Jay Slater – latest: Family’s anguish revealed over ‘so-called experts’ who hindered search for teen’s body

A charity has revealed the pain suffered by Jay Slater’s family after a near-month-long search came to an end with the discovery of the teenager’s body.

Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, said her family’s “hearts are broken” after it was confirmed that the human remains found in Tenerife on Monday belonged to her son.

His body was found close to where his phone last pinged after disappearing near the village of Masca while on holiday on the Spanish island.

The case attracted worldwide publicity with many people taking to Facebook groups to share theories on what happened to the 19-year-old.

The apprentice bricklayer had travelled to an Airbnb in Masca with two men after a festival on 16 June. He appeared to start an 11-hour walk back to his apartment the following morning before vanishing.

Charity LBT Global Ltd chief executive Matthew Searle said online detectives had hindered the search and added pain for the family.

Speaking to The Independent , he added: “She’s [Debbie Duncan] found it incredibly difficult dealing with this whole situation, but with the additional stress and trauma put on her by the amount of obscene trolling, armchair detectives, so-called experts and specialists – it’s been really hard on her and the family.”