A nighttime search for a missing brother led two men down a remote mountain road, where they had been informed his car had been involved in an accident.

Upon locating the vehicle, they discovered the body of a young woman, 21-year-old Jenna Watkins, lying nearby, while their brother was nowhere to be found.

Initially, it appeared that Jenna had been ejected from the car and fatally injured in the crash on the Bwlch mountain road in south Wales, a tragic accident that, although unfortunate, was not uncommon.

However, a subsequent examination of Jenna's body revealed a different story, one that is detailed in a new documentary about the case.

Just prior to the fatal incident on 21 April 2007, Jenna's mother, Pauline, received a disturbing and final phone call from her daughter.

Pauline recalled that around 10 pm, Jenna called her, screaming and crying, and she could hear the car in the background, with the driver, Jason Shaddick, yelling at Jenna.

Pauline attempted to calm Jenna down, advising her to put on her seatbelt, as she feared for her daughter's safety due to the sound of the car and Shaddick's aggressive behavior.

The phone call abruptly ended, leaving Pauline in a state of distress.

Jason Shaddick, Jenna's partner, was the individual being searched for by his brothers.

The couple resided together in Neath, where they were known to the community.

Dr Richard Shepherd, a former Home Office forensic pathologist, shared his expertise with the BBC One Wales series, The Truth About My Murder, stating that the initial evidence suggested a tragic road traffic accident.

Typically, front seat passengers who wear seatbelts suffer from chest, rib, and breastbone injuries due to the immense pressure of the impact.

However, Dr Shepherd noted that Jenna did not exhibit these injuries, leading him to suggest that she may have been thrown from the car at the time of the crash.

Further examination revealed severe bruising on Jenna's body, particularly on her legs and head, but Dr Shepherd observed that there were no typical abrasions associated with someone hitting the road.

The initial theory of a car accident began to raise questions, as the evidence did not seem to add up.

Daylight investigations at the scene also sparked concerns, as Jenna was found face down with her jewelry and possessions scattered around her, which seemed inconsistent with the initial accident theory.

Insp Emma White, the family liaison officer, stated that the scene did not appear to be consistent with someone being thrown from a vehicle, based on the condition of the windows and other factors.

As the investigation continued, Pauline received a visit from the police that would change her life forever.

Pauline recalled that she tried to avoid hearing the devastating news, refusing to sit down and attempting to talk over the officer, as she sensed what he was about to say.

Jason Shaddick was initially missing, but after an appeal, he appeared at Neath police station, where he declined to answer any questions.

With limited information available, the pathology team's work became crucial in uncovering the truth.

Fatal neck injuries are common in individuals ejected from moving vehicles, but the examination of Jenna's neck revealed a different story, with her larynx crushed, suggesting extreme pressure had been applied.

Dr Shepherd stated that this, combined with the distribution of bruising and lack of bone fractures, led him to suspect that Jenna's death may have been caused by strangulation.

When presented with this information, Shaddick responded in writing, providing his version of events.

According to Insp White, Shaddick claimed that he had crashed the car because Jenna was assaulting him, and he was acting in self-defense.

Shaddick alleged that he had put his arm around Jenna to calm her down, and it was only when she went limp that he realized he had accidentally killed her.

As Shaddick continued to refuse to answer questions, the police turned to others to gather more information about Jenna and the couple's relationship.

Pauline shared that Jenna had a close call with meningitis as a toddler, which made her more determined to take extra care of her youngest child.

Jenna often brought gifts and treats for her mother, wanting to make her happy.

Shaddick, 28, and Jenna were known in the area as a fun-loving couple who enjoyed socializing, with Shaddick working in a car parts factory and Jenna working in a call center, both in Swansea.

The couple was affectionately referred to as "the Hollywood couple" due to their stylish clothing.

However, their relationship had a darker side, with reports of intense arguments and violent outbursts.

Insp White stated that the couple would often have loud, heated arguments, with Jenna sometimes having to defend herself physically.

Pauline had previously found one of Jenna's broken necklaces outside her house, which raised concerns about Shaddick's behavior.

Insp White noted that this incident, combined with Shaddick's history of controlling behavior, raised red flags, particularly given the similarities to the crime scene.

Pauline described Shaddick's behavior as controlling and possessive, with Jenna often changing her clothes to avoid his disapproval.

Pauline characterized Shaddick as "horrible" and "nasty," with a history of violent behavior.

Insp White discovered that Shaddick had previous convictions for assaulting a former girlfriend, which further supported the suspicions of a troubled relationship.

Pauline had previously expressed concerns to Jenna about her safety, warning her that Shaddick might hurt her or worse.

Pauline recalled questioning Jenna about bruises on her body, urging her to leave Shaddick and come home, as she feared for her daughter's safety.

The post-mortem examination conducted by Dr. Shepherd revealed evidence of old bruising on Jenna's body, suggesting she had suffered heavy blows, likely from a clenched fist.

Injuries found on Jenna's cheeks and chin contradicted Shaddick's claim of being a victim of her aggression, indicating that his account was false.

According to Dr. Shepherd, bite marks were discovered, which appeared to have been inflicted with significant force.

The nature of Jenna's wounds suggested that she was the victim of an attack, rather than the aggressor.

On the evening prior to her death, Jenna and Shaddick attended a party in Port Talbot, where they argued, and Jenna departed before Shaddick followed her in his car.

Shaddick alleged that the argument continued in the car due to Jenna's supposed cocaine use, which he disapproved of, and claimed he bit her in self-defense after she grabbed his testicles.

Toxicology results showed that Jenna had no cocaine in her system and had consumed very little alcohol.

In contrast, the tests revealed that Shaddick had used cocaine and had high levels of alcohol in his system at the time.

Dr. Shepherd noted that Jenna's body exhibited signs of a desperate attempt to defend herself, but ultimately, she was overpowered, bitten, and strangled in a headlock that ended her life rapidly.

Shaddick was subsequently charged with murder and stood trial.

On November 28, 2007, he was found guilty of Jenna's murder and received a life sentence with a minimum term of 13 years, before being released in February 2021.

For Pauline, the sentence imposed on Shaddick was insufficient.

"Thirteen years is far too lenient," she said. "The thought of him resuming his life is unbearable, and it fills me with anger every time I visit Jenna's grave."

Pauline has preserved Jenna's childhood bedroom in its original state since her death.

"This room holds great sentimental value for me, and I feel closest to Jenna here," she said. "I also keep her photos with me at all times, so I can see her and feel her presence."

For Pauline, the passage of 18 years has not diminished her grief, and like many other bereaved mothers, she has found it impossible to move on.