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Jay Slater’s mum has suffered ‘unimaginable ache’ and never simply resulting from tragedy

Jay Slater’s devastated mum has revealed how one aspect of the her search for her son, has made her anguish even worse.

Devastated Debbie Duncan, has spoken of the unimaginable “pain and trauma” she has suffered after her missing son’s body was found in a ravine on Tenerife.

The discovery was the tragic end to a four week search for the 19-year-old, who went missing as he set off on an 11-hour walk back to his accommodation on Monday, June 17.

READ MORE: Jay Slater’s mum trolled for more donations plea – but charity slam ‘hateful’ comments

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Jay Slater's mum Debbie Duncan
Online trolls have added ‘pain and suffering’ to Debbie’s distress

Debbie said her family’s “hearts are broken” after the human remains were confirmed to belong to Jay, an apprentice bricklayer who she described as “popular” and “loving”, and her “beautiful boy”.

The mum-of-two’s grief has been compounded by the callous amateur sleuths who plagued the search for the teen, a charity has revealed, who heaped on extra “pain and trauma” on the shattered mother.

Matthew Searle, Chief Executive of LBT Global, a charity that has been helping the family, said conspiracy theorists and trolls online had made the search for Jay even more traumatic.



Jay Slater
Since the search for Jay began, online sleuths have complicated efforts

Speaking to the Independent, he said: “She’s [Debbie Duncan] found it incredibly difficult dealing with this whole situation, but with the additional stress and trauma put on her by the amount of obscene trolling, armchair detectives, so-called experts and specialists – it’s been really hard on her and the family.”

After Jay was reported as missing, his disappearance captured the world’s attention, including swathes of ‘armchair detectives’ and social media trolls sharing their own theories online.

Just days after he vanished, Debbie warned of the ‘noise’ surrounding her son’s disappearance and the mass speculation was hindering police and search teams working to find him.



Jay Slater's parents, Debbie and Warren
The trolls have come up with a range of conspiracy theories, including Jay is stuck in a cactus, that have caused a lot of pain to Jay’ parents

However, as the search continued, passing from days to weeks, the internet became awash with conspiracies, as social media groups with over half a million members became riddled with various theories, and TikTokkers posted their own explanations as to what had happened.

Searle also said that he plans to speak to the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper about the issue.

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