5 famous dumping grounds for bodies
For as long as there have been criminals, there have been areas around the world that have hidden their dark and disturbing misdeeds. These places have a grim history, especially when it comes to concealing human remains.
Whether it's a dense forest, murky swampland, or a vast desert, criminals and murderers have sought out these spots for decades to hide their heinous crimes.
Here at Crime+Investigation, we’re looking at some of the most infamous dumping grounds in the UK and the US. These areas have become well known to authorities and crime enthusiasts alike, and they continue to house haunting mysteries to this day.
1. Yorkshire Moors and Saddleworth Moor
We are combining both the Yorkshire Moors and Saddleworth Moor for the first entry in our list. The Yorkshire Moors are located in North Yorkshire, whereas Saddleworth Moor is in the South Pennines on the border between West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.
These beautiful and sprawling parts of the Yorkshire countryside are known for their rolling landscapes and gorgeous scenery. However, the vastness of the moors and their loneliness has led to various crimes in the UK being tied to these areas.
The most well-known crimes committed in these areas were the infamous Moors Murders, which took place in the 1960s. Myra Hindley and Ian Brady kidnapped and killed five children and buried at least four of their bodies on Saddleworth Moor.
The bodies of Lesley Ann Downey, Edward Evans, John Kilbride, and Pauline Reade were found on the moor, but the body of 12-year-old Keith Bennett was never found.
The Yorkshire Moors have also had their fair share of bodies dumped there, such as Rhys Thompson, whose beaten body was discovered with parcel tape around his neck in 2021.
2. Louisiana Swamps
The marshy areas around Louisiana, known as the 'Louisiana Swamps', are well known for body dumping. This is due to the seclusion of the swamps, along with the deep, murky waters often inhabited by alligators.
Bodies have been being dumped in the Louisiana Swamps for decades. In 1986, a fisherman found a woman’s body in Lake Pontchartrain. She was eventually identified as Pamela Lee Hupp 38 years later.
Several bodies were also discovered in the canals in Jennings, Louisiana. These bodies were of women who had been killed between 2005 and 2009 in an unresolved murder case called the Jeff Davis 8.
3. Texas Killing Fields
The Texas Killing Fields are not one particular location. Instead, the name refers to a 25-acre area of land surrounding Interstate Highway 45 in League City, Texas. Since the early 1970s, over 30 bodies have been found there.
Most of the bodies found in that area were young women or girls, most of whom were between 12 and 15 years of age. The victims also had similar features and hair, suggesting that the area was used by the same killer.
Some of the victims discovered in the Texas Killing Fields include Krystal Jean Baker in 1996 and Maria Johnson and Debbie Ackerman, two teenage friends abducted and killed in 1971.
4. Mojave Desert
The huge, unforgiving Mojave Desert has a particularly dark reputation when it comes to body dumping. The desert spans areas of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah, and it is known for its sparse population, and extremes when it comes to temperatures.
Various cases have been linked to bodies found in the Mojave, such as the case of Erin Corwin, whose body was found in a mineshaft. Six bodies were also found in the El Mirage area of the desert in 2024.
5. Epping Forest
The sparse and ancient woodland that is Epping Forest is located on the border between Essex and Greater London.
The forest is easily accessible from London and other major roads and has plenty of good coverage because of the dense trees, making it a popular spot for dumping bodies.
The most well-known Epping Forest case is the Babes in the Wood case. It involved the tragic rape and murder of two kids – Gary Hanlon and Susan Blatchford – whose bodies were found in the woodland.
The forest also has connections to London gangland, with many believing there are some dark and sinister mysteries lurking within the wooded area.
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