Police dig for Moors murder victim Keith Bennett

The boy is the only victim of serial killers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley whose body was never recovered.

It has been reported that the skull of a child believed to be around 12 was found on the moors.

A statement from Greater Manchester Police stated an author who has been researching the murder of Keith Bennett contacted the force believing he had found potential human remains.

Police said specialist officers have begun initial exploration activity but it was 'far too early' to confirm if human remains had been found.

Keith Bennett, 12, was the third victim of Brady and his accomplice Hindley.

The Mirror had reported that last night, forensic anthropologists from Greater Manchester Police were examining potential samples of body tissue taken from the area.

Forensic archaeologist Dawn Keen, who specialises in the study of human remains, remotely supervised the "grave cut", according to a report in the Daily Mail.

She said yesterday: "I do believe there are human remains there. They [police] have got to look.

"From the photographs, I saw the teeth, I could see the canines, I could see the incisors, I could see the first molar. It is the left side of an upper jaw. There is no way that it is an animal."

GMP Force Review Officer Martin Bottomley said: “At around 11.25am on Thursday 29 September 2022, Greater Manchester Police 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.

"Following direct contact with the author, we were informed that he had discovered what he believes are potential human remains in a remote location on the Moors and he agreed to meet with officers yesterday afternoon to elaborate on his find and direct us to a site of interest.

“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 of the potential development - he does not wish to be contacted at this time and asks that his privacy is respected.”

Killers Brady and Hindley carried out five murders between July 1963 and October 1965.

Keith went missing on June 16, 1964.

Speaking on the 56th anniversary of his disappearance in 2020, his brother Alan Bennett said: “I will never forget the confusion of that morning that quickly turned to complete panic and terror.

"We grew up with the terror, thoughts and fears of that morning and it was to be over 20 years until we discovered, or rather had confirmed, that Keith had been a victim of Brady and Hindley. Something the police and us as a family had always thought to be the case."