Detailed Timeline.... May 1 - 31, 2006.... the start of the long road of the assassination of Aruba - Dutch "justice"

The Natalee Holloway Timeline

of her vanishment while in Aruba

detailing persons, places, organizations,

deliberate & accidental actions & in-actions,

events & supposed events, witnesses,

known suspects, outright lies,

corruptions, and crimes

5-1-06

On 5-1 the ARUBAAN's news-source "Aruba Tradewinds Times" reported:



Substantial Decline Air Travel To And From Aruba

ORANJESTAD-Queen Beatrix International Airport Aruba processed 12.8 percent less passengers in the first quarter of 2006 in comparison to the same quarter in 2005. The amount of air movements declined by 2.8 percent in the first quarter of 2006 according to the quarterly report released by Aruba Airport Authority.

The amount of passengers to and from the U.S., The Netherlands and Venezuela fell by 15 percent. Air travel from and to Colombia saw a substantial increase of 9 percent.





On September 3, 2006 Retired UNITED STATES Air Force Major ED DAMES spoke on the radio talk show “Coast 2 Coast” and gave the details that he is continuing his remote viewing and search of a specific area of ocean off the ARUBA shoreline very close to the “Valero” oil refinery on the far southeast end of ARUBA to try and locate NATALEE's remains. DAMES was also in ARUBA in May 2006.


On 5-1 FOX News GRETA VAN SUSTEREN reported in her “Gretawire” blog:



If you saw Friday's show, you know that the Kalpoe brothers' lawyer, David Kock, was on with us. I was told after the show by investigative reporter Tito Lacle that David Kock is also the lawyer for Deputy chief Gerald Dompig. Could this really be true? That would certainly be bizarre at best. The lawyer for the deputy chief AND the two suspects that the deputy chief was investigating? That is an interesting client list.





On 5-1 the “Scared Monkeys blog" reported:



Kalpoe’s and Gerold Dompig Have the same Attorneys?
Has Aruba Ever Heard of a Conflict of Interest?

Isn’t this interesting. Gerold Dompig and the Kalpoe brothers have the same representing attorney? According to the Gretawire that is the case, attorney David Kock represents all three clients. If this did not take place in Aruba I would question it as bizarre, let alone unethical.

However, in Aruba this type of story has unfortunately become the norm and not the exception. I guess Aruba never met a “conflict of interest” they did not like. This just fuels the fire of cover-up and complicity, especially since we heard the Kalpoe brothers make mention that it was Paulus van der Sloot who aided them in getting an attorney.
If you saw Friday’s show, you know that the Kalpoe brothers’ lawyer, David Kock, was on with us. I was told after the show by investigative reporter Tito Lacle that David Kock is also the lawyer for Deputy chief Gerold Dompig. Could this really be true? That would certainly be bizarre at best. The lawyer for the deputy chief AND the two suspects that the deputy chief was investigating? That is an interesting client list.

Conflict of Interest. In Aruba this term must be as foreign as making one a suspect and searching their property before they are able to sanitize it. We would be told by those in Aruba that we in America just don’t understand Dutch or Aruban law.
A conflict of interest is a situation in which someone in a position of trust, such as a lawyer, a politician, or an executive or director of a corporation, has competing professional or personal interests. Such competing interests can make it difficult to fulfill his or her duties impartially. In the legal profession, the duty of loyalty owed to a client is generally supposed to preclude an attorney (or a law firm) from representing persons with interests adverse to those of the client.

No one cares to hear that Aruba is a small island with a shortage of attorneys. It is not
that difficult to find one that does not already represent one of the key figures in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. It is beyond comprehension that the ex-chief Investigator and two of the three main suspects could actually have retained the same attorney. More positive PR for Aruba. Does David Kock have the exclusive in Aruba of representing all people from Suriname? This is just another bizarre happening coming out of Aruba. As we have stated in the past, when it comes to Aruba … it’s all relative.





5-2-06

On 5-2 ARUBAAN's news-source "Diario" reported:



Leaked report shows that Joran declared that Deepak Kalpoe raped and killed Natalee

ORANJESTAD (AAN) – Documents that have leaked from the investigation of Natalee’s case give an impression which is totally contrary to what people had of the three suspects.

There are people that have tried to give Joran an image of never having broken and Joran himself in one or more interviews tried to portray himself as very innocent. The Kalpoe brothers also got support because supposedly they also would never go as far as to do something bad.

Well, sirs, from the documents such as the procesverbaal of the Aruban Police and also Police who came from Holland to interrogate the suspects, very compromising information shows a totally different face of the suspects, but it is time that this case gets completely solved and everyone gets to know who is who.

A person who is a friend of Joran and also the Kalpoe brothers gave a declaration in which he went as far as to say that he would put his hand in fire for both Joran and the Kalpoes, that these three would never be able to do something bad with someone, like what is suspected could have happened to Natalee.

While the friend of Joran and the Kalpoes declared to put his hand in the fire for them, Joran himself declared to Police that Deepak could have raped and killed Natalee, and further along in the investigation, Joran called the Kalpoes all sorts of bad things and Deepak himself told Joran that if they find the girl, Joran will be locked up for 15 years.

The question now is, what was the suspect’s friend’s benefit to go as far as to put his hand in the fire for them, given that the suspects themselves were accusing one another?

In the sequence of declarations made by Joran van der Sloot himself, it can be seen that Joran changed his version from one day to the other, and at one time he was good friends with the Kalpoes, and from one moment to the other, the Kalpoes were the bad ones who did something bad to Natalee and lied about Joran, etc. etc.

Every time the matter of whether or not they went to the lighthouse came up, where the Kalpoe brothers insisted that they went with Joran to the lighthouse, and Joran himself at first declared they went to the lighthouse, then later became that they did NOT go to the lighthouse.

The false declaration from all three suspects in regards to having dropped of Natalee at the "Holiday Inn" Hotel, was information that indicated that all three suspects had taken into account that if Plan A failed, then Plan B had to have certain aspects of details given in Plan A, so that Plan B could be used?

It is more than logical that if there was so much lying and so much shifting of guilt of one to the other between the Kalpoe brothers and Joran van der Sloot, that there is nothing other than the impression that was created and shown from the same declarations made, that they have something or other to cover up.

One moment Joran says that Deepak went to pick Joran up at the beach, and later he says that Satish was the one who went to pick up Joran at the beach!

Today, this publication has reproduced a copy of the leaked report, and in this report readers themselves can read how a Policeman declared that he spoke informally with Joran; this was not in an official interrogation.

To the question of what Joran could say of what happened with the girl (Natalee) after the girl ‘feel asleep at the fisherman’s hut’, Joran said: ‘I called Deepak and he came with two dogs’. ‘I think that he raped the girl and did something with the girl (indicating that Deepak could have done something bad to the girl!)’.

To the question from Police, of where the girl is buried, Joran answered: ‘I think the girl is buried near the wall of the fisherman’s hut, as far as I know’.

After the Policeman proposed to Joran to answer the following questions with only Yes or No; Joran was asked if the girl was disposed of at sea? Joran answered: ‘No, I mean, I don’t know.’

During the conversation with the Policeman, Joran showed emotions that varied; sometimes he was crying, sometimes he gave direct answers.

Those who made false declarations in Natalee’s case have to be aware that they could be held responsible of covering up something or other, and the message here falls under the title : ‘to a good listener, words are few’.





On 5-2 BETH & three of NATALEE’s friends on the ARUBA trip stated on TV to the “Tyra Banks Show” (Thank You and Hat Tip to the “Aruban Boycott blogspot”)
(partial video here)



TYRA BANKS, SHOW HOST: Whether it’s Spring Break, Graduation Trips or a night out at a club more and more of young women are getting drunk or even drugged and they are getting into more serious trouble.

I’m talking about alcohol poisoning, drug overdoses, blackouts and unprotected sex and sometimes that sex is happening in public and a lot of the times it’s with groups of strange men. Just how far are young women willing to go when they are out partying and how easy is it to slip a drug into an unsuspecting young woman’s drink? Today I have compelling experiments that will expose the serious dangers of partying gone bad.

But first, the world watched in horror and has followed every terrifying detail of the story of Natalee Holloway, the angelic high school senior who vanished without a trace almost a year ago on a trip to Aruba.

BANKS: Natalee’s mother Beth Twitty is here with us today. I want to thank you so much for being her today. I admire you so much, you are such a crusader, you have so much strength but I want to know where that strength comes from.

BETH HOLLOWAY-TWITTY, NATALEE HOLLOWAY’s MOTHER: Well I mean Tyra the strength comes you know the endless number of supporters that have stayed with the family and have prayed for the family and I have a really strong faith and belief in God and I know that those are the people and the reasons why we are getting through this I know that.

BANKS: I want you to take me back and tell me about the night your daughter disappeared.

BETH: Well the night that Natalee disappeared really was no different than any other night that the students had been on that island. It just happened to be that it was their last night and they had been around Joran van der Sloot now for a period of about two days and have spent many hours with him at the casino and just around the "Holiday Inn" and it was their last night I think there was some unique circumstances that were going on that night the established closed earlier than what it normally does.

I think that when all the students as soon as they announced closing time I think that the bartenders were really rushing these kids out the door; there was a lot of confusion, it was a mass exodus. I think that you now Joran van der Sloot just was able to just slip Natalee right out of there before she ever knew what happened. Because the cabs are just lined up they are unidentified they are not clearly marked whatsoever and as I said it was very chaotic and it caught the kids off guard because the bartenders were just like pushing them, rushing them "come on lets go, lets go."

BANKS: Do you think that he drugged her?

BETH: Oh yes. We thought that for a long time and there are some specific reasons why we thought that.

BANKS: What are those reasons?

BETH: Well when Joran describes Natalee, he has her talking about a lot of strange things. Also, he’s describing her in the car where she is coming in and out of consciousness repeatedly and to me that would just seem like to be a red flag.

BANKS: In and out of consciousness? I know the show today is about Spring break and vacations and one of the signs of a drink being drugged is going in and out consciousness we have a girl here today who is going to talk about that.

BANKS: Tell me about the phone call when you received the phone call that your daughter was missing.

BETH: Oh when we received the call I knew immediately that something was terribly wrong for Natalee not to show up and or gather in the lobby.

BANKS: When you mean terribly wrong, you mean terribly wrong as in what we know now?

BETH: Yes.

BANKS: A mother knows.

BETH: I just that your instincts, you know, your children you know their habits as far as if they are late or if early. Natalee was just the type of person that she was just always, always on time and it was just so out of character for her.

BANKS: What did they say they said your daughter is missing and we don’t know where she is?

BETH: We they said she had not gathered in the "Holiday Inn" lobby to depart for the airport.

BANKS: How do you keep her spirit alive and it’s odd for me to ask you that because whenever I think of abduction or someone missing in the back of my head I’m going could they possibly be alive somewhere. So for me to ask you how do you keep her memory alive at the same time in the back of my head and I’m wondering in the back of your head do you think that she is alive or do you think that she is gone.

BETH: You know for a long time we really hung on to the hope that Natalee was alive and you know we still don’t know exactly what happened but we know it certainly doesn’t look good. I mean we have we have all this evidence that we have never been able to rule out.

I mean there was blood in the interior portion of the Kalpoe brothers car, they cut out the back seat, the roof there was blood there was DNA present we’ve never been able to find out whose blood that was. So there is so many things that have happened to lead us to believe that it’s not a good outcome for Natalee. You also have to look at the two minority security guards that were implicated early on. They (the suspects) had this elaborate story fabricated within a few hours of us landing on the island so all with all those elements in place.

BANKS: So then I can ask you the question again-- how do you keep her memory alive?

BETH: I feel as if to keep her memory alive, you know, that’s something that every parent can do. But I think to keep her story alive until we have resolution is what all the supports are doing and that’s really where we need to go we need closure. We need to know what happened that night and I think that the path that we’re on if we just continue I think we will get to the bottom of it I do.

BANKS: I think you will too because you are such a crusader, I remember seeing you on television and you saying I am not leaving here until I find her and I saw in your eyes and I was like she is going to find an answer and find out what happened to her daughter (everyone in the audience is clapping).

BANKS: Can you take us though the current state of the case? What’s going on with the case now?

BETH: Right now we filed a civil lawsuit against Joran van der Sloot and Paulus van der Sloot so they have retained an attorney in New York, Joe Tacopina, and he filed a motion in court to dismiss the case based on non convenience forum. Basically what they are saying is they are wanting to dismiss this. They feel this is a case that should be heard in an Aruban court vs. a New York court. But we feel that it is a convenient forum and we probably won’t have any information about his motion to dismiss until May 17th.

BANKS: How do you feel about Joran van der Sloot? How do you feel about him?

BETH: I can’t imagine a mother and father that have allowed this young man gamble senselessly, drink, and enter these establishments at 17 years of age 16 years of age. I mean he has been entering Carlos n Charlies and gambling at the Texas Hold’em table at casinos at least since he was 16 years of age. Here his father was to be preceded as a judge and you know they have absolutely no control over him.

BANKS: Do you think they were covering things up because was going to be a judge?

BETH: Oh absolutely. I think that Paulus van der Sloot has played every card that he could to keep any type of criminal charges being brought against his son.

BANKS: Joran has admitted to sexually assaulting Natalee. He has admitted that.

BETH: Yes, yes by his own admission he has admitted to the sexual assaults he committed against Natalee. He’s admitted them to witnesses, he’s admitted them to interrogators and so yes, this is information that Joran has shared himself.

Part 2--Natalee's friends--ALI, FRANCIS, LIZ

BANKS: Francis I want to ask you about Natalee. Tell me about your friend.

FRANCIS: That’s a difficult question to answer. She was one of my best friends, we had so much fun together, and she was always fun to be around. We just had a really good time and it’s hard to look back on that and answer what was your friend like because it kind of makes you sad to think about that but it’s good to talk about her with all of our friends to remember the good times and kinda remember her that way.

BANKS: I want to go back on to the trip because I didn’t know that you all had chaperones. You actually had adult chaperones watching over you? Who were these chaperones?

LIZ: They were just some teachers through out school and the thing is though they weren’t there to baby sit us like we knew going into the trip they were there if we needed them and they were.

ALI: We were going to Aruba where we are of legal age to drink there and this is our graduating senior class and friends so you know they weren’t there to baby sit us but they were great chaperones.

BANKS: Were you guys partying a lot?

LIZ: I mean just the normal. We were there to celebrate, so of course you know but we were doing it in moderation and being responsible.

BANKS: Did you feel safe in Aruba? Did you feel very safe there?

FRANCIS: Well one reason we decided to go there is because we had been told that it was one of the safest islands that we could go to and that kind of gave us a false sense of security. I think about when I was there, I didn’t feel really that unsafe there but looking back on it I see "Wow that was really stupid we should haven't done this."

BANKS: Like what certain things did you see looking back that were not safe?

FRANCIS: Well the whole idea of not having a really good buddy system. There was 150 of us there so we kind of assumed, 'well oh if say Liz wasn’t with us right now she is probably with Ali.'

BANKS: There is one thing that I’ve noticed from traveling throughout my past modeling career that a lot of times when people are in a different country or different island that’s not where they are from they assume that it’s safe. They walk down alleys that they would have never walked down, they would talk to guys that they would have probably never talked to when they are home but that place away makes you feel like you are invincible.

ALI: But also I think the one thing we--and I know I have learned from all of this and want to share with others that it can happen no matter where you are. You always have to be aware, your plans; and have a full circle plan of where you are going, who you are with and where you are going to end up with because this isn’t something that happens in a foreign country or in Aruba. It’s going out and having fun could be dangerous anywhere.

BANKS: Liz what do you think you would have done differently in hindsight?

LIZ: See that’s the thing about that night, there was no red flags--like we weren’t doing anything...you know we were out together, we were with our friends...we were acting the way we would have been anywhere. I guess we should have been aware of our surroundings and used a buddy system more efficiently. Especially, we didn’t have cell phones that worked there and that was a major problem because if you were to get separated there would be no way to contact anyone you were with.

