Luke Mitchell documentary triggers painful memories for residents of Jodi Jones’ murder town

Residents of a Scots town rocked by the brutal murder of Jodi Jones have described how a recent documentary about her death and killer has brought painful memories flooding back.

The 14-year-old’s mutilated body was discovered on a woodland path near her Midlothian home in June 2003 just hours after she had gone to meet her boyfriend.

Luke Mitchell, who had been in an inmate relationship with the schoolgirl for around three months, was eventually arrested and charged by officers investigating the savage killing.

He was found guilty of murdering his then-girlfriend and ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars.

The case was once again thrust back into the spotlight last week after the airing of Channel 5’s Murder in a Small Town documentary, which was largely skewed towards protesting the innocence of Mitchell, now 32.

Residents of the nearby mining towns have now told how the airing of the controversial show has brought their recollections of the crime – one of Scotland’s most shocking – back to the surface of their minds and how it has left strong divisions within the community.

A friend of Jodi’s family, who wished not to be named, told the Daily Record: “Jodi’s murder caused quite a divide in the town at the time and that’s still very much the case today after that documentary dragged it all back up again.

“It was absolutely terrible – a truly devastating thing to happen to such a young girl.

“I have seen first hand how the documentary has upset Jodi’s family as it was so one sided.

“It focused on the circumstantial evidence rather than the conclusive evidence and took most of it out of context.

“It was honestly so distressing for Jodi’s family to have it all brought back up again after Luke has already been found guilty and has had four appeals rejected.

“They are just never going to get any peace.

“But there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the right person was convicted of the crime.

“And just when the family tries to get back on with their lives, Mitchell rakes it all back up again in the media for his own personal gain.

“The family are just taking hit after hit and now they’re even having to deal with trolls on social media sending nasty messages and spreading rumours.”

Yellow sunflowers continue to mark the entrance to the woodland path near Jodi’s Easthouses home, 17 years on, as those living closest to the grim scene struggle to forget the devastating tragedy.

Former Labour MP Danielle Rowley, who grew up in the area, recalled how her protective mum was too scared to let her out during the summer holidays as the police investigation to nail Jodi’s killer continued.

The 31-year-old said: “It was the end of the school term when Jodi Jones was murdered.

“I only learned about what happened when I got to school the following morning, we were all geared up for a day of dancing and DVDs.

“Everyone was saying ‘a girl from St David’s High has been found dead in the woods’.

“At first we thought it was some sick joke, then as more details went round the school, the horror sunk in.

“I think we spent most of the day sitting round talking about what might have happened. I was 13 at the time, almost the same age as Jodi.

“My grandparents had lived on the estate where Mitchell lived, next to where the murder took place. It all felt too close, things like this didn’t happen on your doorstep.

“All our parents were on high alert; my mum hardly let me out of the house during those summer holidays.

“Although Mitchell was convicted and imprisoned for the murder, there was always talk locally that it could have been someone else.

“Whether you believed that or not, the uncertainty seemed to leave a sense of fear and unease in the community, certainly for young girls.

“In the years since, I have often walked and driven past the entrance to the path where Jodi’s body was found, and each time would look to see fresh sunflowers tied to a post.”

Elaine Black, 57, told how she kept her three teenage daughters at home over fears of a killer or killers on the loose.

She said: “One of my daughter’s was 14 at the time – the same age as Jodie. The other was 13 and her sister was 16.

“We heard that a young lassie had been murdered but we didn’t hear the full extent of everything she had gone through until some time later. It was absolutely heartbreaking.

“The police were all over Easthouses and they were going from door to door asking questions and stopping people in the street.

“There were a lot of stories flying around at the time.

“Nobody was letting their kids out to play because they thought there was a murderer on the loose.

“I remember crying at the time and I still think about Jodi’s mum and how devastated she must be about it all. It was just such a horrible thing to happen, it really was.”

Alex Pryde, 65, from the Woodburn area of Dalkeith added: “I would have been at work when the news came out.

“I worked for Royal Mail at the time and Jodi’s dad did as well a few years before it all happened. It was definitely a shock.

“The feeling about it all in the town wasn’t great to be honest. I remember seeing a picture of Luke at the graveside drinking cans of beer and that. That sort of sticks with me for some reason.

“I think parents in the town were quite worried about it all – especially those who had young lassies.”

And Maureen Thomson, 78, from Dalkeith, said: “I lived around five minutes away from Luke at the time.

“I still lie awake at night sometimes thinking about Jodi’s mum and everything she’s been through.

“I feel so sorry for her and for Luke’s mother as well.”

John Hughes, 48, from Dalkeith, told how he was left looking over his shoulder while out walking in the aftermath of Jodi’s death.

He said: “I think the shock of her death has faded for some people but it’s definitely still there for others.

“I know that some people were nervous to go out at night and things after she was found and while the police were investigating.

“As a dog owner, I used to walk on the path where it happened and found it quite disturbing that something like that could happen somewhere that is usually so peaceful.

“I was definitely more aware of my surroundings after that because it really was a horrific crime.”

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