For six long years, the disappearance of Jordan Moray cast a shadow over the close-knit community of Cwmbach, near Aberdare in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. The mystery began in July 2019, when Moray, then 33, vanished from his flat, leaving behind a scene that sparked more questions than answers: his gaming console was still running, his mobile phone left on charge, and the front door unlocked. For his family, the agony of not knowing what happened to him became a daily reality, one that would persist until a hiker made a grim discovery in late August 2025.
On August 29, South Wales Police received a report of human remains found in a remote area near the Llwyn-onn Reservoir in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park—an area still fondly known to many as the Brecon Beacons. According to BBC News, forensic testing soon confirmed what Moray's family had both feared and needed to know: the remains were indeed those of Jordan Moray.
“A walker came across human remains in Brecon last week. A postmortem was done and it came back to be my brother Jordan,” wrote his brother Josh Moray in a heartfelt social media post, as reported by Metro. “I’ve missed him ever since he went missing. He wasn’t just my brother he was my best friend. We did everything together and I mean everything. He’s been a big loss in my life and always will be.” Josh added, “Now my mam and dad can lay him to rest. Love you Jordan Moray can’t wait to meet you again big bro my heart is lost without you.”
The confirmation brought a bittersweet sense of closure to a family that had spent years searching—sometimes literally, combing the mountains and forests on foot and by bike. Jordan’s mother, Debbie, had issued a fresh, desperate plea on July 24, 2025, marking the sixth anniversary of her son’s disappearance. “Each day is agony, and I am clinging to the hope that one day he will walk through the door again,” she told Wales Online. “Each year is blurring into the next, but we continue to search the places that we believe Jordan might be. Jordan is loved and missed every day. We are heartbroken. I will never give up looking for him and I pray that he is safe and well.”
Moray’s disappearance in 2019 had prompted a massive search effort, especially in the national park, given his well-known love of the outdoors. Debbie described her son as “pretty quiet really and loves the outdoor life. He would phone me and ask me to pick up a couple of disposable barbeques and a steak. He’d meet me and he’d go up the mountain and eat it up there, for hours and hours.” The family’s hope was kept alive by sporadic reports of possible sightings, including one in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, in 2021, but none led to a breakthrough.
The search for answers even extended to a mysterious letter sent to police, signed by someone calling themselves “Kevin Humphreys.” Detectives believed the information in the letter could be helpful, but repeated efforts to identify or locate the author proved fruitless, as noted by BBC News. Meanwhile, the family’s own efforts never waned. “I search the mountains and the forestry regularly. As soon as we hear something [possible sighting] we're there,” Debbie said. “My brother and his wife constantly go all around the mountains on foot and by bike. Jordan's brother does too.”
When the remains were found, the discovery was made by another hiker, who stumbled upon them near the isolated region of Llwyn-onn Reservoir, about a ten-mile drive from Moray’s home. The area is known for its scenic beauty and remoteness, characteristics that, in this case, added to the years-long mystery. According to Nation.Cymru, the coroner was updated and police confirmed that Jordan’s death is not being treated as suspicious. “Jordan’s next of kin has been informed and his family have respectfully asked for privacy at this difficult time,” a South Wales Police spokesperson told Wales Online.
The details of Moray’s disappearance continue to haunt those who followed the case. On that July day in 2019, he left his home in Cwmbach, Aberdare, with his rucksack, headlamp, and trainers missing—suggesting he may have set out for one of his beloved mountain walks. Debbie told Metro, “The police had the forensics team inside his flat but I think he’s gone of his own accord. We’re heartbroken.” The family’s pain was compounded by the uncertainty, with each passing year blurring into the next, hope and despair mingling in equal measure.
In the aftermath of the discovery, the family’s grief has been tinged with gratitude for the support they received. “I wish to thank South Wales Police for the support they have given me and my family throughout the past six years in our search for Jordan,” Debbie said, as reported by Wales Online. The family’s request for privacy is a reminder of the deeply personal nature of such tragedies, even as they play out in the public eye.
While the police investigation is now closed, with no suspicion of foul play, some questions will likely never be answered. Why did Jordan Moray leave his home that day? What happened in those final moments? For his family, the answers may remain elusive, but the knowledge that they can finally lay him to rest brings a measure of peace.
The case also highlights the enduring pain of missing persons cases, the relentless search for closure, and the profound impact on families and communities. For six years, Jordan Moray’s disappearance was a source of heartbreak and speculation across South Wales. Now, with the discovery of his remains, that chapter finally comes to an end—even as the memory of the man, the brother, and the son remains ever present in the hearts of those who loved him.
As the hills of the Brecon Beacons stand silent witness, Jordan Moray’s family can at last bring him home.