BANKS: So the buddy system in hindsight? I think that would be the one thing that might have been able to avoid this. One thing I know that one of you said and I think it was Ali that you said this could have happened to any of you. How does that feel knowing that?

ALI: I mean that’s a very kind of surreal and difficult thing to think about because the truth of the matter is Natalee that night was not doing one thing different than any of us were doing. I mean we weren’t going out of control crazy we were just having a good time with all of our classmates and best friends and it’s just really hard to think about that but it’s also one thing that everybody has to know that it can happen no matter where you are to anybody.

BANKS: You wanted to say something Beth?

BETH: Well I was just thinking when I’m listening to the girls and I think they are just phenomenal how they’ve come up with that. This just has to be brought to full circle and I think that when we say 'the buddy system' bringing it to full circle--put as much into how you are ending the night as how your beginning the night.

BANKS: A lot of girls say 'I’m going to pick you up and then we’re going to do this and we’re going to get there', but you don’t talk about how you are going to get back home.





On 5-2 “The American Chronicle” reported:



The Element of Motive
Dale Netherton
May 2, 2006

People do not commit crimes without a motive. The motive may be irrational, but it is what motivates them to violate the rights of another person or persons. The criminal expects that by violating a victim’s right to life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness they will gain or alleviate something that is impeding their wishes. Whether the criminal is seeking property or the elimination of a witness, they assume the violation of the victim’s rights will resolve the impediment to their desires. The criminal may be delusional, incompetent or simply vicious, but when they act, something moves them, even if they are acting in a blind rage to attack their victim. It may be so deranged that it is hardly comprehensible to a rational observer, but no one acts to violate the rights of another person without a motive unless they suffer from a random outburst of mental instability often referred to as insanity. Thus, the insanity defense is the defense of last resort for criminal action. That is not what we are dealing with in the Natalee Holloway disappearance.

Someone(s) abducted Natalee. If she had simply run off as some naive pseudo-sleuths have proposed, one would have to ask why and secondly why has she not been seen? This was no runaway bride scenario. Who runs away on a small island if escape is the motive? There are far better locations she had access to and there was no history of any discontent. There is nothing to indicate she was or is a runaway. Which brings us back to the motive of someone to abduct her. Why would anyone want Natalee? The first question then becomes, what did she possess that a criminal would want? Did she have a lot of cash on her person? Was she robbed and then murdered to prevent a witness from identifying the criminal? That conjecture certainly doesn’t fit with any of the evidence so far revealed. What then would motivate a criminal to abduct Natalee?
A young boy like Joran evidently had a desire to be with Natalee for some reason as he admits he was with her and they even expressed affection for each other. And one could conjecture that affection led to arousal and rape was the end result. This scenario has a lot of flaws. First of all, rape is a crime of violence and is not initiated by affection. Secondly, there is no evidence of a pattern of sexual violence by Joran and the likelihood that he was that overcome with passion that night would indicate someone desperate for a sexual encounter. Arriving after midnight to the “party” is hardly indicative of someone seeking desperately to have a sexual encounter. Joran was known by many girls and it strikes me as highly unlikely he would pick someone he had only known for a brief period as someone he desperately had to have sex with. And if he was going to achieve submission through affection would he invite other boys to tag along?

Enter the Kalpoe brothers. Was this a gang rape gone bad? From what we know from Joran, he was not on a personal friend basis with the brothers. They ‘drove him around’. This was what he indicated on his interview on Fox with Greta van Susteren. Whether he is believable is of course another question. But strictly from a motive standpoint, why would three boys suddenly decide to accost a visiting female knowing she would not be easy. If she were easy and had invited them, there would have been no motive for harm. Joran didn’t know any easy marks for such an episode? Doesn’t fit with what we know of motivational behavior. Imagine Joran saying to the brothers,” I met this girl and I think we can rape her and hide her body so no one will find her”. And the brothers would reply, “ Yeah that sounds like a great plan.” If this sounds plausible, I expect abduction by aliens would also fit.

This brings us back to what could have possibly happened to Natalee and who had a motive to do her harm? With sex and violence out of the picture and running away not credible, we have to look at the possibility that she was herself a valuable commodity to someone for some purpose. This would suggest an abduction for profit. And here we see the most plausible motive. There is human trafficking in the Caribbean. This is known. There is the opportunity for abduction. There are visiting attractive young females, and there is a lot of money to be made from selling their “services” by those involved in the criminal trade. Whether Joran and his drivers had anything to do with abducting Natalee has yet to be proven. But the motive of a payoff or island privileges could very well have had a role in assisting the abduction of Natalee.

What specifically was the reason Joran considered Natalee someone he was interested in? If it was a casual encounter, does it follow that he would “make out” with her and just dump her with no further interest whatsoever? And if she was upset with him for some reason would she not have asked him to take her home? But what if someone said to Joran, “ If you will bring a girl to a specified location at a certain time you will be extended casino privileges. All you have to do is drop her off and leave. We’ll take care of the rest.” Is this so far fetched that it couldn’t happen and if it didn’t, then what is the answer to where Natalee disappeared to? We have already considered the runaway scenario and the sex scenario and found them wanting. But what about this possibility?
This option has the issue of motive clearly established. And if money was the motive what would be the downside of attempting such an abduction? The downside for any criminal is getting caught. And how does a criminal avoid getting caught? Either he is so clever that he knows where law enforcement will be when he commits the crime or he has a connection that he can pay off to look the other way. Since the possibility of a Police officer or a camera or a radar for boats leaving the island (which I understand is under Police jurisdiction) could spot some unusual behavior the buy off option is the most plausible. If you are in the highly lucrative human trafficking business one of the costs of doing business has to be avoiding confrontation with authorities by pay offs. There was probably not a concentration of this activity on one island as just a bank robber doesn’t hit a bank in the same vicinity if he suspects this may call too much attention to his activity. Suppose it just happened to be the night for an Aruba pickup and Joran simply picked Natalee because she mistook his attention for a genuine interest in her. He offered her a ride back to her hotel and took her to the pickup point, dropped her off and maybe doesn’t know what happened to her but that wasn’t his assignment.

Since he was seen with her, it would have looked very suspicious if the Police had not at least picked him up. But what motivated them to be so secretive about their interrogation? Would it not have been a feather in their hat to grill him and the Kalpoe brothers, pitting them against each other until one finally cracked? There is no indication that the interrogation had any such element. The recorded conversation did not reveal anything significant. Why? If the boys had known what had happened after they dropped her off at the drop off point, wouldn’t they have discussed or speculated? Instead, they talked in generalities and revealed nothing. Maybe this too was a ploy to show the world that the Police was secretly recording and trying to get answers for questions they already had answers they did not want to make public. It all fits so well with the motivation of money. Why would the Police be protective of a potential criminal unless they wanted to be sure Joran and the Kalpoe brothers didn’t spill the beans? Getting Joran to go on television with instructions to avoid any implication of the authorities would also fit as an attempt to demonstrate his involvement was not significant. If they can get Joran exonerated by the public they are practically home free. For there is no known closer link to her disappearance. Making another arrest also diverts attention for Joran and further dilutes the case and this is the motive behind the display of ineptitude, the endless unproductive searching and the wild speculation, resignations and the portrayal of having conducted an exhaustive search. For if it were found that the Police had colluded with a ring of human traffickers the outrage by the populace could bring down the government and the wrath of would be tourists. There is a huge amount of motivation that such involvement be diverted in any way it can be. But the facts of the case center around the motivation of the abductors and this aspect of the investigation has been almost avoided. It is the central driving force that explains why anyone would cause Natalee to disappear. Motive must be analyzed and openly discussed, for the why of the abduction leads to the possible actors and their actions. Waiting for evidence to appear does not constitute an active investigation. The element of motive is a central component leading to possible suspicious behavior. Consider it carefully and you may come to some surprising conclusions that will make you wonder why certain avenues of investigation haven’t been and are not being pursued. For whatever your theory, motive must be a central component. And in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, it has mostly been overlooked.





On 5-2 JOHN Q. KELLY appeared on FOX News. Here is a summary (Thank You and Hat Tip to "medley relay”)



Greta van Susteren tonite discusses the Holloway case with attorney John Q. Kelly. About 2 hours ago John spoke with Karin Jansen. John said he actually spoke to Karin a couple times today. Karin said that they had been searching an area of the ocean for the last 5 days, but it turned out to be a pipe so that was not very good news. John said that they had been waiting to hear what was to come of the damage claim filed and pending of Paul van der Sloot and Karin said that had been put over now until June.

The thing that Karin was most upset about today was an article that had been published in the Diario newspaper. She said this article was a complete fabrication and she was most upset about it. There was a declaration by a Police officer, not specifically identifying which officer but it was someone that fabricated a report on a typewriter and sent it into the Diario and the Diario did not check for accuracy. Karin Jansen wanted to make it clear that this report was not truthful. Greta wondered if Jossy had gotten a phone call yet. John did not know but he expected that he would be getting one.

Greta asked if Karin was still actively investigating and questioning people at this point. John said they were still following up on leads from that show and doing some searches. But he did not see any major break through or any arrests coming.

Greta again mentions Boeti as she did Friday to David Kock. Greta does not understand why someone that has a criminal history, access to a boat and is a relative of Dompig would not be on the list of being investigated. John agreed but to his knowledge he was unsure whether Boeti's name was in any of the Police records.

Greta wanted John's opinion of whether he thought the case would ever be solved or if he thought it was about over. John said that he has never been optimistic or hopeful. He has always said it would take a stroke of luck or a good break to crack this case. He did not seem optimistic at all.

Next date Greta said would be May 17 and John said that hearing in New York would be that day and then they would know if the case would go forward. They did not discuss the filings of Joe Tacopina nor nothing was said about John's optimism on that hearing.





5-3-06

On 5-3 ARUBAAN's news-source "Diario" reported:



Once again Joran points to Deepak Kalpoe

More documents of Natalee’s case leaked

ORANJESTAD (AAN) – More and more documents and information on the case of Natalee continue to come to light and in one of the reports that have leaked, readers themselves could read in yesterday’s DIARIO edition how Joran van der Sloot was talking, thinking, assuming, etc. and that he let people think or at the very least created the impression that it was Deepak who did something bad to Natalee on the day that Joran supposedly left Natalee sleeping on the beach.

Meanwhile, other Police documentation leans in the direction that it is Joran van der Sloot himself who is the one how could or had to know what happened with Natalee, because he was the last person to be with her.

Why did Joran van der Sloot create the impression or in an indirect way point towards (you can say here accused?) Deepak Kalpoe, that it was Deepak who could have done something to Natalee?

Copies of documents that are reproduced in today’s edition show where it came from, that Joran fingered Deepak and this is based on declarations that Joran made to Police, be they signed or not, they are Police documents on Natalee’s case.

The strange thing about this whole case is that at first, the Kalpoe brothers along with Joran van der Sloot, joined together to come up with a made up story that they dropped Natalee off at the "Holiday Inn," to later all three changing their version; but during the days of interrogation, the three were going against each other, the Kalpoes accusing and insinuating certain things in Joran’s direction and Joran in the Kalpoes’ direction, especially in Deepak’s direction.

The question now is, if at the beginning the three were such good friends with each other that they went as far as to lie to Police in a case where there was a suspicion that a criminal offense had taken place, then the three put themselves in a position that all three could face criminal charges, then what did they have to hide and why the radical change?

A friend of Joran and the Kalpoe brothers stated to Police that neither Joran nor the Kalpoes are capable of doing anything bad to anyway, and for this he would put his hand to the fire for all three; well, today everyone can see and read how Joran himself insinuated, thought, believed that it was Deepak Kalpoe who could have raped and killed Natalee.

By the way, in the declaration published yesterday, it was already mentioned that Joran believes that Deepak buried Natalee near the wall of the fisherman's hut!

When would someone normally be buried? When the person is dead, and not alive?! How would people have the courage and can live with themselves if they have buried a person alive? Why was Natalee supposedly buried? Because she died for whatever reason or because she was killed?

In one of the reports, Joran says the following: “I have a suspicion that Deepak went back to where the girl was (referring to Natalee who would have remained at the fisherman's hut)”.

“I know how he thinks”. “From something that happened in the past at the Internet Café where Deepak works, I believe that he is capable of rape (sexual violation)”. “Satish, I don’t know.”

Joran van der Sloot gave this declaration on June 29, 2005. On June 30, 3005, Joran’s version changed again, although he repeated again the matter that Deepak had said to Joran that he wanted to rape a girl that was at the Internet Cafe where Deepak worked.

While these two suspects were being transported to KIA after the June 30, 2005 interrogation, Joran again repeated the same matter of the rape.





5-4-06

On 5-4 ARUBAAN's news-source "Diario" reported:


According to the American press

Attorney confirms that the documents in the Natalee case exist

ORANJESTAD (AAN) – Yesterday during the day, and also Tuesday, some people tried to divert attention from the Natalee case by posting information on the Internet that what was published in DIARIO this week were fabricated or falsified documents.

What DIARIO published this week are the documents from the Natalee case that have leaked and where and by whom they were leaked from the investigation is not important because the resolution of the case is more important than any other accusation of who could have leaked the information or not.

The enormous damage that the case of the disappearance of Natalee has done to Aruba and continues to do, has resulted into the need to solve this case as soon as possible and those who now want to nitpick have to wait until the case goes to court.

The American media was looking for a way to get confirmation if the copies of the documents that were published in DIARIO this week were from the official investigation.

From an email received from the US, it was noted that an attorney in Aruba confirm that these documents exist.

Same as DIARIO has put forth on various occasions that Joran was changing his story of what could have happened to Natalee every time, the lawyer also confirmed that Joran was changing his declarations.

The documents that were published in DIARIO were published ‘as is’ and like they dropped in our mailbox.

If there’s a difference between the original documents that are in authorities’ hands and those that are now circulating around the world, it is up to the competent authorities to clarify this.

That there are grammatical errors in these documents, any person who has some basic schooling can see, but the contents of the documents are more important than any grammatical or graphic error and at the end of the case, it it’s the resolution of the case that is more important than any nitpicking.

It cannot be forgotten that this is not only a criminal case where some people could be or are involved, because it is Aruba and her image that are at play, that the community in general did not ask for this and cannot carry the responsibility for this either, while those who can say the truth remain quiet and Aruba continues to suffer the enormous damage abroad.

Those who say they are innocent can sleep in peace if they really are innocent, but the community in general cannot continue to live in turmoil due to one or more persons.





On 5-4 the BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA “Black and White.com” reported:



Why Can’t We Find Natalee Holloway?

Recently the Dutch and Aruban press have turned very critical of the Aruban Police investigation into the disappearance of Holloway, the first public signal that corruption might be the major obstacle to solving the case. Several Dutch criminal law experts have gone on the record calling the investigation methods “strange and unprofessional” and the investigation itself “total madness.”

At the center of controversy is Gerald Dompig, Aruba's chief of Police. According to reports, an anonymous man in tears called Dompig with information about where the body of Holloway was buried. A month passed before authorities began the search, yet earlier Dompig spoke openly with the press about new clues. “This is very strange,” said legal psychologist Peter van Koppen. “Normally the area is closed off immediately, to dig and search for clues, but not in Aruba.”

Menno Dolman, a criminal law expert at the University of Amsterdam, was also baffled by Dompig’s slow response. “It is incomprehensible that Police, after an important tip about the location of Natalee Holloway's body, would not go search immediately.”

Regarding Dompig’s leaks about the investigation, University of Leiden’s criminal law expert Hans Nijboer comments: “Total madness. It is against all principles and illogical to bring forth information about the tips before starting the search. [First] competent Investigators investigate the case.”

