It has been five days since British teenager Jay Slater vanished in Tenerife, leaving his family and friends in turmoil with numerous unanswered questions. The 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, went missing on Monday morning after attending a music festival on the island. He was last seen in the Rural de Teno area, a remote and mountainous region, where the search efforts have been concentrated.
Jay was last seen wearing a grey sports top with a light green strip on the shoulders and carrying a black bag. At 8:15 am on June 17, Jay called his friend Lucy Mae Law, informing her that his phone battery was at 1%, he was thirsty, and he planned to brave an 11-hour trek back to their accommodation after missing the bus. Shortly after the call, his phone went dead, and he has not been heard from since.
Authorities, including the Civil Guard, have mobilized extensive resources to locate Jay, including helicopters, drones, sniffer dogs, and specialist mountain rescue units. The search efforts have recently shifted focus to an ‘unforgiving’ ravine area in the Masca valley, around 100 meters below the rental property where Jay was last seen.
Jay’s parents, Debbie Duncan and Warren Slater, along with his older brother Zak, have flown out to Tenerife to assist in the search. They are increasingly concerned that Jay may have been kidnapped. Debbie Duncan expressed her fears, stating, “I’m all over the place and I’m trying to keep positive, but has somebody taken him? Is he panicked and lost in the mountains? I just don’t know.”
The circumstances surrounding Jay’s disappearance have raised several questions. Jay was last seen with two British men he met at the festival. They reportedly checked out of their accommodation and flew back to the UK shortly after Jay vanished. Local business owner Araceli, who saw the two men, described them to the police but did not see Jay with them.
Adding complexity to the case is Jay Slater’s past involvement in a violent incident. In August 2021, Jay and seven other teenagers attacked Tom Hilton with a machete, axe, and golf club near the Old Paper Mill in Hermitage Street, Rishton. Jay was sentenced to an 18-month community order with rehabilitation activities and unpaid work for his role in the attack.
The mystery deepens as Jay’s stepfather, Andy Watson, questions why Jay would choose to walk instead of waiting for the next bus. Watson noted that Jay rarely walked long distances and speculated that something unusual must have happened.
As the search continues, the family has received disturbing messages, including a Snapchat message suggesting Jay owes someone money. This has only heightened their fears of foul play.
Jay’s friend Lucy Mae Law remains convinced that he has been taken against his will, stating, “He is not stupid – if he left the house on his own, he would have walked to the road and then tried to flag a car down or stop someone for help.”
The search for Jay Slater continues, with police committed to solving the mystery of his disappearance. Anyone with information about Jay’s whereabouts is urged to contact the authorities immediately.