Cops say Ian Brady’s death won’t stop them acting on new information which could find grave of missing victim Keith Bennett
POLICE have vowed to investigate any new information about missing victim Keith Bennett - saying the death of killer Ian Brady won't close the case.
Ian Brady died overnight at the age of 79, taking the whereabouts of Moors Murder victim Keith Bennett to his grave.
Greater Manchester Police have said they will never close the case into the 12-year-old's death.
Martin Bottomley, head of the force's Cold Case Review Unit, said officers would act on "credible and actionable" information which would help them find the body of 12-year-old Keith.
He said: "Whilst we are not actively searching Saddleworth Moors, Greater Manchester Police will never close this case. Brady's death does not change that."
He said that his thoughts remained with the families of Ian Brady's victims, saying: "Following the death of Brady, our thoughts - as they have been for over 50 years - remain with the families of all of his victims.
"For decades they have suffered, not only from the unimaginable loss of their loved ones but they have also had to endure years of endless stories, speculation and rumour.
"They have lived with the shadow of Brady hanging over them for so long, and have showed incredible dignity in the face of such adversity."
Mr Bottomley added: "It is especially saddening for the family of Keith Bennett that his killers did not reveal to police the whereabouts of Keith’s burial site. A week hardly goes by when we do not receive some information which purports to lead us to Keith but ultimately only two people knew where Keith is.
"I want to stress that our aim, as it always has been, is to find where Keith is buried and give closure to his surviving family members so they can give Keith the proper burial they so desperately want."
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Keith Bennett was killed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley during their depraved murder spree in the 1960s.
Keith Bennett was on his way to his grandmother’s house on June 16, 1964, when he was snatched.
Hindley lured the 12-year-old boy into her van.
She drove to a lay-by on the Moor and Brady took the boy while Hindley kept watch.
Brady reappeared 30 minutes later having sexually assaulted and strangled Keith.
It comes after it was revealed twisted Brady is believed to have written a letter to Keith's mum Winnie Johnson to be opened when he died.
The Moors Murderer's mental health advocate Jackie Powell claims she received the letter in a sealed envelope.
She told a Channel 4 documentary it should only be passed onto Winnie in the event of his death.
Police investigating the claims arrested Ms Powell on suspicion of preventing the lawful burial of a body.
The families infamous child killer Brady have celebrated the news that Brady died overnight, calling it "the best news ever".
But others revealed that they simply felt "numb" at the news, with the brother of victim John Kilbride saying it had been "years and years of anguish and pain" for the family.
Terry Kilbride said: "But nothing will change. He’s dead but we will have to still live with the nightmare that he left behind.
"He’s ruined our lives all these years and he’ll still ruin it even though he’s gone. I feel numb."
Brady and Hindley were convicted of killing Pauline Reade, 16, John Kilbride, 12, Lesley Ann Downey, 10, and 17-year-old Edward Evans.
While locked up he later admitted killing Keith, who he snatched off the street in June 1964, shortly after his 12th birthday.
Keith’s mum, Winnie Johnson, died from cancer in 2012 having never learnt the truth.