Deceased/Not Found UK - April Jones, 5, Machynlleth, Wales, 1 Oct 2012 #4 *M. Bridger guilty*

[veggiefan]

Could someone please help me with my bearings so I understand the proximity of the River Dulas to the River Dyfi, for instance how long would it take to walk from one to the other.

It's about 3 miles from Ceinws to the point where the Dulas enters the Dyfi (close to the Millenium Footbridge). It is all downhill and, depending on the route taken, would probably take a fit man 45 minutes to one hour.

 

[veggiefan]

why would he speed briskly towards town centre when the risk of being stopped is higher?

I think the 70 year old's description of the vehicle heading for the town centre is just an assumption on his part.

Since he could see the garages and the children, he must live in the centre of the Bryn-Y-Gog estate, in which case all he could have seen was the vehicle apparently leaving the estate. After it had disappeared from view he would not have been able to see whether it then turned west to head into town, or east to head out into the countryside.

 

[Elainera]

From today:
"The police chief leading the hunt said officers would now concentrate on a 23-square-mile area around Ceinws where ex-lifeguard and abattoir worker Mark Bridger, 46, rented a house."

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/351985/April-Jones-hunt-switched

I think that's a good move.

I think the most likely scenario is that MB brought April to his home. There, something happened, or he did something to her, which resulted in her death. Meantime the whole village of Machynlleth was on their feet to search for April throughout the night. Driving around in his car with her body seems unlikely to me. His car had troubles, was unreliable and noisy, he would have drawn attention to himself. Therefore I think it is most likely that he carried her and hid her somewhere not very far from his house in Ceinws.

 

[Elainera]

I think the 70 year old's description of the vehicle heading for the town centre is just an assumption on his part.

Since he could see the garages and the children, he must live in the centre of the Bryn-Y-Gog estate, in which case all he could have seen was the vehicle apparently leaving the estate. He would not have been able to see whether it then turned west to head into town, or east to head out into the countryside.

Is Ceinws in the general direction of where that car was headed?

 

[veggiefan]

Is Ceinws in the general direction of where that car was headed?

The choices on leaving the estate are west (into town) or east (into the countryside). You can get to Ceinws (which is north of the estate, on the other side of the River Dyfi) either way. The obvious and much shorter route is through the town centre and across the Dyfi bridge, but the much longer ("back") way would carry far less risk of being seen by either people or CCTV.

 

[Elainera]

The choices on leaving the estate are west (into town) or east (into the countryside). You can get to Ceinws (which is north of the estate, on the other side of the River Dyfi) either way. The obvious and much shorter route is through the town centre and across the Dyfi bridge, but the much longer ("back") way would carry far less risk of being seen by either people or CCTV.

Right. Thanks! I have now also (finally) been able to find all that on a map. Must admit the Welsh names give me a bit trouble, I literally have to go letter by letter.

Ok so here's my question: one day after April's disappearance they arrested MB. They immediately started to search his house in Ceinws. Why didn't they also immediately start looking for her in that area (around Ceinws)? Why do they only start now? What made them think she's more likely somewhere around Machynlleth?

 

[PADDYWHACK]

I really cant imagine this man if guilty wont tell police her whereabouts, I dont think he has the bottle to keep this to himself but thats just my personal opinion

I agree with you. MB, is quite clearly not a psychopath as he broke down in tears in court. My opinion is, is something far more tangled is going on here and may even involve the Jones family.

 

[PADDYWHACK]

On the 2nd of Oct this was put up on April's Facebook page

"UPDATEolice searching for missing schoolgirl April Jones have confirmed they are looking at possible links between April's abduction and a suspected attempt last week."

 

[veggiefan]

Ok so here's my question: one day after April's disappearance they arrested MB. They immediately started to search his house in Ceinws. Why didn't they also immediately start looking for her in that area (around Ceinws)?

They did. They first started searching the banks of the Dulas just a couple of hours after he was arrested:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/april-jones-missing-how-the-search-1357441

(6.40pm: It is understood that searches are now taking place along the stretch of road [A487]. ... Police [and] coastguard teams are also searching the banks of the River Dulas.)

Why do they only start now?

I think they are now going over areas that have already been searched, in the hope of finding something that was missed.

 

[Elainera]

They did. They first started searching the banks of the Dulas just a couple of hours after he was arrested:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/april-jones-missing-how-the-search-1357441

(6.40pm: It is understood that searches are now taking place along the stretch of road [A487]. ... Police [and] coastguard teams are also searching the banks of the River Dulas.)

