A 14-year-old boy has been charged with murder after police searching for missing schoolgirl Lilly Jones discovered a body near a park in southeast Wales. The grim find was made late on Monday night after a huge search effort to locate the teenager, with the body, thought to be Lilly's, being recovered from the Duffryn Park area of Blaina, in Blaenau Gwent, shortly after 10pm.
Although formal identification is still to take place, officers have informed her devastated family and say they are being supported, WalesOnline reports. The teenage suspect, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of murder. He has now been charged and is being held in custody. He will appear before Newport Magistrates Court on Friday, June 26.
Police Investigation and Court Proceedings
Gwent Police launched a murder investigation after the body of a female was found in the Duffryn Park area of Blaina. Police said they were releasing Lilly's first name with her family's knowledge because it will form part of the court proceedings. She had been reported missing having last been seen in High Street, Blaina, at around 6.50pm on Saturday, June 20.
At the time of publication, cordons remain in place across Blaina, including Duffryn Park, as detectives continue their investigations and increase police presence in the area.
"Gwent Police has charged a 14-year-old boy with murder as part of our investigation in Blaenau Gwent," a police spokesperson confirmed, adding, "The teenager from the Blaenau Gwent area, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was remanded in police custody to appear before Newport Magistrates Court on Friday 26 June. The white British boy was arrested after the body of a female was found in the Duffryn Park area of Blaina on Monday 22 June, at about 10.10pm. While formal identification has yet to take place, the body is believed to be Lilly, a 14-year-old girl who was reported as missing. We are releasing Lilly's name at this point, with her family's knowledge, because it will form part of the court proceedings and be a matter of public record."
Tributes and Community Impact
Detective Chief Inspector Steven Thomas said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Lilly at this difficult time. We understand that there has been a great deal of interest in this ongoing investigation. It is vital that people consider how their language, especially comments made online, could affect our ability to bring anyone found to have committed a criminal offence to justice. Even though we've reached this significant development in our investigation, our enquiries continue and you will still see a significant police presence in the area. Examinations of scenes will be continuing over the coming days, including at Duffryn Park, where cordons remain in place. I would like to thank local residents for their continued support and those impacted by the cordons for their patience during this time."
Brynmawr Foundation School described 14-year-old Lilly Jones as someone who was known for "kindness, warmth, and bubbly personality." In a tribute to Lilly shared with WalesOnline, the head teacher of Brynmawr Foundation School, where Lilly was a pupil, said her loss will be felt "profoundly" by all those who knew her. She was described as a "valued member of the school community."
Police are asking anyone with CCTV footage or information which could help the investigation to speak to officers, contact them via 101, quoting reference 2600194414, or online.
