New pictures of missing Brit teenager Jay Slater show him living it up poolside just two days before he disappeared, but social media sleuths have noticed something apparently untoward with the snaps.
Jay’s last known location was half a mile north of Masca village. Despite ongoing efforts by emergency workers, including the Civil Guard, mountain rescue team and fire crews, the challenging terrain of the Rural de Teno park is proving difficult to search.
And now, new pictures have emerged after a fellow holidaymaker spotted photographs featuring Jay in her camera roll.
READ MORE: Tech expert claims missing Jay Slater’s dead phone ‘could still be tracked’ but ‘on one condition’
Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.
She wrote om social media: “Just came across these in my camera roll. Not sure if they could be of any help, Jay sort of looks like he’s standing (by) himself while Lucy is speaking to his other friends.”
(Image: FACEBOOK)
But an anonymous participant in one of the several Facebook groups dedicated to sharing information about Jay has taken issue with the snaps, and specifically his friend’s thumbs.
“I’ve been reluctant to post but those thumbs look the same clubbed thumbs as Hodgey’s, it’s not even close to being Jay’s,” they wrote, alongside the pictures.
“These snaps are purposely made to prove Jay was in the mountains, doesn’t mean he was.”
The poster was referencing the last post, on Snapchat, by Jay before he went missing. It featured a close up of his hand as he clutched a cigarette.
They theorised that the hand actually belonged to Jay’s friend, Brandon Hodgkin, who was also on the ill-fated holiday.
And they had support in the comments. One person wrote: “Ave also said this & got bashed for it. You can clearly tell those hands aren’t Jay’s. And how is own mother canny see that a don’t know.”
(Image: FACEBOOK)
A second added: “That is NOT Jay’s thumb then.”
A third said: “Completely see this.”
Bringing a bit of more grounded thinking to the group, one person said: “Omfg are you lot for real.”
A second said: “Oh come on the thumb is bent! Look at your thumb then bend it and look again.
“I’m very open to theories but this thumb thing is stupid.”
Another pal, Bradley, has totally refuted any suggestion there is anything nefarious going on.
“Don’t know why l’ve to jump on here to explain myself to the Facebook world but if any of yous believe me his best mate has anything to do with him going missing you’re honestly not all there,” he wrote on social media.
“I’ve known Jay most of my life go to all these raves and what not together and this was our first lads holiday with him. Nobody actually knows the true story not even me because there isn’t a factual story that has come out just a load of s*** that has been said by different people.
“Anyway won’t be saying much more on here but just thought l’d get that out.”
Both the police and Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan have expressed criticism for how the case is being portrayed on social media.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.