Aaron Campbell

Aaron Campbell was born in Scotland in 1993. Little verified information has been publicly released regarding his childhood or upbringing before the murder investigation.

Prior to his arrest, Campbell lived in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. Reports indicated he had experienced mental health difficulties and periods of substance abuse, although prosecutors maintained these issues did not diminish his criminal responsibility.

Before the murder of Megan Montgomery, Campbell was largely unknown outside his local community.

On July 17, 2020, seven-year-old Megan Montgomery disappeared while playing outside her home in Airdrie. Her disappearance triggered a major search involving Police Scotland, specialist officers, and hundreds of local volunteers.

Investigators determined that Campbell approached Megan and persuaded her to accompany him before taking her to nearby woodland. There, he murdered the child before concealing her body beneath branches and vegetation.

The following day, officers discovered Megan's body in woodland near Drumgray Road after Campbell directed police to the location during questioning. The murder shocked Scotland and prompted widespread public grief.

Investigators concluded Campbell opportunistically targeted Megan while she was playing near her home. He used deception to gain her trust before taking her to a secluded location where the murder occurred.

Following the killing, Campbell attempted to conceal the crime by hiding Megan's body in dense woodland. During police interviews, he initially provided misleading information before eventually revealing the location of the child's remains.

The investigation relied on CCTV footage, witness statements, forensic evidence, and Campbell's own admissions to establish the sequence of events.

Police Scotland launched an extensive missing child investigation immediately after Megan Montgomery was reported missing.

Officers reviewed CCTV footage, interviewed witnesses, and quickly identified Campbell as a person of interest after evidence placed him near the child shortly before her disappearance.

Following his arrest, Campbell eventually disclosed the location of Megan's body, allowing investigators to recover crucial forensic evidence. He was subsequently charged with murder, abduction, and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

Aaron Campbell stood trial at the High Court of Justiciary in Glasgow in 2021.

The jury heard extensive forensic evidence, witness testimony, CCTV analysis, and Campbell's admissions concerning Megan's disappearance and death. He was found guilty of murder, child abduction, and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

Campbell was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 37 years before becoming eligible for parole consideration—one of the longest punishment parts imposed by a Scottish court for the murder of a child.

The murder of Megan Montgomery prompted widespread public mourning across Scotland and renewed discussions surrounding child safety and offender risk management.

During sentencing, the trial judge described Campbell's actions as exceptionally cruel and calculated, noting the devastating impact on Megan's family and the wider community.

Aaron Campbell remains incarcerated serving his life sentence. The case continues to be referenced as one of Scotland's most shocking child murder investigations in recent years.