Infamous Murderer & Serial Killer Profiles - #6 Myra Hindley

Photo of Myra Hindley & ian Brady (licence-free courtesy of Flickr)

Following previous profiles of infamous murderers and serial killer, such as Dennis Nilsen, John Wayne Gacy, Dr Harold Shipman and Ian Brady, this week's case is Brady's girlfriend and partner-in-crime during the Moor's Murders - Myra Hindley.  As before, the intention of these profiles is not to rake over the same old gory details, but by asking a series of set questions about each serial killer or murderer, the aim is to try to understand who they were as a person and why they did what they did, without absolving them of their heinous crimes. 

Profile #6 - Myra Hindley: Dubbed the "Moors Murderers", Hindley & Brady murdered five young children and teens, who were raped, tortured and buried in shallow graves on Saddleworth Moor in an attempt to pull-off the "perfect murder". Hindley was labelled by the press as "the most evil woman in Britain" and by their trial judge as "two sadistic killers of the utmost depravity". As with my profile on Ian Brady, I've focused on facts, rather than myths or misinformation as perpetuated by the tabloid press or people who claim to have known them. 

​PERSONAL DETAILS

• Birth Name: Myra Hindley (no middle names)
• Date of Birth: 23rd July 1942
• Place of Birth: Crumpsall, Manchester
• Weight: 8 stone (dropped below 7 stone on hunger-strike)
• Height: 5 foot 5 inches (1.65m)
• Hair Colour: Brown (naturally), she changed this to a pink rinse in her late teens, and later dyed it peroxide blonde, but also wore a black wig as part of her disguise when picking up her child victims, or during sex games with her partner Ian Brady
• Eye Colour: Blue
• Nickname: At school, “Square Arse” owing to her 42 inch hips. Brady’s nickname for Hindley was “Kiddo” owing to his fascination for 1950's American films and just as Hindley would refer to Brady as “Neddie” (after Ned Seagoon from the BBC Radio series The Goon Show), Brady often called her “Minnie” after Minnie Bannister from the same series.
• Star Sign: Leo
• Disabilities: None known
• Health Issues: None known
• Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual and later homosexual; Hindley lost her virginity to Brady aged 19 on 1st January 1962 (having promised herself she’d remain a virgin until marriage). Although she was only sexually active with Brady (and Edward Evans at Brady's request), there no homosexuality prior to her incarceration, with the notable exception of Hindley’s account of the sexual assault of Pauline Reade which both Hindley & Brady took part in (again, she claims, at his request), but whilst serving at Holloway Prison, Hindley met prison warder Patricia Cairns and began a three-year lesbian relationship.
• Personality: Toughened-up by her abusive alcoholic father, Bob Hindley taught his daughter how to fight. Aged 8 years old, when Hindley’s cheeks were scratched by a local boy, Bob insisted "Go and punch him because if you don't I'll leather you!", Hindley did as she was told, knocked the boy down with a series of punches and finally but briefly achieved her father’s approval, which she craved. Hindley was regarded as a “tomboy” by her school-friends as well as “tough” and “lacking in compassion” for anyone who got hurt. Later, during her incarceration in Holloway Prison, Governor Dorothy Wing regarded Hindley as “a very disciplined, very controlled person anxious never to transgress prison rules”. 

