Moors murders: police continuing to investigate site on Saddleworth Moor after report of suspected remains

Police are continuing to investigate a site on Saddleworth Moor after receiving a report that remains of a victim of the Moors Murders could be there.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said on Sunday (2 October) that no remains have been found so far but they are continuing to look.

Police received information on Friday (30 September) from an author who had been researching Keith Bennett, the 12-year-old victim of the serial killers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley whose body has never been found.

However, GMP has warned that investigating the site, at a remote location on the moors, could take some time.

What have police said about the investigation?

GMP said on Sunday that it had resumed its investigations on the moors, following similar work at the site on Saturday (1 October).

Senior investigating officer Cheryl Hughes said: “Following information received which indicated that potential human remains had been found on the Moors, specialist officers from GMP have today (2 October 2022) again resumed excavation of a site identified to the force.

“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 work to excavate the site is continuing and will do so for the foreseeable time.”

“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.”

Who was Keith Bennett?

Keith Bennett was one of five young victims of the infamous Moors Murderers.

The 12-year-old was last seen on 16 June, 1964, making his way to his gran’s house. His remains have never been found.

His mum Winnie died in 2012 without knowing where her son is buried and both Brady and Hindley took the knowledge to their graves.

Keith’s brother said on Saturday that nothing has yet been found during the police searches at the new site.