The mother of Jay Slater has issued a heartbreaking statement days after Spanish police ended their search for the missing teenager, who disappeared over two weeks ago in Tenerife.
Debbie Duncan thanked the Guardia Civil who she said had “worked tirelessly up in the mountains where Jay’s last phone call was traced”.
Released through the British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global, she said: “We are a very close family and are absolutely devastated about his disappearance.
“Words cannot describe the pain and agony we are experiencing. He is our beautiful boy with his whole life ahead of him and we just want to find him.”
The 19-year-old had travelled with friends to the Canary Island to attend the NRG music festival, before returning to a remote AirBnb with two British men that he had met in Playa de Las Americas.
He called his friend at 8.50am to say that he was lost in the Rural de Teno park with no water and only had one per cent battery on his phone.
Jay Slater is a ‘normal guy’ with a large group of friends, say family
In an emotional statement, his family described him as a “beautiful” boy who had been studying for an apprenticeship at the time he disappeared.
They said: “My son, Jay Dean Slater, came to the holiday island of Tenerife on 13 June with his friend to attend a music festival.
“On 17 June after not returning to his apartment he was reported as a missing person.
“Jay is a normal guy who is in his third year of an apprenticeship, and he is a very popular young man with a large circle of friends.
“We are a very close family and are absolutely devastated about his disappearance.
“Words cannot describe the pain and agony we are experiencing. He is our beautiful boy with his whole life ahead of him and we just want to find him.”
Barney Davis3 July 2024 18:15
Jay Slater’s disappearance has exposed the horrifying cruelty of social media
Holly Evans3 July 2024 17:15
Fulll statement as Debbie Duncan says GoFundMe funds used to help TikToker
Debbie Duncan wrote on the GoFundMe, which has raised £48,000 on Wednesday evening. She said: “Hi again everyone. Your generosity has been vast, and we are so grateful for all of your support and kindness during this unimaginable time for our family.
“As I said in my official statement, the Spanish police conducted a land search for 12 days which involved every resource they had available. Although the land search ended, the Spanish police still continue with their investigations into why Jay had travelled to the location so far away from his accommodation. We offer our sincere thanks to the Spanish authorities, who continue to follow lines of inquiries.
“In the meantime, we will continue to use part of the funds to support the volunteers working hard in the mountains to find Jay. We are currently looking after Paul Arnett, putting together a package of any equipment and essentials he needs and going up to do a drop for him. We are also supporting Callum Fahim and his group with accommodation and other essentials.
“The remaining funds will continue to be used to support the rescue teams who are tirelessly searching for Jay as well as our own expenses as we remain in Tenerife looking for our boy.
“We will continue to keep you all updated on the progress on our GoFundMe page, and we thank you for your continued support. Please keep sharing and supporting our fundraiser to help us bring Jay home.”
Barney Davis3 July 2024 16:40
Family of missing teenager criticise ‘vile’ conspiracy theories
The family of Jay Slater said they were aware of the “vile” conspiracy theories being spread online about his disappearance, and said they were “extremely distressing”.
In a statement, they said: “We would like to say to the press/news/reporters, that although we do not want to lose the momentum of Jay’s disappearance, we really would like to maintain our privacy and crucially let the Spanish police get on with their investigations without hindrance from press.
“We are aware of the conspiracy theories and speculation on social media and some websites, and can only describe this as vile, the negative comments are extremely distressing to our family.
Holly Evans3 July 2024 16:15
Jay Slater’s mother pleads with Tenerife police to keep up investigation into missing teenager
Jay Slater’s mother has urged police in Tenerife to continue their investigation into her son’s dissapearance after authorities called off the search for the 19-year-old.
Tenerife officials brought their gruelling 13-day search to a close on Sunday following calls for volunteers to assist in a busqueda masiva – a massive search – on Saturday.
Read the full article here:
Holly Evans3 July 2024 15:15
Jay Slater case ‘doesn’t add up’ ex-Met officer says as he urges Spanish police to let British force help
Spanish police have been urged to accept help from British investigators in the hunt for Jay Slater in Tenerife, as a former police officer warned: “Things just don’t add up.”
Policing expert Graham Wettone, who was in the Metropolitan Police for 30 years, said he has been pouring over the evidence in the hunt for the missing 19-year-old. He believes there were too many “inconsistencies” in the mystery of his disappearance and called for detectives to look more closely at the days before he vanished.
The apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, vanished in Tenerife on the morning of 17 June after attending a dance music festival. He has not been seen since he was driven to an isolated AirBnB by two Britons where he spent the night following an after party in the Playa de las Americas resort.
Read the full article from our crime correspondent here:
Holly Evans3 July 2024 13:35
Everything we know about the Briton missing in Tenerife
Worried relatives and friends are still searching for a sighting of British teenager Jay Slater after he vanished on the island of Tenerife.
He had gone to stay with two people he had met at the NRG music festival and, having missed the bus back, embarked on what would have been an 11 hour walk.
Read the full article here:
Holly Evans3 July 2024 12:48
Britons using new safety measures in Tenerife after Jay Slater disappearance
Britons using new safety measures in Tenerife after Jay Slater disappearance
Young Britons holidaying in Tenerife say the disappearance of teenager Jay Slater has made them take extra safety precautions. The 19-year-old disappeared after attending a music festival with friends two weeks ago. Spanish police have now said the hunt for Mr Slater had ended with the case remaining open. Young holidaymakers heading to Tenerife spoke to Sky News about their fears on Monday (1 July). One person said: “We are more cautious and aware. We have got our own locations on. We wouldn’t have considered that when we booked it.” Another added: “I am a little more scared, so made sure we have got each other’s locations on.”
Holly Evans3 July 2024 12:03
Forensic officers spotted inside AirBnb rental property
Forensic officers were spotted at the AirBnb in Masca on Tuesday, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Two police officers were seen inside the holiday rental apartment where Jay stayed the night before his disappearance. The men, who were both wearing plain clothes, exited the property shortly after 11am wearing forensic style blue slip-ons over their shoes.
They were then seen taking the slip-ons off before speaking to a local, who had let them into the property with a key.
Holly Evans3 July 2024 11:12
Forensic officers spotted inside AirBnb rental property
Forensic officers were spotted at the AirBnb in Masca on Tuesday, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Two police officers were seen inside the holiday rental apartment where Jay stayed the night before his disappearance. The men, who were both wearing plain clothes, exited the property shortly after 11am wearing forensic style blue slip-ons over their shoes.
They were then seen taking the slip-ons off before speaking to a local, who had let them into the property with a key.
Holly Evans3 July 2024 11:12