FAMILY HISTORY

• Parents: Nellie and Bob Hindley.
• Siblings: One younger sister, Maureen.
• Sibling Order: Oldest of two (by four years). Living in poverty, Hindley was forced to share their only bedroom with her parents, but when Hindley’s younger sister Maureen was born, Hindley was sent to live with her grandmother.
• Traumatic Event as a Child: In June 1957, aged 15, Hindley decided not to go swimming with her 13 year old friend Michael Higgins in a disused reservoir, where – although he was a good swimmer – he drowned. Hindley was deeply traumatised by the incident and blamed herself. Upon the viewing of the body (a Catholic tradition), Michael’s mother handed Myra the rosary beads he was holding.
• Divorced or Deceased Parent or Sibling: None, prior to the murders. That said, Bob Hindley (Myra’s abusive father) suffered a stroke in his mid-forties, was confined to a wheelchair, and seizing the opportunity Hindley would abuse her disabled father, getting back at him for all the years of beatings which both she and her mother had suffered at his hands.
• Head injury or Accident as Child: None known, but Hindley was routinely beaten by her alcoholic father so frequent head injuries (which weren’t recorded by a local GP or hospital) is entirely possible.
• Bed-Wetter (as child): Unknown.
• Fire-Starter (as child): None.
• Animal Abuser (as child): None. Far from it. Hindley was absolutely besotted with her pets, especially “Puppet” her the tan-and-white collie. After her arrest and the discovery of photographs of Hindley & “Puppet” in the same location on Saddleworth Moor, Police wondered whether these photos were a macabre memorial on top of the shallow grave of 12 year old victim John Kilbride. In order to date the photos, they needed to determine the age of “Puppet”, so put him under anaesthetic to x-ray his teeth. “Puppet” supposedly died during the procedure and Hindley was inconsolable, later stating “I feel as though my heart's been torn to pieces. I don't think anything could hurt me more than this has”.
• Perversions: Hindley admits to being sexually inexperienced prior to her deflowering by Ian Brady, and following this Hindley engaged (or was forced) into a series of sexual activities at Brady’s request; heterosexual sex, oral sex, anal sex, threesomes (with Edward Evans), use of hard-core pornography, sadomasochism (a series of private photos show Hindley with whip marks on her buttocks) and insertion (Brady would get Hindley to stick a candle up his anus).
• Pets: During her years with Ian Brady, Hindley had two dogs; “Lassie” a ginger/brown collie, who gave birth to a litter of six, once of which Hindley kept, a tan and white collie called “Puppet”.
• Abandoned / Fostered: No, but when Hindley was five years old, her younger sister Maureen was born and – stuck in a tiny house with just one bedroom, that Myra shared with her parents – she was sent to live with her grandmother at Bannock Street. Although this gave Hundley respite from her abusive alcoholic father, it caused a division between Hindley and her family as she felt she’d been abandoned in place of her younger sister.
• Marital Status: Single. Although Hindley was briefly engaged to Ronnie Sinclair in 1958 for six months, and later she’d dreamed that she and Brady would marry, Ian Brady was marriage as pointless.
• Partners: After her engagement to Ronnie Sinclair on her 17th birthday (which lasted just six months) and hr relationship with Ian Brady, Hindley was incarcerated at Holloway Prison (a women’s prison) so her access to men was strictly limited. Although there’s very little evidence of lesbianism (except the abduction and sexual assault by Hindley & Brady of Pauline Reade, which – may – have been to appease Brady’s sexual appetite) prior to Hindley’s incarceration at Holloway Prison, she engaged in passionate homosexual relationships with Nina Wilde (a Dutch criminologist who she met in Durham Prison) and later prison warder Patricia Cairns which lasted for three years. Brady & Hindley corresponded by letter until 1971, when she ended their relationship
• Children:  None. 

WORK

• Jobs: Three jobs; a junior clerk at Lawrence Scott Electrometers in Gorton, then as a junior clerk at Bratby and Hinchliffe (also an engineering firm in Gorton) but was dismissed for absenteeism and finally in January 1961, she joined Millwards as a typist, where she met Ian Brady.
• Training: Trained in shorthand typing.
• Military Service: Not applicable.
• IQ / Education: She attended Peacock Street Primary School (the same school as her first victim – Pauline Read), and having failed her 11-plus, was sent to Ryder Brown Secondary Modern. Although, in 1989, Hindley graduated from the Open University with a degree in Humanities, which she studied for whilst serving at HMP Holloway. 

