The heartbroken mother of Jay Slater, who has been missing since June, is demanding answers after a body was found near his last known location in Tenerife. Jay, 19, from Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, vanished on the morning of June 17 while on holiday on the Spanish island, prompting a large-scale search effort.
Spanish police called off the official search after 13 days, but on Monday, authorities announced the discovery of a body close to where Jay’s mobile phone last pinged 29 days ago, along with his possessions and clothes. Although formal identification has not yet been completed, officers say “everything is pointing to it being” the missing teen.
Jay’s grief-stricken mother, Debbie Duncan, 55, expressed her devastation through a family source. Debbie is completely devastated,” the insider told The Sun, noting that the remains were found “so close to the original search site,” making the news even harder to bear.
Adding to the family’s anguish, Mark Williams-Thomas, a former Scotland Yard detective working with Jay’s family, revealed that Jay’s parents were targeted by online trolls with a fake hostage video claiming, “We have your son.” The fraudsters were believed to be trying to extort money from the family.
Williams-Thomas explained to The Mirror that two videos were posted showing separate individuals meant to be Jay, being beaten up. The family quickly determined that the videos were fake, but they still had to investigate each lead due to the emotional toll and the hope that Jay might still be alive.
Jay Slater’s friend, Brad Hargreaves, who had accompanied him on the holiday and recently returned to the UK, paid tribute to his friend on Instagram with a poignant message and photos. “Nothing be the same without you. Rest easy brother. Love you always,” he wrote.
Jessica Rogers, the girlfriend of Jay’s brother, also expressed her grief on social media, posting a photo of Jay with a blue heart and the words: “Will love you forever.
Authorities have not yet released the exact location where the body was found, but it is understood to be in a remote area near the village of Masca. The terrain is described as dense and difficult to navigate, which may have contributed to the delay in finding Jay’s remains.
The discovery was part of a discreet search effort conducted under a secrecy order from the court to prevent interference from the public and internet sleuths. Spanish police confirmed that the search continued every day despite the official call-off.
Tenerife’s Guardia Civil announced that they are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to confirm the cause of death, suggesting that Jay could have fallen in the steep and inaccessible area where he was discovered.
Jay had attended the NRG music festival with friends before his disappearance. His last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island, an 11-hour walk from his accommodation.
LBT Global, a charity supporting the families of British people missing overseas, expressed their sorrow in a statement: “LBT Global is saddened to announce that a body found in Tenerife does look to be that of Jay Slater. Although formal identification is yet to be carried out, the body was found with Mr. Slater’s possessions and clothes.”
The community in Lancashire has shown immense support for Jay’s family, tying blue ribbons to posts and expressing their collective grief. It’s a shame, everybody wants him home – everybody wants an answer,” a local man told the BBC.
Jay’s family and supporters raised over £54,000 to aid the search efforts, and they now face the painful process of coming to terms with the tragic outcome. LBT Global continues to support the family, asking for privacy during this difficult time.
