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A FORMER cop has revealed the four riddles still plaguing the Jay Slater case after a body was found in the hunt for the missing Brit.
Detective Peter Bleksley still has questions on why cops didn’t reveal the body’s location and a possible discrepancy between where the body was found and where Jay’s phone last pinged.
A body was found on Monday in the village of Masca, Tenerife, amid frantic searches for Jay[/caption]After four weeks of gruelling search across the Spanish paradise of Tenerife, cops fear Jay may have accidentally fallen to his death while walking in a remote area.
The 19-year-old vanished on the morning of June 17 after going to a rave the night before with friends – sparking a huge effort to find the Lancashire teen.
Spanish cops axed the official search less than two weeks in – but a body believed to be Jay’s was found today in the village of Masca – the area he was last known to be.
It is understood the body was found close to where his mobile phone last pinged – with Jay’s belongings and clothes.
But detective Bleksley, who worked in Scotland Yard in high-profile investigations, still has four questions which still remain unanswered to him.
BODY LOCATION VS PHONE PING
The ex cop first addressed the discrepancy between where Jay’s body was found and where his phone last pinged.
He pointed out that initial reports indicated the teen was in rugged, unfamiliar terrain with only one per cent battery left on his phone and no water, suggesting he was already in distress when he went missing.
Bleksley told The Sun: “He had 1% battery power left on his mobile phone, and he had no water or other drink.
“It was also suggested that he cut himself on a cactus, and all those facts would indicate that this, perhaps, was a man in rugged, unfamiliar terrain, who was clearly going to be getting into difficulties in a short space of time.
“Some people chose to ignore those facts as they were known, and go off into wild.”
COPS NOT REVEALING LOCATION
The police‘s reticence to disclose the exact location of the discovery is another riddle plaguing the Slater case, the detective said.
It is understood the body was found close to where his mobile phone last pinged – with Jay’s belongings and clothes.
But Spanish cops have refused to reveal the exact location where the body was found.
Bleksley understood the sensitive nature of the information but also highlighted the community’s desire for transparency.
He also critiqued the handling of information by the authorities, suggesting improvements in communication with the media and, crucially, with the families of missing people.
BODY FOUND IN INACCESSIBLE AREA
Detective Bleksley also speculated on how Jay Slater could have ended up in such an inaccessible area, emphasising the challenges posed by the rugged terrain.
He commended the efforts of the Guardia Civil and acknowledged the vastness of the area and the difficulty in covering every inch.
The ex-Scotland Yard cop said: “Ravines, crevices, caves, very tall drop-offs into areas almost untouchable, cannot be reached by people searching on foot presents a vast challenge, and to scour every square inch of every square metre is quite frankly impossible.”
Detective Bleksley also questioned how could Jay reach the ‘inaccessible area’ in Masca, where a body was found[/caption]Statement from charity LBT Global
“It is understood the body was found close to the site of his mobile phone’s last location.
“Although formal identification is yet to be carried out, the body was found with Mr Slater’s possessions and clothes.
“A post mortem and forensic enquiries will follow.
“LBT Global are supporting the family at this distressing time and ask for everyone to afford them space and privacy to come to terms with the news.”
CAUSE OF DEATH
Thirdly, Bleksley discussed the cause of death, which was initially undetermined due to the condition of the remains.
He noted that establishing this would take time, considering the remote location and how long forensic analysis could take.
When questioned if there was any chance of getting all these answers sooner, Bleksley said: “If they [police] had been able to mobilize a battalion of a thousand soldiers, for example, then I suspect the answers could have been discovered much earlier.
“But given the resources that they had, and doubtless other priorities that the Guardia Civil have on Tenerife, like keeping the peace and detecting crime, I think they probably deployed all the resources that they reasonably felt they could do at that time.”
He concluded: “This case might just make people of all ages a little bit more careful when they venture out to these places to enjoy their holidays.
“And I sincerely hope it will make some people think twice before taking drugs in an area that they’re unfamiliar with, surrounded by people that might not have the best of intentions for them.”
Jay Slater pictured with his mum Debbie Duncan[/caption] The Airbnb where Jay stayed the night before he vanished without a trace[/caption]