Locals from Jay Slater‘s last known location have detailed a grim theory in a bid to suggest the missing Brit isn’t in their area. A couple who live in the village of Masca in northwest Tenerife commented after a massive search ended in the Rural de Teno Park region.
Named only as Manolo and Irene, the couple’s home is near an Airbnb Mr Slater, 19, stayed in before he vanished on June 17.
Irene told the Manchester Evening News: “[Manolo] thinks Jay isn’t here because many people have looked for him – loads of police units. If he was here, the crows would have spotted him because as soon as they spot a dead animal like a goat or something, the crows are on top of it.”
Manolo added: “If by the second or third day, if he was – supposedly, God willing not – dead, the crows would have found him straight away, but we haven’t seen them around here.”
The grisly speculation comes as Mr Slater’s mother spoke of her “heartache” and criticised “awful comments and conspiracy theories”.
In a statement released via the British overseas missing persons charity LBT Global on Sunday (July 14), Debbie Duncan said the family was “desperate” to find their “beautiful boy”.
She said: “As we approach four weeks of our beautiful Jay’s disappearance, we cannot put into words the heartache we are suffering as a family.
“Jay is a typical young man who loves life, with a bright future ahead of him. This month will mark the end of his three-year apprenticeship with the world at his feet.
“He is loved by everyone and has a close bond with his family and many, many friends.”
Ms Duncan said the family wanted to thank the public for “their continued support and well wishes” and praised the British Embassy and police for “doing all they can” to support them.
She also criticised “awful comments and conspiracy theories” posted on social media, which she branded “vile” and said were “hindering” people trying to help locate her son.
Tenerife’s Guardia Civil called off the search for the apprentice bricklayer at the end of June after helicopters, drones and search dogs were deployed to find him.
The GoFundMe appeal Get Jay Slater Home has raised more than £50,000 and Ms Duncan has said some of the funds will be used to support volunteers searching for her son in the mountains near where his last phone call was traced
Her statement continued: “He is a loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend to so many.”
Mr Slater had attended the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance, and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island – which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation.
He had travelled to an Airbnb in Masca and the two men said to have rented the property were later ruled “not relevant” to the case, according to reports.