PEOPLE throughout North Gwent were grieving today for lost Jenna Baldwin as police said it was almost certain that the body found late on Monday night was that of the missing teenager.
Police are expected to formally confirm that remains found in a lonely spot on the mountainside between Blaenavon and Govilon on Monday night are those of the 15-year-old schoolgirl who went missing ten weeks ago.
A ring discovered with the remains was positively identified as Jenna's. Last night, as forensic scientists continued investigations at the scene, flowers began arriving from villagers.
At Jenna's school, Abersychan Comprehensive, headteacher Peter Scott organised a special assembly for her year. "It was the hardest thing I had to do."
In her home village of Abersychan, neighbouring town Blaenavon and the village of Govilon, shocked locals were feeling deep sadness - tinged with the hope that the pain of uncertainty for Jenna's mother Desiree could soon be over.
Deputy mayor of Pontypool and ward councillor for Abersychan, Doug Davies, said: "The mother has gone through hell the last couple of weeks, not knowing if her daughter's alive or dead. The people in Abersychan have been shocked.
"It is only a small area and a small community and when these things happen the people in the community get together."
The isolated hillside road between Blaenavon and Abergavenny is set to remain closed for the foreseeable future, as specialist police forensic teams continue combing the area of woodland where the body was found.
A post mortem examination was due to be carried out today and dental tests were set to confirm the identity of the body.
Chief Inspector John Oliver, the man heading the investigation, said: "We have a ring Jenna wore and I am 99.9% certain that we have her."
Jenna's stepfather Mich-ael Baldwin, aged 36, of Limekiln Road, Pontnew-ynydd, is in custody charged with her murder.
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