One element that puzzled the people living at Bryn-y-Gog was why no one had seen the vehicle on the estate. If there had been a strange car or van cruising around they would have spotted it, they said. At the same time, they said, they could not believe a local person could have done such a thing.
Behind the scenes the police inquiry was continuing. It is understood that as early as Monday evening they had someone, a local man, whom they wanted to speak to. He drove a vehicle similar to the one believed to have been involved in April's abduction.
On Tuesday a press conference was called. People thought April's family would attend. Before they could get to the conference room at Aberystwyth, a local man, aged 46, was arrested as he walked near Machynlleth. Within minutes police said the development was "significant" but urged people to keep looking for April. As night fell the search continued.