British teenager Jay Slater remains missing in Tenerife, despite a major search operation that has already deployed helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs in the mountainous regions of the Spanish island.
Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, is believed to have left an NRG music event in Tenerife with two men in a car and stayed overnight at an Airbnb in the northwest countryside of the island before disappearing on Monday morning, June 17.
The teenager was last heard from by his girlfriend Lucy May Lowe, who claims he called her on the morning of his disappearance to say he was disorientated, needed water and his phone was only one percent charged.
Jay’s devastated mother Debbie Duncan says she is “beyond concern” and convinced he has been kidnapped, while Jay’s father Warren Slater said the teenager’s disappearance “makes no sense”. Investigators are now focusing on the location where Jay’s phone last rang and are making their way back into the gorge to find him.
Lead British detective Mark Williams-Thomas, who investigated the disappearance of Nicola Bulley, said he approached Debbie and told her he could have answers about Jay’s disappearance “in three days” when he offered to learn Spanish. Police in Tenerife urgently.
It’s been a full week since Jay went missing and his family have released new CCTV images showing he may have been seen in Tenerife. The grainy image is believed to have been taken in Santiago del Teide at around 6pm on Monday night, ten hours after it was last confirmed to have been seen in the village of Masca.
As the despair continues into its eighth day, the full timeline of Jay’s disappearance, shedding light on what we already know, as well as the myriad questions that have arisen since the teenager was last known contact on June 17.
What we know so far about Jay Slater’s disappearance
Monday 17 June: Jay Slater goes missing in Tenerife
Jay Slater disappeared on the morning of Monday 17 June while on holiday in Tenerife with his girlfriend Lucy and Brad. The trio attended the three-day NRG music festival which finished on Sunday before Lucy and Brad returned to their apartment and Jay stayed with the two men he had befriended that evening.
The 19-year-old then returned with the men to their Airbnb in a remote part of Tenerife. According to Jay’s girlfriend Lucy Mae Lowe, Jay called her on the morning of his disappearance and said he was disoriented, needed water and his phone was only at one percent charge.
Tuesday, June 18: Family and friends fly to Tenerife as investigations begin. 4
British media declared Jay Slater missing on Tuesday after the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed an investigation.
That same day, Jay’s mother Debbie Duncan flew to Tenerife with her older brother Zac, 21. Debbie said she was “beside herself with worry” and was convinced Jay had been kidnapped. She later said perverted Brits with “northern accents” had called her on hidden numbers claiming they had captured her son and were holding him because he owed them money.
Wednesday 19 June: Search location changes after ‘false tip’
Search and rescue teams in Tenerife have diverted their search from the Parque Rural de Teno, where Jay is believed to have been before he suddenly disappeared. to tourist resorts on the island of Tenerife. south after the suspected appearance of Jay. They then returned to the mountains after the sighting was proven to be false.
Thursday June 20: Footage has emerged of Jay at a rave in Tenerife, GoFundMe launched
New footage has emerged of Jay at a rave in Tenerife, shortly before he disappeared. In the clip, Jay interacts with other partygoers in a crowded nightclub as music plays in the background. On the same day, Jay’s close friend Lucy May launched a GoFundMe page called ‘Bring Jay Slater Home’ with the aim of raising £30,000.
Friday June 21: Jay seen walking ‘alone and fast’, Spanish police refuse help from UK police
The owner of the Airbnb where Jay lived before he disappeared said she saw him walking “alone and fast”. He went missing near the remote village of Maska. Ophelia, the homeowner, said: “It’s dangerous walking around here and it’s easy to get lost. “He was walking down the road when I last saw him. He was alone. He was walking well, although he was fast.”
Spanish police later refused help from British police in the search for Jay. Lancashire Police have confirmed that the Guardia Civil in Tenerife have turned down police offers of help, although close friends confirmed “no news” could be passed on after helicopters, drones and sniffer dogs were deployed.
Saturday 22 June: Fundraising to Find Jay Slater has surpassed £30,000.
Over the weekend, a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for Jay Slater’s family surpassed its £30,000 target just three days after it was launched. Jay’s mother Debbie said on Monday that the money was being used to cover the expenses of Jay’s friends and family, including a trip to Tenerife and accommodation.
Sunday, June 23: Jay Slater’s father arrives in Tenerife
Jay’s father, Warren Slater, arrived in Tenerife on Sunday and said his son’s disappearance “makes no sense”. Joined by his other son, Zach, and family friend Rachel Hargreaves, Warren said he had put up missing person posters around the village of Santiago del Teide and police were following “every lead”.
