Paul Jones, Father of Murdered Schoolgirl April Jones, Dies Aged 56

Paul Jones, the father of murdered five-year-old schoolgirl April Jones, has died at the age of 56, leaving his family and the wider community heartbroken. His daughter’s tragic case shocked the nation in 2012 and led to the largest police search in British history.

Paul passed away in the early hours of Monday morning. He had been living in a specialist care home in Swansea after suffering from encephalitis – a serious illness that causes inflammation of the brain – which badly affected his memory in 2018.

His daughter, Jazz Jones, confirmed the sad news on Facebook.

“It is with broken hearts that my brother and I wish to let people know our dad (Paul Jones) passed away in the early hours of this morning. It was very unexpected and we are all in shock.”

Paul’s health declined significantly following his encephalitis diagnosis. During recovery, his memory loss was so severe that he reportedly forgot that his daughter April had been murdered. According to her mother Coral Jones, she had to painfully explain to Paul all over again what had happened.

“He broke down,” Coral said in an earlier interview. “It was like reliving it all over again.”

April was abducted outside her home in Machynlleth, mid Wales, in October 2012 by Mark Bridger, a convicted paedophile. Despite weeks of searching and community efforts, only fragments of her remains were ever recovered – some found in Bridger’s fireplace. Her blood was also found in several parts of his cottage, suggesting a horrific attempt to cover up the crime.

Bridger was arrested and, in 2013, was sentenced to a whole-life term for April’s kidnap and murder. He has never admitted to the crime nor revealed where the rest of April’s body was hidden. Evidence also showed he had viewed indecent images of children, including photos of April and other local girls.

Paul and Coral’s marriage withstood the immense strain of losing their daughter, but Paul’s illness in later years was a devastating blow to the family. The couple eventually separated in 2019.

Speaking after his death, Coral said:

“How much more can my family take? I’ve already lost my daughter and now I have lost my soulmate and my rock. Paul is the only person who truly understood the pain I’ve felt.”

The family has received an outpouring of support from people across the UK, many of whom still remember April’s story with sadness and anger. Her case remains one of the most heartbreaking crimes in recent British memory.