Jay Slater’s mom reveals second she went to see her son’s physique
Jay Slater’s mother told of how she ‘just screamed’ when she went to see her son’s body – while slamming the trolls who gave her family abuse for a GoFundMe page.
Debbie Duncan was called by the Spanish police on the morning of July 15 – four weeks after her son Jay, 19, had vanished in Tenerife.
Alongside Jay’s father Warren and brother Zak, she went to the station where they were told through a translator that officers had found a body believed to be the missing teenager.
Debbie told The Sun: ‘We were all sat in a little room and I just screamed. I don’t really remember what they were saying.
‘I had to see them to be 100 per cent sure it was him – because I couldn’t process it and was in denial.’
![Debbie Duncan (pictured) spoke to The Sun about her reaction to seeing her son's casket and slammed internet trolls who suggested Jay had stolen an expensive watch from a gangster in Tenerife before he disappeared (Credit: The Sun)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/23/88658341-13755601-Debbie_Duncan_pictured_slammed_internet_trolls_who_suggested_Jay-a-1_1724019159851.jpg)
Debbie Duncan (pictured) spoke to The Sun about her reaction to seeing her son’s casket and slammed internet trolls who suggested Jay had stolen an expensive watch from a gangster in Tenerife before he disappeared (Credit: The Sun)
![Jay Slater pictured with his mother Debbie Duncan, who has incurred the wrath of trolls since her son went missing in Tenerife in June](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/23/87579123-13755601-Jay_Slater_pictured_with_his_mother_Debbie_Duncan_who_has_incurr-m-3_1724019192772.jpg)
Jay Slater pictured with his mother Debbie Duncan, who has incurred the wrath of trolls since her son went missing in Tenerife in June
After a sombre one-hour journey to a mortuary in Santa Cruz, police insisted the family should not see Jay’s body as he had fallen down a rocky ravine in the Rural de Teno park.
Debbie said: ‘We just got taken into a room and it was just a casket, And the rose was on top, what they had put there. And I just broke down again and screamed and cried.’
The Slater Family received a torrent of abuse online when they were searching for Jay as well as in the weeks after his tragic death.
Trolls accused them of stealing money from a GoFundMe page they didn’t even set up. Jay’s friend Lucy-Mae Law started the fundraiser on behalf of the family.
Debbie said even though trolls attacked her about the fundraiser, she had no clue what it was and barely used any of the money, save for some accomodation costs, a search dog team and Jay’s repatriation.
Debbie also confirmed she had been speaking to a liaison officer at GoFundMe ‘virtually everyday’ who knows the ‘money has not been misused’.
![Jay's mother described the 19-year-old as 'a lovely boy with a massive personality'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/23/88661677-13755601-Jay_s_mother_described_the_19_year_old_as_a_lovely_boy_with_a_ma-m-6_1724019384141.jpg)
Jay’s mother described the 19-year-old as ‘a lovely boy with a massive personality’
![Jay (pictured) went missing in Tenerife on June 17 and his body was found four weeks later. He was described by his mothers as 'loving and popular, always full of fun and smiling'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/23/88661691-13755601-image-m-7_1724019392012.jpg)
Jay (pictured) went missing in Tenerife on June 17 and his body was found four weeks later. He was described by his mothers as ‘loving and popular, always full of fun and smiling’
![Jay Slater's last known movements in Tenerife before he was found one month after going missing](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/20/88377113-13755371-Jay_Slater_s_last_known_movements_in_Tenerife_before_he_was_foun-a-8_1724008123764.jpg)
Jay Slater’s last known movements in Tenerife before he was found one month after going missing
The apprentice bricklayer went missing in Tenerife on June 17 and so began an extensive month-long search of the Spanish island where he was attending a music festival with his mates.
Four weeks later his body was tragically found down a rocky ravine in the Rural de Teno park with traumatic head injuries consistent with a fall from height.
Hundreds of mourners braved the drizzle at Accrington Crematorium Chapel in Lancashire last week to attend the teenager’s funeral.
The farewell was a sea of blue, as this was Jay’s favourite colour. People were seen carrying blue flowers, wearing blue wristbands and ribbons, even blue smoke bombs were let off outside.
Jay’s body was brought to the chapel by horse-drawn carriage in a blue coffin, with ‘JAY’ embossed on the side.
His mother Debbie and father Warren Slater, 58, both wiped away tears as they led a procession of mourners.
The Slater family has endured conspiracy theories and vitriolic comments online since the teenager went missing – including hoax hostage videos.
Slamming the trolls, Jay’s grieving mother said: ‘The people saying stuff about him didn’t know Jay and they don’t know us.
