Nearly a year has passed since 19-year-old Jay Slater vanished after a night out in Tenerife, and as his inquest finally began in the UK, the investigation has hit a frustrating snag.
Despite the significance of the hearing for Jay’s grieving family, key witnesses have either gone silent—or are seemingly unaware they’re even wanted.
One of the most important figures in the case, Lucy Law, was one of the last people to see Jay alive.
But rather than appearing in court, she’s reportedly been on holiday in Tenerife, the very island where Jay died.
“We Didn’t Even Know the Inquest Was Today”
Lucy Law’s family expressed shock when police suddenly knocked on their door asking where she was.
According to her stepfather, Andy Davis, no one in the household even knew the inquest was happening that day.
“The police just showed up and asked if Lucy was home,” Davis said from their home in Burnley.
“I told them she was abroad, and that was the first we even heard she was supposed to be in court.”
He added that they hadn’t seen any paperwork from the police prior to that visit.
Meanwhile, a source from Jay Slater’s family expressed disbelief that the authorities couldn’t locate people they themselves were able to track down in no time.
“Lucy is in Tenerife. Another witness is in Greece. If we can find this out, why can’t the police?” they asked.
Witnesses Allegedly Dodging Police Because of Drug Involvement
The coroner overseeing the inquest, Dr. James Adeley, acknowledged that the police had struggled to reach several important witnesses.
He pointed out that when drugs are involved in a case, people often become less willing to speak.
Toxicology reports found that Jay had traces of cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), and ketamine in his system when his body was discovered.
These findings have sparked speculation that some witnesses might be staying quiet out of fear of legal repercussions.
What Happened the Night Jay Disappeared?
Jay Slater had traveled from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, to attend the NRG Festival in Playa de las Americas on June 16, 2024.
After an all-night rave, he got separated from his friends and ended up at a remote AirBnB in Masca with two other British men—including a convicted drug dealer named Ayub Qassim.
Jay was last seen leaving that whitewashed cottage around 7:30am on June 17.
He told friends he planned to walk the long journey—estimated to be about 10 hours—back to where he was staying.
Desperate Phone Calls and Disturbing Messages
Before his phone died, Jay made two critical calls. One was to Lucy Law at 8:30am, where he said he was lost, had only 1% phone battery, and needed water.
Another was a video call to friend Brad Hargreaves showing Jay walking on rugged terrain, trying to find his way back.
Jay also sent Snapchat messages that raised more questions.
According to witness Joshua Forshaw, Jay messaged that he’d been kicked out of the festival with “two Maili kids” and claimed he’d taken an expensive watch—an “AP” brand—and planned to sell it for “10 quid,” which Forshaw clarified meant £10,000.
Jay also sent Forshaw a disturbing photo of himself with two knives tucked into his waistband, saying, “I’m carrying these in case it kicks off.”
Unfortunately, Forshaw didn’t save that image and didn’t report it to Spanish police until after returning to the UK.
The Conspiracy Theories That Clouded the Search
As the search for Jay intensified last summer, conspiracy theories flooded social media.
One especially damaging rumor alleged Jay had been targeted by a criminal gang after stealing a watch. His family has always denied those claims.
After weeks of searching, Jay’s body was found at the bottom of a ravine in a mountainous area of Tenerife.
Authorities believe he fell while trying to make his way back to his hotel on foot.
Forensic Experts: No Sign of Assault, But Mystery Remains
Pathologist Dr. Richard Shepherd testified that Jay’s injuries—including a fractured skull and pelvis—were consistent with a high fall.
He stressed that there was no evidence of an assault before the fall, although he acknowledged that due to the body’s decomposition over 28 days in the hot climate, they couldn’t entirely rule out the possibility of a push.
“There was nothing to indicate assault or any kind of gripping,” he said, adding that Jay would have lost consciousness immediately upon impact.
Drug Traces Complicate the Picture
Toxicologist Dr. Stephanie Martin explained that due to the time lapse before Jay’s body was recovered, standard drug testing on blood or urine wasn’t possible.
Instead, liver, hair, and muscle samples were used.
These revealed traces of MDMA, cocaine, and ketamine.
While it’s clear he had taken ketamine within 12 hours of his death, it’s uncertain whether he was under the influence when he fell.
Spanish tests suggested that Jay had been using ketamine over a longer period.
Other Witnesses Still Unaccounted For
Attempts to reach the men Jay was last seen with—Ayub Qassim and Steven “Rocky” Roccas—have so far failed.
Police served summonses at London addresses, but both individuals were said to be “unknown” at those locations.
Several of Jay’s friends were also issued summonses.
Joshua Forshaw did give evidence by videolink, while Brad Hargreaves explained he was on a pre-booked holiday.
Brandon Hodgson is believed to be abroad, and Lucy Law remains in Tenerife, unaware of her expected testimony.
A Family Still Waiting for Answers
As Jay’s parents sat in court listening to the details of their son’s final moments, the lingering uncertainty was palpable.
They now face not only the heartbreaking reality of his death but also the unsettling gaps in the investigation.
Whether more answers will come as the inquest continues remains to be seen.
But for now, Jay Slater’s case remains a haunting reminder of how quickly a holiday can turn into a tragedy—and how elusive justice can feel when the truth is still just out of reach.