Jay Slater’s mum thanks mystery person who ‘looked after’ £72k GoFundMe after revealing what donations were spent on
JAY Slater’s mum thanked a mystery person for looking after the GoFundMe page that raised over £72,000 for her son, in a final message to donors.
Debbie Duncan, 56, closed the fundraiser five months after it was created following Jay’s disappearance.
A huge search mission started after Jay went missing on 17 June and his body was later found by Spanish mountain rescue crews on 15 July.
Jay’s best friend Lucy Mae – who visited Tenerife with him – set up the GoFundMe, and is listed as an “organiser” on the page.
Debbie is also listed as a “beneficiary” on the fundraising page.
It was believed Jay’s family was operating the GoFundMe page along with his friend Lucy Mae.
The mother’s latest comment suggested another unknown person was involved in managing the page that raised £72,821.
She thanked a mystery person who oversaw the fundraiser.
Debbie wrote: “We would also like to thank the person who looked after Jay’s fundraiser page whom we have been in constant contact with, especially whilst in Tenerife, the support and advice you gave will not be forgotten.
“Donations will be turned off with this final message.”
Debbie also thanked all of the people who donated to the fundraiser and helped the family.
She said: “We would like to thank all you beautiful people who supported us throughout this heartbreaking time.”
“Jay really did touch the hearts of the nation and it truly showed us how much love you all shared with us.”
The mother’s final message shared what these donations had been spent on.
She revealed part of the £72,000 pot was used to help the family stay in Tenerife and fly Jay back home.
Money was also put towards a search team from the Netherlands to help find Jay.
Timeline of the tragic case
JAY'S body was finally found after weeks of agony for the teen's friends and family with many questions still left unanswered - here is how the events unfolded...
Sunday, June 16: Jay and his friends party at the last day of NRG music festival being held at Papagayo night club in Playa de la Americas, Tenerife.
June 17 3-6am: Jay leaves with Ayub Qassim and another man for a £40-a-night Airbnb 23 miles away in the village of Masca.
7.30am: Jay shares a photo on Snapchat standing at doorway of the Airbnb.
8.50am: He calls pal Lucy Mae Law and says he is “lost in the middle of nowhere” with no water, a cut to his leg and one per cent on his phone.
Tuesday, June 18: Pals search area but no sign of Jay. Local cops and mountain rescue teams start official search. Jay’s mother Debbie Duncan flies to Tenerife.
June 19-20: Spanish police deploy drones, dogs and a helicopter, but find no trace. Search moves to Los Cristianos amid possible sighting, but it is ruled out and
they return to Rural de Teno, near Masca.
June 21: Lancashire Police offer support but it is declined.
June 22: Mum Debbie issues emotional appeal to Jay saying “We just need you home.”
June 24: Claims of Jay sighting in Santiago del Teide — near to where he disappeared — and family believe a grainy CCTV image could be of him.
June 25: Debbie issues plea for her son to come home as more friends fly out and TV investigator Mark Williams- Thomas joins search.
June 29: Cops rule Mr Qassim, and other man at Airbnb, out of investigation.
June 30: Spanish cops officially suspend hunt but say probe “remains open”. His family continue to search.
July 15: A body is found by helicopter search team close to where his phone last pinged. His possessions are discovered next to human remains. Spanish cops say it points to an “accidental fall”.
August 5: Tenerife authorities confirm the body found in mountainous area of island is Jay’s.
August 10: Jay’s funeral is held at Accrington Crematorium, Lancs, with hundreds of mourners gathering to remember the “one of a kind” teen
His mum also revealed that the family were still in pain over Jay’s tragic death.
Debbie said: “We have been overwhelmed with messages of support from all over the globe and will be eternally grateful to all of you.
“Our journey of trauma and grief will continue for ever and we will never recover.
“We lost our beautiful boy in extremely tragic circumstances whilst the world watched.”
JAY’S CASE
The search for the 19-year-old started in June as his disappearance drew national attention.
Jay had been on holiday to Tenerife, Spain, with his friends but vanished.
He was last seen leaving the Papagayo nightclub with Ayub Qassim and another man for a £40-a-night Airbnb 23 miles away.
Jay had made a phone call to Lucy Mae at 8.50am the morning he was last seen.
The teenager said he was “lost in the middle of nowhere.”
Jay’s body was found after an extensive search and his death was ruled to be an “accidental fall” down a treacherous ravine.
A funeral was held at Accrington Crematorium, Lancashire, where hundreds of mourners gathered.