A Long Time Dead

 

Ian Brady and Myra Hindley were a notorious pair of British serial killers who were responsible for the murder of at least five children between 1963 and 1965. Brady was born on January 2, 1938, in Glasgow, Scotland, while Hindley was born on July 23, 1942, in Manchester, England. The two met while working together at a chemical company in Manchester in the early 1960s and soon began a romantic relationship.

Brady was already interested in the idea of committing murder and was fascinated by the infamous American serial killer, Jack the Ripper. He began to share his violent fantasies with Hindley, and the two soon began to plan their first murder.

Their first victim was 16-year-old Pauline Reade, who disappeared on July 12, 1963. The couple had lured her into their car, driven her to Saddleworth Moor, and murdered her. Her body was not found until 1987, when Brady and Hindley were already in prison.

Their next victim was 12-year-old John Kilbride, who disappeared on November 23, 1963. The couple lured him into their car and took him to Saddleworth Moor, where they sexually assaulted him and then murdered him.

Their third victim was 12-year-old Keith Bennett, who disappeared on June 16, 1964. The couple had lured him into their car while he was on his way to visit his grandmother, taken him to Saddleworth Moor, and murdered him.

Their fourth victim was 10-year-old Lesley Ann Downey, who disappeared on December 26, 1964. The couple lured her into their car, took her to Hindley's home, and then sexually assaulted and murdered her.

Their fifth and final victim was 17-year-old Edward Evans, who was murdered on October 6, 1965. Brady had met Evans in a pub and lured him back to Hindley's home, where he bludgeoned him to death with an axe.

Their crimes were discovered in 1965 when Hindley's brother-in-law, David Smith, witnessed Brady killing Evans and went to the police. Brady and Hindley were arrested, and a search of Hindley's home revealed incriminating evidence, including photographs of their victims.

At their trial in 1966, both Brady and Hindley were found guilty of the murders and sentenced to life imprisonment. Brady died in prison on May 15, 2017, at the age of 79, while Hindley died in prison on November 15, 2002, at the age of 60.

Their crimes shocked the UK and led to changes in the way missing persons cases were investigated and reported. The case also had a lasting impact on the families of their victims, who had to endure decades of uncertainty and trauma.