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WARPED conspiracy theorists on TikTok have been blasted by Jay Slater’s friends who warned trolls: “He’s not just a pawn for your fame.”
It comes as idiotic online sleuths jet to Tenerife in a twisted bid to join the hunt for the 19-year-old, who vanished ten days ago.
Ian Whittaker
tiktok/ @theknightstrider1
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TikTok
Helicopters, drones, sniffer dogs and dozens of emergency crews have been working tirelessly to find any trace of Jay.
Much of the hunt has been focussed on the unforgiving 2,000ft “badlands” Masca ravine – where Jay’s phone last pinged a nearby cell tower at 8.50am on June 17.
But mindless wannabe sleuths have taken it upon themselves to attempt to investigate Jay’s disappearance.
Sat behind their computers 2,000 miles away in the UK, internet trolls are peddling wild conspiracy theories and baseless claims.
Many are using Google maps to scour the desolate Rural de Teno park to hunt for clues before plastering their wild thoughts over social media.
Apprentice bricklayer Jay, from Lancashire, headed to Masca with two British men at the end of a three-day rave he flew to Tenerife to attend.
He stayed at their rented Airbnb for a couple of hours before trying to make his way back to his holiday accommodation.
The teen made a final frantic call to friend Lucy Law from the vast park last Monday morning.
Desperate Jay told her he was lost in the middle of nowhere with no water, had just one per cent battery on his phone and had cut his leg on a cactus.
As the days since Jay was last seen or heard from tick by, reckless trolls have been spreading outrageous conspiracy theories online.
Thousands of keyboard bashers have joined a pathetic Facebook group called Jay Slater Discussions and Theories.
Within the publicly visible groups are dozens of cruel, senseless posts spewing completely unfounded claims and vile comments.
Far-fetched theories suggest Jay could have been kidnapped after crossing “Moroccan drugs gangs” or that the mafia is behind his disappearance.
Jay’s pal Megan Blair called out trolls and warned them to stop spreading ridiculous claims.
It comes as…
- Tenerife cops draft in specialist sniffer dogs to find Jay
- Brit cops haven’t questioned two men Jay was last with
- Madeleine McCann cop jets to Tenerife to join search
- Mayor says locals think they’ve spotted Jay watching Euros
- Jay’s mum says she’s ‘barely slept’ as teen’s ex flies to Tenerife
- Brit hiker ‘rescued’ by Jay search teams says he didn’t need saving
- Jay’s machete attack victim backs search for teen
- Teen’s friend slam fake death posts on social media
She said: “Can everyone stop believing everything they see on TikTok, the stories aren’t true and just things people are making up.
“I honestly think it’s disgusting, there are people going live with the caption “finding Jay”.
“If you are helping to find Jay then do it without using him as a way to gain followers.
“He isn’t just a pawn in your way to get fame. This is somebody’s son and friend and there are people who are genuinely worried.”
Heartless trolls have also tabled the idea that Jay’s disappearance is all a hoax and was set up as a scam to rake in public donations.
Jay’s distraught mum Debbie Duncan was forced to hit back at trolls who questioned what more than £30,000 collected on a GoFundMe page would be used for.
Debbie said: “I am really am saddened by all your comments. You seem to be so bothered about this GoFundMe page.
“I really hope I am not taking my son home in a body bag.
“I really cannot believe the British public are not supporting me in trying to find Jay.
“This may happen to any of you one day. Very let down by you all.”
Jay’s family have had to endure an onslaught of nasty messages and bogus theories from trolls online after the teen vanished.
Paul Arnott filming himself hunting for Jay for TikTok
He showed his followers the mountainous terrain he is going over
Knight is also searching in the mountainous parkThey fear the “noise” around the case could hamper the investigation.
Vicious trolls have compared Debbie to Karen Mattews – a woman dubbed “Britain’s worst mum”.
Matthews made headlines in 2008 when she cooked up a sickening plot with relative Michael Donovan to make money off her daughter’s fake kidnapping.
Debbie says she has been bombarded with sham calls from idiotic pranksters claiming her son has been kidnapped.
The worried mum also received a warped Snapchat message telling her to “kiss goodbye to your son”.
Jay’s heartbroken family have also had to contend with depraved fake death posts being shared on social media.
And Debbie’s partner Andy Watson said a sick person claiming to be a medium had been in touch with her, claiming to know Jay’s location.
They tried to demand the family by a plane ticket for them to fly to Tenerife in exchange for the knowledge.
Meanwhile, some TikTok influencers have taken it upon themselves to fly to the island to film themselves hunting for Jay for bizarre vanity projects.
