Jay Slater's mum finally opens bag found on his body one year after his death
Jay Slater's grieving mother unveiled the contents of the bag he was carrying when he tragically fell to his death in a new documentary.
A year on from the tragedy, Debbie Duncan admitted she 'still couldn't bring herself' to unpack the suitcase her 19-year-old son took on holiday with him to Tenerife.
Jay had jetted off with a number of pals to attend a music festival and ended up travelling back to an Airbnb in the remote Masca region with people he had met partying.
He headed off the next morning to try and make his way back to his mates on 17 June 2024, but never made it back.
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An exhaustive month-long search was launched, spearheaded by a desperate Debbie, before the bricklayer's remains were tragically discovered in a ravine located in Rural Parc de Teno.
Jay's family were left with many unanswered questions about what had happened in the lead-up to his disappearance before an inquest into his death concluded in July this year.
Over the last 12 months, a camera crew have been 'with the family every step of the way' documenting their journey through grief and battle against 'true crime armchair detectives' who taunted his loved ones online.
The Disappearance of Jay Slater, which was produced by Candour Productions, is now set to air on Channel 4 on Sunday (28 September).
In the documentary, Jay's mum Debbie revealed how she found a harrowing message on her son's phone which he never managed to send to one of his friends before he passed away.
The heartbroken parent is also filmed as she finally finds the courage to go through some of the 19-year-old's other belongings, including the bag which he was found with.
While sitting in his bedroom, Debbie movingly says: "It's been a year and I still can't bring myself to unpack his case. I still smell his smell."
She then produces a black zip bag which she explains is the one which 'Jay had with him when he was found', the Mirror reports.
"We got handed this from the Guardia Seville, it's got his things in it," Debbie adds.
The mum then delicately sifts through the items inside while narrating what she finds, saying: "His driving licence and then this bottle of aftershave and his lighters."
The inquest into Jay's death previously heard how his body had been discovered next to a dry river bed, with a bag containing his phone, passport and nitrous oxide canisters discovered around 20 metres away.
Coroner Dr James Adeley said that toxicology tests found the teen had consumed MDMA, cocaine and alcohol before his death, and that tests from Spanish authorities had found he'd used ketamine before his death as well.
He said that Jay's death was ruled as 'accidental' and had occurred after he fell from a significant height while he 'attempted to descend a ravine'.
Preston Coroner's Court was told: "Jay Slater fell approximately 20 to 25 metres resulting in skull fracture and brain trauma, from which he would have died instantly.
"There was no third party involved. Jay Dean Slater died an accidental death."
The executive producer of the upcoming Channel 4 documentary that delves into the case, Anna Hall, revealed that her crew have been working with Jay's family since last year.
"We have been working with Debbie and Warren and Jay’s wider family since last June," she said.
"What we have witnessed has been utterly horrific - not only the pain of a family in deep grief, but the full onslaught of the online world, the world of TikTokers and YouTubers who feel they can say whatever they like, widely speculating about one family’s tragedy.
"It is appalling what has happened to Jay’s family and we hope this film will help to bring awareness of the real life consequences of online speculation.
"It is an unmonitored world where fake news runs rife and this film shows the devastating impact this has had on one grieving family."
The Disappearance of Jay Slater airs on Channel 4 on Sunday, 28 September at 9pm.
Topics: UK News, Jay Slater, Channel 4, Documentaries, Parenting
Olivia Burke