From The Metro, Sunday 9 October 2022:
Alan Bennett, 66, was left fuming by after no human remains were found despite claims by amateur sleuth Russell Edwards that he had discovered an upper jaw with teeth in a remote area of the moorland. But after the forensic experts completed their excavation of the site and drew a blank, the search was called off on Friday.
Venting his frustrations on social media, Alan questioned Mr Edwards’s motives and queried why only a fragment of Keith’s jawbone would be left, when other Moors Murder victims’ bodies were found. Keith’s brother branded Mr Edwards’ conduct ‘thoughtless, heartless and publicity seeking’ and called for him to apologise. An interview with the author and his team appeared in the press within hours of his phone call to the police.
Alan wrote: ‘Why would there only be a fragment of jaw bone left of Keith, considering the condition of the other victims that were found? The two locations that Edwards referred to are not in the location of his supposed find. Does he always have a camera crew and photographer with him? If so I presume they have been trailing him for his, again supposed, seven year search. Or was it just by pure chance and coincidence that they were with him on his supposed find?'
He continued: ‘Seems a little strange that all his “experts” appear to be friends of his. How can he state that we have been searching in the wrong place when our 30 years of experience dwarfs his alleged seven years of investigation, whilst at the same time he puts place names of locations in different incorrect areas of the moor?
‘Will he apologise for the anguish, anger, hurt and distress he has caused by his thoughtless, heartless and publicity seeking actions?’
A spokesman for Mr Edwards said he ‘totally understands Mr Bennett’s frustration and anguish’, but remains ‘convinced’ he’s found the true location of Keith’s final resting place. The spokesman added: ‘He remains convinced that he has found the true location of the grave and is commissioning further scientific analysis of his evidence. Until he has concluded his ongoing research, he feels it would not be productive to continue debating the issues in public.’
Please Mr Edwards, forget your ongoing research. Apologise to the Bennett family and just walk away.