The mum of missing Jay Slater has held desperate talks with police in Tenerife – a day after officers called off the search for him. The 19-year-old’s heartbroken parents Debbie and Warren spoke to officers in a plea for answers about their investigation, which remains open and active. “The family want to be sure the police aren’t giving up on Jay, a source close to the family told the Mirror. “They are in constant contact with them about the case.” Former British police detective, Mark Williams-Thomas, who is helping the family, had earlier revealed: “They have been talking to the police most days and are speaking to them again today.”
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The talks, which are believed to have taken place by phone, came as detectives announced they have found no evidence of a crime in relation to Jay’s disappearance and are treating it as a missing persons inquiry. As is standard procedure in Spain, the force have reported to a court, which has opened a routine judicial investigation, which yesterday released details of the case, including that Jay was formally reported missing to the police “between 6pm and 8pm” on June 17. A judicial source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “There is no evidence of criminality at this stage in this case. “That’s not to say things won’t change because the case remains open and investigations are ongoing. But right now that’s the situation.” It is being presided over by investigating judge Maria Goya. Another source said: “The Civil Guard don’t have to tell the judge about everything officers are doing, but will be keeping her updated on case progress and of course update her on any significant developments.” Jay’s family, including mum Debbie, who works as a school finance officer, and dad Warren, 58, have vowed to stay in Spain until Jay is found. Debbie had previously said she believed he may have been kidnapped, but there have been no credible requests for ransom. TikTok star and amateur mountaineer Paul Arnott, 29, who is working for the family, yesterday carried on searching in the area, close to Masca, where Jay was last seen. Mr Arnott, from Bedfordshire, was yesterday focusing on two new leads, including a set of GPS co-ordinates and the discovery of a broken pair of sunglasses that resemble a pair Jay had previously been seen wearing. However, it has not been confirmed that the eyewear has any connection to the missing teen. Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, had been partying at Papagayo nightclub in Playa Las Americas the night before he vanished. Two older British men drove him 20 miles to their holiday rental in Masca, an 11-hour walk from where he was staying, before he was seen leaving on foot the next morning. Police have said the pair have “no relevance” to his disappearance. Speaking on his TikTok channel, Mr Arnott said he has now secured accommodation in Tenerife for at least two more weeks. He said: “I’m gonna stay here until we find Jay. I’m gonna do my best, I really am.” Mr Arnott had previously blasted the police’s final day of searching on Saturday, which saw just six volunteers join around 30 professional rescuers, describing it as “ridiculous” and “a massive PR thing”. He has also raised the idea of bringing in a team of British searchers, suggesting: “I wish we could start a GoFundMe or something and just send a load of search and rescue guys from Scotland out.” “Maybe Monday I can contact Scottish Mountain Rescue and see if we can have a chat about things, but at the moment this is ridiculous. This is mad.”
