Human remains discovered by a dog walker in woods belong to one of Scotland's most wanted men.
Martin Hamilton - nicknamed the Blackhill Butcher after the Glasgow estate where he operated - had been hunted by police since September 2014 after breaching the terms of his prison release licence.
The remains were found beside the B7105 at West Calder, West Lothian, last Thursday - and police have now confirmed they belong to Hamilton.
The 53-year-old's death is being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination will take place next week.
He was on the police most-wanted list before being jailed for nine years in 2000 for charges including torture, abduction, sodomy and drug dealing.
Hamilton's crimes included entrapping two young men with offers of drugs before imprisoning them in a Glasgow flat, where he stabbed them in the cheek and had boiling water poured over them.
Detective Superintendent Kenny Graham said: "My condolences go out to the family of Martin Hamilton, who have had to receive such devastating news so close to Christmas.
"A team of officers is dedicated to this inquiry, so we can seek to give them answers as quickly as possible.
"We are continuing to conduct examinations with various scientific experts to establish exactly when and how Mr Hamilton died, and to ensure any evidence available can be captured from the scene and from the remains themselves."
Police believed Hamilton had been hiding out with the financial help of others, as he had not withdrawn any money following his disappearance
Martin Hamilton - nicknamed the Blackhill Butcher after the Glasgow estate where he operated - had been hunted by police since September 2014 after breaching the terms of his prison release licence.
The remains were found beside the B7105 at West Calder, West Lothian, last Thursday - and police have now confirmed they belong to Hamilton.
The 53-year-old's death is being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination will take place next week.
He was on the police most-wanted list before being jailed for nine years in 2000 for charges including torture, abduction, sodomy and drug dealing.
Hamilton's crimes included entrapping two young men with offers of drugs before imprisoning them in a Glasgow flat, where he stabbed them in the cheek and had boiling water poured over them.
Detective Superintendent Kenny Graham said: "My condolences go out to the family of Martin Hamilton, who have had to receive such devastating news so close to Christmas.
"A team of officers is dedicated to this inquiry, so we can seek to give them answers as quickly as possible.
"We are continuing to conduct examinations with various scientific experts to establish exactly when and how Mr Hamilton died, and to ensure any evidence available can be captured from the scene and from the remains themselves."
Police believed Hamilton had been hiding out with the financial help of others, as he had not withdrawn any money following his disappearance
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