The Guardia Civil has concluded its search for 19-year-old Jay Slater, who disappeared in Tenerife on June 17th after attending a three-day music festival. Despite extensive search efforts involving helicopters, drones, and dogs, no trace of the young man has been found. The case remains open, with the possibility that new information could reactivate the search.
Graham Wettone, a former officer of the London Metropolitan Police and an expert in missing persons cases, has voiced concerns about the investigation. According to the Daily Mail, Wettone has urged the Spanish police to accept assistance from their British counterparts to review the case comprehensively.
Wettone argues that after two weeks without significant findings, it is essential to explore other avenues, including the possibility of criminal activity. He suggests re-examining testimonies and evidence and questioning the credibility of certain witnesses.
“Many things simply do not add up. After so much time without finding anything, one wonders if he is still there or somewhere else,” Wettone remarks, expressing his belief that Jay Slater “might not actually be missing.”
Slater was last seen with two British men at an Airbnb following the festival. These men were questioned and allowed to return to the UK, deemed “irrelevant” to the investigation, a decision Wettone questions. He proposes that the Spanish police reassess these testimonies with British help to ensure no details have been overlooked.
“They need to determine if there was third-party involvement,” he insists. “I hope they have at least examined the Airbnb for evidence. I would speak again with all the witnesses because I have a feeling that many of them might not be telling the truth.”
Wettone also suggests that the police could benefit from a complete re-evaluation of the days leading up to Jay’s disappearance, including a review of his bank transactions for any unusual activity. He questions the focus of the search on Masca and proposes exploring other locations and setting up roadblocks to gather more information from potential witnesses.
“The fact that no evidence has been found in the area makes me question if he was really there and prompts me to investigate another path. I would have set up some kind of roadblock to stop and ask witnesses if they had seen anything. It was nine in the morning; there would have been people around.”
Jay’s family, devastated by the suspension of the official search, are continuing their efforts independently. The Guardia Civil has stated that any new relevant information will be investigated and could reactivate the search operations.
While the official search has ended, the case of Jay Slater remains unresolved. Experts like Graham Wettone advocate for international collaboration and a thorough review of all evidence and testimonies to uncover new leads and ultimately resolve the mystery.
