Irish police say a person of interest known to Jamey Carney left the country before her body was discovered.
KILLARNEY, Ireland — Irish police are investigating the death of Jamey Carney, a 43-year-old woman from New York who was found dead Tuesday at her home in Killarney, County Kerry.
Gardaí upgraded the case to a murder investigation after a post-mortem examination was completed Wednesday. Police have not released the results for operational reasons. Investigators said a person of interest, who was known to Carney, is believed to have left Ireland in the early hours of July 7, before her body was found and reported to authorities.
Carney, a mother of one, had moved to Ireland in 2021 and lived on Muckross Road, a well-known route in the tourist town near Killarney National Park. Emergency services went to the home Tuesday afternoon, where Carney was pronounced dead at the scene. Gardaí preserved the property for a technical examination and opened an incident room at Killarney Garda Station as detectives began collecting witness accounts and reviewing possible camera footage from the area.
Police have not announced an arrest or filed charges. Officials have said the person they want to question was known to Carney, but they have not released that person’s name in formal public statements. Gardaí said they are satisfied the person left the jurisdiction before Carney’s body was discovered. The timing has made the investigation an international matter, with Irish authorities expected to work through law enforcement channels outside the country as they try to locate the person and establish a full timeline.
Local leaders described the killing as a shock in Killarney, a County Kerry town better known for tourism, hotels and access to lakes and mountain trails. John O’Donoghue, a local official, said the community was stunned by the news. Carney was originally from New York and had built a life in Ireland over several years. Reports described her as a mother who was active in her community and had close ties to both Ireland and the United States.
The investigation is focused on the hours before Carney was found. Detectives are expected to examine movements near Muckross Road from Monday evening into Tuesday afternoon, including traffic, doorbell, dashcam and business security footage. Police have not publicly confirmed a motive. They also have not released the official cause of death, saying the post-mortem findings are being withheld to protect the investigation.
Carney’s death has drawn attention in Ireland and the United States because of her New York roots and the possibility that the person of interest left Ireland before police were called. Family members and people who knew her have expressed grief as investigators continue their work. Gardaí are expected to keep the scene, evidence and witness statements central to the case while they pursue the person they believe may hold key information.
The case remains active in County Kerry. Gardaí have not announced a next briefing or court date, and no suspect has been charged as of July 10, 2026.