Armed with their cameras and hiking boots, they have recorded themselves trekking through the mountainous scrubland Jay was last known to be in.
Ian Whittaker
Ian Whittaker
ReutersAmong them are British TikTok vloggers Andrew Knight and Paul Arnott, who have been sharing clips with the legions of followers.
Paul, from Bedfordshire, claimed in his latest video that he has been welcomed by police in Tenerife.
The 29-year-old said: “They’ve literally just been driving me all round the mountain. I’ve got into two different vehicles. They’ve literally been telling what’s been going on.
“And what they have actually said, just to confirm, the police have told me they will welcome anyone who is actually competent and who wants to help the search.
“So I think guys when people come and they’re not dressed appropriately and stuff like that, that can put them off.”
Paul – who has 193,000 followers – showed off where he was searching in the vast ravine – which he described as “super dodgy terrain”.
A misleading caption in bold yellow letters over one of his clips reads “body found! absolute madness”.
Another TikTok sleuth on the island is Andrew Knight who has gone out with his drone to try and hunt for Jay.
The travel and lifestyle vlogger, who has almost 60,000 followers, has even encouraged others to join the search – but not to come alone.
In a clip he told his fans: “I want to show you just how treacherous and steep this landscape is.
“A lot of the pictures online don’t really do it justice…just how treacherous and barren and remote this landscape is.”
Former cop Charlie Hedges told The Sun about the risks of online sleuths and amateur detectives trying to crack the case.
He urged the public not to take it upon themselves to help the search as he noted despite their best intentions they may end up causing more trouble.
It comes as the real search teams continue their hunt for the tenth day – having drafted in reinforcements from Madrid.
Search dog units trained specially to comb large areas have been flown in from Madrid some 1,300 miles away.
But search cops say the new dogs are much better trained to handle the vast landscape.
Ian Whittaker
Jay Slater’s family have shared a grainy CCTV image they believe could be himTimeline of Jay Slater’s disappearance
By Ellie Doughty, Foreign News Reporter
SUNDAY JUNE 16 – MONDAY 17
Jay goes to a rave at the 2024 NRG music festival in Tenerife, around Arona on the south of the island
8.35pm – Jay posts a smiling Snapchat video of him laughing with friends
He leaves the rave with two men he met that day and is driven back to their accommodation across the island
MONDAY 17
7.30am – Jay posts a Snapchat of a hand holding a cigarette in the area where the accommodation was – near the rural de Teno Park on the north of the island
8.30am – Jay calls his friend Lucy Law and tells her he missed a bus, had one per cent of battery left on his phone and was stuck in the “middle of nowhere”
9am – A missing persons report is filed and the search for Jay begins
TUESDAY 18
2am – Police knock on the door of Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan’s home and tell her to catch the first flight out to Tenerife
7am – She flies out from Manchester Airport alongside her son Zak to help with the search
Debbie is sent a Snapchat message saying “Kiss goodbye to your boy, you’re never going to see him again, he owes me a lot of money.”
WEDNESDAY 19
12.30pm – Police move the search to the south of the island briefly after a false sighting
Cops search his hotel room for clues as his mum says there was “nothing untoward there”
Debbie gives a heart-wrenching interview where she shares fears he has been “taken” and says “I just want my baby back”
THURSDAY 20
Cops begin day four of the massive search for Jay
FRIDAY 21
Lancashire cops offer to help with the search but Tenerife authorities say they are “satisfied that they have the resources they need”
Search turns to 22,000ft ravine in Masca – part of an area dubbed “the badlands” by locals
SATURDAY 22
The sixth day of the search begins with sniffer dogs, cops, mountain rescue and firefighters again taking to the hills in northern Tenerife
Possible new sighting of Jay places him near a church with two men at 6pm on Monday – although unconfirmed by police
Jay’s dad Warren and brother Zak visit the search site in Tenerife
SUNDAY 23
Cops focus their search around small outbuildings in de Teno park near where Jay’s phone last pinged
Jay’s mum Debbie says trolls are comparing her to Karen Matthews
The GoFundMe set up by Jay’s friend Lucy surpasses £30,000 after just three days
Exclusive Sun footage shows Jay appearing to fall and stumble back up at a rave before he vanished
MONDAY 24
Search for Jay enters eighth day
Police expand search area north to parts of Buenavista del Norte
Jay’s dad says his family are in ‘a living hell’
TUESDAY 25
Brit hiker found by Jay search teams says he ‘didn’t need to be saved’
Madeleine McCann cop lands in Tenerife to join search
Tenerife cops call in reinforcements from Madrid – including specialist sniffer dogs
English (US)