The cause of death of an American woman found dead in a scenic Irish town earlier this week has been revealed. Jamey Carney, 43, a New York native who moved to Ireland in 2021, died from suffocation after suffering head injuries. The post-mortem examination found that suffocation, not her head injuries, caused her death. Police are investigating her death as a murder.
Carney's body was discovered by a family member at the home she shared with her 13-year-old daughter in Killarney, County Kerry, a southwest town popular among American tourists. A person of interest had fled the country before her body was found, and police are working to trace his identity and movements. The person of interest is believed to have first arrived in the United Kingdom before traveling to Ireland.
Investigators have contacted airline and transport authorities and are coordinating with British police and immigration officials. Irish police have also contacted Interpol and Europol as part of the international manhunt. Despite these efforts, the person of interest has not been publicly identified, and police have not released his name, photograph, or physical description.
The person of interest is believed to be from the Middle East and had permission to remain permanently in Ireland. He was an asylum seeker living in state-run accommodation in Killarney and knew Carney, frequently staying at her home. Carney's social media profiles described her as a "New Yorker in Ireland" and showed her with a man she identified as her partner.
Carney was a third-generation Irish American originally from Westchester County, just north of New York City. Her father died 11 months ago, and she had ties to Rockland County, New York, and northern New Jersey. An American citizen, Carney's death has prompted the State to provide consular assistance to her family.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family cover funeral expenses, and Carney's sister is working with Irish police. Carney's cousin, Ryan Fox, said the victim had been very proud of her Irish roots and had been "looking for a beautiful country with like-minded people to raise her daughter." Irish police continue to appeal for anyone who may have information or footage to contact investigators.
The police are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who was in the Muckross Road area between 11 p.m. on July 6 and 5 a.m. on July 7 and who may have CCTV or dashcam footage. The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to bring the person of interest to justice. Carney's family and community are mourning her loss, and her death has sent shockwaves through the small Irish town.
