Latest news with #missingpages
Telegraph
30-07-2025
- Telegraph
Moors murderer book could shed light on where he buried victim
Missing pages from an autobiography written by Ian Brady could hold new clues on where his final victim is buried. A new BBC documentary claims that the last 200 pages of the Moors murderer's unpublished manuscript may contain his account of 12-year-old Keith Bennett's murder and burial in 1964. The film, The Moors Murders – A Search For Justice, reveals that a copy of a secret autobiography found in the archive of the theologian who interviewed him stopped abruptly at page 394. It was at this point Brady was about to describe the murder of John Kilbride, his and Myra Hindley's second victim. Bennett's brother, Alan, who was kept informed of the discovery by documentary makers, has now called for any missing material to be made available to police, because it could contain 'vital information in regard to the search for Keith '. Brady and Hindley achieved infamy in the 1960s as the Moors murderers after burying four of their five young victims on Saddleworth Moor, north-east of Manchester. The pair were jailed in 1966 for torturing and killing three children, Lesley Ann Downey, 10, John Kilbride, 12, and Edward Evans, 17. Twenty-one years later they also confessed to murdering Pauline Reade, 16, and Bennett who they had been long suspected of killing Brady died in May 2017 aged 79, but the documentary claims pages from his manuscript are believed to have been deposited with his solicitor. Shortly after Brady's death, Alan Keightley, the theologian who interviewed him, published a book about the killer based on hours of interviews with him at Ashworth High Secure Hospital. Keightley died in 2023, but his widow Joan has given the documentary makers access to her husband's archive, including an incomplete copy of a typed manuscript titled 'Black Light'. Keightley wrote in his own book, The Untold Story of the Moors Murders, that Brady told him 'Black Light' was at least 600 pages long. However, the copy in his archive ends suddenly at page 394. The autobiography contains a detailed description of where the murderers buried their first victim, Reade. 'We counted the paces back to a rock on the knoll in order to be able to find the site and photograph it at a future date,' it reads. The new documentary by journalist and presenter Duncan Staff claims that if similar detail had been included for Bennett, it would provide vital information about where his body is buried. Keightley wrote in his book that Brady once asked him to deliver a 'double-sealed parcel', which he assumed contained the autobiography, to his solicitor Benedict Birnberg in London. Birnberg died in 2023 and his firm told the BBC that any material left with them had now been sent to Brady's other solicitor, Robin Makin, in Liverpool. The BBC approached Mr Makin to comment about whether he was in possession of the autobiography but said he did not respond. In the documentary, Mr Staff examines past investigations, rediscovered files and archives from the Moors murders case, to try and answer questions that have remained unanswered for nearly 60 years. Mr Staff said: 'This is the first time we've got an indication there might actually be something written down that describes where and how Keith was killed.' The documentary has also uncovered many of the original defence case papers from Brady and Hindley's trial, which have not been made public before. The files include interview logs, notes written by Hindley during police interviews, and photographs taken by Brady on Saddleworth Moor. During the initial police investigation, it was believed the photos contained clues and Hindley confirmed in interviews with Mr Staff in the 1990s that Brady had taken them to remember where the bodies were buried. In one shot, Hindley is seen crouching on a rock, cradling her dog, in an area known as Hollin Brown Knoll, which was later discovered to be the exact spot where Kilbride was buried. The bodies of Downey and, much later, Reade, were also found nearby. Prof John Hunter, a forensic archaeologist, tells the documentary that the significance of some of the other photos from Hollin Brown Knoll remains 'troubling'. In one, Hindley is standing on rocks, holding her dog with her pose completely obscuring a gas pipeline marker behind her. The newly discovered files show the marker's presence is revealed in a police photo that was taken at the same spot. Prof Hunter said these images may be important because there is no obvious connection to any of the known burial sites. The documentary also interviews families of the victims including Reade's niece who says that searches should have not been called off. 'They could have raised money, they could have done something,' Jackie said. 'There was no need for them to stop searching.' In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: 'Greater Manchester Police has always remained committed to finding answers for Keith Bennett's family. Keith's family is central to any action we take in relation to this case and our thoughts remain with them. 'We will carefully consider and respond, in a timely and professional manner, to any credible evidence shared with us that may lead us towards finding Keith.'
The Independent
30-07-2025
- The Independent
Missing Ian Brady memoir could unlock secrets about murderer
More than 200 pages of Moors murderer Ian Brady 's autobiography, Black Light, are missing and may contain crucial information regarding the burial site of his final victim, 12-year-old Keith Bennett. Keith Bennett's brother, Alan Bennett, has urged police to be given any missing material, deeming it 'vital information' for locating his brother's remains. The discovery was made by the makers of a new BBC documentary, The Moors Murders – A Search For Justice, whose presenter also uncovered defence files raising fresh questions about the victims' graves. Brady and Myra Hindley were convicted of kidnapping and murdering five children in the 1960s, burying four on Saddleworth Moor, but Keith Bennett's body has never been found. Greater Manchester Police have stated they will 'carefully consider' any credible evidence that emerges to help find Keith Bennett, emphasising their commitment to his family.
The Independent
30-07-2025
- The Independent
Missing pages of Moors murderer Ian Brady's autobiography ‘could hold details of burial site'
The missing pages of Moors murderer Ian Brady 's autobiography could contain key information on where his final victim was buried, a new documentary has suggested. The last 200 pages of Brady's manuscript, called Black Light, which is believed to have been left, unpublished, with his long‑time solicitor, could include Brady's account of 12-year-old Keith Bennett's 1964 abduction, murder and burial. Alan Bennett, the victim's brother, has called for any missing material to be given to police, describing it as 'vital information'. He was informed of the discovery by the makers of the BBC documentary The Moors Murders – A Search For Justice. The film's presenter, journalist Duncan Staff, also uncovered defence files from Brady and his co-killer Myra Hindley's trial, including photographs that raise fresh questions about their victims' graves. Brady and Hindley gained infamy in the 1960s for kidnapping and murdering five children, burying four on Saddleworth Moor. They were convicted in 1966 of torturing and killing Lesley Ann Downey, 10, John Kilbride, 12, and Edward Evans, 17, and later confessed in 1987 to murdering Pauline Reade, 16, and Mr Bennett. But while Ms Reade's body was discovered, with Brady's autobiography containing a detailed description of where the murderers buried her, Mr Bennett's has never been found. Brady died in 2017, but before his death, theologian Alan Keightley recorded hours of interviews with him at Ashworth Special Hospital and published a book based on them. Keightley's archive, now held by his widow, includes the incomplete typewritten manuscript, Black Light, running to page 394, stopping just before Kilbride's murder despite Brady's claim it was at least 600 pages. Brady reportedly asked Keightley to deliver a 'double‑sealed parcel' containing the manuscript to London solicitor Benedict Birnberg. Birnberg, who died in 2023, passed any Brady material to Liverpool solicitor Robin Makin, who has not responded to enquiries. The Bennett family's lawyer has urged the documentary team to hand over Black Light to Greater Manchester Police (GMP). The force initially sought to review the programme's material but later said it would 'carefully consider… any credible evidence' that might help find Keith's body. A spokesperson for the force said: 'Since 1964, Greater Manchester Police has remained committed to finding answers for Keith Bennett's family. Keith's family is central to any action we take in relation to this case and our thoughts remain with them. 'We will carefully consider and respond, in a timely and professional manner to any credible evidence that is uncovered which may lead us towards finding Keith'.
