Jay Slater’s Mum Finally Responds to Claims of £12k Rolex Theft Before Tenerife Disappearance

Debbie Duncan, the heartbroken mother of Jay Slater, has spoken out for the first time regarding the unfounded claims that her son had “stolen a £12,000 Rolex watch” before his tragic disappearance in Tenerife. The 19-year-old Lancashire apprentice bricklayer vanished on June 17 while on holiday with friends, and his body was discovered a month later in a ravine near the village of Masca.

Jay’s disappearance had sparked a wave of rumors and accusations online, with one particularly troubling theory suggesting that he had become involved with a drug cartel on the island and had stolen a valuable Rolex from a gangster during a night out. Debbie, 56, has now come forward to address these claims, dismissing them as baseless and hurtful.

In an interview with The Sun, Debbie firmly denied the allegations, saying, “He would never have been involved in anything like that.” She emphasized that her son had only been in Tenerife for three days and was attending a music festival with friends, which had wristbands, security, and a well-organized itinerary. “I’ve no idea where these drug stories have come from, and the stuff about him stealing a watch is nonsense,” she added, stressing the absurdity of the rumors.

Jay had attended the NRG music festival with two friends before his disappearance. His last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island, about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation. He had traveled to an Airbnb in Masca after a night out, but the two men who had rented the property were later ruled “not relevant” to the case by the authorities.

The Spanish Civil Guard concluded that Jay likely fell in the steep and inaccessible area where his body was eventually found. His death was confirmed to be the result of traumatic head injuries consistent with a fall from a significant height. Earlier this month, Jay was laid to rest in a poignant ceremony at Accrington Crematorium, attended by up to 500 mourners.

The service, described as a “celebration of his life,” saw many attendees, including Jay’s work colleagues from PH Build Group, dressed in blue as a tribute to him. The colleagues wore T-shirts emblazoned with “Forever 19” in his memory. Video clips of Jay’s dance moves and photo tributes were shared during the service, and mourners received cards featuring a photograph of the teenager with the words “Remembering with Love, Jay Dean Slater, Always In Our Hearts, #forever 19.”

Debbie’s remarks aim to put an end to the hurtful speculations surrounding her son’s tragic death, as the family continues to grieve their immense loss.