A New York woman was found beaten to death in her rented home in Killarney, Ireland, and authorities are searching for a man known to the victim. Jamey Carney, 43, a native of Westchester County, was discovered deceased by her 13-year-old daughter on Tuesday. The daughter found her mother under bedsheets and suffering from multiple head wounds.
Authorities have escalated the case to a murder investigation. The Gardaí, Ireland's National Police, have placed ports and airports on high alert amid concerns the suspect may attempt to flee to Northern Ireland or Britain. Police were called to the home after the daughter found her mother and sought assistance from a friend.
According to reports, blood stains were found in Carney's room, and it is alleged that a duvet was used to cover her body before the perpetrator fled the scene. Carney's body was transported to University Hospital Kerry for an autopsy. The results of the postmortem examination have not been publicly disclosed.
The person of interest is described as an asylum-seeking man of Middle Eastern origin, believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s. He has reportedly lived in the Killarney area for over a year, having previously resided in France and Turkey. Investigators believe Carney and the man knew each other, having last seen each other on Sunday and Monday.
Neighbors reported hearing an argument between a man and a woman at the residence on Monday afternoon. Investigators are exploring whether the killing may have been motivated by jealousy. The suspect was not at his known address, an international asylum protection facility, and authorities are reviewing his travel documents and contacts in France and Turkey.
Carney, a former realtor and insurance sales agent in New Jersey, relocated to Ireland in 2021 with her daughter. She had visited the country previously and developed an affection for it, according to her social media accounts. At the time of her death, she was employed as an RX coordinator at a local company.
She is remembered by locals as a devoted mother who was active in her daughter's sports and a familiar face in town. A local politician described her as a loving and caring mother who was always happy and smiling. Others noted Carney's community engagement, including her advocacy for Palestinian rights, and mentioned she met the man she knew through an anti-war protest.
Killarney Mayor John O’Donoghue commented on the somber mood in the town following the news, stating that a dark cloud had fallen over the community. Carney is survived by her daughter, mother, and sister, who reside in the New York area. Her father passed away less than a year prior to her death.