A NEW TV documentary claims to reveal a secret code used by Moors Murderer Ian Brady to hide the body of schoolboy Keith Bennett.
It shows how Brady and Myra Hindley acted together to conceal Keith's body - and claims to uncover evidence that may lead to its recovery.
The Moors Murders Code, due to be screened on BBC2 on Wednesday, includes a theory that there are "markers" contained within photographs taken of Hindley and Brady on Saddleworth Moor before their arrest.
It makes use of photos, writings and other documents left by Hindley after her death in November, 2002. TV bosses say experts have uncovered a secret code which may lead to Keith.
"Drawing on hundreds of newly-discovered documents and photographs, the programme reveals the truth about Myra Hindley and Brady's relationship," they maintain.
ProfJohn Hunter, one of Britain's leading forensic archaeologists, takes part in the film. He was also involved in a 2002 BBC documentary which focused on a sketch map supplied by Hindley before her death.
But Greater Manchester Police have expressed caution on the programme.
"We have done a considerable amount of work in relation to the use of codes between Hindley and Brady and, indeed, the issue of codes has been considered over many years," said a spokeswoman.
"None of that work has found any information that could help us locate Keith Bennett's body."
Keith, 12, vanished in June, 1964, on a short walk from his home to his grandmother's house. His mother Winnie, 70, from Fallowfield, Manchester, appears in the film.
She made an emotional visit to Saddleworth Moor to mark the 40th anniversary of his disappearance. Despite a number of extensive searches, Keith's grave has never been found.
Police say a large number of photos were examined as part of the original 1960s investigation and a subsequent probe in the 1980s.
"With regard to the theory that there are `markers' contained within the pictures, there has only ever been one photograph that has been identified as such.
"That was the picture of Myra Hindley crouching over an area that was subsequently found to be John Kilbride's grave.
"Though there are lots of theories about the relationship between the activities of Hindley and Brady and the photos they took on the moors, no other 'markers' have ever been identified."
Officers did meet with Prof Hunter and a geological expert earlier this year, but it was agreed there was "insufficient justification" for an excavation in the area of the western gully.
"We have remained committed since the 1980s to doing all we can to find Keith and bring some kind of closure to the suffering of his family," said the spokeswoman.
"More than 49 years after his disappearance, we still have a small team of detectives dedicated to the inquiry.
"Brady visited the moors in the 1980s with the intention of finding Keith, but was unable to do so. We have tried in the last 12 months to approach him to seek his co-operation."
Brady and Hindley were jailed in 1966 for the murders of Lesley Ann Downey, 10, and Edward Evans, 17. Brady was also convicted of killing John Kilbride, 12.
They later confessed to both Keith's murder and that of Pauline Reade, 16.
Now 66, Brady continues to serve his life sentence at Ashworth high security prison in Merseyside.
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When I look at the photo of Keith Bennetts mum I can see how she has suffered.
Everything should be done to find her sons remains- he would be middle aged by now and winnie has had to live with unimaginable pain for 40 years.
What ever it takes to give her some peace in what time she has left should be done without constraint.
Yvonne
I have nothing but admiration for Mrs Johnson. Poor Mrs Reade (and her family) went through hell as well, and a severe mental illness because of what that pair did to her daughter Pauline. She did make an improvement once Pauline was found. I'm sure this would help Mrs Johnson in the same way. Theories and doubts about whether Keith's body is still preserved must be even more upsetting for his mother. However, Pauline's body was said to be remarkably well-preserved, and her shoes still looked brand new. This must also give hope to Mrs Johnson, and I think that every available technology and method should be used to help with the search. I'm sure most people in Manchester, particularly in Gorton and Longsight would agree. God bless Mrs Johnson.
It makes me sick to see Winnie suffer because there is "insufficent" evidence to start an excavation. 40 years and the Police are no closer to solving something they really dont deem necessary, if gold was buried up there you could bet your life that an excavaion would be well under way. I would love to see tax payers hard earned money being spent on putting an end to her suffering and giving poor Keith a proper burial, after all didnt the council recently blow B#20 million on making way for the Metrolink that isnt to be. There arent many people who have lived in Manchester all their lives who wouldnt help in some way or other in putting a real end to this tragedy once and for all. The first thing to do would be to stop feeding that human turd still rotting in jail and then mount a proper modern investigation into the cases using up to date techniques regardless of the cost because I`m sure if asked nobody would mind if it meant bringing this awful legacy to an end. You only have to watch the Time Team programme to see the difference in technology over the years, if they can find a cesspit from the bronze age using photos from above and some basic software I am sure they can find a shallow grave from 40 years ago. Its about time decent people like Winnie got a bit of justice, I feel that she has been badly let down over the years by unfeeling governments, over the top press coverage that made for ghoulish T.V. and poor quality police work, it seems the only time this case gets a mention nowadays is for its ghoulish content, focusing more on the killers than the victims. Regardless of the cost to the tax payer this should be fully investigated without stopping until Keiths body is found so he can finally have a dignified burial and his poor Mother can say goodbye to her Son.
And if the police need volunteers to help them I am sure there would be tens of thousands willing to help for FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope very much that they find Keiths body soon, for the sake of poor Keiths mum who has suffered greatly over the years.
Trying to get Ian Brady involved would help the police greatly if he was willing to co opperate. But I think the risks of attack are putting him off.
I hope the police hold a day for volunteers to help find Keiths body, cos it will no doubt attract many people wanting Keith a christian burial and help his mum find peace, something she has been neglected for many years.
Having personally known Keith and mum (Winnie) Bennett when I lived in Percival Street Manchester 13, I was deeply moved by the images shown on tonight's programme. Winnie must be living in an eternal hell while Brady is being looked after in 5 star accommodation with no worries of where the next meal is coming from or if there's enough electric in the meter. This government and country needs a kick up the arse and fetch back capital punishment.
To Winne & Alan
I hope Keith is put to rest very soon and just maybe you will all have a goodnight's sleep fond memories of Keith are forever with me
Fondest regards Stephen Bland
I feel deeply saddened, for Keiths family, if this is yet another made for T.V. documetary, and there isnt any evidence to back it up. If that is the case - it is just keeping a very sore wound, open.
do you need help to find the remains of keith bennett
I may be able to help
I would need the co-operation of the professor from bristol university( I think) he was on a tv documentry a while back
do you think this is feasable
I am not promising anything but am prepared to give it a try
with no publicity (rigid)
Does a stunt man from Texas as remote viewer pinpoint a location where other psychics have failed? W
I think all of Keith's family have suffered, and that suffering has been compounded by the names of the killers in the case being forever flashed up on the screen or covering newspapers. Unfortunately the publishers of newspapers want to make money and this case will continue to be topical and let them do so. It HAS to be brought to a close. If a charitable organisation could be set up and we all contribute the cost of a weeks newspapers, the pool of money would provide more than an adequate budget to scour The Moors. Apparently the Police are against such an idea but I have to say that the police methods in this country leave a lot to be desired; they are either doing nothing about a case, manufacturing evidence, falsifying confessions, intimidating people, arresting the wrong person, letting the right person go, suppressing evidence, taking bribes, lying in court, looking for dirt to hang onto someone, shooting an innocent person. I can cite cases where all the above has happened, but if they are unable to find a body after so long then why don't they let someone else try?
i think that they should be searching for keiths body well there is still a posibilaty they can find him it would put this case to rest. people should try there best to help find keith as not just there family feel emotional about it a lot of people would be willing to help because this is a very deverstating case just for him to be killed is upseting but not being able to find the body is even more upseting he should be found