A recent documentary by Channel 4 has captured the moment Debbie Duncan, the mother of Jay Slater, received distressing news following her son’s tragic passing. The 19-year-old teenager from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was discovered deceased in July last year after an extensive month-long search.
Before his untimely death, Jay had attended a festival with his friends Lucy Law, Brad Hargreaves, and Brandon Hodgson. His body was found in a ravine at Tenerife’s Parque Rural de Teno on July 15, 2024, weeks after he went missing. Jay had left the RG music festival in Playa de las Americas on June 17 and later traveled with two men to an Airbnb in the national park area, located 22 miles away from his friends.
Following Jay’s disappearance, social media became inundated with various conspiracy theories speculating about his absence, with some suggesting that Jay might still be alive and his disappearance was a hoax. The Channel 4 documentary delves into the circumstances surrounding Jay’s final moments and how the news of his demise was communicated to his distressed family and friends back in the UK.
In a particularly poignant scene, Jay’s mother is informed that sensitive details from Jay’s toxicology report were stolen and shared on YouTube. Despite the recovery of her son’s body, the devastated mother expresses her frustration at the lack of closure.
Initially, Jay’s mother was assured that the toxicology report would remain confidential, only to have its contents leaked on YouTube, revealing Jay’s full name, Jay Dean Slater. The documentary highlights the breach of privacy and the emotional toll it has taken on Jay’s family.
The documentary also discloses that Jay had traces of MDMA and cocaine in his system before his death, although these substances were not determined to be the cause of his passing. The pathologist, Dr. Richard Shepherd, emphasized that there were no signs of external injuries inflicted by a third party, suggesting that Jay’s fatal head injury was likely a result of a fall down a slope.
Dr. James Adeley, Senior Coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, noted the complexities introduced by social media coverage, which hindered witness cooperation due to fears stemming from online commentary. Despite challenges, the documentary sheds light on previously unheard audio recordings and unsent messages, offering a glimpse into the Slater family’s ongoing quest for answers.
“The Disappearance of Jay Slater” will be broadcast on Channel 4 on Sunday, September 28, at 9 pm.
