"Person of Interest" Named in Killarney Murder of US Woman Jamey Carney
Gardaí have identified a 28-year-old Jordanian national as a "person of interest" in the murder of New York native Jamey Carney (41), who was found dead in her Killarney, Co Kerry home earlier this week.
Key Details:
Ahmad Al-Saqar (28), who came to Ireland seeking asylum two years ago, is believed to have fled the country before the discovery of Ms Carney's body
He is understood to have taken a 3am bus from Killarney to Dublin Airport and flown to Turkey early Tuesday morning
Gardaí believe Ms Carney was brutally beaten and suffocated to death in her bed
The Relationship:
Social media posts reveal Ms Carney and Al-Saqar had been in a close relationship for several months. In a TikTok video, Al-Saqar referred to her as "my bride and my princess" as she displayed a ring on his finger. Recent posts show the couple attending The Cure concert at Dublin's Marlay Park on June 26th, and celebrating the 4th of July in front of a New York backdrop in her final Instagram post.
In April, Ms Carney posted a video of them together with the caption: "He continues to show me what safe love is."
Timeline:
Sunday: Al-Saqar seen in the Killarney area
Monday: Believed to have been in Ms Carney's company
Tuesday, 3am: Took bus from Killarney to Dublin
Tuesday, early hours: Flew to Turkey from Dublin Airport
Tuesday: Ms Carney's body discovered; gardaí alerted
Gardaí are now working with Interpol and Europol to coordinate with Turkish authorities in tracing Al-Saqar's whereabouts. A garda spokesperson confirmed: "An Garda Síochána is satisfied that a person of interest in this investigation left the jurisdiction in the early hours of Tuesday, July 7, prior to the body of the deceased female being discovered."
Family's Plea:
Ms Carney's heartbroken mother and sister, Devon Bennett, have travelled to Ireland from New York to seek answers and arrange her funeral. Bennett has launched a GoFundMe to cover travel, accommodation, legal fees, and funeral costs, while working to ensure Ms Carney's 13-year-old daughter Michaela can remain in Killarney — "the land she loves."
"Jamey was an insanely caring human being, who dedicated so much of herself, her energy, and her time, to fighting for the rights of others," Bennett wrote. The family grew up in New York but spent their best years in Bergen County, New Jersey, before finding their "true home" in Killarney.
The case has drawn international attention, with American outlets including the New York Post and Newsweek publishing stories.
Gardaí continue to appeal for anyone with information to contact the investigation team.