Deceased/Not Found UK - April Jones, 5, Machynlleth, Wales, 1 Oct 2012 #7 *M. Bridger guilty*

[Cherwell]

The images are three years old, so some things may have changed. It's not clear what that area is used for; there are a number of buildings in the yard. Perhaps one of the locals can enlighten us.

 

[frommer]

There was some speculation earlier about whether there was more than one person in the car/van at the time of the abduction, because MH allegedly said that AJ "knew them". Personally I have often used the word them instead of him or her if I didn't know whether the person was male of female, as in for example "there was someone there but it was dark so I don't know if I knew them". So I don't think this is too significant.

Interesting though is the quote from Amy Fenner about the children having been in MB's vehicle before:

http://www.independent.ie/world-new...rover-two-days-before-kidnapping-3248571.html

Neighbour Amy Fenner, 21, said: "It's not the first time they have been in his vehicle. They had got into the van two days before the abduction."

The father-of-six, who has an ex-wife and three former partners living in Machynlleth, fathering six children, is being interviewed by police following his arrest on suspicion of April's abduction yesterday afternoon.

His former partner Elaine Dafydd, who lives close to April's home, has another daughter, E, aged four, by her new partner. E was with April when Mr Bridger offered them a ride in his Land Rover last week.

Miss Fenner said: "April was playing with her friends E, M, S and C and it has come out that they have been in the van before.

"They drove them down the road from the estate and chatted with them. I don't know if it was just the three little girls who rode in the van or some of their other friends as well."

See how she talks about his (MB's) vehicle but they drove them down the road.

She also refers to the vehicle as being a van.

 

[Cherwell]

It's all hearsay, though, isn't it? It sounds as though this woman wasn't even there.

"I don't know if it was just the three little girls who rode in the van or some of their other friends as well."

 

[jigzy]

I took another virtual walk around the the (Police cordoned-off) quarry area I linked to in post #351 and saw that if a person was going back to town on foot from the quarry area they would probably take a short cut via this steep shaley patch to get down onto the minor road that leads down the valley to Mach. Now THIS looks familiar. I think this is where CS and her friend saw the man with the black bag.

http://goo.gl/maps/eAlRO

2nd image here looks like it, and 3rd image shows a tree in similar position, imo:
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...ck-bag-sighting-91466-31974005/#ixzz29BxClfPe

 

[LegallyBrunette]

The images are three years old, so some things may have changed. It's not clear what that area is used for; there are a number of buildings in the yard. Perhaps one of the locals can enlighten us.

In the google pics there is a sign for a furniture business on one of the outbuildings, sign is still there as you can see it in the photos when police were searching there. Whether the business is still there is another point.


Not sure how old this advert is :-

£169,995

3 bedroom character property for sale Mount Pleasant Ceinws, SY20 9HA
Pleasantly situated detached centrally heated cottage with fairly extensive grounds occupying a slightly elevated location overlooking the beautiful valley and hills beyond.
snapshot of the page as it appeared on 11 Oct 2012 08:53:38 GMT
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-15976395.html
______________________
Property type: Terraced | Tenure: Freehold | Last sale: £149,950 | Sale date: 20th Mar 2008 - Previous sales
Property type: Terraced | Tenure: Freehold | Previous sale: £70,000 | Sale date: 30th Apr 2004

This 3 bed freehold house is located at Mount Pleasant, Ceinws, Machynlleth SY20 9HA and has an estimated current value of £131,542. Ceinws has 47 properties on it with a average current value of £135,463, compared to an average property value of £143,313 for SY20. There have been 3 property sales on Ceinws, SY20 over the last 5 years with an average house price paid of £138,316 and this house was last sold on 20th Mar 2008 for £149,950. There are currently 17 properties for sale in SY20 with an average asking price of £223,874 and 6 properties to rent in SY20 with an average asking rent of £130 pw
http://www.zoopla.co.uk/property/mount-pleasant/ceinws/machynlleth/sy20-9ha/23550791

 

[LegallyBrunette]

It's all hearsay, though, isn't it? It sounds as though this woman wasn't even there.

"I don't know if it was just the three little girls who rode in the van or some of their other friends as well."

