A mother from New York was reportedly killed by her asylum-seeking boyfriend in their new home in Ireland, with the latest reports indicating she died from asphyxiation, which contradicts earlier accounts of the violent circumstances surrounding her death.
Jamie Carney’s body was found under a duvet in her bedroom by her 13-year-old daughter in Killarney on Tuesday morning.
While Ms. Carney had suffered numerous severe head injuries, it seems she was ultimately asphyxiated rather than killed directly from the violent assault allegedly carried out by her boyfriend, Ahmad al-Saqer.
A post-mortem conducted by state pathologist Dr. Linda Mulligan confirmed the cause of death as asphyxiation, according to reports.
Irish police have begun a murder inquiry and are actively seeking the 28-year-old al-Saqer, who is thought to have left the country within hours following the incident.
Investigators are worried that DNA evidence might complicate their case, given that al-Saqer had previously been a frequent visitor to Carney’s home.
Ms. Carney, who worked in healthcare consulting, met al-Saqer at a pro-Palestinian rally about eighteen months ago. The two had shared several moments on social media leading up to her death.
According to reports, he took a bus from Killarney to Dublin at 3 a.m. and may have caught a last-minute flight to Istanbul, Turkey.
Authorities are tracing al-Saqer’s contacts across the Middle East, suspecting he could be receiving assistance from individuals in Turkey, Syria, and Jordan to avoid capture.
Alerts were issued at ports and airports, as al-Saqer allegedly left the area shortly before Carney’s body was discovered.
It remains unclear how he managed to flee the country without his passport, which would typically be held due to his pending asylum application.
Carney, who moved from Westchester County, New York, to Ireland with her daughter in 2021, was remembered by family as a “compassionate humanitarian.” Her cousin, Ryan Fox, expressed deep sorrow, stating that her death had created a “shock and nightmare” for the family. He described Carney as “the kindest, most caring, most humane person.”
This tragic incident has left her family struggling to comprehend the sudden loss, especially as they had seen her smiling just days before.
Neighbors reported hearing loud arguments at Carney’s rented home on Monday, just hours before the grim discovery was made.
Police are appealing for anyone who might have relevant information or CCTV footage from the area between 11 p.m. on Monday and 5 a.m. on Tuesday to come forward.
