Jay Slater police rule out 'kidnap or hostage' situation and explain reason

A former detective investigating the disappearance of Jay Slater has released a new video on social media. Mark Williams Thomas, a UK police expert out in Tenerife trying to help locate the missing 19-year-old, who vanished in mid-June, says he has ruled out a "hostage" situation or even a "kidnapping" for a key reason.

Mark was speaking out on Twitter, now X, as he issued a new video. He wrote on X: "So much fake content has been created in the Jay Slater case - mocked up chat, messages, pics. It’s a very different world we live in today with social media and online detectives."

Mark, who helped in the hunt for Nicola Bulley last year, went on and said: "Overwhelming response from people has been very positive people just wanting to help, even though most have no direct info, just what they have read, seen or think.

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"Also a number of people making vile threats and ransom demands (all checked out and have no credibility)." Mark continued, saying: "Being a family and friends at the centre of a massive story like this which has attracted worldwide media/public attention brings with it many more new challenges."

He said: "It is now into the 16th day since 19-year-old Jay Slater vanished in Tenerife. In that time, his disappearance has attracted worldwide media attention and as such extensive coverage on social media. This has led to massive speculation, theories - at times very misleading and with inaccurate information.

"Overwhelmingly, people are fascinated and as such they want to do their bit to help, whether by doing their own detective work or just providing comment." He says the aim of his new update is to "clear up" the inaccuracies and speculation found online.

Mr Williams-Thomas said he has gathered a "clear picture" of what happened in the hours before the disappearance of Jay.