CCTV shows last movements of schoolgirl, 14, running along the street before she was found dead as boy appears in court
CCTV footage has revealed the last movements of a schoolgirl before she was found dead in a park, as a teen boy appears in court charged with murder.
Lilly Jones, 14, was captured on CCTV running as she headed towards the park where her body was found just two days later.
The footage was shared locally in Blaina, South Wales, after Lilly was allegedly killed.
She can be seen in the images wearing a long, black corset dress as she makes her way along a road in the town centre on Saturday night.
A person can be seen walking behind Lilly as she makes her way along the road.
After Lilly failed to come home that night and her phone appeared to have been switched off, her parents reported her missing.
The dress she was seen wearing in the footage matches the description of Lilly police put out while she was listed as a missing person.
The town quickly mobilised to find the teen, who was a pupil at Brynmawr Comprehensive School; a police helicopter and drones were drafted in to help with the search.
One villager claimed she had last spotted Lilly “outside the kebab shop” on Saturday evening and it “looked initially like she was waiting for someone”.
She said: “I told her that she looked lovely. She crossed over and walked through the church yard.”
Sadly, Lilly was found on Monday evening by two members of the public in the undergrowth of the town’s Duffryn Park, just a few yards away from the Bowls club.
Locals said she was discovered hidden just 500 yards away from her own home.
The footage, which was shared after the tragedy, shows Lilly walking at a quick pace towards the park which has just two entrances.
Following the discovery of Lilly’s body, a boy was arrested on Tuesday – he remained in police custody until he appeared in court this morning.
Cops took him into custody on suspicion of murder.
Forensic officers have searched his home as they investigate Lilly’s death with locals reporting that they removed a computer and kitchen knives from the house.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth at court yesterday.
Lilly’s parents Carl and Gemma, a nail technician, are with a police family liaison officer and being comforted by family.
A friend of Carl’s said: “I went to see him last night, I don’t think it’s really hit home what’s happened.
“He’s going through waves of emotion and wanted a few of his close friends around him.”
South Wales Police Detective Chief Inspector Steven Thomas said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Lilly at this difficult time.
“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.”
Police were making house-to-house inquiries in Blaina asking for doorbell video footage to discover Lilly’s route into the park and if she was alone.
