Who was Myra Hindley and how did she die?
MYRA Hindley and her partner Ian Brady murdered five children in the Manchester area between 1963 and 1965, burying them on the Moors.
Here we look at the life of 'the most hated woman in Britain' and how it came to an end.
Who was Myra Hindley?
Myra Hindley was born in a working class suburb of Manchester in July 1942.
In 1961, 18-year-old Hindley joined Millwards Merchandise, a small chemical distributing firm in Gorton, Manchester — where she met Ian Brady.
She became infatuated with him, and after a year the pair began a love affair, living together at her grandmother's house.
Brady was obsessed with Nazi philosophy and he and Hindley began reading books on Nazi atrocities.
Disillusioned Hindley began changing her appearance — dying her hair peroxide blonde and sporting short skirts and high boots.
Their interests became increasingly perverse, with the pair planned bank robberies and taking explicit photos of one another.
Their interests soon became more sinister and Brady began to talk about how he wanted to commit the "perfect murder".
Together they killed five children between the ages of ten and 17, four of whom were sexually assaulted.
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Who were Myra Hindley's victims?
Pauline Reade
On July 12, 1963, the couple killed their first victim, 16-year-old Pauline Reade.
After spotting Pauline, Hindley asked her if she would help her locate an expensive glove she had lost on the Moor.
Hindley claimed Brady then took Pauline on to the Moor, where he slashed her throat twice and sexually assaulted her.
Brady claimed that Hindley helped.
John Kilbride
On November 23, 1963, Hindley approached John Kilbride in Ashton-under-Lyne and offered him a lift home.
Brady told the 12-year-old he would give him some sherry, but they would have to make a detour on the Moor first.
He later sexually assaulted the youngster and attempted to slit his throat with a six-inch serrated blade, before fatally strangling him with a piece of string.
In August 2023, John’s brother, Terry Kilbride died aged 68.
Terry previously said he would have to live with the “nightmare” until his final day.
Keith Bennett
On June 16, 1964, 12-year-old Keith was on his way to his grandmother’s house when Hindley lured him into her van.
She drove to a lay-by on the Moor where Brady sexually assaulted and strangled the youngster.
Keith Bennett’s body was never found.
Lesley Ann Downey
During a visit to a fairground on Boxing Day 1964, the couple came across their youngest victim, 10-year-old Lesley Ann Downey.
They lured her back to their house, where she was undressed, gagged, and forced to pose for photographs before being raped and killed.
The next morning the couple drove with Downey's body to Saddleworth Moor, where she was buried — naked with her clothes at her feet — in a shallow grave.
Edward Evans
On October 6, 1965, Brady met 17-year-old apprentice engineer Edward Evans at Manchester Central railway station before inviting him back to his home.
There Brady beat him to death with an axe.
How long was Myra Hindley sentenced for?
Hindley was 23 years old and Brady 28 when they were both jailed for life in 1966.
On May 6, 1966, both defendants were convicted of killing Edward Evans and Lesley Ann Downey.
Brady was also convicted of murdering John Kilbride, while Myra Hindley was convicted as an accessory after the fact.
Brady was sentenced to concurrent life terms on each count, while Hindley received two life terms plus seven years in the Kilbride case.
How did Myra Hindley die?
Myra Hindley died in custody in West Sussex Hospital in November 2002, aged 60.
Hindley, who smoked 40 cigarettes a day, died from bronchial pneumonia caused by heart disease.
More than a dozen undertakers refused to handle her cremation.
In August 2019, Ghost Hunters sparked fury over plans to hold a séance to contact Myra Hindley.
The Ghosts of Britain group said it was trying to help a relative of one of the child killer’s victims who claimed she was haunting her.
The brother of Moors Murder victim Keith Bennett described the séance as a “sordid affair” and called for it to be halted.
Speaking at the time, Alan Bennett said: “Many in the paranormal community have messaged me to say they are horrified about the activities of this particular group.’’