Jay Slater's mother issues heartbreaking new statement after search for missing teen called off

Lina Portman2 days ago

0 2 minutes read

The mother of missing teenager Jay Slater has released a tragic new statement after Spanish authorities called off the search for her son on Sunday.

Debbie Duncan, speaking via LBT Global, a UK charity for people missing abroad, said the Slater family had been left “absolutely devastated” by the disappearance of Jay, 19, on June 17.

She said, “My son, Jay Dean Roofercame to the holiday island of Tenerife on June 13 with his friend to attend a music festival.

“On June 17, he was reported as missing after not returning to his apartment.

Jay Slater has been missing in Tenerife for almost two weeksGetty/PA

“Jay is a normal boy in his third year of apprenticeship and is a very popular young man with a wide circle of friends. We are a very close family and we are absolutely devastated by his loss.

“Words cannot describe the pain and agony we are experiencing.

“This is our beautiful boy who has his whole life ahead of him and we just want to find him. We have no information on his fate.

“The Guardia Civil worked tirelessly in the mountains where Jay's last phone call was traced. They conducted a 12-day field search, mobilizing all the resources at their disposal.

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“Although the search on the ground has been completed, the Spanish police are still continuing their investigations to determine why Jay went to a place so far from his home.

“We extend our sincere thanks to the Spanish authorities who continue to follow up on the leads in the investigation.

“We want to tell the press/journalists that while we do not want to lose the momentum of Jay's disappearance, we really want to preserve our privacy and above all let the Spanish police continue their investigations without being bothered by the press.

“We are aware of the conspiracy theories and speculation on social media and some websites and can only describe this as despicable, the negative comments are extremely distressing for our family.

Debbie Duncan said the family “appreciates the love and support we have received from around the world.”

PA/Nurse Practitioner

Images of Tenerife mountains reveal scale of search areaPennsylvania

“We also acknowledge the love and support we have received from around the world. This has not gone unnoticed, particularly in his hometown of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

“As a family, we would like the world to respect our privacy at this time.”

As Duncan pointed out, the Spanish Civil Guard ended its search on Sunday, with a spokesperson for the authority saying: “The search operation is now over, although the case remains open.”

It is understood that Slater's family and friends will remain in Tenerife to continue the search for him.