About Jayden

Jayden Reeanna Parkinson, born on 26-09-1996, is the daughter of Samantha Shrewsbury and Paul Parkinson. The youngest of three, she has two siblings from her father. Born in Ashford, Kent, she attended George Spurgen Primary School in Folkestone. In 2003, the family moved to Nuneham Courtenay and lived in her grandfather’s post office, where she then went to Marsh Baldon Primary School. In 2005, after enduring 13 hours of abuse on Easter Sunday, Samantha left Paul, leaving the three children in the house with their eldest brother from their father. A two-year custody battle followed, during which Paul was granted custody of the youngest two children, as Samantha was not allowed to disclose the domestic abuse she had suffered. Paul continued to manipulate Samantha by using the children to control her access to them. Eventually, her older brother moved in with Samantha on his 18th birthday, and Jayden joined her shortly after her 13th birthday, choosing to leave her father’s home. She travelled from Lancashire to Oxfordshire and stayed with her mother for two weeks before her father even realized she had left. During this time, Jayden tested her mother’s patience and parenting to the limit. She was suspended from school 26 times in one term and became uncontrollable, running away and drinking. Samantha eventually enrolled her in an Oncourse program, where she attended a center for children struggling in school. Jayden completed the program successfully at the age of 15. Over time, Samantha worked hard to ensure Jayden attended school, and eventually, her bullies became her friends, leading to a gradual improvement.

The 17-year-old disappeared on 3 December 2013 having last been seen leaving the town's railway station at about 16:30 GMT.

Jayden's ex-boyfriend Ben Blakeley, 22, of Christchurch Road, Reading, has been charged with her murder and with perverting the course of justice.

Police said there have been suggestions Jayden may have been pregnant, but they have been unable to confirm this.

A 17-year-old boy (Jake Blakeley), from Didcot, who has been charged with perverting the course of justice, has also appeared in court and is due back on 17 March 2014.

He is accused of assisting in the disposal of Jayden's body and other evidence.

More than 100 officers and detectives are working on the case, backed up by specialists from the National Crime Agency.

As well as the graveyard at All Saints' Church, a semi-detached house in Great Western Drive was also searched in the hunt for Jayden.

The house was just a few hundred yards away from the cemetery,

A cordon was also put up in a park which links Great Western Drive to an alleyway running behind the cemetery.

Forensic officers have been examining both areas.

The information above was graciously provided by Jayden's mother, Samantha Shrewsbury, who continues her dedicated efforts to advocate for positive changes within our justice system.

Murder Charge