Jay Slater documentary

[frostybritches]

Is anyone watching this? It’s so sad. Why are social media morons so convinced that there is something more to this? Feel so sorry for the family watching this.

But even before he died they had huge amounts of coverage while they were searching. There are and were other young adults who have gone missing abroad who haven’t got a fraction of this attention.

I suspect sometimes it may have something to do with social media and who does and doesn’t go viral. Often traditional media will spotlight those they see trending in social media.

And what is the upside?

What actual use is media coverage? Do you actually judge and value one death against another based on media coverage?

There is usually coverage for unexplained missing persons

Some cases appeal to the ghoulish public more than others.

The program was well made. Heartening to see the events presented as they were in a non sensationalist way (given how rife rumours were at the time). I felt very sorry for his family.

Arguably some may say there was no upside in this case as he was already dead, but in general getting lots of coverage for a missing kid /adult is what the family want. So they can locate and bring the person back.

If I recall correctly there were a couple of families who spoke up at the time saying they wish they could get anything close to that level of coverage for their missing young adult kids.

So I believe at the time Jays family welcomed the spotlight - along with the significant level of donations that came with it - until they found out he had sadly died.

Oh yeah so I guess in this case the donations were one clear upside to the coverage.

No one said anything about judging and valuing a death based on the coverage.

I wondered if the point of the documentary was to highlight the damage that social media can do to an investigation. His mum has taken it up as her cause and has gone to parliament about it.

It’s on Channel 4

I'm just watching it now.
Why did the family invite a whole documentary crew into their lives to film the autopsy and funeral and to have his toxicology report read out on camera?! Especially after the intrusion they'd suffered from online. You'd think they'd want to pull up the drawbridge but instead they've just doubled down on the exposure. And what happened to the GoFundMe money? And why does his mum never have tears in her eyes when she 'cries'?
The whole thing is weird from beginning to end.

Probably because they want to clear up the conspiracy theories for good.
No idea about the GoFundMe but can totally understand why they would want to set the record straight about his accidental death instead of letting all the pathetic online ‘sleuths’ keep coming up with ridiculous made up stories about gangsters and watches and empty caskets.

I haven’t seen the programme, but I’m aware of the case. I’m quite shocked that on a parenting site, posters seem to be implying that Jay deserved to die because he was drunk/had taken drugs which led to his unfortunate actions and ultimately his death. Would you all think the same if it was your child? Some really heartless people around.

At a guess they probably thought putting the facts out there would mean the conspiracy theories would stop.
No idea about the go fund me.
As for his mum not shedding tears.. Did you watch it? I was in tears just witnessing her reaction, she is very obviously heartbroken.

Id have thought you'd have to have a heart oa stone to watch his mum and not feel desperately sad for her. I'm genuinely surprised that you could be so unfeeling

Just watched it . My heart breaks for his Mam, Dad and brother. So very sad. You can see the pain all over their faces.

I just don't understand these online vile, disgusting creatures who have no lives other than sit in front of their cameras spouting their crazy theories, many of these people need professional help, the crazies need to switch off their phones and get a job and stop harassing people online with their dangerous accusations.

It’s had the reverse effect. It’s now fuelled more discussions and videos.

My heart breaks for the family. IMHO families of missing people, especially abroad, who find themselves at the centre of a big news story need urgent and free reputable legal and media advice. Often, it’s better to refuse media interviews (never complain, never explain) as it can backfire. People are easily exploited when desperate with worry or grief. They should have support to steer well clear of social media.

I’m sick of mothers/women being criticised and suspected for not being tearful and broken enough in interviews. It happened to Kate McCann, Amanda Knox, Joanne Lees, Lindy Chamberlain… Men don’t get that level of scrutiny when feeling shocked, numb and trying to hold it together.

Sadly, this case prompted so much discussion because the family themselves were originally suggesting he’d been kidnapped and that no one knew who the two men were (when it later transpired his friends did know). They cast doubt on an accident, saying he wasn’t one to walk, especially in that terrain, with an uncharged phone, when he’d been offered a lift back or could take a bus. The family did tabloid interviews and put out Tik Tok videos of their search. They apparently allowed Mark Williams-Thomas to speak on their behalf, drip-feeding more titbits to the public.

Then the friends he was with the night he disappeared, and much older men he went off with, gave wildly conflicting accounts and even contradicted themselves on when they last saw him, what he said and why he went off with the men (ex-offenders), when the friends were all together at the end of the night at a takeaway. Others refused to give evidence to his inquest even by video link. Jay himself had sent two group-chat messages claiming he was with the men en route to sell a £10k watch he’d stolen. It all sounded suspicious to people.

@OhNineFiftyFour I also found the filming of the autopsy and inside the funeral intrusive, gratuitous, exploitative and totally unnecessary. The production company and pathologist should be ashamed.

I think we can all think back to our teenage years and early twenties and remember times we made bad decisions. Obviously for most of us it worked out fine but sometimes it ends badly. Compassion is important

I think Jay's disappearance got so much coverage and interest because it happened just after Michael Mosley's death, and there were initially some similarities. Michael also died on holiday during a heatwave having wandered off away from family/friends, and when his body was found on just the wrong side of the fence next to a club, there was a sense that he was sooo close to being saved, and 'if only'.. so I think when Jay was missing there was a worry that he also might be just out of reach, but potentially rescuable. Especially as, like you've said, many of us have also made poor decisions during nights out when young, and could empathise.

Wasn't all the media attention driven by his friends/family?

It also becomes a problem when the likes of Mark Williams Thomas and his buddy Peter Faulding insert themselves into the scene. They are thinking about their media, books, and documentary money spinners about cases down the line, more than those involved IMHO.

Possibly when they were still trying to find him and thinking he may be alive. No doubt acting in desperation and urgency to find him.

I haven't seen much of this since the original search/campaign. What is the conspiracy?

Was he mixed up in drug dealing, as it was rumoured? How much money did they make from the Go Fund Me and what happened to it?

I'd have thought any balanced documentary should have covered that.

I must admit my whole thought process changed after watching the documentary.

I don’t particularly listen to conspiracy theories but it was hard to avoid them while Jay was missing.

Seeing him with his mum on old videos broke my heart, as did seeing her so distraught at his funeral. He was a young lad who made unfortunate choices, but his family will forever pay the price.

I can’t imagine how they felt, or indeed, still feel, but I hope they can find peace and remember Jay as the son they knew and loved.

There were lots of conspiracies about him stealing a Rolex watch, potentially killed by gangsters, then people suggesting his friends were involved, other people suggesting he wasn’t actually dead at all…it was someone else in the casket. Lots of different things, none of which were true the inquest said.

So what did happen to all the money? When people see large sums being raised on the death of someone with know dependents, they're going to wonder what's going on.

It’s really nobody else’s business, I’m guessing a lot of it was spent on flights, accommodation, funeral costs.
Not knowing what the go fund me money was spent on doesn’t give anyone the right to troll and spread lies about a dead teenager! Imagine losing your son and having to listen to strangers say stuff like… His mums not really crying, it’s all fake, he’s not dead ect. Those people should be ashamed of themselves, someone’s baby boy went on holiday and never came home, it’s tragic.

Initially I believe it was for to fund the travel and accommodation while they were still looking for him.

Have people forgotten about the machete attack on the poor lad he was involved ?