An American mother originally from New York was found dead inside her home in a popular Irish tourist town, and police say a person of interest has fled the country. Some Irish publications are reporting the person of interest is an asylum seeker.
The victim was identified by the Irish prime minister as Jamey Carney, while Irish police, An Garda Síochána, said the 43-year-old’s body was found on Tuesday at a home in Killarney, County Kerry.
Irish police said the person of interest left the jurisdiction in the early hours of Tuesday, before Carney’s body was discovered and reported to authorities. Police said they have launched a murder investigation and are engaging with international law enforcement partners.
Carney was originally from Westchester County, just north of New York City, before moving to Ireland in 2021 with her young daughter, according to the Irish Independent.
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The State Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that an American citizen died in County Kerry on July 7 and said it was providing consular assistance to the victim’s family.
“The Trump administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans,” the agency said.
The Irish Mirror reported the person of interest was an asylum seeker living in state-run accommodations in Killarney who allegedly fled to Turkey. The outlet also reported that the man, who previously lived in France and the United Kingdom, knew Carney and frequently stayed 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. In one recent post, she referred to them as a “mixed couple.” Police have not identified the person of interest or said whether he is the man featured in the posts.
Documents reviewed by Fox News Digital indicate she also had ties to Rockland County, New York, and northern New Jersey, while Fox News Digital sources said she was a familiar face along Yonkers’ McLean Avenue, a neighborhood with a large Irish American community.
The Irish Independent, citing sources, reported Carney was found with bedclothes covering her body and had suffered severe head and neck injuries with indications she may have fought to defend herself. The room was heavily bloodstained, according to the outlet.
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Investigators believe the person of interest first arrived in the United Kingdom before traveling to Ireland, RTÉ reported. Detectives have contacted airline and transport officials and are coordinating with British authorities as they work to establish his identity and movements.
Despite the international search, Irish police have not released the man’s name, image or a description, saying they are not in a position to comment on his age, name or nationality for legal reasons, according to RTÉ.
The news has rattled the picturesque southwest Irish town, a gateway to Killarney National Park and the famed Ring of Kerry, two of Ireland’s biggest draws for American visitors.
Carney’s LinkedIn profile indicated she moved to Ireland in 2021 to work for a healthcare outsourcing company after previously working as an insurance agent and real estate salesperson in the New York metropolitan area.
Her social media accounts are filled with selfies and content with her daughter as well as her partner. It shows she also supported the Free Palestinian movement, and her bio included criticism of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Carney is being remembered locally as a devoted mother who loved living in Killarney.
Councillor Martin Grady, who said he knew her personally, told the Irish Independent she was “a loving, caring mother” and “always happy and smiling.”
Carney marked the Fourth of July with her partner just days before her death, according to her social media account.
