KILLARNEY, Ireland — An American mother from New York was found beaten to death in her own bed after taking in, or at least getting close to, a Middle Eastern asylum seeker who is now on the run.

Jamey Carney, 43, originally from Westchester County, New York, was discovered Tuesday afternoon in her home on Muckross Road in the upscale Homeland Estate area of Killarney, Co. Kerry. Her 13-year-old daughter raised the alarm after becoming concerned for her mom’s welfare.

Gardai rushed to the scene around 1:30 p.m. and found Carney dead in her bed. Her body had been covered with a duvet. She had suffered serious head injuries in what sources described as a brutal attack. Investigators believe she was killed late Monday night or in the early hours of Tuesday and lay there for up to 13 hours.

An argument between Carney and a man was overheard in the house the night before.

The chief suspect is a man in his 20s described as a Middle Eastern asylum seeker. He had been living at an IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Services) center in Killarney since arriving in Ireland in mid-2024. He previously lived in France and was known to Carney, occasionally staying at her home.

Gardai have launched a major manhunt. There are fears the suspect may try to flee the country. An incident room has been set up at Killarney Garda Station, the State Pathologist has been notified, and a post-mortem is pending.“Suicidal empathy” on display?

A video circulating widely online shows clips of the blonde American mom alongside the suspect in what appear to be happier times, mixed with news reports of the manhunt. The post calls it the “ultimate example of suicidal empathy”, a woke woman apparently trying to show the world how virtuous she was by getting involved with an asylum seeker, only to pay with her life.

Carney, who moved to Ireland around five years ago and worked in healthcare, was well-known locally as a hard-working, loving mom. She was also active in left-leaning causes, including local Palestine support campaigns, and had posted anti-ICE and pro-migrant content online.

Neighbors and locals are in shock. Councillor Martin Grady said: “I knew her well. Everyone is really shocked. She was a loving mother and a very hard worker.”Another councillor described “a dark cloud” hanging over the town.

Gardai are appealing to anyone with information or CCTV/dashcam footage from the Muckross Road area between the evening of July 6 and Tuesday afternoon to come forward. They can contact Killarney Garda Station or the confidential line.

As the hunt for the suspect continues, questions are already swirling about how a known asylum seeker living in state-funded accommodation ended up in such close proximity to a vulnerable mother, with deadly consequences.