The family of Jamey Carney, a 43-year-old New York woman found deceased in her home in Killarney, Ireland, is grappling with the shock and devastation of her death, which a close cousin described as a "nightmare."
Carney's mother, Kathy, struggled to convey the tragic news to other family members, according to her cousin, Ryan Fox. "It’s something that nobody expected because, two days before, there was a picture posted, everybody’s smiling," Fox told RTÉ, referring to Carney's last Instagram post celebrating July 4 with her boyfriend, Ahmad Alsaqer.
Alsaqer, 24, a person of interest in the case, is believed to have fled Ireland, possibly to Turkey. He reportedly arrived from the Middle East in 2024 and applied for asylum. Authorities identified him as a "person of significant interest" after Carney was discovered beaten to death in her home on Tuesday morning by her now 13-year-old daughter. An autopsy revealed that Carney died of suffocation, despite having multiple severe head wounds.
Carney, originally from Westchester, New York, had relocated to Ireland in 2021 with her daughter. Fox stated that he never sensed any fear for her safety from his cousin, with whom he was raised "almost like siblings." He added that if he had, measures would have been taken.
The family is concerned that Alsaqer's background may be unfairly generalized. "Do not use this to become bigoted or racist or prejudiced in any way. Bad people are in every group, and it is not the people who look like them who deserve to be blamed," Fox urged.
Fox remembered Carney as a generous and compassionate individual, describing her as "the sweetest, most caring, most humanitarian" person who would "take the shirt off her back" for someone in need. He also noted her deep affection for Ireland, stating, "My Jamey was proud to be Irish and proud to be American, and everybody that’s known her in America or in Ireland knows what a huge heart she has." Carney had reportedly met Alsaqer about 18 months prior at an anti-Israel protest.