SOCIAL

• Favourite Food: Very little is known about Hindley’s favourite foods prior to meeting Brady, but her mother always insisted that she had a side portion of chips with every meal as Hindley was a notoriously picky eater (perhaps brought on by being bullied over her wide-hips, with kids giving her the nickname “Square Arse”). Having met Brady, her tastes copied his and they’d often dine on French or Chinese food. During her incarceration at Holloway Prison, Hindley paid (in cigarettes) a Jamaican prisoner to cook her a traditional West Indian meal once a week.
• Favourite Music: Again, very little is known about Myra’s musical tastes prior to Brady, but soon found a shared love of Wagner (Hitler’s favourite), as well as a series of popular songs which Hindley & Brady used as a secret reference to their victims, such as; “Girl Don’t Come” by Sandie Shaw, “It’s All Over Now” by Joan Baez, “Legion’s Last Patrol” by Ken Thorne, “24 From Tulsa” by Gene Pitney and “It’s Over” by Roy Orbison
• Favourite Film: Supposedly it was West Side Story, which she saw with Brady, as well as biblical epic The King of Kings and a dramatization of the Nazi war-crimes trials Judgement at Nuremberg.
• Favourite Book: As a child, Hindley loved anything by Beatrix Potter and Enid Blyton, but her tastes changed to In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, as well as other books favoured by Brady such as Hitler’s Mein Kampf, Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime & Punishment and Meyer Levin's ‘Compulsion’.
• Favourite Drink: White German wine (Hock) when with Brady, rum & coke when not.
• Smoker: Yes. She even had a vending machine at home.
• Hobbies: As a teen, Hindley briefly trained in Judo.
• Religion: Raised as a Catholic in a semi-religious family (Bob was Catholic, Nellie was agnostic), Hindley was baptised as a Catholic on 16th August 1942 and regularly attended Holy Communion. Although with Brady, Hindley renounced her Catholicism, he later claimed to have become a reformed Catholic (in Holloway Prison, when parole was mooted).
• Drugs/Alcohol Abuse: No history of drug-usage, even in prison
• Political Leanings:  Like Brady, although Hindley absorbed a lot of right-wing propaganda, she claimed to be left-wing. 

​MURDER CAREER

• Reason for Murder: Hindley has never given expressed the reasons why she assisted Brady in the murders, but it is believed that having grown-up in a physically abusive household under the fear of her violent alcoholic father (Bob), she always sought his approval but rarely got it (except the day he ordered her to beat up a bully who had scratched her cheeks). In Brady, she found a new father-figure for whom she’d change everything about herself – her hair, clothes, tastes, beliefs and morals – to seek the approval of Ian Brady, even so far as to commit “the perfect murder”
• Method of Killing: Although it is uncertain whether Hindley participated in all of the murders themselves, she certainly acted as a “friendly face” to lure the unsuspecting children into her car/van, with the promise of sweets or money for their help with a simple chore and – following a slight detour to find a missing glove or scarf of “sentimental value” – she used this as a ruse to drive the children to Saddleworth Moor where Brady would be waiting. Brady claimed that Hindley assisted in all aspects of the murders.
• Number of Victims: Five; Pauline Reade (16), John Kilbride (12), Keith Bennett (12), Lesley Ann Downie (10) and Edward Evans (17), although Hindley & Brady were only initially charged with the murders of Edward Evans, John Kilbride and Lesley Ann Downey. Read Ian Brady’s biog for full details.
• Length of Career: As a murderer, 12th July 1963 to 6th October 1965
• Previous Criminal Record: None.
• Preferred Victims: Prior to the murders, Hindley & Brady would go “scouting” for victims, either with Hindley driving the van/car and Brady in the back-street, or Brady following on a motorcycle, and when Brady saw a suitable victim, he would either flash his lights or knock. Each victim was chosen according to Brady’s particular persuasion.
• Preferred Murder Location: Saddleworth Moor and 16 Wardle Brook Avenue in Hattersley (Hindley & Brady’s flat) where Edward Evans and Lesley Ann Downie were both murdered.
• Disposal: All but Edward Evans were buried in a shallow grave on Saddleworth Moor, including Leslie Ann Downie who was murdered at 16 Wardle Brook Avenue, but her body would later be buried.