‘He hasn’t been here to defend himself against all these horrible stories that were going on around the world about him.’
![Jay's older brother Zak (left) wipes away a tear as he holds his mother's arm](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/20/88380911-13755371-Jay_s_older_brother_Zak_left_wipes_away_a_tear_as_he_holds_his_m-a-2_1724007839623.jpg)
Jay’s older brother Zak (left) wipes away a tear as he holds his mother’s arm
![The order of service for the teenager's funeral](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/20/88379469-13755371-The_order_of_service_for_the_teenager_s_funeral-a-6_1724007874721.jpg)
![The back of the order of service for Jay Slater](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/20/88379473-13755371-The_back_of_the_order_of_service_for_Jay_Slater-a-7_1724007874801.jpg)
The order of service for Jay’s funeral featured a picture of the teenager smiling with the words ‘Forever 19’
![Jay's body was brought to Accrington Crematorium Chapel by horse-drawn carriage](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/20/88379481-13755371-Jay_s_body_was_brought_to_Accrington_Crematorium_Chapel_by_horse-a-3_1724007860799.jpg)
Jay’s body was brought to Accrington Crematorium Chapel by horse-drawn carriage
![Jay has been laid to rest in a bright blue coffin, with his name embossed on the side](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/20/88379479-13755371-Jay_has_been_laid_to_rest_in_a_bright_blue_coffin_with_his_name_-a-4_1724007863213.jpg)
Jay has been laid to rest in a bright blue coffin, with his name embossed on the side
![Mother Debbie Duncan, 55, and father Warren Slater, 58, both wiped away tears as they led a procession of mourners through the drizzle at Accrington Crematorium Chapel today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/20/88380287-13755371-Mother_Debbie_Duncan_55_and_father_Warren_Slater_58_both_wiped_a-a-5_1724007865263.jpg)
Mother Debbie Duncan, 55, and father Warren Slater, 58, both wiped away tears as they led a procession of mourners through the drizzle at Accrington Crematorium Chapel today
Debbie was sent two sick videos of people, meant to be Jay, being beaten up and one clip was labelled: ‘We have your son’.
The funeral was even targeted by online scammers who wrongly claimed people could pay to watch it streaming live.
Despite scammers attempting to ruin the funeral, videos of the young teenager playing football, which he started from the age of six, and of him dancing at festivals brought laughter to those inside the chapel.
In an eulogy, his friend James Curry said he was ‘more than a mate’ and ‘more like a brother’.
Mr Curry, who was due to start a business with Jay, added: ‘Jay was one of a kind. He lit up any room with that goofy smile of his.’
His close friend said he ‘cherished’ his time with him as poems were also read out during the service.
Another said: ‘Keep partying up there’.
Perhaps fittingly for Jay, a known raver, his coffin was carried outside for burial to the sound of a drum-and-bass track.
![A large outdoor screen was put up for the many people who came to say goodbye](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/20/88379985-13755371-A_large_outdoor_screen_was_put_up_for_the_many_people_who_came_t-a-9_1724009298922.jpg)
A large outdoor screen was put up for the many people who came to say goodbye
![Jay's work colleague wear blue t-shirts which say 'in memory of Jay Slater' on the back](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/20/88379553-13755371-Jay_s_work_colleague_wear_blue_t_shirts_which_say_in_memory_of_J-a-10_1724009310233.jpg)
Jay’s work colleague wear blue t-shirts which say ‘in memory of Jay Slater’ on the back
![One man had brought a blue rose with his for the service](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/20/88379531-13755371-One_man_had_brought_a_blue_rose_with_his_for_the_service-a-11_1724009313453.jpg)
One man had brought a blue rose with his for the service
![People put blue ribbons up all around the church in memory of the teenager](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/20/88379543-13755371-People_put_blue_ribbons_up_all_around_the_church_in_memory_of_th-a-12_1724009318604.jpg)
People put blue ribbons up all around the church in memory of the teenager
![One car set off a blue flare as they approached the church](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/08/18/20/88379547-13755371-One_car_set_off_a_blue_flare_as_they_approached_the_church-a-13_1724009321210.jpg)
One car set off a blue flare as they approached the church
The family said: ‘After Jay left Rhyddings High School he went on to become an apprentice bricklayer with the PH Build group, a job he greatly enjoyed.
‘At the young age of five Jay started playing football for Huncoat United FC until the age of 17 and also did a few seasons with the Sunday team at St Joseph’s too.
‘He also loved spending time chilling out with his friends.
‘Jay’s love of music and dance started at a very young age. He loved attending music festivals and events across the country and also loved to socialise and meet new people.’