Dompig, who recently resigned his post as Aruba’s Police chief under mysterious circumstances, is becoming the center of controversy over many odd details related to the case. For example, Joran van der Sloot and Deepak and Satish Kalpoe were quickly identified as the last people to see Natalee Holloway alive the evening of May 30. However, Dompig waited over a week to gather evidence from the van der Sloot home, as well as a variety of other sites on the island that might have harbored clues about Holloway's disappearance. It is widely known that Dompig and Joran van der Sloot’s father are friends.

There are dozens of other details about Holloway's disappearance that remain a mystery. Why did Stephen Croes (a DJ and local operator of a party boat) come forward early in the investigation to corroborate the first tale about the three boys having dropped Holloway off at the "Holiday Inn," a story the three boys later admitted was a lie? Croes now says “he was trying to help,” but what was his motivation to stick his nose into such a high profile investigation if he knew the details weren’t the truth? Was he a plant intended to throw the investigation off course, or was he just stupid?

Authorities remain tight-lipped about the fishing huts on the northwest corner of the island near the hotel where Holloway was staying. Shortly after Holloway disappeared, the fishing huts were vandalized and missing items included fishing cages and knives—equipment that could have been used to dispose of a body.

Forensic evidence taken from the Kalpoe’s vehicle that was later determined unusable was never recollected. Why?

There is a series of videotapes, now labeled “the Chicago tapes” (I have no idea why they are named that) that show island authorities in rental cars searching the northern dunes and painting rocks in areas where Holloway might have disappeared—activities that would obviously corrupt a crime scene. There is information about four boys seen carrying a shovel near the dump in the early morning hours of May 31, reports of suspicious automobiles near the Racquet Club, the fishing huts, and the dump during that evening, and information about a woman being attacked near the fishing huts eight days before Holloway disappeared. All those leads remain loose ends.

Following Dompig’s resignation, Geoffrey van Cromvoirt was arrested on April 16. News soon surfaced that Cromvoirt was friends with Michael Dompig, the son of Gerald Dompig. Both worked on the Aruban Visibility Team, a security group that patrolled the beaches at the hotels where Holloway was staying. Recent accounts in the Aruban newspaper Diario reported that the boys often boasted that they “had fun with female tourists, even impersonating or representing themselves as island Police.” It is coincidental, to say the least, that Cromvoirt’s father owned an island security firm that, among other things, was in charge of video surveillance at the "Holiday Inn" where Holloway was staying. Cromvoirt was released on April 24, but authorities say that he remains a suspect in the investigation.

Weeks ago, Gerald Dompig appeared in the American media to proclaim that “Holloway died of a drug or alcohol overdose,” but one day later told Dutch newspapers that “Holloway was raped and killed.” Amid this most recent controversy, Aruban newspapers are now reporting that islanders have become resigned to the fact that Dompig and his team have botched the investigation. From all accounts, Aruba is a small island and like many small communities, everyone knows everyone else’s business, a fact that was very apparent during my interviews on the island 11 months ago. After almost one year of an investigation riddled with unresolved questions, incompetent Police work, and lies, it is becoming easier to believe that this crime remains unsolved because of the efforts of a few people who actually don’t want to see justice served.

Someone knows what happened to Natalee Holloway, they just aren’t talking. Yet.





5-5-06

On 5-5 “Statement Analysis” reported:



Natalee Holloway's Disappearance

Natalee Holloway, 18, disappeared while on a senior class trip to Aruba. She was there with classmates from Mountain Brook high school located in Mountain Brook, Alabama a suburb of Birmingham. Natalee was last seen on May 30, 2005 at about 1:30 a.m. leaving Carlos'n Charlie’s a popular bar and grill. She left the bar with three companions, Joran van der Sloot (17), and brothers Deepak Kalpoe (21) and Satish Kalpoe (18) in Deepak's car. The three young men initially told Investigators they dropped Natalee off at her hotel. After further questioning, they changed their story and said that they dropped Natalee and Joran off at the beach near the Marriott Hotel at about 1:40 a.m. Joran claims that around 3:00 a.m. Satish picked him up and they left Natalee alone on the beach. She has not been seen since.

On June 9, 2005, Joran and the Kalpoe brothers were arrested for reasonable suspicion of murder and manslaughter involving Natalee's death. They were denied bond and taken into custody. Lacking hard evidence that a murder had occurred, on September 3, 2005 the three suspects were released from Police custody. Natalee remains missing and the case remains open with Joran and the Kalpoe brothers as the prime suspects.

In February 2006, Chris Cuomo with ABC News interviewed Joran van de Sloot on the show "Primetime Live." The showed aired on February 23, 2006. Even though you can buy a transcript of nearly all of the Primetime Live shows, ABC is not offering the transcript of Joran's interview. I wonder what they are afraid of. On their website, ABC has posted exerts of the interview. Let's take a look at a few that stand out.
Q. "Why should you be believed after all of the lying that you
have done in this situation?”
A. "There is absolutely no reason to believe me.”
Q. "Would you believe you?"
A. "Um I wouldn't probably not believe myself no."
Since people will sometimes be deceptive but rarely lie, we should believe what people tell us. Joran tells us that we should not believe him. "There is absolutely no reason to believe me." He states it a second time when he says, "I wouldn't probably not believe myself."

"After all the inconsistencies in his statements about Holloway's disappearance, van der Sloot told ABC News' Primetime he understood why it was difficult for the media or other people to believe him."
"I don't trust the media, and I don't think, I don't really care, if the media trusts me or not," he said.
"I want to be trusted, and you earn that trust by telling the truth. And that's what I am trying to do. … I'm just happy that I told the story. I said what happened, and that's good."
The word "trying" means a person has not done something. He has only attempted to do it. What is Joran referring to? Is he "trying" to earn trust or is he "trying" to tell the truth?

On March 1, 2006, FOX News aired part one of Greta van Susteren's interview with Joran van der Sloot. The interview aired on the show "On The Record w/Greta van Susteren." Unlike ABC News, Fox posted the entire unedited transcript on their website. Here are some exerts from the interview.
Q. "Has Aruba been affected by Natalee's disappearance?"
A. "I think it has been affected, been affected quite a lot, and
that's one thing that hurts me a lot. I mean, the Aruban
people did everything, everything to try and — to try and
solve this case. They did. They sent F-16 jets from Holland
over to take pictures. They've interrogated I don't know how
many people. They have dive teams from all over the world have
come to dive into the oceans and look in the oceans. They sent
the whole Marines to search the entire island.
I mean, the government, the Aruban government, even gave all
the people that work for the government a day off to go search
the island. I mean, a lot has been done, and everyone just
wants to get this case solved and get it done with. That's
what everybody wants."
It is interesting that during this interview Joran never talks about trying to find or locate Natalee. He always use the language that he and everyone else is trying to "solve" this case. He hesitated and repeated himself when he said "to try and." Perhaps he was going to say "to try and find her" but then chose to use the word "solve."

Q. "Is that what you want?"
A. "Of course, that's what I want. That's the one thing that will
clear me, and that's the one thing that will clear anyone else
involved with it that doesn't deserve to be."
There are two reasons why a person would use the phrase "of course." Joran may be expecting us to take for granted what he is saying. However, we only believe what people tell us. If you tell me that is what you want then I will believe you. If you tell me "of course that's what I want" then I have to believe you have not told me what you want.

Some people have a habit of using this phrase. They will constantly interject it into their statement even though they are being truthful. In part one of his interview, Joran uses the phrase "of course" four times. When you consider the fact that he used the phrase "you know" 46 times and the phrase "I mean" 40 times, it would appear that he does not have the habit of using the phrase "of course."

Q. "Why did you agree to talk to us?"
A. "I agreed to talk to you because I thought it was important to
hear another side of the story, as well. I look at it in one
way that, you know, there's one side of the story, there's
another side of the story, and then there's the truth. And I'm
telling you the truth and everything that happened and not
just one side from the story. I'm not going to tell you I'm a
good person. I'm not going to tell you that I'm an angel or
that I've done good things, no, because it's not like that.
But I'm here to tell the truth and to let people know what
happened and exactly what went on."
What would your reason be for talking to the media? Most people would want the world to know that they did not harm Natalee. That they do not know where she is. Joran never makes these denials in this interview. Yes, he wants his side of the story to be told and yes we can believe he is giving us truthful information. The question is, is he withholding any information?

Q. "Interested in any of them at — at the poker table?" (Joran
said that he met Natalee and her friends at a casino.)
A. "Interested? No, not really. I was more talking — the girl
that was sitting next to me, I was — I thought she was pretty
and I was talking to her. And when I went — what the point was
for going to Carlos 'N Charlie's was I wanted to actually meet
up with her."
Joran answers the question with a question. This means it is a sensitive question and he is stalling for time to think about his answer. He answers with a "no" but then says "not really." People use the word "really" as an emphasis but often times it weakens the statement. It tells us Joran had some interest in one of the girls. He confirms this when he says he went to Carlos 'N Charlie's to meet her.

Q. "Did you tell Deepak that night that you had met these — these..."
A. "Yes, I told him — that's exactly — that's exactly what I told
him. I told him I met a couple of girls, and they asked if I
wanted to go out. So that's — yes, that's what I plan to do."
Q. "You tell him anything else about the girls, whether or not
you thought they'd be fun or they'd be, you know, something
that Deepak might want to hook up with, or Satish might want
to..."
A. "Oh, no, no, no. No, no."
It appears Joran did not let Greta finish her question. He answers "that's exactly what I told him" but we do not know what that is because he did not let Greta finish her question. He repeats the phrase "that's exactly." We also have an unusual statement "So that's — yes, that's what I plan to do." The word "plan" should be in the past tense unless he is quoting what he told Deepak that night.

He answers the second question with five "no's." You would think one "no" would be sufficient. Deceptive people will try to convince you they are telling the truth.

Q. "Had you made any agreement or arrangement with Natalee at
that point to leave with her or anything?"
A. "No, not at all. That came very spontaneously. She's like,
'OK, you want me to go with you?' And I was like 'OK.' And I
saw her go up to some of her friends. I don't know what she
said to them. And then, yes, then we — then we ended up
leaving. The plan was to go to my house."
Notice the last part of his answer. As they are getting ready to leave the bar, Joran tells us that Natalee was leaving with him and the plan was to go to Joran's house." Nineteen questions later we find the following Q & A.

Q. "Any discussion between Carlos 'n Charlies and the car
between you and Satish or you and Natalee?'
A. "No, just between me and Natalee. We were speaking English to
each other and I asked her if she wanted to go back to her
hotel and that's when she said that she wanted to — she asked
me if I -- if I had a big house or not and then — then she
said — I said to her "Do you want to see my house?" And she's
like 'Yes, I want to go to your house.'"
Everything a person says has a meaning. There is a reason why a person mentions something or why he phrases it a certain way. Why does Joran tell us he and Natalee were speaking "English" to each other? He never mentions this at any other time during his interview. This is called an unusual statement that should jump out at you screaming for closer examination. Apparently it did not catch Greta's ear because she ignored the statement. Unusual statements are sometimes the most important information in the statement.

The fact that he says they were speaking English tells us there was a time when they or someone was not speaking English. I believe Joran speaks Dutch. Perhaps Natalee picked up a little Dutch while in Aruba and was trying to converse with Joran in Dutch. Maybe Joran was teaching her Dutch. Their conversations in Dutch were not going so well so they decided to start "speaking English to each other." That's one possible explanation. A more sinister explanation is that the three boys, Joran, Deepak and Satish were speaking to each other in Dutch. This means Natalee would not know what they were saying. Perhaps they were discussing their plans for the night. Because another language was being spoken by someone it causes Joran to use the word "English" in his answer. As an Investigator you want to recognize this and find out what was going on.

Joran says he asked Natalee if she wanted to go back to her hotel. He then says, "that's when she said that she wanted to" but he does not finish the sentence. He then sets the stage for a discussion on going to his house. He then claims Natalee said, "Yes, I want to go to your house." There appears to be a discrepancy here in reference to going to his house. Earlier in his interview he tells us that while they are getting ready to leave the bar "the plan was to go to my house." Now as they are walking to the car he tells us that is when they decided to go to his house.

Q. "On the beach you weren't directly in front of the Marriott,
you were a little bit north of the Marriott is that right, you
call it the Marriott beach but you weren't directly in front
of the hotel?"
A. "At that point, we were basically almost directly in front of
the Marriott Hotel."
Q. "Did you cut through the hotel to the beach?"
A. "No, no. You didn't really cut because you're right at the —
the right side of the Marriott Hotel, all the way at the
right. She didn't really cut through — through the hotel but
you were walking on the hotel property where there's beach
chairs and all that stuff."
Joran uses some odd pronouns in his answer. He was asked if he and Natalee cut through the hotel to get to the beach. Instead of answering "we" or "I didn't really cut" he uses the pronoun "you." He may be using the "you" because he is talking in general terms. However, most people would use a personal pronoun. He then states that "she didn't really cut through." Where did Joran go? If he was with Natalee, then he should have used the pronoun "we." He finishes his answer using the pronoun "you" instead of "we." "You were walking on the hotel property where there's beach chairs and all that stuff." The Aruban authorities believe that Natalee and Joran never went to the beach that night. Perhaps that is what Joran is telling us by changing his pronouns. Changing pronouns is an indication of deception.

Q. "What was your intention at that point to have sex with her?"
A. "That was my, yes, that was my intention, yes. That was my
first intention."
If you have a "first intention," then you have to have a second intention. If you were interviewing Joran, you would want to find out what was his second intention.

Q. "So you got out of the car. Did you have sex with Natalee?"
A. "No, no, not..."
It appears Greta did not let Joran finish his answer. He answered the question with a "no, no" but then he started to say something else, "not..." Was he about to say "not at that time"? Then again maybe the "not" was his attempt to say "not-hing happened."

Q. "Other people walking on the beach?"
A. "Yes, there was — the time that I started walking the other
direction there was only one couple that I walked by because
most of them were at the actual Marriott Hotel. At that
(INAUDIBLE), there was only one couple that I actually walked
by."
Joran is suppose to be describing his walk on the beach with Natalee. However, three times he uses the pronoun "I" and not the pronoun "we." Did he walk past this couple alone? Where was Natalee at this time?

Q. "Did Satish pick you up in his car or his mother's car?"
A. "In Deepak's car."
Q. "So, it's the same car that dropped you off?"
A. "Yes."
Q. "Did you say 'Where's Deepak'?"
Q. "Yes, that was — of course that was the first reaction when I
— when I came there. I walked over and I sat in the car and I
was like, you know, 'Where's Deepak'? He said, 'Oh, he's at
home on his computer.' And that's when I, you know, I told
him, you know, the girl's still on the beach and, you know,
she wanted me to stay there with her and, you know, I want to
go. I want to go home. What do you do?
And he reacted like, you know, OK (INAUDIBLE) 'Let's go, you
know, let's go fast and let's leave, you know, like, you know,
not really caring about her. Let's just go and leave her
there.' And, I was like, 'OK' so (INAUDIBLE) we really went
without even saying goodbye to her or without even really
seeing her and telling her at that point that we were going to
go."
Joran uses the phrase "of course." It appears he wants us to take for granted that he asked "Where's Deepak?"

Six times he uses the phrase "you know." Three other times he uses it but attributes it to Satish talking. He uses the phrase 46 times in part one of his interview, so we know he probably has a habit of using that phrase. However, to use it 6 to 9 times to answer a question draws suspicion. This may be a sign of tension.

He states that Satish said "let's go fast and let's leave." Why is Satish in such a hurry? If Natalee walked off the beach and came up to the car before they left, you would think they would offer her a ride back to her hotel. Joran claimed he initially offered her a ride from the bar back to her hotel. Joran then uses the word "really" twice which weakens the statement. "Without even really seeing her and telling her at that point that we were going to go." The word "really" indicates that he did see her. Maybe she was at a distance so he used the word "really" as opposed to saying "without even seeing her."

