Mr Angry

Yeah, and it was wrong, Claire. By Sunday, people were desperate for answers. It wasn’t just her family anymore—it was the entire Clydebank community rallying. Police got involved immediately, combing through her likely routes, asking questions, looking for clues.

Claire

Right, because Paige wasn’t just missing at that point—like, you could feel the atmosphere shift. People weren’t just worried, they were scared. Parents hugging their kids tighter, groups double-checking where everyone was, you know?

Mr Angry

And here’s the thing—the police knew something was off when they saw her phone. No activity, no pings from bus Wi-Fi. It wasn’t just unusual—it was alarming. And it started painting a darker picture of what might’ve happened to her.

Claire

I mean, the way social media can show so much, but also so little at the same time—it’s just chilling. And for Paige’s family, not hearing from her? That’s every parent’s worst nightmare.

Mr Angry

It is. And this—the whole community on edge, the endless search—this was just the beginning. A tragedy like this doesn’t just take a person, it shakes the entire foundation of safety people thought they had. And we'll dig into that.

Mr Angry

And that fear, that tension in the air? It was justified. The police quickly realized this wasn’t just a case of a missing teenager. Everything changed when, two days after Paige vanished, her body was discovered. The crime scene told them more than anyone wanted to believe—this wasn’t an accident. This was murder.

Claire

And such a brutal one, right? I mean, the injuries, over 125 of them... that’s—it’s almost too much to even comprehend. It just shows the, like, terrifying level of violence in what happened to her. And for the investigators, walking into that scene... Ugh, I can’t even imagine.

Mr Angry

Yeah, it was grim. Paige’s body had been partially covered with debris, set in a quiet access lane near some woods. But the clues around her—the soil, vegetation, even how disturbed the ground was—those became critical in reconstructing what happened and pinpointing who was responsible. Enter the forensic experts.

Claire

Like, they even analyzed the dirt, right? It’s kind of incredible. They could look at, like, tiny fragments of soil on tires and compare them with the crime scene to figure out if a car had been there. That’s, like, next-level detailed detective work.

Mr Angry

Spot on, it’s called trace evidence—bits of the scene sticking to objects, or even people. They also found plastic and metal scraps in the soil that were unique to that spot, which meant they weren’t dealing with guesswork. They could trace exactly where a suspect had been.

Claire

And we’ve gotta talk about the CCTV footage too, right? Because that was huge. That’s where everything started coming together. You’ve got Paige seen entering John Letham’s deli... but she never comes out. That alone is gut-wrenching.

Mr Angry

It is. And the footage didn’t stop there. The police also caught Letham on camera after Paige’s disappearance—visibly frantic. He was seen shutting his shop, running errands, buying bleach and garbage bags. Everything about his behavior screamed, “suspicious.”

Claire

Ugh, yeah. And then the part where he’s carrying her body... like, just casually walking to his car as if he’s taking out the trash. That’s what makes it even more chilling—how calm he was. It’s hard to even think about.

Mr Angry

That’s the thing. It was all caught on film. And once the investigators laid it all out—the physical evidence, the digital trail, the cleaned-up crime scene in his deli—it was damning. Letham might’ve been “well-respected,” but he couldn’t hide from forensics.

Claire

And the forensic scientists? Like, wow. They even lifted the floorboards in his shop to find traces of blood. It’s one of those things where you realize just how much work goes into piecing these cases together. Every drop of blood, every single fiber—it all tells a story, and it’s a story you can’t hide from.

Mr Angry

Exactly. And it wasn’t just about solving the case—it was about justice. Justice for Paige, for her family, and for a community trying to reckon with the unthinkable. The evidence didn’t just speak—it screamed. And that’s what led to Letham’s confession right before trial. But we’ve got more to unravel from this story.

Mr Angry

And it wasn’t just the forensic breakthroughs or the resolution of the case—what made this even more significant was the impact on the community. Paige Dockerty’s murder shattered Clydebank’s sense of safety, leaving the residents feeling like they’d lost one of their own. It’s the kind of tragedy that ripples far beyond the victim and their family.

Claire

Yeah, and you can, like, still feel that even today. I read about how it created this wave of awareness—like, people started checking in on each other more, parents became extra cautious about their kids. It’s like it forced everyone to kinda wake up, you know?

Mr Angry

Right. It changed the way people thought about safety—walking alone, talking to their kids about being aware of their surroundings. But more than that, it showed the sheer strength of a community rallying during one of its darkest moments.

Claire

Totally. The Facebook posts, the vigils... it wasn’t just about grief—it was about, like, fighting back with love and support. I actually think that’s kinda beautiful, in a way. Even in the worst moments, people find ways to hold each other up.

Mr Angry

And they needed it. Paige’s family especially—her mum, Pamela, showed incredible strength. She turned her pain into action, keeping Paige’s memory alive while pushing for better community awareness. That kind of resilience—it’s extraordinary, isn’t it?

Claire

Yeah, and oh my gosh, it’s not just extraordinary—it’s inspiring. Like, when people hear what she’s done, it reminds them that even in the face of something so cruel, there’s room for hope. And for other communities, it’s this reminder to look out for each other too.

Mr Angry

Absolutely. And it’s not just about being vigilant—it’s about creating spaces where people feel safe, where they can speak out if something feels wrong. That kind of support makes a real difference. And plenty of listeners have shared stories like these.

Claire

Yeah, like the one from Anna in Croydon? She reached out to say how her neighborhood started a safety program inspired by what happened to Paige. It’s those small steps, building trust and looking out for your neighbors, that can, like, change everything.

Mr Angry

It’s those steps that make the difference between living in fear and living in strength. Because as dark as this story was, the legacy doesn’t have to be fear. It can be a community that refuses to let its spirit be broken.

Claire

Yeah, and I feel like that’s the takeaway, right? It’s not just about talking about the past—it’s about, like, what we can carry forward from these stories. Paige might be gone, but her legacy... it’s one of resilience, of people coming together to ensure no one gets left behind.

Mr Angry

And that’s what we need to remember. Paige’s story—her life, her family’s strength, her community’s unity—it’s a reminder that we aren’t powerless. That even when the worst happens, we can rise above it, together.

Claire

Exactly. And hey, if there’s something you takeaway from today, it’s that. Every little bit counts. Being there for your neighbors, teaching our kids to be aware... it all adds up. So, let’s keep that going, yeah?

Mr Angry

Right. And with that, we’re wrapping up for today. To everyone who tuned in, thanks for listening, for caring, and for remembering Paige. Stay safe out there, and don’t forget—real strength comes from unity.

Claire

Yeah, and, like, we’ll catch you next time. Take care, everyone!