Jay Slater investigator claims he will reveal reason why teen left Airbnb

An investigator who was working to find Jay Slater has released a video stating that he knows the reason why the teenager left the Airbnb before his disappearance.

Jay Slater was reported as missing on 17 June in Tenerife after attending a music festival. His body was found 29 days later on 15 July - authorities said his death was caused “by trauma consistent with a fall in a rocky area”.

Mark Williams-Thomas, an ex-police officer and turned investigative journalist worked with authorities and Jay Slater’s family and friends, to help find the missing teen.

The disappearance gained much media attention as online sleuths tried to help piece together what could have happened.

In a video posted to TikTok, Mark Williams-Thomas claimed he knows the reasons why Jay Slater left the Airbnb and did not return. He said: “Maybe, when the time is right, I will reveal those.

“I've got to be very careful. What I don't want to do is upset the family with any more trauma than they have already had and so it would be something I would work very closely with Debbie and the family on to reveal that information.”

There was no evidence in the video of these claims but the detective said he is working closely with Jay Slater’s family.

The search was hindered by amateur sleuths and conspiracy theorists who suggested unlikely claims and trolled the family.

After leaving his two friends, Lucy and Brad who he has been on holiday with, he travelled to an Airbnb in the remote Masca village with two men after leaving the music festival. Later that morning he called Lucy to say he was thirsty, lost and had one percent phone battery.

His mobile cut out at 8.50am near a hiking trail in the Rural de Teno national park — an 11-hour trek from his apartment in the south of the island.

Mark Williams-Thomas says an update could come soon.