Scots love rat dad reported missing by partner of 27 years turns up in US married to secret Facebook lover
Decorator Malcolm McGregor, 37, from Motherwell, said he was visiting a relative 34 miles away – but police later discovered he had travelled over 4,500 miles
A SCOTS dad reported missing by his partner of 27 years turned up in the US wed to a secret lover.
Malcolm McGregor’s family called in cops after he vanished from the home he shared with childhood sweetheart Cheryl Cowie, 37, in Motherwell.
Cheryl Cowie and partner of 27 years Malcolm McGregor
But the shameless love rat was seen beaming in wedding snaps after fleeing to Utah to marry new wife Bell Valek after wooing her on Facebook.
Cops launched a hunt when the 38-year-old failed to return home to worried Cheryl Cowie and their two kids.
It’s understood the decorator told his family in Motherwell he was visiting a relative in Kilmarnock just 34 miles away.
But Cheryl was horrified after it emerged he’d jetted 4,500 to Western US state Utah and was now shacked up with his new wife.
Pals told of Cheryl’s anguish after seeing the marriage snaps showing him cosying up with his missus who has taken his surname.
Malcolm McGregor and new wife Bell Valek embrace on their wedding day
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Malcolm McGregor and new wife Bell Valek embrace on their wedding day
One said: “It’s just awful. It must have been devastating for Cheryl to see those pics.
“Malcolm and Cheryl are childhood sweethearts. They’ve been together for over 20 years — they met at school. They have two kids and seemed like the perfect family.
“But all of a sudden he just upped and left. It’s crazy what’s happened. They just don’t know what has gotten into him — it’s just so out of character.
“To say his family are devastated is an understatement.”
The bombshell details emerged after McGregor told carer Cheryl he was going to spend a few days with a family member on July 20.
But when he failed to arrive back at their semi-detached home on July 23, his family reported him missing to police.
Cheryl was stunned by Malcolm’s flit
Officers established he’d travelled “overseas” and was “safe and well”.
Cheryl’s friend added: “Cheryl couldn’t get hold of him anywhere.
“His car was supposedly dumped near his sister’s home and police were looking everywhere.
“Then they came to tell her that Malcolm had been in touch saying he was safe, so they could do no more.”
The chum said it’s believed McGregor got to know Bell using his private Facebook account and may have been in touch with her for “as long as two years”.
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The pal added: “His wife has Mormon stuff over her Facebook, so maybe that has affected him.”
Celtic fan McGregor may have finalised details for his new life earlier this year.
He’s understood to have told Cheryl he was heading to Bournemouth — but it’s feared it may have been cover for a trip to Bell.
The source said: “She became suspicious when he returned as she saw a message on his phone saying something like, ‘miss you gorgeous.’
“The number was American. But he just shrugged it off when she confronted him.”
The couple have been together for 20 years
The couple have been together for 20 years
On July 23 he revealed on the social media site that the pair had “married”, while his new partner later shared a wedding snap.
Pals of his new partner — believed to have her own kids — congratulated them on their day.
Beth Groenig Larson wrote: “Congratulations! You look so happy and beautiful.”
In June, Bell’s daughter posted: “I got my passport y’all.” When asked where she was off to, she replied: “Scotland”.
Cheryl declined to comment on the split last night. But she shared cryptic posts on Facebook, including: “Knowing you’re being lied to is worse than being hurt by the truth.”
The Motherwell man fled to Utah for secret wedding
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Police said: “Enquiries were carried out and it was established he had travelled overseas and was confirmed as safe and well.”
A man claiming to be McGregor sent The Scottish Sun a foul-mouthed email when asked about the split.
He called the claims “lies” and would call in lawyers.