Suspected human remains found in search of final Moors murders Brady and Hindley victim Keith Bennett

Suspected human remains have been found in the search for the final victim of the Manchester Moors murders.

Greater Manchester Police revealed it had been contacted on Thursday morning regarding the find by an author researching the murder of 12-year-old Keith Bennett.

Keith was one of five children tortured and murdered by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, and the only one whose remains have never been located.

Following a meeting, officers were directed to a site, believed to be on Saddleworth Moor, near Manchester, where the force revealed “specialist officers have begun initial exploration activity.”

GMP force review officer Martin Bottomley said: “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.”

He clarified that it is currently “far too early” to be certain whether they are human remains, and confirmation may take time.

Bottomley continued: “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.”

Ian Brady and Myra Hindley tortured and murdered five children in the 1960s, before burying them on the moor in the south Pennines.

Keith was lured away on June 16, 1964, after going to visit his grandmother, and remains the only victim whose body has never been found.

Brady and Hindley died in 2017 and 2002 respectively, and never revealed where the child had been buried.