Moors murder: Keith Bennett’s brother voices frustration over search

Alan Bennett says he has been left ‘confused’ by author’s claims to have found body after dig yields no results

The brother of Moors murder victim Keith Bennett has said he is frustrated, annoyed and confused by an author’s claims in the media to have discovered the 12-year-old’s body as police said the search would continue for the “foreseeable” future.

Forensic science teams who have been digging since Thursday have so far found nothing at a spot on Saddleworth Moor, near Manchester, where Russell Edwards said he came across what he believed to be the remains of Keith, who was murdered in 1964 by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.

Posting on Facebook, Alan Bennett, Keith’s closest surviving family member, wrote: “Instead of doing the rounds of media outlets, maybe that bloke should return to the moor and be a lot more accurate about the facts and location of his find.

“There’s a lot more I would like to say and ask but out of respect and gratitude for the cold case team and the forensic team I’ll keep quiet for now.”

In a follow-up comment, he said he was “confused, to say the very least” at why the dig, near where Brady and Hindley’s four other child victims’ bodies were found, had yielded no results.

He said there appeared to be “more than meets the eye” to Edwards’s claims.

“I am just getting frustrated, annoyed, confused and feeling a lot more emotions because there is more to this than meets the eye and I cannot understand why that bloke appears not to have been exact in his information to the police about the location.

“Surely, he cannot have forgotten exactly where it is after his claims about his years of investigations. Just a few of the hundreds of thoughts running through my mind.”

Keith’s family have suffered decades of futile searches and false alarms, many of which were reported to the press before the police.

Alan Bennett wrote: “There are two (out of many) occasions that stick out in my memory of finds on the moor. One was found by ourselves when we came across some material with press stud fastener, like those on a casual jacket. We immediately contacted the police and the site was investigated the following morning.

“Unfortunately, somebody informed the press once everybody had returned home to their various locations on the day of the find. It turned out to be nothing related to Keith, it was piece of camping equipment.

“Then a sheep farmer found some bones, unfortunately he contacted the press before the police (does that ring a bell in this case as well). The police went to the moor and erected a tent before examining the find. It turned out to be sheep bones.”

On Sunday, senior investigating officer Cheryl Hughes from Greater Manchester police said: “Following information received which indicated that potential human remains had been found on the Moors, specialist officers from GMP have today again resumed excavation of a site identified to the force.

“We have not found any identifiable human remains but work to excavate the site is continuing and will do so for the foreseeable time.”

Keith is the only Moors murder victim whose burial location was never revealed. Brady, who claimed he had forgotten where he buried the boy, died in 2017 and Hindley in 2002.

Keith’s mother, Winnie Johnson, regularly returned to Saddleworth Moor in the hope of finding the remains of her son before her death in August 2012.

The forensic archaeologist who identified a child’s jaw bone in pictures taken by Edwards at the site said she was “absolutely” sure there is a body but the forensic team’s progress is likely to be “painstakingly slow”.

Dawn Keen told the Guardian: “I know my profession. I know what I saw on the day.”

Progress by police on the site has been slow due to incredibly strong winds and driving sleet. Forensic science teams were forced to halt for the day at about 4.45pm on Friday due to wind uprooting the two blue forensics tents.

Contributor

Robyn Vinter North of England correspondent

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Police yet to find remains of Moors murder victim Keith Bennett in dig
Amateur sleuth claims to have come across the body of the boy murdered by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley

Robyn Vinter North of England correspondent

01, Oct, 2022 @4:37 PM

Article image
Doubts engulf dig to find body of Moors murder victim Keith Bennett
No remains found after week on Saddleworth Moor as forensic scientists question information provided by amateur investigator

Robyn Vinter

07, Oct, 2022 @2:52 PM

Article image
Search ends for Moors murder victim Keith Bennett after no remains found
Police say week-long examination on Saddleworth Moor revealed no evidence of human remains

Josh Halliday North of England correspondent

07, Oct, 2022 @1:48 PM

Article image
Police dig for Moors victim Keith Bennett after skull reportedly found
Detectives are analysing a small sample of the remains and some clothing on Saddleworth Moor near Manchester

Robyn Vinter

30, Sep, 2022 @5:39 PM

Article image
Hundreds attend Winnie Johnson's funeral in Manchester
Mourners pay tribute to mother of Moors murders victim Keith Bennett at church where her son attended Sunday school

Helen Nugent

30, Aug, 2012 @2:07 PM

Article image
Police end search for remains of Moors murders victim Keith Bennett
Detectives say hunt for body of 12-year-old who was killed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in 1964 has been unsuccessful

Helen Carter

01, Jul, 2009 @9:12 AM

Article image
Family of Moors murders victim Keith Bennett vow search for body will go on
Tragic death of Bennett's mother Winnie Johnson, aged 78, will not halt quest to find body of 12-year-old

Jamie Doward and Mark Townsend

18, Aug, 2012 @11:06 PM

Article image
Moors murderer 'has revealed burial site of boy killed in 1964'

Ian Brady gave details of the location of Keith Bennett's body to one of his long-term visitors, police say

Jo Adetunji

17, Aug, 2012 @12:33 AM

Article image
New search after body found in Moors murders case: archive, 23 October 1965
The Guardian, 23 October 1965: Police hunt for evidence in Moors murders case

By our own Reporter

23, Oct, 2015 @4:30 AM

Article image
'I feel like they've still got him': brother's search for Moors victim
Alan Bennett discusses meeting Myra Hindley and why Ian Brady’s briefcases offer fresh hope

Nazia Parveen North of England correspondent

03, Mar, 2019 @4:36 PM