I think they are now going over areas that have already been searched, in the hope of finding something that was missed.

But still, it seems the stronger focus of the search efforts has so far been in Machynlleth. I wonder why. Maybe they had people calling in thinking they saw something suspicious and they mostly were from that area?

 

[Elainera]

On the 2nd of Oct this was put up on April's Facebook page

"UPDATEolice searching for missing schoolgirl April Jones have confirmed they are looking at possible links between April's abduction and a suspected attempt last week."

Maybe when three kids entered that van?

 

[Sarah]

The choices on leaving the estate are west (into town) or east (into the countryside). You can get to Ceinws (which is north of the estate, on the other side of the River Dyfi) either way. The obvious and much shorter route is through the town centre and across the Dyfi bridge, but the much longer ("back") way would carry far less risk of being seen by either people or CCTV.

The "back" way would also be a logical choice if driving a malfunctioning car IMHO.
Less traffic, no traffic lights - therefore more chance of a clean run without having to stop and start.
Combined with the absence of CCTV footage my money's on this being the route taken (assuming that it was indeed MB and he was heading towards home at that point).
If we surmise that something may have happened to April en route, does anyone know how much of the search effort has been focused around these roads?

 

[PADDYWHACK]

Oct 2nd:

April Jones was playing with friends near her home in Machynlleth but was seen getting into a grey or light coloured van at 19:00 BST on Monday.

Oct 1st:

Sunset 18.37

It would have been dark at 7pm. What is the street lighting like near the houses and especially the garages?

 

[Clio]

Looking at google maps, the "back way" seems to mean taking the A489 eastwards from the estate then the B4404 crossing the river Dyfi at what seems to be called the Llanwrin or Jubilee Bridge. It looks like it's possible to get from the estate to Mount Pleasant Cottage avoiding the use of the A487 entirely. Would a local be able to confirm if that's the case?

Map attached.

 

[Sarah]

It would have been dark at 7pm. What is the street lighting like near the houses and especially the garages?

I don't think that it would have been fully dark at that point in time.
Civil twilight generally lasts until half hour to 40 minutes after the official sunset time, and at 7pm streetlights would probably have not even been turned on.

From http://www.roe.ac.uk/info/srss.html

Sunrise and sunset times are NOT the same as lighting up times. Street lamps in the UK are generally come on about half an hour after sunset and turn off about half an hour prior to sunrise.

Of course, weather conditions also play a part.
I live some way South East of Machynlleth, but on that Monday we had clear skies. I was walking the dog at about 7pm and while it was "dusky", I wouldn't have described it as really dark.

 

[agme28]

Hi, this is my first post, I have been following the April Jones threads all week with interest though.

One thing I would like to add is that the Jones family are denying that little April had been playing in the suspect's vehicle just days prior to her disappearance and that these are supposedly allegations made by reporters. How they can be sure of this I don't know but this message was put on the FB page of ED's sister on 4th October, encouraging people to share it.

 

[PADDYWHACK]

I don't think that it would have been fully dark at that point in time.
Civil twilight generally lasts until half hour to 40 minutes after the official sunset time, and at 7pm streetlights would probably have not even been turned on.

From http://www.roe.ac.uk/info/srss.html




Of course, weather conditions also play a part.
I live some way South East of Machynlleth, but on that Monday we had clear skies. I was walking the dog at about 7pm and while it was "dusky", I wouldn't have described it as really dark.

Thank you, I googled the estate to view the garages, there are many white vans and cars parked, but google maps can be dated. I noted no street lamps in the vicinity of the garages.

 

[PADDYWHACK]

I wonder if the police have pulled up the manhole covers?

 

[Clio]

I wonder if the police have pulled up the manhole covers?

They were doing that near Mount Pleasant as far back as Thursday 4th. See 15:36 in the link.

Police searching for missing five-year-old April Jones have been scouring a house lived in by the man arrested in connection with her disappearance.
.....
Manhole covers and concrete slabs were also being lifted up and checked as the search for April seemed to enter a more sombre phase.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/04/april-jones-search-continues-live

 

[Clutchbag]

:

Thank you, I googled the estate to view the garages, there are many white vans and cars parked, but google maps can be dated. I noted no street lamps in the vicinity of the garages.

Can they also be timed?