As Jay Slater’s mother Debbie Duncan takes action against amateur sleuths who tormented her when her teen son vanished, we look at the worst conspiracy theories the family had to endure
In a heartbreaking update given 15 months after his death, Jay Slater’s mother, Debbie Duncan, has called for tighter restrictions on ‘armchair detectives’ after she and her family found themselves at the centre of vile conspiracy theories.
Apprentice bricklayer Jay was just 19 when he vanished during what should have been a fun-filled mates’ holiday to Tenerife. A widespread search of the island ensued, with the case garnering plenty of public attention.
Tragically, the teenager’s body was eventually recovered from the rugged Parque Rural de Teno nature reserve on July 15, 2024, close to where his phone had last pinged.
The Lancashire lad, who disappeared after attending a music festival, had suffered multiple injuries consistent with a fall from a height, and it’s believed his death would have been “instantaneous”.
At the most harrowing time imaginable, Jay’s family were targeted by insensitive trolls spreading misinformation online, even after the coroner’s ruling of “accidental death” at his July inquest.
READ MORE: Jay Slater heard ‘slipping on rocks’ in chilling final moments before death
Now Debbie, 57, is calling for Jay’s Law, which would stop amateur sleuths from spreading misinformation online about missing people. Backed by her Labour MP, Sarah Smith, Debbie, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, is now also calling upon Mirror readers to support her cause.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming Channel 4 documentary The Disappearance of Jay Slater, which sees distraught Debbie open up the bag that Jay carried on his final journey and reveal his tragic last text, Debbie told us: “What we have had to endure has really opened my eyes. It is not just us who are horrified by what has gone on – professional people are horrified too.”
Here, the Mirror takes a look at some of the cruellest conspiracy theories Debbie and her family have had to contend with, all while dealing with the loss of Jay.
Friend targeted
While the desperate search for Jay was still underway, one of the teenager’s pals, Brad Hargreaves, had to deal with conspiracy theorists claiming he had something to do with the teen’s disappearance.
Speaking out last summer, Brad, who had been holidaying with Jay when he vanished, hit back at trolls in a social media post, writing: “‘Thinkin’ [sic] I’m involved in it all is beyond me. We’ve been mates for years, came on our first holiday together, and, unfortunately, this has happened.
“We ain’t drug mules or whatever…. people need to know the facts before talking s*** on the internet…”
‘Kidnapped by drug dealers’
Some armchair detectives baselessly claimed Jay had been kidnapped by drug dealers and murdered up in the remote mountains after losing a bag of narcotics.
Unfounded suggestions were also been made over connections to criminal activity in Tenerife. The night before he vanished, Jay had hung out at an Airbnb with two men, including convicted drug dealer Ayub Qassim. Qassim has denied any involvement in Jay’s disappearance, while the Civil Guard ruled both men out of the investigation early on.
One alternative theory claimed that he was murdered after stealing a £12,000 Rolex, which has also since been debunked. As detailed in the upcoming doc, Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd confirmed, “The pattern of injuries is entirely consistent with a heavy fall from height”, during the inquest at Preston Crown Court.
‘Staging his own death’
Some keyboard warriors have gone as far as to claim Jay has faked his own death, with some even asking Debbie whether the right body had been buried at her son’s funeral.
Sharing how such wild rumours make her feel, Debbie told us: “What we have had to endure has really opened my eyes. It is not just us who are horrified by what has gone on – professional people are horrified too.”
To this day, Debbie is still struggling to come to terms with the tragic loss of Jay. She has had to leave her position as a finance assistant at a local school and undergo private counselling sessions.
Wild GoFundMe rumours
After Jay went missing, his friend Lucy Law set up the ‘Get Jay Slater Home’ fundraising page, which raised thousands for the search efforts. Unfortunately, there were those who publicly questioned the purpose of the page, causing further distress for loved ones.
Addressing those who’d been speculating about the teenager’s disappearance, Debbie, 55, warned trolls: “This may happen to you.” Taking to a Facebook page filled with various theories about Jay’s whereabouts at the time, the ‘let down’ mother wrote: “I really am saddened by all your comments. You seem to be so bothered about this GoFundMe page.
“I really hope I am not taking my son home in a body bag. The funds are not released and won’t be if not needed. I really cannot believe the British public are not supporting me in trying to find Jay. This may happen to any of you one day. Very let down by you all.”
In a separate post shared on the GoFundMe page, Debbie clarified that the fundraiser had been ‘approved by our family’, explaining: “We have not yet withdrawn any funds and are currently covering the expenses, such as the trip to Tenerife and accommodation, ourselves. The funds will remain on hold with GoFundMe until we post a further update on this page.”
Heartbreakingly, after Jay’s body was found, Debbie revealed some of the money would go towards giving her “beautiful boy” the send-off he deserved, while the rest of the money would go towards the repatriation of his body, plus costs incurred by family and friends who’d flown out to Tenerife to assist with the desperate search.
The Disappearance of Jay Slater will air Sunday, September 28, at 9 pm on Channel 4.
Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com
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