The Moors Murders: Britain’s Most Infamous Child Killers
Between 1963 and 1965, a series of horrifying crimes committed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley shocked the United Kingdom and left a lasting scar on British society. The pair became known as the Moors Murderers for the remote Saddleworth Moor location where they buried their victims—five children aged between 10 and 17.
Their brutal acts, which included sexual assault, murder, and concealed burials, not only devastated the families of the victims but also sparked widespread public outrage. The case remains one of the most reviled in British criminal history.
The Killers: Ian Brady and Myra Hindley
Ian Brady, born on January 2, 1938, in Glasgow, Scotland, was a troubled child with a history of antisocial behavior and petty crime. He moved to Manchester as a young adult and worked as a stock clerk. In 1961, he met Myra Hindley, born July 23, 1942, and the two formed a deeply toxic and dangerous partnership.
Hindley was drawn to Brady’s fascination with Nazi ideology, sadism, and criminality. Their relationship grew more disturbing as Brady introduced her to violent pornography, Adolf Hitler’s writings, and fantasies of committing the “perfect murder.”
The Murders
Between July 12, 1963, and October 6, 1965, Brady and Hindley lured and killed five children:
- Pauline Reade (16) – Disappeared on her way to a dance in 1963. Her body wasn’t discovered until 1987.
- John Kilbride (12) – Abducted from a market in Ashton-under-Lyne in November 1963.
- Keith Bennett (12) – Went missing in June 1964; his body has never been found.
- Lesley Ann Downey (10) – Kidnapped on Boxing Day 1964 and murdered at Brady’s home.
- Edward Evans (17) – Killed with an axe in 1965 in what would be the final murder.
In at least four of the cases, the victims were sexually assaulted. Brady often took photos and tape recordings of the abuse, most notoriously in the case of Lesley Ann Downey. These became central to the prosecution’s evidence.
Discovery and Arrest
The couple’s crimes were uncovered when Hindley’s brother-in-law, David Smith, witnessed the murder of Edward Evans and reported it to the police. A raid on Brady’s home uncovered a suitcase hidden in a train station locker, containing pornographic photographs and audio tapes of Lesley Ann Downey’s final moments.
Brady and Hindley were arrested in October 1965. Despite early resistance to cooperation, police soon found the graves of John Kilbride and Lesley Ann Downey on Saddleworth Moor.
However, at the time, Brady and Hindley were only convicted of three murders—Kilbride, Downey, and Evans—and sentenced to life imprisonment under a whole life tariff.
New Evidence and Confessions
In the 1980s, while confined in a secure psychiatric facility, Brady reportedly confessed to the murders of Pauline Reade and Keith Bennett. This led to a reopened investigation in 1985. That same year, Brady was officially diagnosed as a psychopath and permanently institutionalized at Ashworth Hospital.
Hindley initially maintained her innocence but in 1987 admitted full involvement in all five murders. She and Brady were taken separately to Saddleworth Moor to help locate the remaining graves. Though Pauline Reade’s remains were recovered in 1987, the body of Keith Bennett has never been found, despite numerous searches.
Life Imprisonment and Deaths
Hindley made repeated appeals for parole, claiming rehabilitation and remorse. However, public sentiment remained strongly opposed to her release. The British press labeled her “the most evil woman in Britain,” a title that persisted until her death. She died in 2002, aged 60, after 36 years in prison.
Brady never sought parole and made it clear he wished to die. He engaged in hunger strikes and court battles over the right to refuse treatment. He died in 2017, aged 79, after spending 51 years in custody.
Cultural and Psychological Impact
The Moors Murders had a profound effect on British society. The sheer cruelty of the crimes, particularly involving children, shook the nation to its core. The tape recording of Lesley Ann Downey pleading for her life—played in court—was described as one of the most harrowing pieces of evidence in British legal history.
Psychiatrists and criminologists have studied the case for decades. Professor Malcolm MacCulloch of Cardiff University referred to the crimes as a “concatenation of circumstances”, emphasizing how the rare combination of Brady’s pathology and Hindley’s susceptibility created a uniquely destructive pairing.
Legacy
The Moors Murders are still widely taught and referenced in discussions of British criminal history. The case stands as a chilling reminder of how manipulation, ideology, and mutual delusion can escalate into acts of horrific violence.
For the families of the victims—especially the Bennetts, who still seek Keith’s remains—the trauma continues. Despite the passing of both killers, the full truth and closure remain elusive.
The Saddleworth Moors, once a place of natural beauty, are now forever marked by the memory of the innocent lives lost.
