Ayub Qassim lures teenager Jay Slater to his Airbnb before tragedy strikes

In June 2023, a tragic incident occurred in the mountainous region of Masca, Tenerife, where 19-year-old Jay Slater was found deceased after going missing for 29 days. On the early morning of June 17, Ayub Qassim, along with a friend known as 'Rocky', invited Jay back to their rented Airbnb following a night at the NRG festival in Playa de las Americas. The trio consumed food together before returning to the accommodation around 6:30-6:45 am. Qassim provided Jay with items including a phone charger and cigars before heading to bed, while Jay slept on the sofa. Rocky went straight to bed, leaving Jay seemingly alone downstairs during a moment of anxiety. The following morning, around 8 am, Jay encountered difficulties following the Airbnb buzzer and eventually expressed a desire to leave, stating he wanted to go get food, despite having eaten shortly before. When offered a ride, Jay declined, preferring to go out on his own. This decision would be critical as he was later reported missing and subsequently discovered weeks later. Jay's death and its circumstances led to the establishment of a GoFundMe page to support his family as they navigated the challenge of retrieving their son’s remains from Tenerife back to the UK. The community's support enabled the family to provide Jay with a memorable send-off, and they expressed gratitude for the global messages of support they received during this harrowing time. This shocking turn of events left Ayub Qassim grappling with feelings of survivor's guilt, as he reflected on the final hours shared with Jay, painful questions of what might have been done differently, and the depth of loss experienced.