The Moors Murders – Ian Brady & Myra Hindley: A Chilling Chapter in British Crime History

Introduction

The Moors Murders, committed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley in England during the 1960s, remain among the most horrifying crimes in British criminal history. These murders involved the abduction, sexual assault, and brutal killing of five children and teenagers between 1963 and 1965. The case earned its name because several victims were buried on Saddleworth Moor, a bleak, remote area of the Pennine hills near Manchester. The cruelty of the crimes, the calculated nature of the killings, and the involvement of a young couple shocked the British public and left a permanent scar on the nation’s collective memory.

Background of the Perpetrators

Ian Brady

Ian Brady was born Ian Duncan Stewart on January 2, 1938, in Glasgow, Scotland. Raised by a single mother and later fostered, Brady had a troubled childhood marked by violence and delinquency. He was known to be highly intelligent but emotionally disturbed, displaying signs of psychopathy from an early age. He developed an interest in Nazi ideology and extreme literature, especially the works of the Marquis de Sade and Hitler’s Mein Kampf, which fueled his fascination with power, control, and sadism.

Myra Hindley

Myra Hindley was born on July 23, 1942, in Manchester, England. She grew up in a working-class family and experienced a difficult upbringing, with reports of domestic abuse and emotional neglect. Despite showing kindness in her early years, her personality shifted dramatically after she met Ian Brady in 1961. Hindley, deeply infatuated with Brady, became increasingly radicalized and complicit in his worldview. Over time, she transformed from a seemingly ordinary young woman into a willing accomplice in his murderous schemes.

The Crimes

Between 1963 and 1965, Brady and Hindley abducted and murdered five children: Pauline Reade, John Kilbride, Keith Bennett, Lesley Ann Downey, and Edward Evans. All were sexually assaulted, and most were buried on Saddleworth Moor.

1. Pauline Reade (16)
   Disappeared on 12 July 1963 on her way to a dance. She was lured by Hindley under the pretext of helping her find a lost glove. Brady then attacked her on the moor, and she was sexually assaulted and murdered.

2. John Kilbride (12)
   Disappeared on 23 November 1963. The couple offered him a lift and then took him to the moor, where he was raped and killed. His body was later found buried in a shallow grave.

3. Keith Bennett (12)
   Went missing on 16 June 1964. Hindley coaxed him into her car, and Brady murdered him shortly thereafter. Despite numerous searches, Keith’s body has never been found, a source of lasting pain for his family.

4. Lesley Ann Downey (10)
   Abducted from a fairground on 26 December 1964. The couple took her to Brady’s home, where they undressed her, tied her up, and recorded her screams on audio tape before killing her. Her body was found on the moor in 1965.

5. Edward Evans (17)
   Murdered on 6 October 1965. He was bludgeoned to death with an axe in Brady’s home, witnessed by David Smith, the husband of Hindley’s sister Maureen. Smith was horrified and contacted the police.

Arrest and Investigation

The murder of Edward Evans led to the unraveling of the killers’ spree. David Smith reported the murder to the police, and both Brady and Hindley were arrested. Initially, the police believed the murder of Evans to be an isolated incident. However, further investigation revealed a horrifying pattern. Brady’s possessions included photographs of the moor and recordings of Lesley Ann Downey’s torture. A suitcase stored at Manchester Central railway station contained pornographic photographs and a tape of Lesley, which proved crucial evidence.

Police began a thorough search of Saddleworth Moor. The remains of John Kilbride and Lesley Ann Downey were found, and the couple was charged with their murders, as well as that of Edward Evans. Pauline Reade’s body was not discovered until 1987, and Keith Bennett’s remains remain undiscovered.

The Trial

In April 1966, the trial of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley began. The public and the press were fixated on the case, shocked by the coldness of the defendants and the horrific details revealed in court. Both were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

At the time, Brady was convicted of killing John Kilbride, Edward Evans, and Lesley Ann Downey, while Hindley was convicted for her role in the deaths of Downey and Evans. The death penalty had been abolished the previous year, otherwise they likely would have been executed.

The Tapes and the Photos

One of the most disturbing aspects of the case was the discovery of tape recordings and photographs documenting the abuse of their victims. The most infamous was the recording of Lesley Ann Downey, during which she can be heard crying, begging for her mother, and pleading for her life. It was so disturbing that the judge excused the press from the courtroom during playback.

Photographs taken by Brady and Hindley at the gravesites—some featuring Hindley posing on the moor—were later used to help locate the burial spots of the missing children.

The Search for Keith Bennett

One of the most heartbreaking elements of the case is the continued mystery surrounding Keith Bennett, whose remains have never been found. His mother, Winnie Johnson, tirelessly campaigned and appealed for information until her death in 2012. Though Brady reportedly admitted to killing Keith, he refused to reveal the exact location of the body. Periodic searches have been launched even into the 2020s, but to date, no remains have been discovered.

Legacy and Impact

The Moors Murders left an indelible mark on British society. The case led to significant changes in how the media covered trials, how child protection policies were enacted, and how the prison system treated life sentences. The sheer evil of the crimes and the chilling demeanor of Hindley, in particular, made her one of Britain’s most hated women.

In popular culture, the case has inspired numerous books, documentaries, films, and even controversial art pieces. Public reaction to any sympathetic portrayal of Hindley has consistently been outrage. Her image—blonde, stern, emotionless—has become an icon of female criminality in modern British history.

Conclusion

The Moors Murders are more than just a true crime story—they represent a loss of innocence for an entire generation. Ian Brady and Myra Hindley were not monsters from fairy tales; they were real people, living among ordinary citizens, capable of unimaginable cruelty. Their crimes not only devastated the families of the victims but also shocked a nation into reevaluating its moral and legal standards.

Even decades later, the shadows of Brady and Hindley’s actions loom large, particularly in the unfinished story of Keith Bennett. Their names are now synonymous with evil, and their legacy remains a chilling reminder of how darkness can hide in plain sight.