Boy, 14, charged with murder of missing schoolgirl, 14, after body found in undergrowth just 500 yards from her home

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy has been charged with murder after the body of a missing schoolgirl was found just yards from her home.

Lilly Jones disappeared on Saturday in Blaina, South Wales, before her body was tragically found at around 10.10pm on Monday night after a desperate search.

Cops arrested a white British schoolboy, aged 14, and have now charged him with murder.

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.

Detective Chief Inspector Steven Thomas said his thoughts were with the family and friends of Lilly.

He said: “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.”

Thomas further said that scene examinations would continue and a cordon would remain in place.

The small South Wales valley town, near Abertillery, was in shock when police revealed Lilly had been found dead.

School friends were sent home early and girls were seen crying and hugging each other in the street.

Lilly had first been reported missing on Saturday after failing to return home from a trip to the high street.

But her body was found just 50 yards from the town’s bowls club, which had opened up to give refreshments to the search parties.

The tragic discovery was also just 500 yards from Lilly’s family home.

Parts of Pilgrims Park, which is adjacent to the A467 in Blaina, were cordoned off after the body was discovered.

Floral tributes were left close to the scene by members of the public.

Mum-of-two Katy Bennett, 44, said: “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.”

Her family and friends had been making desperate pleas for the teenager to come home while the desperate search was ongoing.

Lilly’s distraught mother, nail technician Gemma Jones, put out an appeal saying she was hoping her daughter had gone to Cardiff.

Neighbour Wayne Edwards said: “The whole town is devastated, not just people who knew Lilly and her family but everyone.

“I used to see her out playing in the street but over the last few years she would be out with her friends.

“The search for her was huge, the helicopter was circling all day and drones were flying. It’s tragic that she was found so close.”

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Steven Thomas of Gwent Police, previously 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.”

He added: “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 offence, to justice.”

The force urged anyone with information about the case to come forward by calling them on 101, quoting 2600197059 or contacting them online.

The independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously.