IN 2001, 15-year-old Danielle Jones went missing as she made her way to school.
Here we take a look into the tragic disappearance and death of the teenager.
Danielle Jones vanished in 2001 when she was just 15-years-old
Who was Danielle Jones and what happened to her?
Danielle Jones was just 15 years old when she disappeared in Tilbury, Essex.
In June 2001, Danielle, who was born to parents Linda and Tony, left to catch a bus to school.
Tragically, the family of the teenager never saw her again.
Danielle’s mother Linda was later left panicked after her daughter’s school informed her that she had not turned up to any lessons – something Linda described as ‘”out of character” for the schoolgirl.
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After a couple of hours went by, the worried mum made the decision to contact the police.
At the same time, Danielle’s father Tony went to his sister Debbie’s house – this was also the residence of Stuart Campbell.
Campbell was Danielle’s uncle, after becoming involved with Debbie.
Debbie was 15 when the two met and the pair lived together for 13 years before marrying in August 1998.
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Danielle, then aged 12, was one of their bridesmaids during their nuptials.
On the night of her disappearance, and for the next week that followed, a search for Danielle took place.
Family and friends scoured the Tilbury area in search of the schoolgirl.
However, one person not present in the search was Campbell – Danielle’s uncle through marriage.
How was killer Stuart Campbell caught?
Campbell’s clear lack of interest in Danielle’s disappearance sparked suspicion among both her family and the officers assigned to investigate the case.
As a result, investigating officers made the decision to run a background check on him.
While running a background check on the schoolgirl’s uncle, police discovered a previous conviction of abducting a 14-year-old girl a year earlier.
Campbell had received a suspended prison sentence.
He informed his wife that he had been cleared of the offence and managed to keep it hidden from the rest of his family.
It was also discovered that he had also posed as a glamour photographer to lure young girls to his house, where he’d then take inappropriate pictures of them.
At the time Danielle went missing, Campbell said he was at a DIY shop which was located half and hour away.
However, five days after Danielle disappeared, police arrested Campbell.
And while a lack of evidence meant that investigating officers were forced to release him on bail, over the next few months police began building a strong case against him.
Evidence discovered included hand written notes to his “Princess” found in Danielle’s pencil case, a sex bag of lingerie, handcuffs and – crucially – a pair of blood stained white, hold-ups that contained traces of Danielle’s DNA.
Phone records were also found that disproved Campbell’s alibi that he had been at a DIY shop when Danielle went missing.
In August 2001, he was arrested for the kidnap and murder of Danielle.
Campbell was sentenced to life in 2002 after he was convicted by a majority verdict.
At the time he was told he would serve at least 20 years.
What happened to Danielle Jones’ body?
Killer Campbell has never revealed where the body of the schoolgirl is.
In June 2021, the family of Danielle Jones appealed to her killer to reveal where he hid her body.
Relatives of the 15-year-old joined police officers to make an emotional plea on what was the 20th anniversary of Danielle’s death.
Danielle’s mum Linda said she hoped Campbell would “do the right thing and allow us to lay our darling daughter to rest”.
Essex Police said: “Danielle’s never left the thoughts of all of us.”
Linda, who campaigned for Helen’s Law, which prevents killers from getting parole if they hide the location of a body, believes he shouldn’t be allowed out until he tells the family where Danielle’s remains are.
She said: “If he does one decent thing in his life, it should be to give us our daughter back and let her have a proper burial. It’s the least of the justice she deserves.
“Stuart Campbell has destroyed our whole family.
“But if he could do the decent thing, and give her body back to us, it could save us all so many more years of torment.”
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