Jay Slater's Mother Finds Closure Retracing Son's Final Steps
Debbie Duncan shares her experience filming a documentary about her son's disappearance and death in Tenerife.
Debbie Duncan, the mother of Jay Slater, has stated that retracing her son's final steps in Tenerife provided her with "more closure" following his death.
Jay Slater, 19, disappeared on June 17, 2024, after attending a music festival on the Spanish island. His body was discovered after a 29-day search. An inquest into his death concluded it was a "tragic accident" with no third-party involvement, determining he had fallen in a "particularly dangerous area" and sustained fatal skull fractures and brain trauma.
Duncan appeared in a forthcoming Channel Five series titled "Cause of Death," which examines the manhunt and significant social media attention surrounding the case. The first episode aired on Wednesday.
"It was very tough and emotional going back there, but we have got more closure," Duncan told BBC Radio Lancashire. "Obviously I didn't question for one minute it was an accident."
She explained that retracing Jay's path allowed for a more detailed examination of the terrain and the timeline, particularly the period between his last known location and his message stating "I don't know where I am, I am lost." The documentary features forensic pathologist Richard Shepherd, who performed Jay's postmortem, discussing his injuries in simpler terms.
Duncan stated that the family is coping in different ways, and she is trying to stay busy and connect with other bereaved families. She also discussed her campaign for "Jay's Law," aimed at preventing online trolling of grieving families.
"The conspiracies were wild," she commented, referencing the numerous theories that circulated on social media after his disappearance. Duncan believes the proposed law, which would target tech companies, is not about restricting free speech but about combating "downright bullying" and misinformation. She expressed hope that "the right people were listening" to her campaign.
Despite efforts to find closure and advocate for change, Duncan admitted that living without Jay continues to be challenging, stating, "It seems to get harder to be honest."
