Missing Briton Jay Slater Among 11 Disappearances in Tenerife in 2024
Nineteen-year-old Jay Slater, an apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire, is one of 11 individuals reported missing in Tenerife in the first half of 2024. He vanished on June 17 after attending the NRG music festival and journeying with two men to an Airbnb in the island's remote western region. Jay's last known contact was a distress call to a friend indicating he was lost and had minimal phone battery remaining. His phone's last signal was traced to Rural del Teno, a mountainous area near a ravine.
Authorities have intensified their search efforts, deploying specialist sniffer dogs from Madrid. The search focus includes the rugged terrain of the Macizo de Teno mountains near Masca, where a potential sighting places Jay.
Additionally, a CCTV image suggesting Jay may have been seen in Santiago de Teide on the evening of his disappearance is being examined. While traditional search efforts are ongoing, the involvement of online sleuths has led to substantial social media speculation.
In related news, Spanish police are investigating several other missing persons cases on the island this year, including Belgian national Marc Francis Olbrechts, Mexican national Mariel González Gutiérrez and her son Sebastian Cobos Gonzalez, and several others from diverse nationalities and backgrounds.
Jay's family has expressed frustration over the perceived lack of communication from Spanish authorities regarding search updates. His mother, Debbie Duncan, has also criticized online speculation and misinformation surrounding her son's disappearance.
Despite the challenging circumstances, local law enforcement and volunteer searchers continue their efforts to locate Jay and the other missing individuals.