Has evil Brady left a clue to young victim’s grave?

Letter may reveal where the body of murdered 12-year-old Keith Bennett lies as his mother nears death, still haunted by the cruel acts of a murderous couple

British police are investigating whether serial killer Ian Brady, known for the Moors murders in the 1960s, has written a letter revealing the location of one of his victims.

But Martin Bottomley, head of investigative review of Greater Manchester Police’s major and cold case crime unit, said: “We do not know if this is true or simply a ruse.”

Police launched their investigation after Mr Brady’s mental health advocate told a documentary he gave her a sealed envelope to pass to Winnie Johnson, the mother of his 12-year-old victim Keith Bennett, in the event ofhis death.

Jackie Powell, 49, who was appointed Mr Brady’s mental health advocate in 1999, was detained on suspicion of preventing the burial of a body without lawful exercise.

But detectives examining documents seized from Ms Powell’s home have so far found no evidence to suggest Mr Brady has disclosed the location of Keith’s body. And Ms Powell has since been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Mr Bottomley said in a statement: “The Moors murders cast a long and dark shadow over the history of our region but in 2009 we reluctantly concluded there was no longer any specific information to identify new search areas and the investigation to find Keith entered a dormant stage.

“However, we have always stressed this is a case we will never close. We have been, and always will be, open to pursuing any new lines of inquiry that arise from significant scientific advances or credible and actionable information.

“I want to be explicitly clear about this: Mr Brady has not revealed to police the location of Keith’s body.

“What we are looking at is the possibility, and at this stage it is only a possibility, that he has written a letter to Keith’s mum, Winnie Johnson, which was not to be opened until after his death.

“We do not know if this is true or simply a ruse but we clearly have a duty to investigate such information on behalf of Keith’s family.

“Since Keith was so cruelly taken away all those years ago, our thoughts have always been with his family as they try to come to terms with what happened.

“All they want is to finally be able to lay Keith to rest.

“What I would ask is that the media respect their privacy at this time. Winnie herself is very ill and continued speculation about this letter will only cause the family more upset.

“I would ask that we are allowed to examine all the evidence we have recovered and determine whether or not this letter actually exists.”

Mr Brady has always refused to disclose the location of Keith’s body.

His refusal has caused constant heartache for Keith’s mother, who has cancer and recently appealed to him to break his silence before she died.

Mrs Johnson’s lawyer John Ainley, a senior partner at Oldham-based North Halliwell Ainley, said: “She has remained steadfast in her resolve that Mr Brady has held the key to this tragedy.

“Over the years she has appealed directly to Mr Brady and through me for him to reveal where Keith’s body was hidden so she could at least give her son a decent burial before she died.

“Now, she herself is ill and I am deeply concerned that the knowledge of this letter and its alleged contents may have come too late to bring her any solace.

“It would be the last tragic act of a truly harrowing story.”

Ms Powell told the Cutting Edge documentary: “I received a letter and a sealed envelope which said on the front ‘to be opened in the event of my death’.

“He says he doesn’t wish to take his secrets to the grave and within the sealed envelope is a letter to Winnie Johnson.

“Within that is the means of her possibly being able to rest.”

Mr Brady and his partner Myra Hindley, who died in jail in 2002 aged 60, were responsible for the murders of five youngsters in the 1960s. Their victims were sexually tortured before being buried on Saddleworth Moor, Manchester.

Pauline Reade, 16, disappeared on July 12 1963, and John Kilbride, 12, was snatched in November the same year. Keith Bennett was taken on June 16, 1964, after he left home to visit his grandmother. Lesley Ann Downey, 10, was lured away from a funfair on Boxing Day 1964, and Edward Evans, 17, was killed in October 1965.

Mr Brady was jailed for life at Chester Assizes in 1966 for the murders of John, Lesley Ann and Edward. Hindley was convicted of killing Lesley Ann and Edward and shielding Mr Brady after John’s murder, and jailed for life.

In 1987 the pair finally admitted killing Keith and Pauline.

Both were taken back to Saddleworth Moor to help police find the remains of the missing victims but only Pauline’s body was found.

Mr Brady, 74, was due to go before a mental health tribunal last month but it was delayed after he suffered a seizure.

The tribunal was to consider his application to be transferred to a Scottish prison and be allowed to die. He has been tube-fed since refusing food 12 years ago.

It is understood that Mrs Johnson is not yet aware of developments.

Timeline of Moors murders

July 12 1963: Pauline Reade, 16, disappears while on her way to a disco.

November 23, 1963: John Kilbride, 12, is snatched by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, sexually assaulted and murdered.

June 16, 1964: Keith Bennett is snatched after he leaves home to visit his grandmother.

December 26, 1964: Lesley Ann Downey, 10, is lured away from a funfair and killed.

October 6, 1965: Mr Brady kills Edward Evans, 17.

May 6, 1966: Mr Brady given life at Chester Assizes in 1966 for the murders of John, Lesley Ann and Edward. Hindley was convicted of killing Lesley Ann and Edward and shielding Brady after John’s murder, and also jailed for life.

1985: Mr Brady is moved to the Ashworth psychiatric hospital in Merseyside.

1987: The pair finally admit killing Keith and Pauline and are taken back to Saddleworth Moor to help police find the remains of the missing victims. Only Pauline’s body is found.

September 1999: Mr Brady goes on hunger strike after complaining about being forcibly removed from his room at the hospital to a new ward because of security concerns sparked by a patient on his old ward. He has been fed by a tube ever since.

November 15, 2002: Ms Hindley dies in jail aged 60.

September 13, 2009: Mr Brady begins campaign to be moved to a Scottish prison so he will be allowed to die.

March 27, 2010: A privately-funded search for Keith Bennett’s grave begins. His mother, Winnie Johnson, 76, said she hopes to find her son and bury him before she and Brady die.

July 3, 2012: Mr Brady suffers a seizure and spends several nights in hospital. A mental health tribunal that would look at his application to be transferred to Scotland is delayed as a result.