A migrant wanted in connection with the killing of American mother Jamey Carney in Ireland had his asylum application rejected but remained in the country while appealing the decision, according to reports from Irish media. The individual, described by police as a person of interest, reportedly possessed a passport and departed Ireland on a flight to Istanbul, Turkey, before Carney’s body was found.
Carney, 43, was discovered dead in her home in Killarney, County Kerry, on Tuesday. Irish police have launched a murder investigation and an international manhunt for the individual of interest.
The reports have intensified scrutiny of Ireland's asylum system and the processes that allowed the individual to remain in the country after a potential asylum refusal. The Irish Mirror reported the individual, a Jordanian national, arrived in Ireland in 2024 and had been residing in a state-run migrant shelter. The outlet stated the person spent increasing time at Carney's home after they became romantically involved.
The person of interest reportedly traveled to Ireland via the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Social media accounts attributed to this individual show posts from the United Kingdom and Turkey in recent years.
Carney, a New York native who moved to Ireland in 2021, described herself on social media as a "New Yorker in Ireland." Her profiles also indicated a romantic relationship with a man she identified as her partner.
Detectives believe Carney died around 11 p.m. Monday, approximately 14 hours before her body was discovered by her 13-year-old daughter at around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday local time. By that time, the person of interest had already traveled 200 miles to Dublin Airport and boarded a flight.
Irish police issued alerts to airports, ports, and transit stations shortly after Carney's body was found, but the individual had already departed the country. Investigators are reportedly concerned that the suspect may have already traveled to Jordan, a country that does not have an extradition treaty with Ireland.
Dublin City Councilor Gavin Pepper criticized Irish police for not publicly identifying the person of interest sooner, suggesting the delay provided a significant head start before the individual left the country. A law enforcement source indicated that the search would be difficult due to the head start the individual had.
The State Department confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Carney's family. Irish police have not publicly confirmed the identity or immigration status of the person they are seeking.