Here are some exerts from part two of the interview which aired March 2, 2006.
Q. "Up until getting that phone call from your father, did Deepak
say anything to you unusual or anything that stands out in
your mind?"
A. "No, not really."
Greta is referring to the phone call Joran received form his father the night after Natalee disappeared telling Joran there were people at his house who wanted to see him. Joran answers the question with a "no" but then he adds the phrase "not really." This weakens the denial. Chances are Deepak did say something unusual or something that stood out.

Q. "So you get the phone call from your father. Were you at the
table when you got the call?"
A. "When I got the phone call? No, we were — I — we'd actually
left already, and we were going to the car to go to another
casino, and that's when we got that phone call."
Q. "Where were you planning to go?"
A. "We were planning to go to, in town, the Excelsior casino
there. Or not the Excelsior — the Crystal (ph) casino there."
Q. "All right. So when you're standing at the car, did he say
anything to you all? Did he ask you about the night before?
Did he discuss the night before?"
A. "No, he didn't — he didn't ask me anything."
Q. "Never mentioned it at all."
A. "Never mentioned it at all."
Q. "Do you find that unusual or not?"
A. "No."
Q. "It's just normal."
A. "Yes."
Q. "OK. So your father — so what did your father say in the phone
call?"
A. "In the phone call? Yes, he called me and he said, There's
people here in front of the house looking for their daughter."
Answering a question with a question usually means the person is stalling for time to think about how to answer the question. This is a sign that the question asked was a sensitive question. Joran answers a question with a question in regards to getting a phone call from his father. Notice Joran did not wait for an answer after he asked or repeated the question. A clear sign he was stalling for time.

In the first answer we him changing his pronouns. Changing pronouns is an indication of deception. This may occur because he is making up the story and not relying on his memory.

Q. "Did you know who they meant, who the daughter was, at that
point?"
A. "At the point, when I got that phone call, I was, like, you
know, (DELETED) what if it's that girl from last night, you
know, the girl from the beach? That was my first reaction."
Q. "Did you actually say that to Deepak, or did you think that?"
A. "No, I thought that. And then that's when — you know, when I
hung up, I said, OK, we're coming — we're coming home. And so
then I — when I hung up the phone, I was, like — I was, like,
you know, (DELETED), and I talked to Deepak and then I just
told him what my dad just said on the phone. And he was, like
— he was, like, (DELETED), too. And then that's when we —
that's when we made up a story to say, you know, that we
didn't — that we dropped her off at the Holiday Inn."
In the last sentence, Joran says they made up a story to say "that we didn't." However, he does not finish his thought. He then changes his statement and says "that we dropped her off at the Holiday Inn." We have to wonder what he was thinking when he made the statement "that we didn't." It could be something as simple as "that we didn't see her."

Q. "OK, and I think there's a declaration, and correct me if I'm
wrong, of the 13th of June. It's in Dutch and I've seen a
translation. I can't read Dutch. But I think that it says that
you say that Deepak murdered Natalee is that wrong?"
A. "No, that's not. I never said anything like that."
Greta makes the statement that Joran said that Deepak murdered Natalee. She then asks, "Is that wrong?" Joran answers, "No, that's not." He never finishes the sentence. He is saying that her comment is not wrong? This means he did say that Deepak murdered Natalee despite his claim "I never said anything like that."

Q. "What was it like for you in jail?"
A. "It wasn't, I mean, I mean they treated me really well there
when I was there. I mean all the people there were great.
Also, you know, the security guards and everyone was really,
really supportive, really good but, I mean of course it's not
fun to be in jail I mean.......And this is something it's —
everyone wants to find out what happened and I think people
need to find out what happened for everyone's sake, you know,
just to get this closed with and get this moved on with. And I
mean I don't care if someone thinks badly of me now. I mean
that's really — I really don't care about that anymore."
Again Joran does not state that we need to find Natalee. He never mentions her name. He says that everyone needs to find out what happened "just to get this closed with and get this moved on with" as opposed to finding out what happened to Natalee.

Here are some exerts from part three of the interview which aired March 3, 2006.
Q. "Beth Holloway — what's your thought feeling about Natalee's
mother?"
A. "........I mean, I think the actions they're taking are
definitely wrong, The things that they are doing from outside
of (INAUDIBLE) thinking I had something to do with them,
that's — I don't blame them for that at all. I mean, like I
said, if I was — if I was looking at this from the outside,
I'd think I had something to do with it because, you know, a
lot of stuff happened that's just weird, that just doesn't
make sense, either. But what is important is that the actions,
the other actions they're taking, I think, are just wrong. I
don't agree with them at all."
Joran gives a lengthy answer to this question. He starts off saying he doesn't "think badly" of Beth Holloway. He believes though "the actions she's taking are wrong." He said he was willing to talk to her but then his lawyers and parents told him not to. He then finishes his answer by stating that "a lot of stuff happened that's just weird, that just doesn't make sense." In talking about the weird sutff that happened, Joran is referring to himself. He said, "If I was looking at this from the outside, I'd think I had something to do with it because, you know, a lot of stuff happened that's just weird, that just doesn't make sense, either." We have to wonder what weird stuff is he talking about.

Q. "And your dreams are, at this point, to do what?"
A. "I'm studying international business management at my school.
And yes, my dreams are just to finish that study, and you
know, go on with my life. And I just hope this get solved, for
everyone, for everyone involved. For everyone's sake, I really
hope that this get solved. And like I said, I mean, I'll use
every second of the time that I get to talk. I mean, just if
anyone knows anything, just please, please go forward to the
Police and tell them everything that you know. I mean, it's
just so important."
Again he uses the language that he hopes this case will "get solved." Yes, that is something that all of us want. However, we also want to know what happened to Natalee. Joran never states this. He never personalizes it by using her name. He continues to use impersonal language of solving the case.

Q. "What's your theory? What do you think happened?"
A. "I mean, I'm not going to — I mean, I have 20 of my own
theories. I mean, I've thought so many things that could have
happened. I mean — but I'm not going to — all people have done
is speculate. That's all people have done, and that's wrong. I
mean, so I'm not going to go on and speculate and say what I
think happened, either."
This is weak. He has 20 theories but he is not going to share them with us. Moat people have a theory as to what happened and are willing to share it. No one is asking him to name names. Why not say, "I think she met someone on the beach after I left who might have kidnapped her"? Or, "Maybe she went for a swim and drowned"?

Q. "Think it's going to be solved?"
A. "I think it'll be solved. I think..."
Q. "Why?"
Q. "Because there's — there's — I mean, it has to be solved, for
everyone involved. I think Aruba is doing everything they can
to solve it, and I think it will be solved. I really believe
deep down inside that it'll be solved."
It appears Greta cut Joran off with his first answer. He was about to tell us something and she did not let him. We can consider this lost information.

As to why he thinks it will be solved he shows some deception. Deceptive people will try to convince you they are telling the truth. Joran does this with words like "I really believe" and "deep down inside." I think a lot of people would answer this by saying something like "People just don't disappear that's why I believe it will be solved." Joran does not state this because that would start to personalize it by using words like "people" and "disappear." Instead, he uses generic language stating that "it will be solved." Yes, he is using the same language Greta used but he still keeps it impersonal.

Q. "Is Natalee dead or alive?"
A. "I don't know. I mean, there's nothing..."
Q. "What do you think?"
A. "There's no evidence at all to prove anything, not to say that
she's alive and not to say that something happened to her. I
mean, deep down — deep down inside, I don't think — I don't
think that she's alive anymore. But I mean, there's every —
anything — anything could have happened. Anything could have
happened. I mean, I really don't know."
Order is important. There is a reason why one thing is mentioned before another. Look at Greta's question, "Is Natalee dead or alive?" There is a reason why she did not say "alive or dead." By mentioning "dead" first, it tells us that Greta thinks Natalee is not alive.

Because of the question, Joran is forced to talk about Natalee using the pronoun "she." He tells us there is no evidence to prove that she is alive but he refuses to use the word "dead." Instead he says, "...and not to say that something happened to her." We should wonder why he does not use the word "dead."

He tells us that he does not think "that she's alive anymore." Everything a person says has a meaning. Why add the word "anymore"? It is not needed for us the readers of his statement. But for some reason he needed to put it in there.

It sounds like in the last part of his answer he wanted to say that there is always a chance she could be alive. But, he does not say that. He stutters, he repeats himself and states that "anything could have happened." Even if you believed she was dead, why not say there is a chance she is alive? Stranger things have happened. Unless, of course, you knew she was dead.

Q. "Other than the lie about the "Holiday Inn" and the two guards
(INAUDIBLE), did you lie to the Police at all?"
A. "That's what I said to you about that, that Deepak Kalpoe and
Satish dropped me off at my house. That's (INAUDIBLE)"
Q. "So two lies, essentially."
A. "Yes."
Q. "Any other lies?"
A. "Any other lies? No."
Q. "Know anything else about this?"
A. "No."
Q. "Nothing about what happened to Natalee?"
A. "No."
These are the last five questions of the interview. Joran does not answer the first question "Did you lie to the Police at all?" He gave an answer but it did not answer the question. This means he is withholding information.

He answers the second question with a "yes" but that was easy for him to do. Greta did not ask him "Did you only tell two lies?" She used the word "essentially." What Joran is saying is "Yes, I essentially only told two lies." That leaves the possibility he told other lies. Perhaps they were just fibs.

Greta then narrows it down and asks him "Any other lies?" Joran then answers the question with a question. He does it in a classic way by repeating the question. Notice he did not wait for Greta to answer his question. This is a clear indication he was asked a sensitive question and was stalling for time to think about how to answer it.

Greta finishes the interview by asking him if he knew what happened to Natalee. Joran answers with a "no" but again this is easy for him to do because of the way Greta worded the question. She used the word "nothing" which is a negative word. She is essentially telling him how to answer the question.

Conclusion

Here is a summary of the things Joran stated in his two interviews.

- He told us we should not believe what he says.
- He constantly talks about solving this case as opposed to finding Natalee.
- He tells us that he planned to have sex with Natalee but didn't because he did not have
a condom.
- He used changing pronouns which is an indication of deception.
- He made an unusual statement when he said "We were speaking English to each
other."
- He told us that weird stuff happened.
- He won't tell us what he thinks happened to Natalee.
- When asked if he told the Police any other lies, first he did not answer the question,
then he answered the question with a question.

There is no doubt that Joran van der Sloot has withheld information. He has not told us everything that happened that night and he has shown several signs of being deceptive. English may not be his first language and may explain why some of his answers appear to be deceptive. Still, he gave numerous answers that need to be explored. Perhaps the biggest thing that is missing from his statements is a denial. Half the world probably thinks he had something to do with Natalee's disappearance. Even Joran himself said that if he were in someone else's shoes he would view himself as a suspect. Yet, from what I have read, he never denies causing harm to Natalee. He never states, "I did not kill her" or "I did not harm her" or "I do not know what happened to her." This is how a guilty person acts because people do not want to tell a lie. So, they avoid making these kind of statements / denials. His interviewers helped him out because from what I have seen they never asked him these questions.





On 5-5 ARUBAAN's news-source "Diario" reported:



All Police reports show that something smells in Matter of the Lighthouse in the case of Natalee

ORANJESTAD (AAN) – The investigation on the case of Natalee continues and from one day to the other, more information continues to come out, which has caused a few people to walk around with a lot of nervousness.

No matter how long it lasts or how many people believe that they will be able to cover things up forever in the case of Natalee, the truth will come out and as DIARIO has already published: few words are necessary for those who are good listeners.

During all the interrogations in the case of Natalee conducted by local authorities and also those from Holland, the matter of the Lighthouse and the ridiculous matter of going to going to see sharks at the lighthouse shows very clearly that there was and still is formal and systematic lying in regards to whether the three principal suspects went to the lighthouse with Natalee or not.

At first, Joran van der Sloot himself declared that they went to the lighthouse and that he, himself, told the Kalpoe brothers to go in the direction of the lighthouse while Joran ‘supposedly’ was sitting in the backseat of the car with Natalee.

During other interrogations which continued, Joran van der Sloot himself radically changed his declaration in what concerns the matter of the lighthouse and it could even be observed that the way that Joran got to hear that the Kalpoe brothers did indeed declare and were firm on the matter of going to the lighthouse, Joran became like an angry bear.

Today DIARIO has reproduced a part of the controversial declarations that Joran first made on the matter of the lighthouse, which he accuses the Kalpoe brothers of lying about going there and today, everyone can read how Joran was changing his version every time.

In one declaration alone, he contradicted himself even on the matter of going to Noordkant [northern tip] with Natalee.

At first, Joran declared that Natalee herself asked to go to the North side of the island to see sharks (a very ridiculous proposition in the darkness of night; neither day nor night can one see sharks on the Aruban shores).

Afterwards, later in the same interrogation, Joran tells Police: “At no time did Natalee ask to go to the north side of Aruba!”

Joran himself declared that the (supposed) idea of going to the lighthouse came from him!

In the sequence of declarations as to whether the lighthouse or not, today the readers themselves can read how one behind the other, Joran himself declared that they went to the lighthouse, to later during other interrogations (which also will be published) he categorically denied the matter of going to the lighthouse and it is because of this point here that the investigation smells badly.





On 5-5 the QUINCY, ILLINOIS “The Quincy Herald-Whig” reported:



'It's too late for Natalee'

Beth Holloway-Twitty sent a passionate plea to Quincy area students this week that they think seriously about safety when traveling, particularly when abroad.

It's a message she wishes her daughter, Natalee Ann Holloway, would have heard before her post-graduation trip to Aruba last year. The Alabama teen disappeared May 30 and Aruban authorities say it is unlikely she is still alive.

"I pray that your parents will never experience my pain," Twitty said. "It's too late for me. It's too late for Natalee. But it's not too late for you."

She reminded students that they are responsible for their own personal safety.
"You're the only one who can save yourself from dangerous situations," she said. "Natalee had a false sense of security. She was too confident, she let her guard down and that moment she vanished."

Natalee, 19, and 124 fellow graduates of Mountain Brook high school were visiting Aruba on a five-day unofficial senior class graduation trip. Natalee was seen at Carlos 'N Charlie's, a popular tourist-oriented bar and grill in Orangestad, Aruba. She left at about 1:30 a.m. May 30 with Joran van der Sloot, 17, and brothers Deepak Kalpoe, 21, and Satish Kalpoe, 18, in Deepak Kalpoe's car.

Natalee did not arrive for her return flight that morning, nor did she appear in any of the hotel lobby's security camera footage in the course of the night. Her passport, packed luggage and mobile phone were found in her hotel room.

"She was obviously all set to go home," Twitty said, adding that she knew something was "terribly wrong" because Natalee was excited about heading off to the University of Alabama on a full academic scholarship in the fall.

She knew her daughter wouldn't have run away.

Twitty firmly believes her daughter was kidnapped, raped and "most likely murdered" and she has been frustrated by the efforts of Aruban authorities to solve the case.

"The authorities were very little help," she said. "We were left to search for Natalee ourselves."

Searches of the island and surrounding waters have been fruitless. Ten people have been arrested and released without charges in connection with the case.

"What happened to her can happen to anyone in this room," Twitty said during one of two presentations Thursday at John Wood Community College. She also spoke today to students at Quincy Notre Dame High School.

Her appearance in Quincy was sponsored by the John Wood Alcohol Coalition and was funded by a grant from the Illinois Higher Education Center. It is part of her campaign to reach out to 10,000 students in all 50 states by the end of May.

"I'm at 6,000 now," she said.

Amanda Brown, a JWCC student and president of the college's BACCHUS chapter, was riveted by Twitty's presentation.

"I had not really known many details (about Natalee's case) and it is extremely shocking to me," Brown said. "Aruba is just this beautiful place, but her family has experienced such tragedy there."

Mary Edwards, a JWCC staff member, had four reasons for listening to Twitty's story — her four daughters who range in ages from 15 to 23.

