THE mother of Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett has died without knowing where her son is buried.

Winnie Johnson, 78, had been suffering from cancer for a number of years and passed away peacefully at a hospice earlier today, her lawyer said.

Her 12-year-son’s killer, Ian Brady, has always refused to disclose the location of Keith’s body on Saddleworth Moor above Manchester.

Keith was taken by Brady and his partner, Myra Hindley on June 16 1964, after he left home to visit his grandmother.

Mrs Johnson’s death comes amid a police investigation into whether a letter exists in which Brady apparently discloses the location of Keith’s body.

Brady’s mental health advocate Jackie Powell told a Channel 4 documentary the Moors Murderer gave her a sealed envelope to pass to Winnie Johnson in the event of his death.

Detectives examining a large number of documents seized from Ms Powell’s home in South Wales have so far found no letter or any evidence to suggest Brady has disclosed the location of Keith’s body.

A search of Brady’s quarters at Ashworth Hospital in Merseyside has also failed to uncover the alleged letter.

It is understood Ms Powell claims she returned the envelope to Brady before her arrest on Thursday. She has since been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Martin Bottomley, head of investigative review of Greater Manchester Police’s major and cold case crime unit, said: “Our thoughts are with Winnie’s family at this very difficult and sad time.

“Winnie spent the majority of her life courageously fighting to get justice for Keith.

“All she wanted was to know where Keith was buried so she could lay him to rest.

“Sadly, almost all of her life, she has had to live with the knowledge that Ian Brady refused to show compassion and do the right thing and disclose where he had buried her little boy.”