Investigation closed on twentieth anniversary of Kirsty Jones' death
The search for justice for murdered Welsh backpacker Kirsty Jones is over after the case was finally closed on the 20th anniversary of her death.
Kirsty Jones, 23, was raped and strangled at a guesthouse in northern Thailand in August 2000 while enjoying a gap year after university.
British detectives have recently been to Chiang Mai in Thailand to help in the hunt before the 20-year statute of limitations was up on August 10th, marking twenty years to the day since Kirsty was killed.
Thai law does not allow anyone to be tried for a crime they committed more than 20 years previously.
Kirsty's mother, Sue Jones, told ITV Cymru Wales a week ago she still held out hope there would be a breakthrough.
"We've always hung onto that final thread when you think, maybe somebody will come forward or somebody's DNA will show up, and we will get whoever was responsible.
"It made me very sad and angry to think that whoever took Kirsty from us is still walking around, whereas she's not."
Sue Jones said she thinks about her daughter every day.
"She's always in my thoughts. Where would she be? What would she be doing? What would she look like?"
Despite years of campaigning for answers, Mrs Jones said she does not have much hope.
"I'm undoubtedly sure the Thais will close the case on the 9th, and there is nothing they will do to even think of opening it again.
"I'm sure that if something does come up after the 20 years they won't reopen it anyway, because as far as they're concerned it's case closed."
Farmer's daughter Kirsty grew up in the village of Tredomen, near Brecon, Mid Wales.
Remembering Kirsty, Sue Jones said: "She loved where she lived, even though she didn't come back very often she still loved being back in the countryside."
But she dreamed of seeing the world and had decided from the age of 14 that she had wanted to take a gap year before going on to university.
In 1996 when she set off for Australia and stopped off in Thailand on her way home.After a safe and successful trip, the bright A-level student had fallen in love with travelling.
She completed an English and media studies degree at Liverpool University in 1999 - then spent a year doing odd jobs to fund her next big trip.
She had planned a two-year global adventure taking in Asia as well as Australia and New Zealand before finishing in South America.
Her family said they felt no reason to worry second time around as Ms Jones was older, wiser and more experienced.
Police found traces on blood in the street near the hostel.Credit: PA
Kirsty travelled 435 miles north of Bangkok to the well-known trekking hub Chiang Mai - going on jungle hikes, riding elephants and visiting hill tribes.
But a month later the dream was shattered when her parents were given the devastating news that their daughter had been raped and strangled to death on August 10, 2000.Despite a series of arrests, no-one has faced justice for her murder.