"It's not a safe world," Edwards said. "I've thought about that ever since (my oldest daughter) went off to college. You always have to have somebody watch your back."
Twitty has created the International Safe Travels Foundation, and a Web site (www.safetravelsfoundation.org) provides people with safe travel tips, as well as specific information about certain destinations.

"We want to have infrastructure information at their fingertips," she said. "They can print it out and take it with them."

In addition to researching the travel destination, including information about the hotel, hospitals, consular services, Police and other critical agencies, Twitty encourages international travelers to activate international calling on their cell phones before leaving the U.S.

She says travelers should always carry their cell phones and a photo identification with them, but never their passports. She also says travelers should never disclose their hotel room number or their departure date to strangers, even if they seem trustworthy.
One of the most important tips, Twitty says, is when making plans for the evening to include plans about the return to the hotel, and to never go anywhere alone.

"What if (Natalee) and her friends would have set a time and place to meet at the end of the night?" she asked.

"Don't let yourself get in a situation where you are no longer in control of your actions," Twitty added. "I believe ... when (Natalee) was least able to defend herself, they took her."





5-6-06

On 5-6 “The Wall Street Journal” and “The Wall Street Journal Online” reported:


Cruising Past the Pump
Gas Guzzlers

Think high gas prices make filling up your SUV painful? Try pulling up to the pump in the 101,000-ton Carnival Destiny.

The soaring cost of oil has already hit motorists and airlines hard. Now it has cruise lines redrawing routes and changing schedules. Carnival Cruise Lines says its Destiny ship won't be stopping at Aruba, which requires a fuel-guzzling trip far south. Royal Caribbean is making travelers show up for earlier departures on some of its cruises so ships can sail at a slower, more fuel-efficient speed. And at Regent Seven Seas, they're tacking on a daily fuel surcharge starting at $5 a person (that's $12 on Tahiti trips).

With cruise-ship fuel costs up about 30% over the past year, industry experts say other operators might follow suit. "They're looking at everything more closely," says Tim Conder, leisure analyst at A.G. Edwards.

Carnival's announcement doesn't come as much of a surprise. Rising fuel prices helped contribute to a 19% decline in its fiscal first-quarter profit. The new itineraries, says Carnival spokesman vance Gulliksen, are also an attempt to "freshen the product."
From January, Carnival will nix Aruba from the Destiny itinerary. The island off the coast of Venezuela will be replaced with stops at St. Lucia and Antigua -- making the cruise about 470 miles shorter. Carnival says it also has itinerary changes set for its Legend liner, scrubbing Barbados and Martinique for two islands that are closer together.

But Steve Gelfuso, owner of Cruise Brothers, a travel agency in Cranston, R.I., says his clients couldn't care less about where they stop. "The real cruise people just go for the ship. It's never as nice on one of those islands."





On 5-6 “Blogs for Natalee” identity “Happy-Guy” wrote, “If not mistaken, Lorenzo has a car dealership cleanup shop, to clean up his rental cars, do detail work on the outside and inside of these cars and for the public, and that Deepak or Satish, may have been seen with the Honda Civic at this place, “R & S Auto Repairs,” near the Buscadera area of the island, and where the Free Port area is located. This also the area, where the two ladies from FM station 96.5 radio station, said they ran upon a parked car with two dark men and a naked blonde woman inside. They looked Raftherjaini or something like that to the women, who were threatened with an axe and fled the area. When ALE got around to checking this area, the car and occupants were naturally no longer there. This allegation by the two fm radio station needs checking out carefully as they have no reason to lie about what they did and what they observed as they had taken off work a half day [June 6, 2005] to participate in an island search for Natalee.”


5-8-06

On 5-8 ARUBAAN's news-source "Diario" reported:



Case of Natalee: report shows formal deceit

Joran van der Sloot’s feet grow and shrink almost 4 sizes from one day to the other

ORANJESTAD (AAN) --- Those of a little advanced or respectable age can still remember the time where there was an alcoholic beverage that was called ‘foot sweller’.

This alcoholic beverage, it was said, that those who drank too much of it, their feet swelled and because of this they called the drink ‘foot sweller’, but who can believe that in the year 2005 there are people in Aruba whose feet really swell or grow almost 4 sizes from one day to the other?

This was the case of the suspect Joran van der Sloot, who is currently peacefully studying in Holland and Aruba itself is stuck with the case of Natalee, and in the US they are trying in every way to organize and implement all sorts of boycotts and acts that could harm Aruba in the wide sense of the word.

This is not an attempt to cast guilt on Joran van der Sloot in the case of Natalee, but the fact is that the majority of people in the community is very angry in regards to the case of Natalee causing a negative impact on the economic situation, the image of the people of Aruba and surely, for the island’s tourism.

Too many changing declarations, formal deceit by the suspects and the very strange way in which the authorities, who have to be competent, have proceeded have today stuck Aruba in a very bad situation in regards to Natalee’s case and those who know the truth remain quiet believing that in this way, they can evade guilt of any involvement or any violation of the law.

From the copies of different Police reports, today readers themselves can read how Joran van der Sloot, who until today for inexplicable reasons ‘supposedly’ left his expensive brand name running shoes at the beach on the night he was with Natalee, according to the version he gave Police.

Police came up with the matter of the running shoes or it was Joran himself who started talking about the running shoes of an expensive brand name, size 14? From the Police report of June 14, 2005, readers can read how Joran himself declared that he took off his size 14 running shoes and left them on the beach.

On June 29, 2005, he again repeated to Police that he left his size 14 running shoes on the beach. The strange thing is that on August 2, 2005, after so many interrogations had already taken place, Joran van der Sloot in a car heading back to KIA, told a Dutch Police officer who came to Aruba especially to interrogate the suspects, that Joran had on some K-Swiss running shoes that he borrowed from a fellow prisoner.

At no moment did the Dutch Police officer ask Joran something, it was Joran himself who started talking with the Police officer, as can been seen from the Police report.

Now, the question is: was Joran brought from the first day to KIA shoeless and had no shoes to wear that it was a fellow prisoner who had to lend Joran a pair of running shoes?

Van der Sloot’s parents couldn’t bring shoes for Joran to wear, and someone from the prison had to lend him some shoes, and to top it all off they were K-Swiss brand?

By the way, at KIA they have to register, as in the majority of prisons around the world, what shoes and other belongings each person comes in with, yes or no? On August 8, 2005, the same Dutch Police officer asked Joran to take off his shoe, which was a K-Swiss brand running shoe.

Joran asked to see his lawyer and wanted to find his lawyer’s support, but his lawyer didn’t even look at Joran and started to write (in local dialect, you deal with your problems!) After the Dutch Police officer insisted, Joran took off the running shoe and handed it over across the table.

The Police officer asked Joran how in the supposed day that he was with Natalee on the beach, he had size 14 K-Swiss running shoes, then how was the one that Joran put on the table size 10.5?

After Joran put his running shoe back on, the Police pressed on the tip of the running shoes, and observed that the shoes were a good fit on Joran, and Joran didn’t react!

The matter of the size 14 K-Swiss running shoes is ‘too good to be true’. Was it the shark that Natalee supposedly wanted to see at the North shore that left with Joran van der Sloot’s size 14 running shoes?





On 5-8 ARUBAAN's news-source "Amigoe.com" reported:



Carnival takes Aruba off their list of destinations

ARUBA – Cruise Company Carnival takes Aruba off her 7-day ‘South Caribbean’ journeys. Curacao or Bonaire will not replace Aruba. Barbados is the most southern destination of the popular Carnival in the Caribbean.

Carnival Cruise Lines starts a new 7-day cruise with 5 destinations in January 2007. The ship Destiny that leaves from San Juan Puerto Rico currently stops in St. Lucia, Antigua, Dominica, Barbados and – back to the north – St. Thomas. Up till now, after leaving Puerto Rico, the ship calls on 4 islands, St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados and Aruba.

Spokesperson vance Gulliksen says that the decision to take Aruba off the list of destinations is to save on fuel costs, because the ABC-islands are quiet a bit more to the south and also because after five years, Carnival wants to renew this route. “By not calling on Aruba, we can add two extra destinations and save on fuel.





On 5-8 the “Scared Monkeys blog" reported:



Time to Revisit the 3 suspects Police Report Transcription; They may have some Explaining to do

As we revisit the translated Police report of the conversation that was secretly recorded by the ALE some rather interesting post scripts play out. In reading these transcripts, they hardly exonerate Joran van der Sloot as a suspect as his attorney Joe Tacopina has stated. Also, it is peculiar and convenient that Joe Tacopina would accuse someone else of leaking these documents to the media. Tacopina has gone on record as stating Jossy Mansur leaked the information. Which brings a question to mind, why would he care? If these documents, as he claims, benefit his client one would think that Tacopina would be thrilled with Jossy, not vindictive. That, however, is hardly the case.

Let’s review some of the more telling and interesting comments made by the three suspects. They hardly show anyone of them to be presented in a clear light and innocent. If anything, they provide more questions and suspicion on the three.
There have been many rumors to the fact that Paulus van der Sloot helped the Kalpoe’s get an attorney and met with them and discussed the case in the infancy of this investigation. We know hear from Joran van der Sloot’s own mouth that this was the case. Paulus did indeed help the Kalpoe’s attain council. One wondered what other information he provided to all three suspects with regards to how to conduct themselves in jail while being interrogated.

So would this mean that the conversation that Deepak Kalpoe had with Mickey John
in jail is true as well seeing that Deepak stated that the story of the "Holiday Inn" was made up by the VDS family? Seems that there was much conversation between the three suspects prior to their arrest. Deepak did also speak to Abraham Jones and explained that the HI story was a lie. So what else that Deepak referenced was true as well.

J says to D: My friend, the only thing my father wanted to do was to help you. J says to D: My father only wanted to help you. My father even arranged a lawyer for you. J says to D: And this is how you pay him back. J says to D (angry): I have to give you both a klap/wanta [punch in the face?]

Do not forget what Mickey John said to Greta van Susteren in a June 29, 2005 interview following his release from jail.

VAN SUSTEREN: The father, too?
JOHN: All of them. They made up…
VAN SUSTEREN: Did he specifically say — Deepak specifically say to you the father was part of that?
JOHN: Deepak told me that he and the family sit down and they made up the story.
VAN SUSTEREN: So family and not father?
JOHN: Well, I don’t know who the family consists of. But I know the father was involved, according to him. They made up the story, and they say that they didn’t drop the girl off, because they said they would give the Police something to (INAUDIBLE) when somebody is missing in Aruba, they would find them a few days later by a crack house or with some beach bum or something.
In this heated exchange between Joran van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers a rather eye opening comment is made by Joran, “J says to the brothers: Same as they control me, they control you too.” Just who is Joran referring to as “controls” him and the Kalpoes? The three had stated that they lied about dropping Natalee at the Holiday Inn; however, what would possess the three to continue to lie while they were in jail? As Satish states, “With lies there is no proof.”

PROOF OF WHAT SHOULD BE THE QUESTION. Proof of what actually happened to Natalee Holloway? The fact that the three continue to perpetrate lies, even while in jail is telling. The need to lie in order for there to be “no proof” and just who is Joran referencing as to “who controls them”?

J says to the brothers: Half of what you said isn’t the f****** truth.
J says to the brothers: That’s going to show in time.
J says to the brothers: Same as they control me, they control you too.
S says to J: About us, about us. They can find proof, but not about you.
S says to J: With lies there is no proof.

Much has been made of the comment from Joran van der Sloot, “And I’ll laugh if they find the girl alive.” Somehow this is to presume innocence. Joran did not say, I will laugh (WHEN). He said I will laugh (IF). There is a big difference. By using the word, “if”, Joran is almost making a statement like, they (ALE) will never find her and if they did I would laugh.

Also Deepak’s reference to Joran in that, “I want them to find the girl” and that “You’re going to say shit about me in regards to the girl, that I buried the girl at the fisherman's hut” is rather telling as well. It could easily been determined from Deepak’s point of view that he felt Joran was spreading lies to the Police that Deepak buried Natalee. Deepak’s reference to wanting to find Natalee may in fact be that Deepak knows that it was Joran who got rid of Natalee’s body in some other location and that by finding it elsewhere would prove Joran was responsible and not Deepak.

Is Deepak making a vale reference to the fact that maybe the fisherman’s hut story and leaving Natalee on the beach is a false story? After all three fisherman claim that they saw no one that night. Deepak’s train of thought is almost, if they find Natalee’s body in another location other than where Joran accuses Deepak of burying her, that will prove Joran is guilty.

D says to J: You think the girl doesn’t have anything on, you’re going to see who, who f***/coy (the last part could not be heard well).

J says to D: We will see.
J says to D: You know when I’m going to laugh; when I give you a wanta [punch?] in the face.
J says to D: And I’ll laugh if they find the girl alive, f*** you.
J says to the brothers: I know very well that you’re scared.
J says to the brothers: If you did something bad to the girl, then we will see.
S says to J: I’m not scared.
S says to J: What do I have to be scared about?
D says to J: I want them to find the girl.
D says to J: You’re going to say shit about me in regards to the girl, that I buried the girl at the fisherman's hut.
J says to D: Who said anything about a burial, I didn’t say anything about a burial.
D says to J: You declared that.
D says to J: Stop with the bullshit.
Joran’s next statement goes directly to the fact that many believe that Paulus van der Sloot told his son from the beginning how to act, what to say. Sure Joran may serve some time in jail, but that is much different that 15 years.
J says to the brothers: That’s your problem.
J says to the brothers: If they find the girl, then they will see the shit.
D says to J: 8 more days and I’m going home, I guarantee you this 1000 per cent.
J says to D: We will see.
D says to J: You don’t give a shit about your family members.
J says to D: The only thing I can think about is my family, I am doing what my family told me to do.

Then comes the infamous “no body, no crime” comment. It has been discussed since the beginning of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway whether Paulus van der Sloot had made the comment of “no body, no crime.” It had been denied. The wide spread discussion on this topic has been on-going from the outset and puzzling at best that a “judge-in-training” would not only be allowed to provide his son with legal advice, but the Kalpoe’s as well.

“The father talked to the boys and told them that without a body, there wouldn’t be a case.” Lead prosecutor Karin Janssen

“I explained to them the procedures … so that they would not panic,” he said to Dutch TV Nova. “That was sufficient for the prosecutor to suspect that I was an accomplice.”
But lead prosecutor Karin Janssen says her Investigators have proof the father-son talk went a lot further.

Also heard through an interpreter, she told Dutch TV Nova, “The father talked to the boys and told them that without a body, there wouldn’t be a case. And that is something that, possibly, we can’t rule it out, has played an important role in the way the boys told their stories.”

Prosecutor: Aruban judge told son ‘when there is no body you don’t have a case’
Paul van der Sloot, a judge-in-training in Aruba, gave his 17-year-old son Joran van der Sloot and two Surinamese brothers legal advice the day after 18-year-old Natalee Holloway disappeared, District Attorney Karin Janssen told MSNBC in an interview.
“They spoke about the situation that when there is no body you don’t have a case, and that was already in the first day after the disappearance,” Janssen said.

From CBS News, Aruba Murder Suspect’s Parents Speak Out, Paul van der Sloot denies that they are hiding anything and that they have always told Joran to tell the truth, (Video available). If this is the case then why did Joran continue to lie even after being arrested?

Natalee’s mother, Beth Holloway-Twitty, says she’s convinced Joran is guilty and that Paul, a one-time judge-in-training, is helping Joran get away with it.

Paul denies it, saying, “We are not hiding anything. We are telling the whole truth, nothing but the truth. And we’ve always told Joran to tell the truth.”

Aruba Father Denies Charges (CBS) The father of one of three teenage suspects in the Aruba case has denied that he told the boys that there is no case when there is no body. CBS News’ Kelly Cobiella reports.

