
Man Strangles Son’s Partner to Death Before Buying Custard Slice for His Mom
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Llanelli, Jan 31, 2025 — Richard Jones, 50, has been convicted of the gruesome murder of Sophie Evans, 30, after a tense trial at Swansea Crown Court. Sophie, a mother of two, was discovered dead face down in her home in Llanelli, Wales, wearing only a bath towel, following her disappearance on January 20, 2025.
Prosecutors released chilling CCTV footage showing Sophie returning home from the school run on Monday. Shortly after, her partner’s father, Richard Jones, arrived at the residence under the pretense of performing work for Sophie. Merely 44 minutes later, doorbell footage captured Jones calmly leaving the house while Sophie lay dead inside. Additional CCTV evidence showed Jones later purchasing a tuna roll and custard slice from a local bakery.
During the trial, it was revealed that Jones admitted to killing Sophie during an eight-minute phone conversation with his ex-partner, Tracey Thompson. Following the call, he sent her a message saying, “Don’t say a word please”, reported by the Daily Mail. A post-mortem confirmed that Sophie suffered multiple injuries, including defensive wounds, from a violent assault. The official cause of death was determined to be compression to the neck.
Upon his arrest, police discovered a notepad in Jones’ car with a disturbing message: “I got scammed and rinsed by my own son so I dealt with it myself. Had no other choice.” Jones claimed that financial exploitation by his son had driven him to lose his temper, leading to the fatal attack.
The court heard that Sophie was in a relationship with Jones’ son, Jamie Davies, who had moved into Jamie’s home in April 2023. Sophie was paying the mortgage while Jamie was remanded at HMP Swansea on charges of supplying drugs and money laundering. Jones felt duped into signing a document that listed Sophie as a tenant and himself as the landlord, believing he was being exploited by his son and Jamie’s partner.
Prosecutor Michael Jones KC dismissed Jones’ claims, stating that the information was false and amounted to fraud. Days before Sophie’s death, Jones had searched online for terms such as “Is paternity fraud a crime in the UK?” and “I was duped into signing a mortgage, is there a way out of it?”, suggesting premeditation.
In a complex verdict, Jones pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder charges. Nevertheless, he was found guilty of murdering Sophie and will be sentenced at a later date. The judge emphasized the traumatic nature of Sophie’s death, highlighting the extensive violence she endured.
The tragic case has left the Llanelli community in shock, underscoring the severe impact of familial conflict and financial disputes. Sophie’s family and friends expressed profound grief and relief at justice being served, hoping for closure after the devastating loss.
Sophie’s relationship with Jamie and the ensuing family tensions played a crucial role in the events leading to her death. The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers within family dynamics and the importance of addressing mental health and financial pressures to prevent such tragedies.
As the community mourns, the conviction of Richard Jones offers a sense of justice and highlights the critical need for effective measures to handle family disputes and financial exploitation, ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals involved.