Third gay man killed in Edinburgh in past three weeks

A gay academic was found slain in his apartment in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 19. He’s the third gay man to be murdered in the city during the past three weeks, leading locals to fear there’s a serial killer on the loose in the city who’s targeting gay men.

Roger Gray, 64, was repeatedly stabbed. The killer rigged the gas supply in his apartment and lit a candle in an attempt to cause a fire to cover up the crime, reported the Daily Record.

Gray’s killing follows the violent deaths of John Carter, 44, and another man whose name can't be named for legal reasons. They both were found dead on Feb. 27.

Forty officers have been assigned to Gray’s case.

In addition to teaching at Heriot-Watt University, Gray advised the Scottish and UK governments on statistics and pensions. A friend of his told the Daily Record that Gray was openly gay and had a long-term partner.

“He was very well liked by friends and colleagues but was also quite a private person,” the friend said. “There is a sense of disbelief, as he was such a gentle person. … It's worrying, the number of serious incidents involving gay men in such a short time.”

Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Blair, who’s leading the hunt for Gray’s killer, said witnesses reported a disturbance in his apartment the evening before his body was found.

"We're early in the investigation and treating the inquiry as a suspicious death,” Blair said.

Bruce Fraser, chief executive of Edinburgh’s Gay Men's Health, said, "Whether (the killings) are linked or not is irrelevant, because the incidents create a climate of fear, given the reality is that hate crimes are a fact of life for many gay and bisexual men.”