Paul van der Sloot also went on to make the following statement regarding his arrest.
Paulus van der Sloot: Together with the fact that I allegedly instructed the boys, Deepak, Satish and Joran what they should do, say or do, in case of a possible apprehension. And indeed, I have, when I foresaw that they could go from witness to suspect, explained them the procedure, with the intention that they will not panic. But, also that was enough for the prosecutor’s office to suspect me of complicity.

Also in a July 18, 2005 Scarborough Country interview with Dave Holloway, Natalee’s father references the meeting that he had with Paulus van der Sloot where Paulus denied making the “no body, no crime” comment.

Dave Holloway also told us that Paulus van der Sloot, the father, denies ever telling any of these three suspects, no body, no case, and that he denies that anybody in his family had anything to do with Natalee‘s disappearance.

However, in the secretly recoded Police interview of the three suspects we learn otherwise from the mouth of Joran van der Sloot.

S says to J: I didn’t declare anything.
J says to the brothers: Of course you did.
S says to J: What did I say / against your father?
J says to the brothers: You said that he (Joran’s father) said that if there’s no corpse there’s no case, or I don’t know what more sorts of shit.
J says to the brothers: That’s not true. The only thing he (Joran’s father) said that if there’s no body they don’t have a case.
D says to J: That’s true.
J says to D: Nothing of that is true.

Joran van der Sloot admits that his father Paulus made the comment, that’s not true, the only thing he (Joran’s father) said that if there’s no body they don’t have a case. Obviously, Paulus van der Sloot is not telling the truth in denying the statement. Why would Joran admit it were true? After all we know that the van der Sloot’s taught their son to always tell the truth.

Also, it makes one wonder how and why Paulus van der Sloot even has a civil case against Aruba seeing that he did make himself complicit in the initial cover up and obstruction of the investigation.

Why would Deepak Kalpoe say to Joran van der Sloot that he is going to get 15 years “if” they find Natalee?” Once again, the word “if” is used just like in the case earlier when Joran said it. As Jossy Mansur states, there is only one crime that someone could get a 15 year sentence for. It is not for a minor offense, it would be for murder.
When Deepak said to Joran that if they find the girl he will be locked up for 15 years, he wasn’t referring to a minor infraction punishment! In Aruba, the only crime for which you would normally get such a high and severe sentence is murder! As far as I know, there is no other legal infraction that would earn such a high prison sentence.

Deepak, in the secretly recorded Police tapes, goes on to accuse Joran of murder. If they find the girl, you will get 15 years. Deepak Kalpoe is stating that “if” the ALE finds Natalee Holloway, Joran van der Sloot will be charged with murder. Just what does Deepak know? Also, why isn’t he saying anything to the prosecutors or the Police? Because as many have surmised from the outset, they are all complicit in the crime.

J says to the brothers: That’s what they’re using against my father.
D says to J: We have suffered a lot because of you.
J says to the brothers: That’s the price that you’ve let my father pay. That you’re suffering so: f*** you. If you let me suffer, I say OK. I don’t have cunes [?] I can sit calmly 160 days here, for me it doesn’t make a difference. I’m ok here.
Brothers say to J: Me too, me too.
D says to J: They’re going to give you 15 years if they find the girl.
J says to D: Why? Why?
D says to J: That scholarship of yours. Gooooooodbye, you can forget about it.
J says to D: Yes, because of who, because of you, retard.
J says to D: You know very well that you did something bad, otherwise you wouldn’t lie.
Finally, the fact that the three suspects are referencing other people who may have knowledge or information into what happened that night is telling as well. Why would the three suspects be bringing up other people’s names in reference to this case if they did not have some form of involvement? This time, its Freddy who is on the
J says to D: What did you say that Freddy has to be detained?

D says to J: That Freddy has to say the truth.
J says to D: You know very well that Freddy told the truth.
S says to J: You’ll see, you’ll see.





5-9-06

On 5-9 ARUBAAN's news-source "Diario" reported:



Geoffrey van Cromvoirt evaluating whether he will sue for damages for prejudice

AMSTERDAM - Geoffrey van Cromvoirt, in an interview with SBS 6 Actienieuws of Holland, said that he doesn’t have anything to do with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

The young Dutch 19-year-old came into the picture after the ‘Opsporing Verzocht’ program, which was recorded in Aruba, aired.

He could have seemed to be another person in the case. Ironically, Van Cromvoirt had wanted to participate in the reenactment of the case along with his sister.
“I’ve always wanted to appear on television, but not in this way”. The Dutch youth was asked via telephone to go to the Police station one week after ‘Opsporing Verzocht’ aired.

When he went to the Police station, he was detained immediately. The accusations were rape and murder.

According to van Cromvoirt, Police officers put him under a lot of pressure when he was detained.

“They said things that were making me crazy. They said that they would arrest my whole family. Things like that can make you crazy and that same night I went completely crazy. After they took away all my clothes and left me with only my underwear.”

This, according to the Dutch youth, who continued to say that they were afraid that he would hang himself.

He said that he would never do this, and that he slept in his underwear for two long days on a cement bed.

“Geoffrey’s detention caused a lot of harm to our family. My wife is very much in despair”. This, according to Geoffrey’s father, Willem van Cromvoirt. Officially, the Dutch youth is still a suspect in this case, but the father hopes that the case will be dismissed.

Now, family lawyers are evaluating the possibility of bringing a case for damages for prejudice.





On 5-9 the ARUBAAN's news-source "Aruba Tradewinds Times" reported:



Carnival Cruise Lines will scrap Aruba in 2007

ORANJESTAD-Carnival Cruises will not include Aruba as part of its seven day Southern Caribbean cruise itinerary. Aruba will not be replaced by its sister islands Curacao or Bonaire.

Canival's cruise ship "Carnival Destiny" will start with a new seven-day cruise route effective as of January 2007. The new seven-day cruise will depart from Puerto Rico and will call the islands of St. Lucia, Antigua, Dominica, Barbados and St. Thomas. At present Carnival Destiny calls the islands of St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados and Aruba.

Spokesman of Carnival Cruise Lines, vance Gulliksen says that the decision to scrap Aruba is based on the company’s strategy to save on energy costs. The ABC islands are far south in the Caribbean region. In addition Carnival Cruise Lines felt that is time to renew the Southern Caribbean route with new itineraries. By not including Aruba as part of the southern Caribbean itinerary we are able to fit in two additional destinations and save much on energy costs said Gulliksen.

According to Carnival's CEO Bob Dickensen the southern Caribbean cruise route is the most desired amongst travellers. The southern Caribbean is culturally the most diverse and offers the most beautiful beaches in the region.

Carnival's decision to scrap Aruba will result in a lost of some 146,000 cruise passenger arrivals on the island annually. Carnival Destiny is one of two cruise ships that visits Aruba year round including the low-season, benefiting commerce in Oranjestad.





On 5-9 “NorthJersey.com” reported:



Families say they'll sue F.B.I. in killings

The families of two people killed during a quadruple homicide at a Paterson after-hours club in December served notice Monday that they intend to sue the federal government, claiming the slayings were the tragic result of a botched sting operation by the FBI.

The families of Tara Woods, 29, of West Paterson and Ralf "Rudy" Hernandez, 53, of Paterson are each seeking $75 million in damages, according to a pair of tort-claim notices filed Monday. The notices alert the federal government that the families are planning to file a lawsuit within six months.

The notices claim that the after-hours club, on the second floor of a warehouse on Railroad Avenue in Paterson, was "owned, operated, created, managed, supervised and funded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation."

Rosemarie Arnold, the attorney for both families, said the F.B.I. opened the club as part of a probe into street-gang activity in Paterson. The F.B.I. worked with an informant, dubbed "Scorpio," who rented the warehouse space and acted as the club's manager, she said.

"I understand they set up this club as part of a sting operation," she said. "I heard they were trying to do something about the gang problem in Paterson."

Arnold said both families will seek damages for lost wages as well as for pain and suffering. Woods was a mother of two children ages 5 and 10. Hernandez, a father of two, was working as a subcontractor, installing fences.

Woods' sister, Linda Riscioni, said the F.B.I. was responsible for the safety of all the patrons in the club. "But for the fact that there was no security in the bar, my sister would be alive today," she said.

The F.B.I. continued to maintain its silence on Monday, as it has since the shootings. "The bureau has no comment on the matter," F.B.I. spokesman Steven Siegel said.

It could not be learned Monday whether the families of the other two victims, Jesus Antonio Gonzalez, 31, of Paterson or Johnny Melendez, 41, of Newark, had filed notices of intent to sue.

The club had been open for several months above a machine shop on Railroad Avenue, an industrial area that is a few blocks from St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center. The club had a pool table and areas for shooting craps and playing cards, and usually began filling up after Paterson's bars closed at 3 a.m.

The day of the shooting, Woods, Melendez and Gonzalez arrived together from another bar around 1:30 a.m. Hernandez was by himself.

The gunman arrived around 4:30 a.m., accompanied by two other men, authorities said. The gunman shot each victim once in the head and fled. Police have said that the gunman had robbed the club patrons of up to $10,000, but Hernandez was found with $1,000 in his pocket.

The manager of the club escaped through a side door just as the shooting began. A state Police dispatcher received a frantic 911 call reporting the shooting from a man who identified himself as working for the FBI. The Record later obtained a tape recording of the exchange.

In the days after the shooting, Police arrested two men and charged them with murder. The alleged triggerman, David Baylor, 26, of Passaic, is charged with four counts of murder and is being held on $5 million bail at the Passaic County Jail. His alleged accomplice, Hamidullah Abdul Shabazz, 29, also of Passaic, is also charged with four counts of murder and is in the Passaic County Jail. His bail has been revoked.
A third suspect, Reginald "Khadafi" Barris, 24, was arrested in New York City on April 20. He is charged with four counts of murder and is being held at the Passaic County Jail on $1 million bail.

Arnold, of Fort Lee, has handled numerous high-profile cases recently.

She is involved in the case of Natalee Holloway, the 18-year-old Alabama student who disappeared in Aruba after a night of partying. Arnold has represented Joran van der Sloot, the son of an Aruba judge and one of three men who were with the woman before she disappeared. Joran van der Sloot has not been charged in the case.

Closer to home, Arnold has represented residents of a Bergenfield apartment building destroyed by a gas-line explosion in December. The explosion killed three people.

E-mail: cowen@northjersey.com





On 5-9 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CBS TV channel 2 and the newspaper “Post Tribune” reported:



Natalee Holloway's Mother Promotes Safe Travel

Beth Twitty Visited Michigan City Tuesday

(CBS) MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. The disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba captured the heart and attention of the country.

Now, her mom has a message for kids about travel.

CBS 2’s Mai Martinez reports Beth Twitty is traveling the country to promote her new program.

Almost a year after Natalee Holloway disappeared on the island of Aruba, her mother finds herself in Michigan City, Ind., to warn other young adults and their parents about the dangers of traveling abroad.

“We think about all the valuable time that we lost in trying to find out who’s in charge and who can help the family,” Beth Twitty said. “I’ve always said that if I’m ever in the position where I can begin investigating and laying out the infrastructure in different foreign countries, I will do so.”

That’s what Twitty is doing now in a series of visits to high schools and communities across the country, promoting her International Safe Travels Program.

The program is endorsed by the National Sheriff’s Association, and sheriffs nationwide are helping Twitty get her message to those who need it most.

“I felt this would be great way for not only the people of this community but the kids of this community to see not only what she’s gone through but what she’s trying to do so that others can avoid the same pitfalls that, unfortunately, Natalee fell into,” said Porter County Sheriff James Arnold.

Twitty has already visited several high schools across the country and says the reaction has been positive.

Twitty says she only wishes a program like Safe Travels was available last year before Natalee went to Aruba.

“And I know that if Natalee’s classmates had heard this message and had the information and just the forum to discuss things that can happen and to be aware of and cautioned about, Natalee wouldn’t be missing,” Twitty said.





On 5-9 the “Northwest Indiana Times.com” reported:



Natalee Holloway's mother to speak tonight in LaPorte
Beth Holloway-Twitty to discuss safety while traveling

LaPORTE -- The mother of Natalee Holloway, the teenager missing in Aruba, will speak tonight at LaPorte High School.

Beth Holloway-Twitty will present her "Safe Travels" awareness lecture to parents and their children. Along with talking about her daughter's disappearance on May 30, 2005, while on a high school trip to Aruba, she'll discuss personal safety tips when traveling. Twitty's talk is sponsored by the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department.

The program is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Doors at the LaPorte High School auditorium will open at 6:30 p.m. and the program will start at 7.





On 5-9 FOX News GRETA VAN SUSTEREN stated that it has been her experience while she was in ARUBA that there are many names of persons who she learned that should have been, and, still should be questioned by the ARUBAN Police for their possible connection to the case, that FOX News GRETA VAN SUSTEREN stated that (to her knowledge) have not yet even been questioned.

On 5-9 JULIA RENFRO (the transplanted AMERICAN who has lived in ARUBA for 17+ years and has several business interests there, including an ARUBAAN's news-source) stated to FOX News:
(Thank You and Hat Tip to "Debbie” of the “Blogs for Natalee”)



GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, HOST: We are finally hearing from the mysterious GVC. Last month he was arrested for murder in the connection of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. He was released but is still a suspect. On the phone is Julia Renfro, the editor-in-chief of “Aruba today.” Hi Julia.

JULIA RENFRO, (the transplanted AMERICAN in ARUBA who moved to ARUBA 17+ years ago and owns an interest in many ARUBA businesses including an ARUBAAN's news-source): Hi Greta.

VAN SUSTEREN: GVC is now speaking out. To whom is he speaking, and what is he saying?

RENFRO: Well, he spoke to the Dutch media and according to his father, Willem, it is the only interview he has planned to do. He started off his interview by saying he had an alibi for that evening that Natalee disappeared, and he was at home with his parents, and he was very thankful that he did not go out that Sunday night as he possibly could have come in contact with Natalee.

VAN SUSTEREN: Did he describe ever having seen Natalee or know Joran van der Sloot or the Kalpoe brothers?

RENFRO: He never mentioned whether he met Natalee or not but he was very specific in saying that he had never seen of heard of Joran van der Sloot before, prior to, Joran being arrested in June. The first time he had ever heard of him was around June 10th.

VAN SUSTEREN: How was it? Did he say anything about the conditions of his arrest?

RENFRO: He said he was originally brought in because a tip received after the reenactment of Natalee’s disappearance, which was shown in Holland and Aruba. And this tip apparently pointed to his direction and named him. He was brought in as a witness to give a statement. And then, apparently, after several hours, he was never shown his deposition, but he was told he was being charged or at least being retained on the basis of murder, manslaughter and rape in the case of Natalee Holloway. And of course at that point, he was absolutely shocked and he states he is innocent and he was very upset, was angry and most importantly, worried about his family, is what he said on that show.

VAN SUSTEREN: We have only about 40 seconds left. What’s the condition of his detention?

RENFRO: Well, apparently what they did is, they were worried that he would commit suicide so they took all his clothes from him, were afraid he could hang himself with his shirt or pants or something and they kind of left him with his boxers in the jail for a couple of days before returning his clothes. He was quite upset.

VAN SUSTEREN: Now he has not been cleared he is still a suspect?

RENFRO: No, he has not been cleared and he finished his interview by stating he is very worried everyday that something else could come up or someone else could lie and point a finger at him and could be arrested as the other boys were.

VAN SUSTEREN: And although it wasn’t the judge that released him but was actually the prosecutor who said she wasn’t going to pursue it, which actually could be good news, I might suggest better news than if he had to fight it out. Thanks Julia.

RENFRO: Thank you.



On 5-9 CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI CBS TV channel 12 reported:



Summer Travel Outlook

By: Wes Wallace

If you think filling your gas tank is expensive, imagine what a cruise line pays to fuel up
a 100,000 ton ship! According to the Wall Street Journal, high gas prices are forcing
cruise lines to change routes and schedules. Carnival's Destiny ship won't stop at
Aruba, which would take too much gas. Royal Caribbean has travelers showing up
earlier for departures so it can sail at slower speeds. Regent Seven Seas is adding
a daily fuel surcharge, starting at five dollars.

