Missing walker found dead in 'dense woodland' after major search, inquest hears

A missing walker was found dead in "dense woodland" five days after a huge search was launched to find her, an inquest heard. Joanne Jones, 49, sparked an alert when she failed to return home on Monday, October 21.

An inquest opening at Pontypridd Coroner's Court was told police launched a "high risk" missing person search and Mrs Jones was last seen hiking towards a beauty spot forest. She had been dressed in walking boots, a raincoat, and rucksack as she headed along a steep road and appeared to wave to a car in one of her last sightings captured on camera.

Dozens of volunteers joined specialist officers using horses, drones and dogs, as well as mountain rescue teams as they scoured fields and hills. But the inquest was told that despite their efforts Mrs Jones was found dead in dense woodland on Saturday, October 26.

The hearing was told Mrs Jones had been suffering with stress but her husband Nick had "no concerns" when he left the marital home for work at 7.30am on Monday morning. Coroner's officer Keeley Mason said: "Later that afternoon he returned home and located a note left in the bedroom. He contacted police and a high risk missing persons investigation was commenced. At approximated 6.30pm on October 26 officers located Mrs Jones in a dense woodland."

The hearing was told her provisional cause of death was given as 1a) partial suspension by ligature around the neck pending toxicology. Coroner Graeme Hughes said there was reason to believe her death was "unnatural" and said a full inquest would take place.

He said: "While those investigations continue I'm going to adjourn this opening hearing, passing my condolences to Mrs Jones' family and friends." In a Facebook statement following her death, husband Nick's band, Welsh rock group Sister Morphine, said they were "devastated" and would take a break.

In a Facebook post, they said: "We are devastated that Joanne Jones, wife of Sister Morphine guitarist Nick, has passed away, aged just 49. Understandably, music and social media matters must take a back seat as we rally around our bandmate at this unimaginably sad time. Thanks to all who have messaged us, and to those in the local community that devoted time to the search for Jo."

At the time a South Wales Police spokesperson said: “Officers searching for 49-year-old Joanne Jones, who has been missing from her home in Pontypridd since Monday located the body of a woman on Saturday evening. She has been formally identified as Joanne Jones.

“Next of kin and HM Coroner have been informed. Joanne’s family have expressed their gratitude to all the agencies and members of the local community who have helped to find her over the past week. They now request privacy so they can begin to come to terms with their loss.”

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Hampton said: “I want to express my sympathies to Joanne’s family at what is a very sad time for them. I also want to thank our emergency services colleagues and members of the public who assisted in our search effort over the last week. I can also confirm that we are not treating Joanne’s death as suspicious.”