Family speak of ‘torture’ schoolgirl, 14, was put through after body found

The family of a schoolgirl found dead close to her home have thanked all the volunteers who searched for her.

Lilly Jones, 14, was found in dense undergrowth near her town’s bowls club in Duffryn Park, Blaina, Wales.

Lilly was last seen on the High Street in the town at around 6.50pm on Saturday, June 20.

Witnesses claimed to have spotted her at a kebab shop where she appeared to be waiting for someone.

A desperate search was launched involving helicopters, dozens of volunteers and a family appeal to ‘anyone who had her to let her go’.

Her body was tragically found at 10pm hidden in the undergrowth 50 yards from a bowls club being used for refreshments for volunteers.

In a statement, her family said: ‘Thank you so much to everyone who shared, searched and helped us we can never thank you all enough.

‘Thank you for all the support. The messages. This community has stood together and we appreciate every single person.’

They asked people to stop approaching them having received hundreds of requests online from people who didn’t live locally.

‘This is not gossip. This is our baby’s life and the torture she has been put through,’ they added.

A 14-year-old boy, from the Blaenau Gwent area, has been arrested and is being held in police custody.

During the search, a relative begged for information: ‘Lilly please come home, my girl, I promise you’re not in any trouble.

‘If someone is holding Lilly against her will, I can’t express how important it is for you to let her go. We won’t stop looking for her until we find her so please bring her home.’

Mum-of-two Katy Bennett, 44, told The Sun: ‘I searched very close to that spot and didn’t see anything, she must have been covered up.

‘There were about 60 of us out looking for her in that area on Monday night. The whole community rallied around to look for Lilly.

‘I left the search at 9pm but there were still people arriving to help at that time. She was found at ten past ten.’

The murder has been referred to the police watchdog, IOPC ‘in line with normal procedures’.

Detective Chief Inspector Steven Thomas said: ‘We continue to have a significant police presence in the area and understand the concern amongst our communities at this time.

‘Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the death and we currently have one person in police custody being questioned.

‘I’m asking anyone with information to please come and speak with us, you can do this in person, or you can contact us on the usual channels.

‘I’d also encourage people not to speculate online as this is a live investigation and such comments can have an impact on our ability to bring anyone, found to have committed a criminal offense, to justice.’