A DEAD sheep sparked a media frenzy after a television news channel speculated Moors Murder victim Keith Bennett's body had been found.
The remains of the animal were found by a farmer at the Marsden Moor estate, just off the Holmfirth Road, near Huddersfield.
Shortly after, reports of `human remains found on Saddleworth Moor' were flashed up on Sky News.
Keith's mother, Winnie Johnson, 74, was contacted by reporters soon after. Journalists and family members descended on her Longsight home in the belief that the 44-year search for Keith's body could be at an end.
Officers from West Yorkshire Police cordoned off a 50-sq metre area of grassland on the moors. Forensic investigators in white suits scoured the area in front of dozens of reporters and camera crews.
But, as the afternoon wore on police sources were saying the remains were not connected to the Moors Murder inquiry. And by 7.45pm, a West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman told the MEN: "We can confirm the remains found were those of a sheep."
Keith Bennett, 12, was kidnapped and killed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley on his way to his grandma's Longsight home in 1964.
Last night, after learning the truth about the remains, Winnie Johnson said: "I have been through all this again for nothing. The only thing I want in this life is for Keith to be found, I hope for it every day that comes, but I've been let down so many times."
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'Body' found on moors, a sheep
July 29, 2008
Police examine the site
Showing comments 1 to 15 and replies | View All
Pippa, Manchester (29/07/2008 at 21:39)
Mr Manchester (29/07/2008 at 21:40)
Rugbygirl, Urmston (29/07/2008 at 23:44)
Buck (30/07/2008 at 04:32)
Lawrence Glendinning (30/07/2008 at 07:45)
I feel so desperatly sorry for Winnie.
polkyb (30/07/2008 at 09:04)
Jay B, oldham (30/07/2008 at 09:20)
it'll be a sheep that was hit by a car in the past. it happens all the time up there. after all the irresponsible farmers up there just let them roam all over the roads which are major A roads. dont understand why animal rights activists havent jumped on this subject before.
Councillor Allheart, in a black cab (30/07/2008 at 10:35)
From what I gather, the experts aren't expecting to discover poor Keith's skeleton. They are planning on using newly developed technology that can detect changes in soil chemistry. That's all they think may be left of the him after all these years. Meanwhile, Brady sits preaning his over-blown ego in relative luxury.
I feel desperately sorry for the family. I hope they have news before it's too late for Winnie.
Frostee, Oldham (30/07/2008 at 10:46)
It is not irresponsible farmers to blame for sheep being on the roads of hilly or mountainous regions. It is virtually impossible to confine them completely behind fencing, especially when the fencing etc is regularly destroyed by idiot drivers careering off the roads. It is irresponsible motorists who are to blamed for sheep deaths on the roads in these sort of regions. The drivers should take more care and not drive at speeds as if they are on motorways.
What I found odd in this case is how a farmer (bound to be a sheep farmer in these parts) can fail to mistake a sheep carcass. As a keen hill walker, often on Saddleworth moors, I come across many such carcasses and they are not difficult to distinguish from human remains.
The media should not have been told of this incident until it was clear what the remains were.
alvinlwh (30/07/2008 at 12:53)
On the other hand, I wonder what had been done to the sheep. I hope the CSI find some DNA to trace the killer.
ooh ooh sparky hughes, stretford (30/07/2008 at 13:35)
pandorauk, wythenshawe (30/07/2008 at 15:16)
THEY USED
I HOPE THEY DO COME UP WITH KEITHS BODY BECAUSE IT WILL BE A CLOSURE TO TH ANGUISH AND PAINOF ALL THE YEARS OF WAITING ENDURED BYHISMUM AND
FAMILYAND SHE CANAT LASTLIE HER SON TO REST IN A MORE DIGNIFIED MANOR THAN THOSE EVIL PAIR HAD LEFT HIM
pandorauk, wythenshawe (30/07/2008 at 15:44)
THEY USED
I HOPE THEY DO COME UP WITH KEITH'S BODY BECAUSE IT WILL BE A CLOSURE TO TH ANGUISH AND PAIN OF ALL THE YEARS OF WAITING WINNIE AND THE REST OF KITHS FAMILYFAMILY HER SON TO REST IN A MORE DIGNYFYED ALASTLY SON TO REST IN A MORE DIGNIFIED MANOR THAN THOSE EVIL PAIR HAD LEFT HIM
Jay B, oldham (30/07/2008 at 16:20)
i drive and cycle along this routes all the time
they are notorious for stray sheep. on some parts of the moors there are no fences at all to pen the sheep in. they are just left to roam up and down the road.
the location where the sheep was found has a fence but its about 5m away from the road side.
Frostee, Oldham (30/07/2008 at 19:42)
It makes no difference whether the road is fenced or not, this is sheep country and if you take care when driving you will not go wrong. Even on a securely fenced area there is always the possibility that a sheep, especially a lamb, can escape onto the road.
The reason why the stretches of road on the A635 and Wessenden Head road, where the fence is set back from the edge, is because the farmer was prevented erecting the fence along the edge boundary of National Trust commonland, which is against the NT policy laws. However, it makes no difference - as long as drivers travel with care!