Forty-five-year-old John Devine, known to his friends as Jake, lived on Gadshill Street in Royston, Glasgow, Scotland. He was last seen alive on July 10th, 2007, between ten thirty and ten forty-five p.m., entering Cowlairs Park with his loyal Staffordshire bull terrier cross, Chico.
It was Chico’s behavior that ultimately led to the discovery of John’s body. The dog remained by his side for an estimated three to four days before returning home, where a neighbor took him in. A member of the public, noticing Chico’s absence from the park, investigated the area and found John’s body hidden in the bushes. Police later confirmed that the victim had been stabbed to death, though it remains unclear whether the murder occurred on the night of July 10th or on a subsequent date, as John may have returned to the park later.
Strathclyde Police launched an extensive investigation, led by Detective Chief Inspector Ricky Mason. Detectives interviewed approximately 450 motorists and pedestrians in the Saracen area, particularly along Saracen Street, Keppochhill Road, and near Cowlairs Park. Over the course of the investigation, police collected more than 1,000 statements.
Several details added layers of complexity to the investigation. For instance, police noted a sighting of a car braking sharply near the park on July 11th, 2007, possibly for someone resembling John Devine, suggesting he might have been alive after July 10th. Yet, the exact timeline of his death remains uncertain.
One poignant aspect of the case was the involvement of Chico, John’s dog. Six weeks after the murder, police brought Chico and John’s father, also named John, back to Cowlairs Park in an attempt to prompt recollections from passersby who might have seen “Jake” with his dog. Described as a bit of a loner, John Devine was rarely seen without Chico, making the dog a key element in jogging the community’s memory. Detective Mason noted, “Jake was always with his dog, and that is what people may remember about him.”
Despite these efforts, no arrests were made. On the first anniversary of the murder, July 16th, 2008, Detective Inspector John Kennedy issued a renewed plea for information, emphasizing that the case would remain open until the killer was brought to justice.
As of September 2025, the murder of John Devine remains unsolved, with no new developments reported in recent years.
Crime Immemorial 