14-Year-Old Arrested: Shocking Discovery Near Family Home

Lilly’s family has been informed of the discovery (Picture: Gwent Police/PA)

A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a schoolgirl was found in parkland just 500 yards from her family home.

Gwent Police have now launched a murder investigation after finding missing Lily’s body in the Duffryn Park area of Blaina, Wales at around 10.10pm on Monday.

A 14-year-old boy, from the Blaenau Gwent area, has been arrested and is being held in police custody.

Formal identification has yet to take place but the family of the missing schoolgirl have been informed.

Lilly, 14, from Blaina, was last seen on the High Street in the town at around 6.50pm on Saturday, June 20.

A witness said they saw her near a kebab shop and appeared to be waiting for someone.

She said: ‘I told her that she looked lovely. She crossed over and walked through the church yard’.

Lilly’s mum launched a desperate appeal over the weekend, saying: ‘Please bring my baby back home.’

Police have cordoned off Pilgrims Park, Blaina, where the body was found (Picture: Media Wales)

A relative added: ‘Lilly please come home, my girl, I promise you’re not in any trouble.

‘If someone is holding Lilly against her will, I can’t express how important it is for you to let her go. We won’t stop looking for her until we find her so please bring her home.’

Detectives had described her as white, around 5ft 6ins tall, with a medium build and long black hair.

At that time she was said to have been wearing a long black dress and black sandals.

The murder has been referred to the police watchdog, IOPC ‘in line with normal procedures’.

Detective Chief Inspector Steven Thomas 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.

‘I’m asking anyone with information to please come and speak with us, you can do this in person, or you can contact us on the usual channels.

‘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.’

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