Danielle Jones murder: Garages searched for schoolgirl’s body

Detectives are searching garages for the body of 15-year-old Danielle Jones – 16 years after failing to act on a tip-off about the same location.

The Essex teenager was last seen alive on 18 June 2001 as she left her home in East Tilbury, Thurrock, to catch a bus to school.

Her uncle Stuart Campbell was convicted of her murder in December 2002, but her body has never been found.

Since February this year, detectives have been examining new information received in connection to the case.

A search is under way at a block of garages in Stifford Clays, Thurrock.

Officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate (SCD) have not ruled out Danielle’s body being buried there.

Information related to the site was received by investigators at the time of Danielle’s disappearance – but the garages were never searched.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Worron, head of the SCD, told Sky Correspondent Joe Tidy: "Earlier this year we received some information regarding some activity involving a male in a garage area. Today we’ve commenced a search of that area to do all we can.

"What I can confirm is that despite the fact that over 1,000 garages were searched within Thurrock, that particular garage area was not subject to a search.

"We’re working to understand why that search wasn’t completed but on that basis it’s really important to me that we undertake a thorough and professional search of the area."

Mr Worron said: "Danielle’s disappearance in 2001 and the subsequent murder investigation was one of the biggest cases Essex Police had dealt with at the time.

"Over the course of the investigation more than 750 police officers and staff worked tirelessly to find out for her family what happened to Danielle.

"To date Stuart Campbell has shown no remorse for his crime and has not told police or Danielle’s family where her body is.

"We received information earlier this year that there had been unusual activity in the garage block around the time of Danielle’s disappearance.

"We are following a credible line of enquiry in respect of this garage block.

"I am absolutely committed to conducting a thorough and professional search to see if we can bring the Jones family any closer to knowing what happened to Danielle."

Danielle’s parents. Linda and Tony Jones, said: "We are extremely grateful that the police are following up this information and we know they are determined to do whatever they can to find Danielle.

"We think about Danielle every day and we hope that this latest search may bring us answers to what happened to her."

Anyone with information can contact Stanway Major Investigation Room on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

(c) Sky News 2017: Danielle Jones murder: Garages searched for schoolgirl’s body