THE FATHER of murdered schoolgirl April Jones had tragically died – 12 years on from his daughter’s heinous abduction.
Paul Jones, 55, died in hospital after a long battle with a brain disease he contracted in 2018 – six years afterwhile playing outside in Machynlleth, Wales in 2012.
The five-year-old’s disappearance shocked the nation and a manhunt led to the arrest of evil
Fragments of bone from a human skull were found in Bridger’s fireplace.
The vile killer was found guilty ofApril’s abduction and murder and jailed for life.
Despite one of the biggest searches in police history, April’s body was never found and cops think Bridger disposed of her remains in the countryside near his home.
Paul, a fitness enthusiast, had been training for a triathlon when he contracted encephalitis.
In the years leading up to his death he stayed in a specialist hospital unit in Swansea, south Wales.
Paul’s step-daughter, Jazz Jones, announced his tragic passing on Tuesday.
She said: “It is with broken hearts that my brother and I wish to let people know our dad (Paul Jones) passed away early hours this morning. It was very unexpected and we are all in shock.
“Harley and myself will update people with further information as we know more but please give us our privacy to mourn our loss.”;;
Jazz previously made headlines when she said that she never wanted to know what did to April.
She said: “When you lose someone anyway, it’s an emotional time but losing someone like this where you don’t know what’s happened, you haven’t got anything to bury, you haven’t got anything to say goodbye to, your entire world just falls apart.
“At first I was really angry because I just wanted to say goodbye.
“But then, I got to the point when I was like, he’s never gonna say anything so I don’t know why I’m keeping my hopes up ... there’s no point in giving ... my time or energy about it. It’s just not worth it.”;;
April vanished on October 1, 2012, when she was last seen getting into a stranger’s car near .
Local and national papers reported on her disappearance, whilst police scoured the surrounding area but the youngster was never found.
David Cameron even made an appeal, whilst a search efforts continued in Wales.
Bridger, who was 46-years-old at the time, was arrested just a day after her disappearance – since he matched the description of the mysterious driver.
On January 14, 2013, he pled not guilty to a slew of charges including child abduction, murder and perverting the course of justice.
However, he did admit that he was “probably responsible”;; for April’s death.
When fragments of bone and traces of blood matching April’s DNA were found at his home, Bridger changed his story.
He claimed that he had hit April with his car and, being intoxicated, could not remember dumping her body.
However, he was found guilty of abduction, murder and perverting the course of justice and was handed a whole life sentence.
The severity of his crime led to the toughening sentences for sex offenders.