ARREST/SENTENCE

• Detection: On the evening of 6th October 1965, Hindley & Brady picked up Edward Evans from Manchester Central station and returned to 16 Wardle Brook Avenue for wine and group sex (Brady engaging in oral sex with Edward Evans). Upon the arrival of David Smith, Hindley’s 17 year old brother-in-law, who Brady had developed an unusual friendship with, Edward Evans was attacked with an axe/hatchet. With the first hit missing its mark, the back of Evans’ head, Brady then rained down a dozen blows with the hatchet upon Evans, smothered him with a pillow and strangled him with an electrical flex. Unable to carry Evan’s body to the car, Smith & Brady wrapped in a bundle of sheets in their bedroom, with an agreement to dispose of the bundle the next day. Instead, Smith called the police.
• Arrested: Early on the 7th October 1965, Superintendent Bob Talbot (Cheshire Police) posed as a baker making a delivery to gain entry to the house, upon which Evans’ body was discovered and Brady was arrested (Hindley was not charged as an accessory until 11th October). Brady claimed it had simply been an argument over some “dodgy books” in a suitcase which had got out of hand. Although David Smith said he had no idea where these “books” might be, that Brady “had a thing about railway stations”. In the left luggage office of Manchester Central Station, police discovered Brady’s suitcase; in it were nine pornographic photos of 10 year old Leslie Ann Downie and a 13 minute audio recording on her final moments, screaming and pleading for her “mummy”. In their house Police also found an exercise book with “John Kilbride” written in it and a large collection of photographs taken on Saddleworth Moor.
• Trial: Over 14 days, from 19th April 1966, at Assize Court in Chester Castle, Hindley & Brady were charged with the murders of Edward Evans, Leslie Ann Downie and John Kilbride. They both pleased “not guilty”, but with overwhelming evidence against them including the 13 minute tape recording of the torture of Leslie Ann Downie being played to the court, the jury took just two hours to deliberate and on the 6th May, Hindley & Brady were found guilty. With the death penalty having been abolished just one year earlier, Brady was sentenced to three life sentences and Hindley to two. Mr Justice Atkinson described Brady was "wicked beyond belief" with no reasonable possibility of reform. The case was re-opened in 1985, after Brady confessed to the additional murders of Keith Bennett and Pauline Reade. His confession conveniently coincided with being diagnosed as “criminally insane” and being committed to Ashworth Psychiatric Hospital, which required his removal from solitary confinement and a mainstream prison.
• Prison: Hindley was committed to HMP Holloway (north London, one of the few Category A women’s prisons in the UK), where she’d later become the UK's longest serving female prisoner having been incarcerated for 36 years.
• Sentence Length: Hindley was sentenced to two life sentences plus seven years (with a life sentence being 25 years before parole is considered under UK law), but this was increased to 30 years by Home Secretary Leon Brittan and later to a “whole life tariff” by Home Secretary David Waddington, meaning Hindley had no chance of parole.
• Type of Prisoner: Hindley was regarded as a model prisoner; well behaved, reformed and conscientious - engaging in badminton, tapestry, cookery and pottery as well as taking an Open University degree course in Humanities - to the point where she successfully appealed to have her category A prison status changed to category B, which allowed Governor Dorothy Wing to treat her to walks around Hampstead Heath until a public backlash put an end to this. Hindley attempted one unsuccessful prison-break with the assistance of her lover / prison warder Patricia Cairns and fellow prisoner Maxine Croft (both of whom were jailed for their parts).
• Parole: Not applicable. Hindley died on 15th November 2002 of respiratory failure caused by bronchial pneumonia at the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, aged 72. So vehement was the anger at Hindley that even 35 years after the murders, twenty undertakers refused to handle her corpse for cremation. In February 2003, Patricia Cairns – Hindley’s ex-partner – scattered her ashes in Stalybridge County Park, less than ten miles from Saddleworth Moor.
  

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If you "enjoyed" this blog post, why not take a peek at; Serial Killers & Murderers Who Were Never Caught, London's Deadliest & Often Forgotten Disasters, Are More Serial KIllers Born During a Full Moon, Killer's Birthdays / Star Signs, Serial Killers Who Were On TV, Celebrities Who Have Killed, London's Railway of Death, Serial Killers as Kids and the World's Weirdest Death Rituals. Or use the category folders on the right.  

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Michael J Buchanan-Dunne is a writer, true-crime podcaster, crime historian and tour-guide who runs Murder Mile Walks, a guided tour of Soho’s most notorious murder cases, hailed as “one of the top ten quirky & unusual things to do in London” and featuring 12 murderers, including 3 serial killers, across 15 locations, totalling 75 deaths, over just a one mile walk.