Amy' sister, Vicki was also quoted about this, as we know she was MB's most recent ex.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

I took another virtual walk around the the (Police cordoned-off) quarry area I linked to in post #351 and saw that if a person was going back to town on foot from the quarry area they would probably take a short cut via this steep shaley patch to get down onto the minor road that leads down the valley to Mach. Now THIS looks familiar. I think this is where CS and her friend saw the man with the black bag.

http://goo.gl/maps/eAlRO

2nd image here looks like it, and 3rd image shows a tree in similar position, imo:
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...ck-bag-sighting-91466-31974005/#ixzz29BxClfPe

Well done !

 

[LegallyBrunette]

Found this answer to a question someone asked yesterday-

2 Oct 2012.
April's godmother, Mair Raftree, said April's parents got married recently, and added: "She's got a sister called J....., she's 16, and she's got a brother called H...... I'm not sure if he's nine or 10.

"J......... was at the leisure centre last night until quite late. She was thanking everybody for their support. It's quite difficult for them as well, knowing that she's out there with somebody. They want her back as well."

http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobil...51?_=b5b6201ec97d551a2a4a5a4a216709db61529caa

 

[LegallyBrunette]

The sister's version - (edited article to shorten)
3 Oct 2012

The best friend of snatched April Jones begged her not to get into the van in which she was driven off by a kidnapper.

As police and neighbours last night continued the hunt for the missing five-year-old, an RAF search and rescue helicopter was scrambled to a “very specific *location” at short notice with police on board.

Mum-of-two Vicky Fenner told how the two close friends had been playing together when the kidnapper struck.

The 25-year-old added: “The two girls went out together and we’ve been told by the seven-year-old that April got into a vehicle parked behind the garages.

<modsnip>
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/april-jones-missing-friend-begged-1357238

 

[Amber34]

I took another virtual walk around the the (Police cordoned-off) quarry area I linked to in post #351 and saw that if a person was going back to town on foot from the quarry area they would probably take a short cut via this steep shaley patch to get down onto the minor road that leads down the valley to Mach. Now THIS looks familiar. I think this is where CS and her friend saw the man with the black bag.

http://goo.gl/maps/eAlRO

2nd image here looks like it, and 3rd image shows a tree in similar position, imo:
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...ck-bag-sighting-91466-31974005/#ixzz29BxClfPe

By jove, I think you have it. Well done.

So, where would CS and her friend have been standing having a chat? Where were they going to/coming from? It's not exactly an open landscape, so they must have been close by. Did they meet in passing or were out on a walk? It's certainly the sort of lane I walk with friends when we are making an attempt at taking some exercise.

 

[veggiefan]

Not sure how old this advert is

Thanks to the Wayback Machine we can see that the advert was in place in August 2010. The following URL gives further property details, including pictures of the interior, and also provides the information that there is "a small parking area". No outbuildings are mentioned, so I don't think those are part of the property. Possibly they are rented separately.

http://web.archive.org/web/20100811071132/http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-15976395.html?thumbnailId=5

 

[veggiefan]

By jove, I think you have it. Well done.

I agree.

So, where would CS and her friend have been standing having a chat?

The river is just to the left of the lane in the first picture. The women were reportedly on the other side of the river. Just beyond the river the land rises to a bend in the A487 (nowhere near the bus stop, though), from which the shale bank might be visible as it is some feet above the river, but there are a lot of trees and undergrowth in the way. I think it is more likely that they would have had to be on the riverbank to see anything.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

Thanks to the Wayback Machine we can see that the advert was in place in August 2010. The following URL gives further property details, including pictures of the interior, and also provides the information that there is "a small parking area". No outbuildings are mentioned, so I don't think those are part of the property. Possibly they are rented separately.

http://web.archive.org/web/20100811071132/http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-15976395.html?thumbnailId=5

Very interesting.
You have to feel for the poor owner, has it empty for several years, finally decides to rent it and weeks later this happens.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

Re 'Mount Pleasant', Ceinws-

Vivian Williams Jones, 68, a long-time resident, said the farmhouse, called Mount Pleasant, had been empty for several years before Mr Bridger took it.

He said he knew he had moved to the house about one month ago because the owner came down to rent it out.

