Moors Murder victim Keith Bennett's mother dies Published duration 18 August 2012

media caption Winnie Johnson: "I want him found before anything happens to me"

The mother of Moors Murder victim Keith Bennett has died without ever finding out where her son was buried.

Winnie Johnson, 78, died on Friday night after a long campaign to get her son's killer, Ian Brady, to reveal the location of his body.

Twelve-year-old Keith was abducted on his way to visit his grandmother in Manchester on 16 June 1964.

Mrs Johnson's death comes after police said they were looking at claims Brady had revealed details about his grave.

'Fought tirelessly'

Brady and his lover Myra Hindley murdered five children between 1963 and 1965.

Police are investigating whether Brady, 74, gave details about Keith's grave to his mental health advocate, Jackie Powell, from Carmarthenshire.

Mrs Johnson's solicitor John Ainley told the BBC she did not know about the latest development as "she wasn't capable of accepting it".

Mr Ainley, who described Mrs Johnson as a "really marvellous" lady, said she had been suffering from cancer for a number of years and passed away peacefully at a hospice with her family present.

A statement by her son Alan Bennett said: "She was a much loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and is survived by one younger brother.

"Winnie fought tirelessly for decades to find Keith and give him a Christian burial.

"Although this was not possible during her lifetime, we, her family, intend to continue this fight now for her and for Keith. We hope that the authorities and the public will support us in this."

Mr Ainley, who had represented Mrs Johnson's legal interests in the past few years, reaffirmed her beliefs that Brady still held the key to Keith's burial spot.

"Over the years and in all our personal meetings, Winnie has insisted Brady is the only person who could put her mind to rest and give her the chance to give Keith a decent burial before she passed away," he said.

'Cruel twist'

Mr Ainley added that Brady had persistently ignored appeals she had made to him.

"She has died without knowing Keith's whereabouts and without the opportunity to finally put him at rest in a decent grave," he said.

"It is a truly heartbreaking situation that this opportunity has now been irrevocably lost."

media caption John Ainley: "Winnie never gave up the hope that Keith would be found"

The solicitor said he was sceptical about the latest development, saying: "I live on the edge of Saddleworth Moor and unless you have definite information, it is a needle in a haystack."

Martin Bottomley, Head of Investigative Review of Greater Manchester Police's Major and Cold Case Crime Unit, called on Brady to "do the decent thing and tell us where he [Keith] is."

He described Mrs Johnson as a "tenacious and courageous woman" who was "now at peace with the little boy she missed so much".

Mrs Johnson's former solicitor, David Kirwan, said her death was a "cruel and ironic twist".