Slater, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, England, disappeared on June 17 while flying with friends to Tenerife for a music festival. After the party, he was scheduled to spend a night with the people he met in the northwest part of the island. His last known location was an Airbnb apartment in the small settlement of Muska, surrounded by mountains and valleys.
Spanish police are investigating a photo Jay posted on Snapchat and two phone calls he made before he disappeared. One of Slater’s interlocutors says the young man was lost and planned to walk back, despite having to travel 11 hours.
Search and speculation
The search begins at Deno Nature Park, where the signal from Jay’s phone disappears. The area is characterized by dense vegetation, steep ravines and cliffs, which made the search mission very difficult.
Human remains were found last week in a ravine near a telecommunications mast. The identity of the missing Briton was confirmed based on fingerprints. Injuries indicate a fall from a height.
The BBC notes that the area where the body was found had already been searched for several days. Additionally, the Civil Guard refused to answer any questions on the matter, saying they “do not disclose details of the investigation”.
There was speculation on social media linking Slater to the Moroccan mafia or international drug-trafficking gangs – and a manhunt for Britain was underway.
His family is now focused on bringing Jay’s body home. Witnesses may be called to give evidence once a trial has commenced in the UK. It is worth noting that the evidence in this case points to an accidental fall.