An international search has entered its fifth day following the killing of an American woman in Ireland, yet Irish police have still not named or described a suspect—drawing strong criticism from figures including a former FBI agent and an Irish politician.
Jamey Carney, 43, a New Yorker who relocated to Ireland in 2021, was found dead in her home in Killarney, County Kerry, late Monday, according to The Irish Times. She had suffered head trauma and died from suffocation. The scenic town in southwestern Ireland is a major destination for U.S. tourists.
By the time Carney’s body was discovered on Tuesday afternoon, the man police have labeled a “person of interest” had already traveled roughly 200 miles to Dublin Airport and boarded a flight to Turkey. This suggests authorities knew his identity but chose not to make it public.
Some Irish media outlets report the individual is an asylum seeker from Jordan who arrived in Ireland in 2024 amid a surge in irregular migration.
“How can the public assist in finding this suspect if Irish officials won’t release even basic identifying details?” asked Nicole Parker, a former FBI special agent, in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Time is critical. Every passing hour raises the risk that he vanishes, destroys evidence, or endangers others. Public cooperation is essential. Withholding a name, photo, or description for days while someone is fleeing makes no sense.”
Parker added that if the situation were reversed—if a foreign national were killed in the U.S.—American law enforcement would typically release identifying information quickly. “Local, state, and federal agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Marshals, would actively share details with the public. That kind of outreach often leads to capturing fugitives.”
Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that police declined to confirm the person’s age, name, or nationality, citing legal constraints, though no specific legal grounds were provided. A 2015 immigration law, which protects the identities of asylum seekers to shield them from potential threats, may be behind the decision, according to Gript.ie.
Fox News Digital requested that Irish police identify the person of interest and clarify the legal basis for withholding information, but authorities declined, stating only that there were “no additional updates at this time.”
Gavin Pepper, an independent Dublin City Council member and vocal critic of large-scale immigration, condemned the lack of public disclosure. He called it a serious threat to public safety.
“That man had a significant head start,” Pepper told Fox News Digital. “Ultimately, skin color shouldn’t matter. If you commit a brutal crime, your face should be everywhere—on every news outlet, in every paper. A manhunt means using every available tool.”
Pepper argued that earlier public identification might have allowed authorities in the destination country to intercept the suspect upon arrival.
Not all agree that the man’s immigration status should be emphasized. Ruth Coppinger, a member of Ireland’s parliament with the People Before Profit party, criticized media reports identifying him as an asylum seeker, accusing some outlets of fueling racial tensions, per Gript.ie. In parliamentary remarks, she stressed that “the common factor in violence against women is being male—not being of a particular nationality.”
Several outlets—including the New York Post, Irish Mirror, Irish Independent, and Irish Examiner—have named the 28-year-old person of interest. However, Irish police and the Department of Justice have refused to confirm his identity to Fox News Digital.
Carney’s 13-year-old daughter found her body in an upstairs bedroom just before 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, The Irish Times reported.
Within an hour of the discovery, Irish police issued alerts to airports, ports, train stations, and bus terminals, the Irish Independent said—but the suspect had already left the country.
As time passes, the search grows more challenging. Authorities are now collaborating with Interpol, Europol, and Turkish law enforcement to track the man after his arrival in Istanbul. Reports suggest he may have already left Turkey, possibly with local help, and could be en route to Syria or Jordan.
A police source told Fox News Digital they believe the investigation will be difficult, given that the suspect fled before any public alert was issued. He is believed to have first come to the UK before moving to Ireland.
The case comes amid rising concern over violence against women in Ireland. Gript.ie reported that eight women have died violently in the country this year—matching the total for all of 2025. According to their analysis, only one of the suspects in those cases was identified as Irish.
Ireland does not officially record the ethnicity of criminal suspects.
Carney was originally from Westchester County, just north of New York City, and moved to Ireland in 2021, the Irish Independent noted.
Her social media profiles portrayed her as a “New Yorker in Ireland” and included photos and videos with her daughter and a man she referred to as her partner. In one recent post, she described them as a “mixed couple.”
Her accounts also reflected support for the Free Palestine movement. Her Facebook bio read “Free Palestine” and “Fk Ice,” likely referencing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Multiple posts showed the couple attending pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Social media accounts linked to the man named in reports referred to Carney as “my love” and “my heart.” His profiles also include activity from the UK and Turkey in recent years.
Carney’s LinkedIn profile shows she worked for a healthcare outsourcing company in Ireland after previously working in insurance and real estate in the New York area.
Her sister, Devon Bennett, described her as “an insanely caring human being” who “dedicated so much of herself, her energy, and her time to fighting for the rights of others,” according to the Irish Independent. Bennett said Carney was especially proud of her “brilliant daughter, Michaela.”
“We grew up in New York, but she spent many of her best years with Michaela in Bergen County, New Jersey,” Bennett said.
“Their true home, where they both felt they truly belonged, was the beautiful town of Killarney.”
