The nine theories devastating missing Jay Slater's family in Tenerife as conspiracy dismissed

Jay Slater has now been missing for close to three weeks after disappearing in Tenerife.

His family has been left heartbroken, as they frantically continue the search for the 19-year-old from Lancashire – carrying on after the Spanish police called an end to its search on the ground.

But the case has been dogged by vicious conspiracy theories circulating online and spreading rampantly on social media, many of which are going unproven and unfounded. Those closest to Jay have spoken out about how damaging it has been to read the comments going viral on the internet, with one of Jay’s best friends who travelled out to Tenerife dismissing one particular theory.

Yet, both Jay’s father and uncle have thrown doubt over the police investigation in recent days – as well as addressing possible criminality involved as they aired their frustration with the lack of progress in finding the teenager.

After more than two weeks on the ground covering the search for Jay in Tenerife, the Manchester Evening News goes over nine theories that have been discussed widely, the information that has emerged so far about them, and how these conspiracies have affected his family.

READ MORE: TV detective searching for Jay Slater reveals new Tenerife timeline and makes 'criminal network' bombshell

Jay, an apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, attended a rave in Tenerife before leaving by car to spend the night at an Airbnb in a rural village with two British men before disappearing. This was Jay's first time travelling abroad.

His last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island – which was about an 11-hour walk back to his accommodation.

At around 8.30am on the morning of his disappearance, Jay