Hazel Jones, the older sister of murdered five-year-old April Jones, has spoken publicly about the enduring trauma her family has faced since April's abduction and murder in 2012. In an interview, the 31-year-old mother of three described how the tragedy has shaped her life and raised fears for her own children's safety.
April was snatched from the street in Machynlleth, Wales, on 1 October 2012, while playing on her pink bike near her home. The case sparked a massive search involving police resources and thousands of volunteers. Her body was never found, but Mark Bridger was convicted of her sexually motivated murder and abduction, and is serving a life sentence.
Hazel, who was 18 and pregnant at the time, gave birth to her daughter Amelia just weeks after April's death. She recalled the bittersweet moment when her father and stepmother saw the newborn: 'They were just shocked because she looked like April.' The resemblance made her grief harder to bear, she said.
Now a mother to Amelia, 12, Ethan, nine, and Hefin, six, Hazel admitted she struggles with anxiety about letting her children grow up. 'After April I'm petrified to let my kids go out and grow up,' she said. 'The world we live in is literally so scary.' She added that she believes Bridger deserves to 'suffer' after being attacked in prison last year.
Hazel also reflected on the day of April's disappearance, rushing to be with her father Paul and the rest of the family. The trauma, she said, affects how she raises her children, as she fears the dangers of the world. 'My daughter is coming to the age of 13... I don't know how I'm meant to let her grow up,' she said.
