Search for the body of Moors Murders victim ends without any remains found

Police insist their search was justified

Police had resumed a search for the body of one of the Moors Murderers' victims after "potential human remains" were found on moorland by an author researching the infamous case. Keith Bennett, 12, was one of five children tortured and killed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in the 1960s, but his body has never been recovered. The search, however, ended without any remains being found. Police insist they were justified in spending seven days excavating an area near Dovestone Reservoir but a senior officer today pledged their investigation to "find answers for Keith's family" was not over. Last week, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it had received information about a "site of interest" on Saddleworth Moor. They began the dig last week after cops were shown a photograph taken at the site by author and amateur sleuth Russell Edwards. He had shown it to other experts, who said it appeared to show part of a child's jaw bone. Mr Edwards, who was working with a team he had gathered to carry out his own search, did not see the jaw bone at the site but noticed it when analysing photographs taken during the dig. None of his team actually saw the apparent jaw bone in the soil - only on a photograph, reports MEN.  In a statement on last Friday afternoon, GMP Force Review Officer Martin Bottomley said it had received information the previous day, around 11.25am, by the "representative of an author who has been researching the murder of Keith Bennett, a victim of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley". [caption id="attachment_362467" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Police forensic teams dug Saddleworth Moor for murder victim Keith Bennett for the first time in 35 years to investigate suspected human remains (Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)[/caption] Following direct contact with the author, Bottomley said police were informed that he had "discovered what he believes are potential human remains in a remote location on the Moors". The author agreed to meet with officers Thursday 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," Bottomley said. "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." Bottomley said it is "far too early to be certain whether human remains have been discovered and this is expected to take some time". The statement concluded: “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.”

• Riverdale actor Ryan Grantham jailed after admitting he killed his mum
• Huddersfield stabbing: Police arrest boy, 16, on suspicion of murder
• Shocking video shows grandad, 62, beaten and 'left for dead' on street after 'brushing' arm of young woman
• Teen who killed her rapist must pay $150,000 to his family
• Brit woman 'gang-raped by group of up to eight men' at hotel on Greek island Rhodes