Dozens of visitors have travelled to Rural de Teno National Park in rental cars to try and solve the missing case of Jay Slater, the 19-year-old who vanished in the early hours of June 17 at the villa
Amateur sleuths have caused outrage after going on “safari tours” to the Tenerife villa where missing teen Jay Slater disappeared – with some even taking pictures from jeeps.
Dozens of visitors have travelled to Rural de Teno National Park in rental cars to try and solve the missing case of the 19-year-old who vanished in the early hours of June 17 at the villa. The road outside the two-bedroom farmhouse is being flooded with rental cars of British visitors as they take pictures from jeep “safari tours.”
Shannon Shiels, a spa manager who lives in Birmingham and Spain, revealed she’s just returned from a second trip to the island as she tries to entertain her own theories of what happened to Slater
She told The Times: “This is our second time here. I asked to drive this route because I just wanted to see it one more time. I want to get some answers.” Shannon admitted the trip gave her “actual chills” as she investigated the property’s green door along with her partner Matthew, who is from Manchester.
The huge interest comes as Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancs, had been partying at the New Rave Generation festival in the southwest of Tenerife before he vanished.
She is one of the many visitors who have travelled to the national park in recent days after reading about the missing teen’s disappearance online, with TikTok and Facebook groups flooded with conspiracy theories.
“Armchair detectives” have been urged to stop sharing wild theories on the whereabouts of Jay Slater, including by the cop who hunted murderer Raoul Moat.
Speaking on a Sky podcast, Sue Sim, Northumbria Police’s former chief constable who led the chase for murderer Moat, has said people should not speculate.
She said: “The worst thing people can do sitting at home in their armchairs is to speculate as to what might have happened. There has been no suggestion of crime happening in this instance and at this time.
“I would appeal for people [not to speculate]. The Guardia Civil and the mountain rescue team are all trained in this area of work. To actually go along as an upgraded armchair detective will not help Jay. If you have any intelligence, phone your local police who will get it out to the Guardia Civil. Don’t just go and trample over potential evidential trails.
“I think social media can be an extremely useful tool but in this instance, it’s very damaging to this enquiry. I would appeal to Jay’s mum and his friends and family to not read this rubbish that is being bandied about, about your son and friend.
“Let the police do their job. And for people who have nothing better to do than put conspiracy theories onto social media, when a young man is missing, shame on you. It’s absolutely appalling behaviour.”
