No human remains have yet been found in the latest moorland search for Keith Bennett, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have confirmed. Police began searching an area of moorland near to Dove Stone Reservoir following an informant reporting that discoveries interpreted by experts to be bones had been located.
'No physical evidence of a jaw bone or skull has been examined', say officers. In a new statement, the force has said that the search will be continuing, however.
Author Russell Edwards brought together a team of experts in a bid to find where Moors Murderer victim Keith was buried. He then passed information to GMP this week.
Senior Investigating Officer Cheryl Hughes said: “Following information received which indicated that potential human remains had been found on the Moors, specialist officers have today (1 October 2022) resumed excavation of a site identified to us.
“This information included photographs of the site and show what experts working with the informant have interpreted as a human jaw bone. No physical evidence of a jaw bone or skull has been examined.
“However, based on the photographs and information provided, and in line with GMP’s usual practice to follow-up any suggestion of human burial, we began our search of the site of interest.
“We have not found any identifiable human remains but our work to excavate the site is continuing.
“Conditions are difficult and it may take us some time to fully complete the excavation but we are committed to ensuring this is undertaken in the most thorough way possible."
Keith Bennett was just 12 when he was lured into a van by Myra Hindley, who asked him to help her with some boxes. Her lover and fellow killer Ian Brady was sat on the back seat, on June 16 1964.
His body has never been found.
Keith was one of five innocents killed between July 1963 and October 1965, in and around Greater Manchester. Brady and Hindley, both in their 20s, lured children and teenagers to their deaths, then buried them on Saddleworth Moor.
Their victims were Pauline Reade, 16, John Kilbride, 12, Keith Bennett, 12, Lesley Ann Downey, 10, and Edward Evans, 17.
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