Guernsey Press

Skull found in hunt for Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett

The 12-year-old was one of five victims of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.

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Police investigating the death of Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett are probing the reported discovery of a human skull.

The 12-year-old was one of five victims of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, with three of them later found buried on Saddleworth Moor.

Fresh hopes were raised on Friday when a report in the Daily Mail revealed that author Russell Edwards believes he has located the youngster’s makeshift grave following “extensive soil analysis” which indicated the presence of human remains.

Keith Bennett search
Keith Bennett’s mother, Winnie Johnson, died without fulfilling her wish to give her 12-year-old son a Christian burial (Dave Thompson/PA)

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police’s force review officer Martin Bottomley said: “At around 11.25am on Thursday, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) was contacted by the representative of an author who has been researching the murder of Keith Bennett, a victim of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.

Keith Bennett search
Vehicles parked near the search area on Saddleworth Moor, in north west England (Peter Powell/PA)

“The site was assessed late last night and, this morning, specialist officers have begun initial exploration activity.

“We are in the very early stages of assessing the information which has been brought to our attention but have made the decision to act on it in line with a normal response to a report of this kind.

“It is far too early to be certain whether human remains have been discovered and this is expected to take some time.

“We have always said that GMP would act on any significant information which may lead to the recovery of Keith and reunite him with his family. As such, we have informed his brother (Alan) of the potential development – he does not wish to be contacted at this time and asks that his privacy is respected.”

Keith Bennett search
Police tents on Saddleworth Moor (Peter Powell/PA)

“I worked as a gravedigger when I was 19. That hits you, that smell of death. It is distinctive.

“Police have to go and do a full-scale dig now.

“This is about peace for Keith, closure for his family. Brady has not won.”

Ian Brady death
Ian Brady and Myra Hindley’s victims: (L to r) John Kilbride, Lesley Ann Downey, Edward Evans, Pauline Reade and Keith Bennett (PA)

Brady and Hindley’s other victims were Pauline Reade, 16, who disappeared on  her way to a disco on July 12 1963; John Kilbride, 12, who was snatched in November the same year; Lesley Ann Downey, 10, who was lured away from a funfair on Boxing Day 1964; and Edward Evans, 17, who was axed to death in October 1965.

The killers were caught after the Evans murder and Lesley and John’s bodies were recovered from the moors.

Keith Bennett search
Vehicles parked near the search area (Peter Powell/PA)

Brady claimed he could not remember where he had buried Keith.

In 2009, police said a covert search operation on the moor, which used a wealth of scientific experts, had also failed to discover any trace of the boy.

Ian Brady death
Moors Murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady (Greater Manchester Police/PA)

Brady died in a high-security hospital in 2017 aged 79.

Speaking after Brady’s death, Mr Bottomley said: “It is especially saddening for the family of Keith Bennett that his killers did not reveal to police the whereabouts of Keith’s burial site.

“A week hardly goes by when we do not receive some information which purports to lead us to Keith but ultimately only two people knew where Keith is.

“Greater Manchester Police will never close this case. Brady’s death does not change that. We will act on credible and actionable information that will help lead us to him.”

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