&#8220;It used to belong to a sailor called Nelson who lived there for years with his mother




Dorothy, Isabella and Nelson Johnstone, about 1930. They lived at Mount Pleasant, Ceinws [ formerly Esgairgeiliog grist mill]

Mount Pleasant is one of the oldest houses in Ceinws, Esgairgeiliog. It was formerly the Miller's house for Esgairgeiliog grist mill.

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...er-search-focus-91466-31967488/#ixzz2AUt6Kw6K

http://www.peoplescollectionwales.co.uk/Item/Printable/42297

 

[veggiefan]

Very interesting.
You have to feel for the poor owner, has it empty for several years, finally decides to rent it and weeks later this happens.

Absolutely - and he's going to find it very difficult to rent in future. In fact, I remember that the houses of Ian Huntley and Fred West ended up being demolished.

I thought it was odd that he bought it as a holiday cottage and then never used it because it was too far from London. We often drive up to the area from London - under 5 hours including two breaks, which doesn't strike me as being all that far for a holiday.

The locals are rightly opposed to houses being bought by Londoners as second homes, or as buy-to-lets, as it pushes up prices beyond the reach of many who live in the area.

 

[LegallyBrunette]

Absolutely - and he's going to find it very difficult to rent in future. In fact, I remember that the houses of Ian Huntley and Fred West ended up being demolished.

I thought it was odd that he bought it as a holiday cottage and then never used it because it was too far from London. We often drive up to the area from London - under 5 hours including two breaks, which doesn't strike me as being all that far for a holiday.

The locals are rightly opposed to houses being bought by Londoners as second homes, or as buy-to-lets, as it pushes up prices beyond the reach of many who live in the area.

Agree - same thing happens here, Southern Highlands about 1-1/2 hr drive from Sydney CBD, suddenly became trendy, now property values are well into millions, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have a property down there, paid $6.5 mill.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/kidmans-notsourban-homestead/2009/03/27/1237657143636.html

I suppose what happens with Mt Pleasant may depend on the evidence that comes out at trial.

 

[greenpalm]

…

I suppose what happens with Mt Pleasant may depend on the evidence that comes out at trial.

Perhaps an author with romantic notions about crime.

 

[TulipaNoir]

I agree.



The river is just to the left of the lane in the first picture. The women were reportedly on the other side of the river. Just beyond the river the land rises to a bend in the A487 (nowhere near the bus stop, though), from which the shale bank might be visible as it is some feet above the river, but there are a lot of trees and undergrowth in the way. I think it is more likely that they would have had to be on the riverbank to see anything.

Did the volunteer search party already start on Tuesday morning. Were the two ladies part of the search party perhaps?

 

[jigzy]

By jove, I think you have it. Well done.

So, where would CS and her friend have been standing having a chat? Where were they going to/coming from? It's not exactly an open landscape, so they must have been close by. Did they meet in passing or were out on a walk? It's certainly the sort of lane I walk with friends when we are making an attempt at taking some exercise.

People were out looking for him specifically at that point as the left hand drive thing was made public earlier in the day. CS lives on Bryn Y Gog estate - waaaaay too far for just walking with a friend, imo. I think she and friend were searching - as were ALL the people for MILES amd MILES. I can't express the extent of public participation in this from around 8pm Monday evening (1st Oct). On Tuesday when CS saw the man with a black bag, searches were being carried out all over the town and surrounding area. She was searching (and happened to be chatting to her friend when the man appeared on the shale) and not out for a walk.
jmo

 

[jigzy]

Driving near the coast here in Wales at sundown this evening, and a car was waiting to join the other carriageway opposite me - it looked grey at the sides as it had a fine coating of dust and the only light coming from the sky was such that it picked up the dust colour only. As it turned I could see that it was metallic dark blue. So this colour COULD POSSIBLY look grey just at sundown, but certainly not white, imo.

Drove down A487 after this just as it became dark. Road closed through Ceinws and down that side of the valley. Access for local residents and business only.
On the whole LE presence in Mach (that I saw) this evening consisted of 4 police vehicles - one a minibus of police, but search centre (sports centre) was quiet - but this was after it went dark. Not sure if searches are carried out at weekends now. River level v low.

Drove around Bryn Y Gog estate. Distance from A's house to garages is much shorter in real life than looks on streetview. Actually not far at all. Unsurprisingly, no children around at all. The streetlight is an older coloured orange one.