So your vacation sailing into paradise might be more expensive, but what about
airplanes, because they use fuel too. "It's really not affecting much. Some destinations
are costing more to travel, some are going down," explains travel agent Amber
Bertrand, with First Class Travel, "We've only received one notice of a fuel surcharge,
other than that from our understanding; airline companies purchase their fuel two years
in advance."

Bertrand also points out sunny Florida is a popular summertime destination, but it may
be more expensive, since it's such a hotspot. Other places, like Las Vegas and Mexico
are offering good deals, to try and get people to come there to vacation.

No matter how you go, Bertrand offers some other safe travel advice.

* Don't rent a car outside the US. Bertrand says other countries have much different
driving laws and rules of the road. It's easier and cheaper to use public transportation or
get a cab.

* If you're worried about lost luggage, pack light.

* Keep all your medicines in their original containers, but pack them in your carry on for
a flight.

* Invest in travelers insurance. Hurricane season starts June 1st, and a few hundred
dollars now, could save you thousands if a hurricane or some other incident blows away
your vacation.





5-12-06

On 5-12 ARUBAAN's news-source “A. M. Digital” reported:



Minister Rudy Croes is victim of redistribution of portfolios

The Aruba Parliament met last Wednesday all day and until late in the evening to discuss the redistribution of Ministerial portfolios. Minister of Justice, Rudy Croes, after the redistribution was completed, turned out to be the “victim” of the process with a practically empty portfolio.

The meeting, as was to be expected, did not go without the usual accusations between the Government and opposition parties. The discussions at certain moments were very [politically] emotional.

Several Parliament members expressed their pros and cons for the redistribution, where opposition parties AVP, MPA and RED were against the proposed distribution, and the MEP members (majority) were in favor.

The hottest topic of the meeting was the fact that the responsibility for foreigners affairs, admission policy and integration were removed from the Minister of Justice and placed with the Minister of Public Health & Environment. Another topic was the placement of the responsibility for Education with Minister Marisol Lopez-Tromp who is already in charge of Social Affairs and Infrastructure which are considered to be “heavy” portfolios. Opposition parties questioned whether Minister Lopez-Tromp is able to dedicate attention to Education as it deserves.

During the public Parliament meeting the Ministers Rudy Croes, Candelario Wever, and Marisol Lopez-Tromp were present in the meeting together with Prime Minister Oduber.
The “cold” attitude of Minister Rudy Croes (Justice) towards his colleague Ministers and Parliament members of MEP was noticeable. This is possibly because of the mistrust shown by his party colleagues as to his capabilities to handle certain portfolios. Rudy Croes did not attend the second part of the meeting and was represented by his replacement Minister Wever.

The MEP fraction members at not time during the meeting had any words of defense for Minister Rudy Croes but rather spoke only about the redistribution of portfolios.
Presently many [political] rumors and speculations are going around. One is that Minister Rudy Croes will soon resign, but this could not be confirmed, although a MEP fraction member said that there are problems with Rudy Croes. Another rumor is that Rudy Croes will be replaced by his niece Evelyn Croes, but on the other hand it is known that Evelyn Croes has certain problems with Minister Nilo Swaen however that MEP will have no problems in requesting Swaen to make way for Evelyn Croes, because of the many financial measures that he is planning to introduce.

The conclusion is that Minister Rudy Croes is the big loser of the entire redistribution of portfolios, having remained in charge of only Police, Public Prosecutor and Legal Affairs. Minister Rudy Croes is victim of redistribution of portfolios ?





On 5-12 BETH HOLLOWAY-TWITTY stated to CNN:



NANCY GRACE, HOST: Tonight, on the eve of Mother's Day weekend, there are thousands of moms living a parent's worse nightmare. Tonight, high-profile moms of missing and murdered children, moms that made the headlines fighting crime one on one, speak out, and they are taking your calls.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That persons out there, and wherever he is, we're not going to stop. And he needs to know (INAUDIBLE) we're not going to stop looking for him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Good evening, everybody. I'm Nancy Grace. I want to thank you for being with us tonight. Tonight, let me advise you right off the bat, we are waiting for a live press conference out of the Duke University area of North Carolina. It will be at the defense attorney's office, in regard to the DNA results we have just heard about. We are waiting for the defense attorneys to set up. The moment it starts, we here at Headline News will take you there live.

But right now, it's Mother's Day weekend. It's one of the biggest celebrations across America. But for many mothers, it's a heartache, a reminder of children lost to violence, and those who spend their days and nights wondering if their child is dead or alive. Tonight, in an exclusive, never-before-held gathering of moms of missing and murdered children, high-profile moms of Natalee Holloway, Molly Bish, Johnia Berry, Wallace Richards, Chuckie Mauk are taking your calls live.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) my buddy, my best friend.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I lay in my bed at night, trying to sleep, wondering if my daughter's feet (ph) are cold.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How many children do we have to take away before we, as Americans, get organized?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Tonight: If you're like me, you love your mother. Tonight, supermoms, moms that have not given up as the days, the weeks, the months, sometimes even the years have passed.

First, I want to go out to Beth Twitty, as you all know by now, the mother of Natalee Holloway, the 18-year-old beauty who went missing on her high school senior trip. It's coming up on the one-year anniversary of that day. And with us, Beth Twitty. Beth, thank you for being with us.

BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY, NATALEE'S MOTHER: Thank you, Nancy, for having me here.

GRACE: Beth, do you mind later on taking some calls from some of our viewers that would like to speak to you?

TWITTY: Oh, absolutely not, Nancy.

GRACE: We get so many e-mails and phone calls for you and the other moms joining us tonight. As you head into Mother's Day weekend, what are your thoughts?

TWITTY: You know, Nancy, when I head into something, as we're approaching Mother's Day, I think about all the things that are so much more difficult for me to endure just on a daily basis, Nancy. I mean, I think about -- when I see Natalee's friends, I think about the things that Natalee has missed in her life, and look at Mother's Day as something, you know, that -- I think of that as something, of course, for me, and I -- you know, and I cherish those, you know, times that -- when I'm with Natalee and -- but what pains me the most is what I see that Natalee has missed and is missing and will always miss in her life.

And I think that is the most difficult thing that we deal with on a daily basis, as -- you know, I know now that Natalee -- Natalee should almost be a sophomore in college, Nancy, and she was just so robbed of that.

GRACE: Let's go out to Ed Miller, reporter with "America's Most Wanted." Ed, what is the latest in the Natalee Holloway case?

ED TIM MILLER, "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED": Well, the latest is, as you probably know, that we have been following private EquuSearch as their -- as they conduct private searches both of the beach and deep-water searches. And the truth of the matter is, there's really not a whole lot new. You know, they've picked up some people. They've talked to some people.

You know, the law down there is very different than American law, so people somewhat, they think they hear that they picked up somebody, that means he's a suspect. They label somebody a suspect who really is not a suspect, they're just questioning that person.

So the bottom line is, while there has been a whole lot of fuss and fury, nothing really is that new in the case of Natalee Holloway.

I just need to say this very important about Natalee's mom because she, of all the people that we've talked to over the years at "America's Most Wanted" -- she probably personifies the ultimate crusading mother, somebody who absolutely refuses for walk away quietly. She's always available to do interviews. She does all the right things.

And I think it's important that you, Nancy, do this show for Mother's Day and also congratulate these mothers who crusade, who will not give up on missing and murdered children. It's so important. Congratulations to you, Nancy, and to Natalee's mom.

GRACE: Thanks, Ed, from "America's Most Wanted."

Again tonight, supermoms that have not given up. Many of us will be celebrating with our mothers and with our children -- there you see them -- this coming Mother's Day. Tonight, with us from all around the country, Beth Twitty, Natalee Holloway's mother, Magi Bish, the mother of Molly Bish, Joan Berry, the mother of Johnia Berry, Belinda Richards, the mother of Wallace Richards, and Cathy Miller, the mother of Chuckie Mauk. Many of these cases still unsolved, these moms left wondering what became of their child.

Back to Beth Twitty. Beth, a lot of us hear that nothing new has happened in the case of Natalee Holloway, but there's always something brewing down there in Aruba. In your mind, what's the most recent development, Beth?

TWITTY: Well, Nancy, I think the most recent development was the arrest of Geoffrey van Cromvoirt. And of course, it produced absolutely nothing. And I don't know if -- you know, why they went into the arrest of the suspect, if -- you know, I just wonder now, was it just part of just acting as if they were having an active investigation, or did they truly have something that warranted it? And you know, it's just so frustrating. I don't see anything forthcoming, Nancy. I don't think we're getting any information that there are any more arrests coming at all.

GRACE: Do you think there's been a cover-up, Beth?

TWITTY: Well, I think what we can see is that they have really had just such a botched investigation from the beginning. And whether that was due to incompetence or corruption or cover-up, I mean, we don't know, Nancy.

GRACE: Beth, as you look back over your many years with Natalee, what is your most fond Mother's Day recollection?

TWITTY: Oh, Nancy, by far, it was last Mother's Day. And you know, Natalee always put just a thousand percent into the present that she gave me. I mean, she's just -- was just amazing at putting together a collection of pictures. And I have that and just will cherish it always. It was just a collection of pictures of she and I together since she was just a very small, little girl. And she's always done just really unique hand-made gifts that are just so special. And that's -- that's just -- of course, that is very painful to know that those days are gone.

GRACE: With us is Beth Twitty, the mother of Natalee Holloway.

Joining us right now is Magi Bish. This is the mother of Molly Bish. Molly got a great job as a lifeguard at a local pond. Magi, do you recall the last day you saw your girl?

MAGI BISH, MOLLY'S MOTHER: Oh, I do. It was a very busy Tuesday morning, and I drove her to work. She had a friend who had been in a very severe car accident, and my husband had called me to tell me, and I was trying to prepare Molly that her friend might, in fact, die. And we had lost some other teenagers that spring. And so that morning, I got into bed with my 16-year-old, and I tried to prepare her for such a loss, which we didn't know how we sometimes can handle such sadness, and that kids would come to the beach today and probably want to talk about it and need a place to go, and to prepare her for this possibility.

But it gave me the opportunity to lay with her and to tell her how much I loved her and feel that love and that energy that I miss so very much today, and that joyful person that she was and kind and loving.

But I drove her to work, and it was the last time I seen her. She jumped out of the car and told me how much she loved me and said, Goodbye, Mom, I love you, and hopped out of the car. And that was hat the last time I got to see her and talk to my Molly. And it's nearing our six-year anniversary. We still don't know who did this to her or why, and we won't stop until we find this person.

I congratulate all these mothers who stand before you, holding their hearts in their hands, because it takes enormous courage. But what more it is the love that they have for their children that gives them the courage to go forward every single day because behind these scenes, there's many tears. But we have to stand firm and fight because what they've done to our children is horrendous and terrible. And I think all these mothers are brave, and I'm honored to be on this panel with them.

GRACE: With us is Magi Bish. This is Molly Bish's mom.

Back to Beth Twitty, Natalee Holloway's mom. Beth, when you hear people like Magi Bish and you take a look at the prospect of six years from now, not having an answer, did you ever in your wildest imagination think you would be in this spot?

TWITTY: No, Nancy. And I'll be honest, the first few months into this with Natalee, I couldn't even put her in the same sentence as Molly Bish. And Magi Bish reached out to me early on in Aruba. She had a friend send me some special items. And I remember it was difficult for me to think of Natalee as being in the same sentence with Molly. And I remember calling Molly's mother back, and it was very difficult because I just -- I think that we're in denial early on and we just don't think that our daughter or son's fate will end up the same.

You know, you just -- it takes a while to come to that. and it took me a while to realize that, you know, I might be in this for many years, Nancy, and that was not easy for me to come to. And I'm sure it wasn't easy for Magi Bish to come to, either.

GRACE: Take a listen to this,

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This investigation is about finding the truth. It's not about me. It's not about the prosecutor. So even if people get angry, people don't like us anymore, we just want to do our job. And we understand the family and we sympathize with them, but it is not an easy project.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Quite frankly, we want to learn what happened that night, what became of Natalee, and we want to have an opportunity to get some answers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: I want to introduce to you a mom, a mom we've talked about on our show before but a mom you have never met until tonight.

Tonight, a special Mother's Day tribute to courageous moms that have not given up on their children's whereabouts or their cases. The moms of murdered and missing children are speaking out.

I know the calls are lining up in the control room, but let me first introduce to you to Belinda Richards. This is the mother of Wallace Richards. Welcome. Thank you for being with us, Ms. Richards.

BELINDA RICHARDS, WALLACE'S MOTHER: Thank you, Nancy.

GRACE: Your son was in the prime of his life when he went missing, just 23 years old. Listen to this, everybody -- 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, just a strapping young man, headed back to college. He wanted to be a TV cameraman. He dropped a friend off at work -- well, Ed Miller, you tell the story, from "America's Most Wanted."

E. TIM MILLER: Nancy, you've got it. He dropped off a friend at work. He was driving her car. He promised he was a good guy. He said, I'm going to get an oil change for her. So you know, he dropped off the friend at work, and he goes to get the oil change -- or presumably, he does -- and then he ends up missing. And no one can figure out where he is.

And everyone keeps saying, Well, he's not the kind of guy to go missing. He certainly is not the kind of guy to steal the car. He wouldn't just take off like that. And yet because the law is the way it is, as you know, Nancy, missing adults really gets very low priority with the Police. It certainly is not the same as a missing child.

So that's exactly what happened. And even though there was a Lojack device on the car -- this is somewhat controversial -- because the friend gave him the keys to the car, they would not activate that Lojack device. So that way, we could have found out where the car is. So they had to wait for a whole week to go by.

GRACE: What a good-looking young guy! How did he decide, Ms. Richards, that he wanted to be a cameraman?

RICHARDS: Well, he was influenced by his girlfriend, Sabrina Ford (ph), who is a journalist, graduated from San Francisco State. And he was kind of not knowing what he wanted to do, and when he saw her success, he decided that TV cameraman was for him. They had this plan that they were going to start a magazine together. He would be the cameraman and she would be the writer.

GRACE: You know, Ms. Richards -- everybody, I want you to meet Belinda Richards, a special mom with us tonight. Her son went missing on the 10th of November, 2005, and every month on the 10th, they have a special event of some sort.

Now the photo and the story of her son, Wallace Richards, is going to be part of a NASCAR race, which, as you know all, gains a huge audience across this country. They are doing anything and everything for people to identify this young man, her boy, her son, Wallace Richards.

We're going to be back with our mothers you've already met and two more mothers, as we head into Mother's Day weekend. But stay with us as we take a look at a double murder that shocked the country Mother's Day one year ago. Our producer, Phil Rosenbaum with a Mother's Day memorial.

PHIL ROSENBAUM, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: Nancy, you know, we covered this on your show a year ago. Last Mother's Day in Zion, Illinois, 8-year- old Laura Hobbs and her 9-year-old friend, Krystal Tobias, vanished. Later, both girls found brutally stabbed to death in a wooded area. Police arrested Laura's father, Jerry Hobbs, released from prison a month earlier. Prosecutors say Hobbs confessed, saying he was enraged Laura went out to play after being grounded.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) I am broken. I will never heal. I will never have closure, and never again have my daughter by my side. My heart will always have a void, a tremendous loss.

SHARON ROCHA, LACI PETERSON'S MOTHER: I loved my daughter so much. I miss her every minute of every day. I miss seeing her. I miss our talks together. I miss listening to the excitement in her voice when she talks to me about her baby. I miss not being able to share with her anticipation of her approach of delivery date. I miss listening to her talk about her future with her husband and her baby. I miss sharing our thoughts on our lives together. I miss her mile and her laughter and her sense of humor. I miss everything about her!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: Mothers, mothers of the missing and murdered. First Carlie Brucia's mother, and then Sharon Rocha, the mother of Laci Peterson.

