The disappearance of April Jones, aged five, generated a large amount of national and international press coverage.
At 7:29 p.m., having been unable to find her daughter, Coral dialled 999 to report April missing and summoned an officer from the Dyfed–Powys Police.
Scores of civilians, some alerted by social networks, joined in the search, with the number swelling into the hundreds by the early morning hours of 2 October.
[12] The following day, Prime Minister David Cameron also issued an appeal to the public, commenting that "clearly having this happen to you, and the fact that she suffers from cerebral palsy, something I know a little about from my own children, only makes this worse.
He became a suspect in the case because he matched a description of the man and the vehicle, a left-hand drive Land Rover Discovery which an eyewitness had seen April entering following a conversation with the driver.
He was remanded into custody and held at HMP Manchester pending an appearance at Caernarfon Crown Court, which occurred on 10 October via videolink.
[27][28] On 14 January 2013, at Mold Crown Court, Bridger pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering April Jones, but accepted that he was "probably responsible" for her death.
[29] The trial was to begin on 25 February at Mold Crown Court, but it was adjourned until 29 April at the request of Bridger's defence team in order to make further inquiries.
[31] Bridger's work history was varied; he had been an abattoir worker, hotel porter, fireman, lifeguard, mechanic, and welder.
[35] A scientific expert told the court that fragments of human bone consistent with a "younger individual" had been found in the fireplace of Bridger's cottage.
In his defence, Bridger claimed that he had accidentally run over April in his car and could not remember disposing of her body due to being under the influence of alcohol and being in a state of panic.
[48][49] On 4 August 2014, it was announced that Mark Bridger's cottage in Ceinws, where April is believed to have been killed, had been purchased by the Welsh Government for £149,000.