Ian Brady

On the night of 12th July 1963, 16-year-old Pauline Reade became their first victim. She was waylaid by Hindley whilst on her way to a local dance; then driven up to Saddleworth Moor, where Brady was awaiting their arrival. Reade was raped, beaten and stabbed before being buried.

Four months later, on 11th November 1963, 12-year-old John Kilbride disappeared from the vicinity of the market in Ashton-Under-Lyne, never to be seen again.

On 16th June 1964, 12-year-old Keith Bennett disappeared whilst on the way to his grandmother’s house. His disappearance wasn’t noted until the next day, and a massive police search revealed no clues. Hindley had in fact lured him into her car, with a request for assistance in loading some boxes, then rendezvoused with Brady on Saddleworth Moor, where Keith was taken, by Brady, to a gully next to a stream, then raped, strangled and buried there.

On the afternoon of Boxing Day, 1964, 10-year-old Lesley Ann Downey disappeared from a local fairground, and again a huge police effort, bolstered by volunteers, unearthed no clues as to her whereabouts.