Mother of Moors victim Keith Bennett dies

The mother of Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett has died without knowing where her son is buried.

Winnie Johnson, 78, had been suffering from cancer for a number of years and passed away peacefully at a hospice earlier today, her lawyer said.

Her 12-year-old son's killer, Ian Brady, has always refused to disclose the location of Keith's body on Saddleworth Moor above Manchester.

Keith was taken by Brady and his partner, Myra Hindley on June 16 1964, after he left home to visit his grandmother.

Mrs Johnson's death comes after Brady’s mental health advocate told police she gave a letter in which he apparently reveals the location of Keith Bennett back to him.

Police launched an investigation after Jackie Powell told a Channel 4 documentary the Moors murderer gave her a sealed envelope to pass to Winnie Johnson in the event of his death.

The TV production team passed on the information to Greater Manchester Police on July 30 and Ms Powell, 49, who was appointed Brady’s mental health advocate in 1999, was detained on Thursday on suspicion of preventing the burial of a body without lawful exercise.

But police sources said Ms Powell claims she returned the envelope to Brady at some point between July 30 and her arrest.

Detectives examining a large number of documents seized from Ms Powell’s home in South Wales have so far found no letter or any evidence to suggest Brady has disclosed the location of Keith’s body. A search of Brady’s cell at Ashworth Hospital in Merseyside has also failed to uncover the alleged letter. Ms Powell has been released on bail pending further inquiries.