Lead British investigator Mark Williams-Thomas, who investigated the disappearance of Nicola Bulli, said he could have answers about Jay Slater “in three days” as he offered to urgently join Spanish police in Tenerife.
Monday 24 June: The search location changes for the fourth time, a senior British police officer offers his help and Jay’s CCTV footage may emerge.
A full week has passed since Jay was reported missing. Rescue teams have returned to the gorge where his phone last rang. Investigators had previously focused on three key areas, including a ravine about 100 metres below the Airbnb where he was staying, and the mountains between Masca and San Jose, and Masca and Las Portelas.
Jay’s family have also shared new CCTV images showing he may have been seen in Tenerife. The grainy image is believed to have been taken in Santiago del Teide at around 6pm on Monday evening, ten hours after it was last confirmed to have been seen in the village of Masca.
Investigators in Tenerife say they are “completely focused on the hunt for Jay” and will not be distracted by criticism from his friends. Guardia Civil officers insisted they would not let the attacks stop them from their “priority” of continuing to find the missing 19-year-old.
What we still don’t know about Jay Slater’s disappearance
Where is Jay Slater?
The search for Jay Slater is now in its second week and Tenerife police said they are doing everything they can to find him with the help of rescue teams. Jay’s last known whereabouts were found in Rural del Teno, a mountainous area in the west of the island.
His girlfriend Lucy said Jay was “in the middle of nowhere” after befriending two Brits and returning to Airbnb. She told how Jay “went to the house of a friend he’d met on holiday. One of the people he met rented a car from here, so he drove them back to his apartment, and Jay drove there, not knowing how far it was.
She added: “He was in the middle of nowhere. Jay obviously thought he could walk home from there.
What state of mind was Jay in?
Since arriving in Tenerife, Jay’s mother Debbie has shared more details about her son and his possible disability. Out to look after himself on the night of his disappearance, Debbie expressed concerns that her son was “not doing it right”, adding that Jay “doesn’t really drink” but this was the last night of a three-day rave. in Tenerife he drank alcohol
She said she warned Jay to be careful before he went on his first holiday abroad with friends, but was concerned he may not have been looking after himself properly.
Was a third party involved in Jay Slater’s disappearance?
Although police have not yet confirmed any third party involvement in Jay’s disappearance, the 19-year-old met two men described as British during the NRG music festival. He then decided to stay with them at their Airbnb in a remote part of Tenerife while his friends returned to their usual accommodation. The two men are believed to have flown back to the UK after a brief questioning by Tenerife police.
Jay’s girlfriend Lucy May managed to track the men to her Airbnb before they left, using photo clues from Jay’s Snapchat which gave away his location. She said: ‘They seemed scared and surprised that I had found them and I asked them where Jay was.
‘They said he had gone out to look for cigarettes and then he came back and said he was leaving to try and get a bus into the city. They just seemed shocked that I could find them and I know the police have spoken to them but I have since found out they have left the country. You need to talk to them properly.’
Why did Jay Slater choose an 11-hour walk rather than a two-hour bus ride back to the city?
Jay reportedly decided not to wait two hours for a bus to take him back to town. Witness Ofelia Medina Hernandez said she saw the teenager standing at a bus stop near the village of Masca at around 8 a.m. The Airbnb host said he asked her about buses back to Los Cristianos.
She explained: ‘I raised my finger and said 10 o’clock because he didn’t understand me, then I walked home for a while before going up the mountain in Buenavista del Norte, but this time I saw him continue on the way home. villages. Barely ten to fifteen minutes had passed since I spoke to him and he was about a kilometer from the house. I drove past him and that was the last time I saw him.”
Although there is a main road nearby, it raises questions as to why Jay appeared to be wandering in the desert instead. His girlfriend Lucy May said: “I don’t understand, if he really has come down, why has no-one seen him?” It’s a busy time of day, there are lots of tourists and holidaymakers here, he could have asked them for help or stopped somewhere, but no-one saw him.”
Was Jay Slater kidnapped?
Jay’s devastated mum Debbie told how she was convinced her son had been kidnapped and was being held against his will. His friend Lucy Mae, also believes Jay is being “held against his will.
” She explained that Jay was “not stupid” and would have tried to flag a car down to find his way back to the area where he was staying. The more time passes and he has not been seen, then the more we are convinced he has been taken by someone and is being held against his will.”