Man Who Fled Ireland After American Mother's Murder Arrested in Jordan

Ireland's state pathologist, Dr. Linda Mulligan, determined Carney died from suffocation after suffering head injuries, according to local Irish media.

Kelly McBride Ni

Published: 7/13/2026, 11:53:23 PM EDT

Man Who Fled Ireland After American Mother's Murder Arrested in Jordan — Police vehicles on a street near the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan, on Nov. 24, 2024. (Jehad Shelbak/Reuters)

A man who has been identified as the primary person of interest in the killing of American mother Jamey Carney has been arrested in Jordan.

An Garda Síochána, Ireland's national police service, said it is aware of a male in Jordan who was arrested by the Jordanian authorities.

Irish media, including The Irish Times, The Irish Mirror, and The Journal, reported that investigators believe the man detained in Jordan is Carney's boyfriend, 28-year-old Ahmad Al-Saqar.

Carney, 43, a New York native who moved to Ireland with her teenage daughter in 2021, was found dead July 7 at her home in Killarney. Gardaí later said the case was a murder investigation.

Irish media said Al-Saqar had left Ireland for Turkey and then reached Jordan before her body was discovered.

Ireland's state pathologist, Dr. Linda Mulligan, determined Carney died from suffocation after suffering head injuries, according to The Irish Times.

Investigators previously said the man they want to question left Ireland in the early hours of July 7, before Carney's body was discovered that afternoon.

According to The Irish Times, investigators believe the detained man traveled by bus from Killarney to Dublin before boarding a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul and later traveled to Jordan, where authorities detained him.

Ireland does not have an extradition treaty with Jordan. Under Irish extradition law, gardaí can seek the extradition of a suspect only to serve an existing sentence or to face charges for a new offense. They cannot seek extradition to question a person or as part of their investigation, according to The Irish Times.

Carney is survived by several family members, including her 13-year-old daughter. Her family has launched GoFundMe campaigns to help cover funeral expenses and support her daughter.

Carney’s brother organized one fundraiser, stating, “My mother and I traveled within a day of hearing the news of the untimely death of my sister, and are currently here, working with the Killarney Garda and social services to make sure my niece can stay in the land she loves, especially while grieving this tragic loss."

"With last minute travel, accommodations, legal fees, as well as the looming funerary and memorial service costs hanging over our heads, we're reaching out to the public for help," he said.

A statement from the Jordanian Community Forum in Ireland was posted on a GoFundMe page for Carney’s sister, and organized by former high school friends.

The statement said: “Thousands of Jordanians and members of the Arab community who have made Ireland their home share a deep commitment with Irish society to the rule of law, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence. We categorically reject this crime and distance ourselves from any behavior that contradicts our values. We extend our deepest condolences and heartfelt solidarity to the victim's family, friends, and loved ones.”