JAY Slater’s funeral is being targeted by “vile trolls” and scammers looking to profit off the teen’s death, a charity working with the family say.
The shocking move has been labelled as “hurtful and deeply unrespectful” to the Brit’s heartbroken parents who only returned to the UK with Jay’s body last week.
Trolls claim to have access to a live stream link where people can watch Jay’s funeral when it takes place in just days time.
In order to watch, the scam artists are reportedly asking viewers to send money through donations.
The family have strongly denied any live footage will be available online and have slammed the people behind the awful ploy.
Chief Executive Matthew Searle, from LBT Global, said: “We are inundated with reports of these scams, and as fast as we can get the platforms to remove them, more appear.
“To be completely clear – there is no live stream of Jay’s funeral, and anyone claiming to offer one is a scam.
“As much as being hurtful and deeply unrespectful, this is taking vital donations away from a small charity.
“We ask that anyone seeing one of these pages reports it to the platform. Please don’t follow them or send them money.
“It is so typical of the vile trolling this family have received for them to target something so special as a funeral.”
Web bullies have constantly criticised Jay’s mum Debbie Duncan, 55, and other members of the family since the teen vanished.
Sickos were caught selling merchandise featuring photos and memes of Jay online less than 24 hours after his body was found last month.
The family were also plagued by online trolls who hacked Jay’s Instagram page.
Jay’s furious dad Warren Slater was even forced to hit back at trolls for criticising his family.
He urged sleuths to imagine the heartache he was feeling and said they should come to Tenerife and “see for themselves” how difficult the search is.
Jay’s mother Debbie made the heartbreaking journey home to the UK last week with father Warren and Jay’s brother Zak, 24.
The teen’s funeral is now set for Saturday, August, 10 in the Chapel at Accrington Crematorium.
The family has encouraged anyone attending the funeral on Saturday to wear blue and bring family flowers or single roses.
Jay’s family has launched another fundraiser via charity LBT Global, which promises to use proceeds to support families of missing people.
An LBT press release said funds will be used to help “tackle online trolling and misinformation spreading aimed at victims and families of missing people, seen at worryingly high levels throughout Jay’s case”.
Alongside any new donations, the cost of the funeral is set to be covered by the original GoFundMe page set up by Jay’s pal Lucy Mae Law in the days after he first disappeared.
The fundraiser has skyrocketed past £70,000 with more than 5,600 donations.
REMEMBERING with love Jay Dean Slater, of Fountains Way, Oswaldtwistle, who passed away unexpectedly on Monday 17th June 2024, whilst on holiday in Tenerife, aged 19 years.
After Jay left Rhyddings High School he went on to become an apprentice bricklayer with the PH Build group, a job he greatly enjoyed.
At the young age of 5 Jay started playing football for Huncoat United FC until the age of 17 and also did a few seasons with the Sunday team at St Joesph’s too.
He also loved spending time chilling out with his friends.
Jay’s love of music and dance started at a very young age. He loved attending music festivals and events across the country and also loved to socialise and meet new people.
A loving son of Debbie and Warren, a cherished brother of Zak and brother in law of Jessica, a treasured grandson of Dawn, June and the late Dougie, a much loved nephew of Glen and Katie, a dear cousin of Maddie and Tillie and a loyal friend to many. Jay will be very sadly missed by all those who knew him.
A celebration of life service will be held at 10.30am on Saturday 10th August 2024, at Accrington Cemetery Chapel prior to interment.
Those attending are invited to wear something blue in his memory.
Family flowers only please, but if anyone would like to bring a single rose to place with Jay, they are more than welcome.
Jay’s body was tragically found on Monday at the bottom of a treacherous ravine in Masca – four weeks after he disappeared while on holiday with his pals for the NRG music festival.
The apprentice bricklayer, 19, had travelled to a remote Airbnb in Masca with two men in the early hours of June 17.
He had been partying all night in Playa de las Americas, close to an hour’s drive away.
In the morning, he attempted the 11 hour walk back to his own accommodation miles away.
Jay made a tragic final phone call to friend Lucy Law to say he was lost, needed water and only had one per cent phone battery.
It was the last time Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancshire, was heard from, and a mammoth search mission was launched.
Jay’s family stayed at Santiago del Teide, the mountainous region’s gateway town, during the hunt.
Jay’s dad Warren and brother Zak spent weeks searching the unforgiving terrain for a breakthrough after the teenager vanished on June 17.
They retraced his steps in the blistering heat for days on their own after Spanish cops suspended their search.
But his body was finally discovered by a helicopter crew on Monday at the bottom of a ravine close to where his mobile phone last pinged.
Tributes and flowers were laid down in the days after Jay’s body was found.
Debbie left a handwritten note, which said: “I miss you so much. You will be forever young and forever missed. Love you so much.”
Dad Warren said: “To my boy. Love dad.”
While Zak added: “Love you little bro. Never in a million years did I think I’d be doing this.”
THE grim discovery of a body came after weeks of agony for Jay’s friends and family. Here is how events unfolded:
June 16: Jay and his friends party on the last day of the NRG music festival at Papagayo nightclub in Playa de la Americas, Tenerife.
June 17th:
June 18: Pals search the area but no sign of Jay. Local cops and mountain rescue teams start the 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 an appeal to Jay saying: “We just need you home.”
June 24: Claims of Jay sighting in Santiago del Teide — near where he disappeared — and family believe a grainy CCTV image could be of him.
June 25: Debbie issues a plea for Jay to come home as more friends fly out and TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas joins the search.
June 29: Cops rule Mr Qassim, and another 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 a 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”.
July 17: Tenerife authorities confirm the body found in the mountainous area of the island is Jay’s.
