Police probing the murder of Lynda Spence are searching a remote area near Dunoon in a bid to find her remains, more than a decade on.
Lynda, 27, was abducted, tortured for 13 days and murdered in April 2011 by killer Colin Coats.
Coats and pal Philip Wade, then aged 42, forced Lynda into a car in Glasgow's west end on April 14 and drove her to West Kilbride, North Ayrshire where friends David Parker and Paul Smith let them in to Parker’s flat in Meadowfoot Road.
Lynda was held hostage in the flat and tortured for more than a fortnight, before sadistic Coats and Wade killed her.
Her body has never been found.
Forensic squads and experts have been drafted in from across the UK to conduct a search in Argyll for her remains that is 'expected to take considerable time'.
Lynda's family have been informed and are being supported by officers.
Police thanked members of the local community for their cooperation as officers remain in the area.
Anyone with information in relation to Lynda's murder is urged to come forward.
Detective Superintendent Suzanne Chow said: "This detailed work, involves Police Scotland detectives, local policing officers and specialist search teams, supported by forensic scientists and experts from across the United Kingdom.
“The operation is expected to take some considerable time due to the nature of the ground and remote location.
“Lynda’s family have been informed of this development and officers are supporting them during this difficult time.
"We will keep them updated as the work continues.
“There will be a significant police presence in the area as this operation continues and I would like to thank the local community for their co-operation at this time.
“I would ask anyone with information to please come forward and speak to officers.”
Coats was sentenced to life behind bars with a minimum 33-year term and Wade will serve at least 30 years.
Parker and Smith admitted assault and were jailed for 11 years and 11 years and three months respectively.
Lynda was held hostage in Parker's flat and bound her to a chair with tape, and Coats began torturing her in an apparent bid to extract financial information from her.
We previously told how the trial heard Coats gave Lynda £85,000 and the cash vanished.
In Parker's West Kilbride flat Coats cut off Lynda's thumb and fingertip with garden loopers while she was still alive.
The sadist crushed her toes with the garden loppers, smashed her knees with a golf club, burned her hands with an iron and battered her repeatedly.
The jury at his trial found he cut off her head.
Wade was at the torture sessions. Coats used Lynda’s phone to text her bereft mother, Patricia to make it look like she was safe.
Her phone was then found in a bin in Kilbirnie.
Coats denied he had murdered Lynda claiming she was alive and well, but was convicted following an 11-week trial in 2013.
The trial also heard evidence that Coats and Wade tried to borrow a boat after the murder.
Trial judge Lord Pentland said Coats was the 'prime mover' behind the 27-year-old’s kidnapping and that he is convinced of his 'devious and cruel personality'.
In October we told how Coats was hit with more jail time after being caught with a mobile phone.
The 50-year-old was found to have the device after prison staff were tipped off, it's understood.
Coats was given an extra 12 months on top of his life sentence for killing Lynda.
Coats was found with the phone at HMP Glenochil.
The killer appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court last month where he pled guilty to being in possession of the banned handset.
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