THE investigator involved in Madeleine McCann’s disappearance has broken his silence after a body was found in the search for Jay Slater.
Mark Williams-Thomas said the missing Brit teen could have accidentally fallen to his death in an “inaccessible area” of Tenerife.
Ian WhittakerFormer British detective Mark Williams-Thomas outside the Airbnb Villa in Masca Village where the missing teenager stayed before going missing[/caption]
FacebookJay Slater pictured with his mum Debbie Duncan[/caption]
TwitterMark Williams-Thomas posted this image along with his social media update[/caption]
In an update on X, formerly Twitter, the expert wrote: Human remains found and all indications are that it is Jay Slater.
“The first investigations reveal that he could have suffered an accident fall in the inaccessible area.
“Family have been updated and formal identification will follow.”
The former Met detective late last week revealed he had passed on a “significant new piece of information” to Spanish cops.
But he stopped short of sharing exactly what this bombshell new clue is.
The insider added: “They [Jay’s family] are especially keen to know whether the details Mark Williams-Thomas has passed on proved to be of use.
“They are hoping and praying Mark’s work might lead to the investigation going into a new phase and take them in a direction which leads to answers about what happened to Jay.”
Earlier this afternoon, Lancashire Police released an update as Jay’s heartbroken family wait for an official cause of death after a gruelling four-week search.
A statement read: “We have today (Monday, July 15th) been notified by the Guardia Civil that they have found the body of a man and that the indications are that this is Jay Slater.
Ian WhittakerA body has now been found in the treacherous Masca mountains, where Jay’s phone last pinged[/caption]
The former Met detective would often post updates on the Slater search on his X accountTwitter
The 19-year-old went missing on the morning of June 17PA
“While at this stage no formal identification has been carried out our thoughts are very much with Jay’s family at this time, and we continue to offer them our support.”
Jay vanished on the morning of June 17 after going to a rave the night before with friends – sparking a huge effort to find the Lancashire teen.
Spanish cops axed the official search less than two weeks in – but a body believed to be Jay’s was found today in the village of Masca – the area he was last known to be.
It is understood the body was found close to where his mobile phone last pinged – with Jay’s belongings and clothes.
But Spanish cops have refused to reveal the exact location where the body was found.
An autopsy is expected to take place in the next couple of days in the northern Tenerife city of La Laguna.
Jay’s distraught family have been updated and a formal investigation by police is set to follow.
Doug Seeburg
Jay’s family now face an agonising wait to find out the official cause of death[/caption]
Doug Seeburg
Jay’s dad and brother had been searching the Tenerife mountains[/caption]