Yahoo News Jay Slater's parents hold desperate talks with police a day after search called off
The parents of missing Jay Slater has had urgent discussions with police in Tenerife, just a day after the search for him was called off.
Debbie and Warren, the distraught parents of the 19 year old from Oswaldtwistle, have been pleading with officers for answers about their ongoing investigation. "The family want to be sure the police aren't giving up on Jay," a source close to the family told the Mirror.
"They are in constant contact with them about the case." Mark Williams-Thomas, a former British police detective assisting the family, previously revealed: "They have been talking to the police most days and are speaking to them again today."
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These discussions, believed to have occurred over the phone, came as detectives declared they found no evidence of criminal activity related to Jay's disappearance, treating it as a missing persons case. As per standard procedure in Spain, the force reported to a court, initiating a routine judicial investigation.
The court released details of the case on Sunday, including that Jay was officially reported missing to the police "between 6pm and 8pm" on June 17. A judicial source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "There is no evidence of criminality at this stage in this case.
"That's not to say things won't change because the case remains open and investigations are ongoing. But right now that's the situation." It is being presided over by investigating judge Maria Goya.
Another source said: "The Civil Guard don't have to tell the judge about everything officers are doing, but will be keeping her updated on case progress and of course update her on any significant developments."
Jay's family, including mum Debbie, who works as a school finance officer, and dad Warren, 58, have vowed to stay in Spain until Jay is found. Debbie had previously said she believed he may have been kidnapped, but there have been no credible requests for ransom.
TikTok star and amateur mountaineer Paul Arnott, 29, who is working for the family, yesterday carried on searching in the area, close to Masca, where Jay was last seen. Mr Arnott, from Bedfordshire, was yesterday focusing on two new leads, including a set of GPS co-ordinates and the discovery of a broken pair of sunglasses that resemble a pair Jay had previously been seen wearing.
However, it has not been confirmed that the eyewear has any connection to the missing teen. The apprentice bricklayer had been partying at Papagayo nightclub in Playa Las Americas the night before he vanished.
Two older British men drove him 20 miles to their holiday rental in Masca, an 11-hour walk from where he was staying, before he was seen leaving on foot the next morning. Police have said the pair have "no relevance" to his disappearance.
Speaking on his TikTok channel, Mr Arnott said he has now secured accommodation in Tenerife for at least two more weeks. He said: "I'm gonna stay here until we find Jay. I'm gonna do my best, I really am."
Mr Arnott had previously blasted the police's final day of searching on Saturday, which saw just six volunteers join around 30 professional rescuers, describing it as "ridiculous" and "a massive PR thing".
He has also raised the idea of bringing in a team of British searchers, suggesting: "I wish we could start a GoFundMe or something and just send a load of search and rescue guys from Scotland out."
"Maybe Monday I can contact Scottish Mountain Rescue and see if we can have a chat about things, but at the moment this is ridiculous. This is mad."