Tonight, five courageous and beautiful moms as we head into Mother's Day.

…

GRACE: Let's go straight out to the lines and back to our moms, as we wait for the presser to start. Let's go to Sheila in Texas. This is the mother of Lisa Underwood, a pregnant mom that went missing, her body found later. Welcome, Ms. Underwood.

SHEILA UNDERART WOOD, LISA'S MOTHER: Thank you.

GRACE: Yes, ma'am.

UNDERART WOOD: I want to thank you, Nancy, for being one of the first to report that Lisa and Marty were missing.

GRACE: Ms. Underwood, thank you for calling in. We have not forgotten your girl.

…
But right now, as we head into Mother's Day weekend, with us on a very urgent matter, five courageous moms. We left off speaking with Belinda Richards, the mother of Wallace Richards, a 23-year-old young man who seemingly disappeared into thin air after taking a friend to work.

Now, I'd like for you to meet Cathy Miller. This is the mother of Chuckie Mauk, a precious little boy who simply went down the street to a corner store to get a pack of bubblegum.

Liz, do you have a picture of this little angel? Look at him. This occurred in 1987.

To Cathy Miller -- oh, thank you. I heard that. Thank you, Cathy. Thank you very much.

Cathy, as you head into Mother's Day, what are your thoughts?

CATHY TIM MILLER, MOTHER OF CHUCKIE MAUK: Well, Nancy, it's hard for me to believe that this is my 20th Mother's Day without him, when I really didn't think I'd ever even survive the first. It's bittersweet. He was 13; this May 29th, he'd be 34. It's just bittersweet, and I miss him as much as I did the day he left.

GRACE: You are taking a look at this little boy. He loved riding his bike. He was found shot to death by a man, a white male, in a car who pulled up to the 7-Eleven, spoke briefly to Chuckie on his bicycle, and then shot the little boy. When his family arrived, Chuckie still had the bubblegum in his mouth that he had just purchased from the store.

I want to go to Ernie Allen with National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. I know many people, Ernie, would consider this to be a cold case but, you know, cold cases have a way of heating up.

ERNIE ALLEN, NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN: Nancy, they really do. And we can't stop until justice is found; we need to reexamine the clues. We have a cold case unit that follows these leads and tries to bring closure for these families and justice for these kids.

GRACE: Let`s go to the lines. With us, Rebecca from Tennessee.

Hi, Rebecca.

CALLER: Hi, Nancy. I love your show.

GRACE: Thank you, dear. Thank you for watching.

CALLER: My question is for Johnna Berry's mother.

GRACE: Yes.

CALLER: Mrs. Berry, we're so sorry for your loss, but we're also sorry for the loss of the chief deputy, Lyon. And I'd like to know your thoughts on how that will affect the investigation?

GRACE: Let's go to Johnna's mother, Joan. Ms. Berry?

JOAN BERRY, MOTHER OF JOHNNA BERRY: Yes. Well, it's truly a tragic - - and I'd like to say our prayers are with Keith Lyon's wife and his family.

We really haven't got to talk with the sheriff or anyone there because Keith's funeral was just this morning, so I am very concerned. Keith was on the case from day one, and I'm really concerned that some of the things that he knew, that maybe no one else knew, he might have taken them to his grave.

So Keith, he was a wonderful person; I trusted him very much; I talked to him almost on a daily basis. So we're really concerned about this. We have no idea yet.

GRACE: Let's go out to Ed Miller to tell our viewers -- Ed is with "America's Most Wanted" -- about Johnna Berry's case?

E. TIM MILLER: Well, first of all, I should tell you that I did speak with the Investigators. Despite the funeral today, the Investigators do say that it is a very active case. And, even though they've lost one of their own, they're very concerned with this, and they do believe that they will be able to pick up this case where it was left off, as I said, despite their loss.

And they told me specifically they strongly feel that they have some local leads that will pan out and will solve this. Now, I know that probably it doesn't sound exactly what the family wants to hear, but they do feel fairly confident about this.

GRACE: Let's go to the lines, everybody. Let's go to Gigi in Illinois. Hi, Gigi.

CALLER: Hi, Nancy. I watch you all the time.

GRACE: Thank you.

CALLER: And, ladies, I want to tell you, my heart goes out to all of you. My 16-year-old daughter was murdered in July of 2004. She had been stabbed 43 times.

And so, especially Beth, I have watched you, and I have so much respect for you; my prayers are with you.

But my question is: You seem like I do when I'm out in the public. I try to be strong, yet when I'm with my family or at home, it's an entirely different thing. Does that happen to you?

GRACE: Beth?

TWITTY: Absolutely, it does. And, you know, some days are just so difficult. Some nights are just horrible.

And, you know, and I know you, like me, we never imagined being in these shoes, and we don't want to be in them, but, you know, we are. And there's just no way out of them. And I just -- we just survive off the prayers that people provide the family with, and that's just how we have to keep going with.

GRACE: Tonight, five mothers who are refusing to give up on their children's cases.

To Nancy in Virginia, hi, Nancy.

CALLER: Hi, Nancy. It's an honor.

GRACE: Oh, thank you. Thank you for watching.

CALLER: I'd like to ask Beth Twitty a question, if I may.

GRACE: Sure.

CALLER: Beth, I admire your strength, your courage, your faith. How do you do it? Will you be returning to Aruba at the end of this month, in Natalee's first anniversary of her disappearance? And do you also speak with the Kelsey family (ph), whose daughter was missing this year?

TWITTY: Well, as far as to returning to Aruba, I don't h!ve any plans to do that at this point. And some of the family friends we've talked about is, you know, maybe marking it with just type of renewal with our faith.

I think that -- you know, we don't want to have something to where it's -- you know, speaking of a memorial or something of that, but just a renewal of faith and hope. And we've talked about that. And...

GRACE: Right.

TWITTY: ... as far as speaking with the other family, no, I have not had a chance to.

GRACE: With us tonight, five courageous mothers, as we head into Mother's Day weekend.

Please stay with us as we remember Kenneth Hess, just 26, Asheville, North Carolina, killed by a suicide bomber, Iraq. Hess, survived by his wife, a 10-year-old son, sister and parents. For Mother's Day, Kenneth has his mom. Kathy Blackwell, is with us to honor her son, Kenny, an American hero.

Ms. Blackwell, we are thinking of you this Mother's Day weekend. Tell us about your son.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... because they have found no evidence of her being dead, anywhere, in all the searches they've done. I just feel like she is still alive; I believe she is alive. It's just a mother's instinct, just a mother's feeling. I'm going to have to be shown that she's dead before I will believe it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's just a beautiful, caring, thoughtful, kind person, has a lot going for her, has always been someone to reach for the stars and, for the most part, she's always grabbed hold of them. And this whole thing has just been one hellish nightmare.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRACE: It's amazing that now we know the names that goes with these faces. That was Tara Grinstead's mom and the mother of Jennifer Kesse, both beautiful girls missing.

As we went to break, we were remembering another American hero, a young man, Kenneth Hess, 26, out of North Carolina. Now joining us -- we couldn't hear before -- his mom, Ms. Blackwell.

What can you tell us about your son as you head into Mother's Day?

KATHY BLACKWELL, MOTHER OF KENNETH HESS: Oh, my son was wonderful. He was loving and caring, and he would do anything for anyone. He had a good sense of humor. He loved joking, and he could just light up the room when he walked in.

GRACE: You know, Ms. Blackwell, in the picture we're showing the viewers right now of this American hero, Kenneth Hess, Asheville, North Carolina, that is just pouring out of his smile and his eyes. And, Ms. Blackwell, thank you for being with us.

BLACKWELL: Thank you.

GRACE: Tonight, we are bringing you moms with courage. As many people all over the country celebrate Mother's Day, these moms are examples of courage under fire.

I want to go psychoanalyst Bethany Marshall. Bethany, how is it that some people like these five moms -- Beth Twitty, Magi Bish, Joan Berry, Belinda Richards, Cathy Miller -- can keep fighting while others seem to fade away?

BETHANY MARSHALL, PSYCHOANALYST: Well, I mean, I think these moms have something we call resiliency. They're really able to move through the process in a very special way, but they have something, which is national support. They know that we care about them.

It is so unnatural to lose a child, to bury a child, to know that the child has been victimized by a predator. But one of the ways to think about grieving is: Grieving is a form of disillusionment. It's dispossessing yourself of the illusion and the feeling that you will ever be with your loved one again.

And that is such a painful process. And yet these mothers also have to remain hopeful, the ones like Beth Twitty for whom the crime has not yet been solved, they have to be hopeful enough to apply pressure on the investigation, so they have to hold this paradox of hopelessness and grieving, and then hopefulness and pressure, and hold both in their mind. And I think that that's something -- a very courageous thing that all these mothers have done.

GRACE: Let's go to Kathy in Alabama. Hi, Kathy.

CALLER: Hi.

GRACE: What's your question, dear?

CALLER: I love your show.

GRACE: Thank you.

CALLER: I just had a question for any of the mothers.

GRACE: Yes.

CALLER: I just wanted to know how their other children are coping with all of this.

GRACE: Good question. What about that, Magi Bish?

BISH: I'd love to answer that. I think siblings don't get enough attention at all. It's extremely difficult.

In all of the reading that I've done, siblings feel that, even as much as the moms try or the families try to give them attention, they've also lost their parents. We've changed. We have on a mission. We're on a mission, trying to find the missing child, or the murdered child, who's done this. We're in this constant search.

My children have really -- you know, they suffer differently. My daughter, she has gone to counseling. She has tried yoga and many different things, but it hurts her, because her best friend is gone. I will go before her, I'm sure, but she would have wanted Molly to spend those days with her.

And she's my -- my granddaughter's godmother, she's not watching her grow up. All those fun moments that they would be sharing and laughing, it breaks my heart because I can't fix it for her.

GRACE: With us is...

BISH: That's the difficulty. And my son suffers in silence. These children need something, as well. And I know the national center now is trying to address that need, that siblings have a very special place in this whole, crazy, awful, horrific nightmare.

GRACE: With us is Magi Bish, Molly Bish's mom.

To Belinda Richards, Ms. Richards, your son, 23-year-old Wallace Richards, seemingly vanished into thin air. Are there moments when you still expect him to walk through the door?

RICHARDS: Absolutely. I have dreams where I'm talking to him, and I wake up and he's not there, and I can't believe he's not there. And it is extremely difficult. I...

GRACE: What is he saying to you, in the dreams, when you dream about him?

RICHARDS: When I dream about him, it's just conversations that we have. Wallace was a child that -- he was an adult, but he lived in our home, and he teased a lot with his father and myself.

And he always was trying to give us advice on -- we're self-employed. And when you're self-employed, it's always about making the next dollar. And he was always trying to give us advice on what we needed to do. And so it would be one of those conversations which would be a back-and-forth, tet-a-tete type of thing.

And one dream, he was fussing at me for being in his room. And I woke up, and I was in my own bed, and he wasn't there. And I think that was one of the hardest days I had.

GRACE: Oh, oh, Ms. Richards, I am so sorry. And I know, after having been a crime victim, when I've had those dreams, they're so wonderful, and then you wake up and you almost wish it had never happened, even though it made you so happy...

RICHARDS: Yes.

GRACE: ... for that moment.

I want to go now to Cathy Miller, Chuckie Mauk's mom. As we are heading into yet another year without your boy, tonight what are your thoughts, before we go to break?

C. TIM MILLER: Oh, I was just listening to those other mothers saying about the dreams and everything. I guess, after 20 years, my wish almost would be that I would wake up from this nightmare and I would have my child back. That would be my wish.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRACE: Tonight, a look at stories of moms whose children have gone missing or murdered.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Michelle has the most beautiful smile, the most bubbly personality, and we just are asking anyone who has any information about the whereabouts of Michelle, look for her.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's all that's important, is that he's OK, and that anything else, you know, no matter what's going on in his life, if he left because he chose to, that we'll work through that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I close my eyes at night, all I can see is Terri's face in front of me, dying, starving to death.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I lost the light of my life, my buddy, my best friend, most of all, my daughter. I cry for her all hours of the day. I cry for her at night.

I am broken; I will never heal; I will never have closure. I never again have my daughter by my side. My heart will always have a void, a tremendous loss.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty! And that feels really good, because nobody should get away with this. And, in honor of Samantha, in honor of Jessica, and Molly Bish, and Polly Klaas, and Adam Walsh, how many children do we have to take away before we, as Americans, get organized?

We outnumber you so many times over. There is no excuse, and we're not going to let you get away with this any more.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRACE: Thank you to all of our wonderful mothers. Thank you for inviting us into your homes.

As we all head into Mother's Day, happy Mother Day, Mother. I'm Nancy Grace signing off for tonight. Good night, friend.





5-13-06

On 5-13 the BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA “Birmingham News" reported:



Twitty's quest taps emotions
Fallen Marine also saluted at Hoover prayer breakfast

A mother's search for her daughter and a fallen Marine's unrealized dream took center stage Friday at the 24th annual Hoover Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at the Wynfrey Hotel.
Many in the crowd of nearly 700 wiped away tears as guest speaker Beth Holloway-Twitty of Mountain Brook recounted daughter Natalee Holloway's disappearance in Aruba last year and her family's quest for answers.

Along the way, prayers from people across Birmingham and the world have given them hope, she said.

"Hope is always there for us. Sometimes we forget to embrace it," she said. "My prayer for you is that you will let hope find you today."

Mayor Tony Petelos and the city's Police department also honored Ryan Winslow, a Hoover Marine killed in Iraq in April. Winslow had planned, after completing his service, to return home and become a Hoover Police officer.

During the breakfast, Police chief Nick derzis named Winslow an honorary Hoover Police officer. derzis gave a framed certificate, a badge, Police patches and a commission card to Winslow's family.

Before Twitty's speech, she showed a video that featured pictures of her daughter and the investigation into her disappearance, which has been chronicled in international media reports. Holloway disappeared last May during a graduation trip.

In the days following her daughter's disappearance, Twitty recalled going to a chapel that sat on an Aruba hillside lined with white crosses. She knelt at each cross and prayed, begging God to return her daughter. She felt an overwhelming peace and knew that God had wrapped his arms around Natalee, she said.

Since then, her family has experienced an outpouring of love from all over, she said, through letters, gifts and prayers.

Twitty said the gestures have known no religious or denominational boundaries, and she has worn the Star of David alongside rosary beads.

"I never thought twice about what religion was what," she said. "I embraced all religions and denominations that embraced me."





5-14-06

On 5-14 “Officer.com” reported:

Bringing Home the Missing

Texas EquuSearch helps make sure the lost and their families are

At a memorial service for a 12-year-old Orchard, Texas, girl, who was kidnapped off the sofa in her family home and murdered by her estranged stepfather, a lonely shadow emerges. It's not that of a distraught family member or grieving friend. It's that of Tim Miller, whose volunteer organization located Teketria (Teeky) Buggs' body in the Brazos River just days before.

Miller's time-etched face and tear-filled eyes are a familiar sight at many such memorial services, since this Texan turned a tragedy of his own - the murder of his 16-year-old daughter Laura - into a quest for answers for other families with missing loved ones. The mission of his nonprofit search organization, Texas EquuSearch, is to help these families bring their loved ones home.

"There is one thing worse than having a missing child, and that is knowing they are probably dead and never being able to say good-bye," he says in explanation as to why he founded EquuSearch six years ago. "I know what it's like to be alone during that period of time with no help, and I promised myself and God, I'd never leave another family alone again."

Miller speaks from his own wounded heart. It took 17 long and lonely months for law enforcement to recover the body of his daughter 21 years ago, after she'd been murdered and dumped in the "killing field," an infamous dumping ground for murder victims near League City, Texas.

"I will always remember that lonely, helpless feeling," he says. "Every time our phone would ring or someone would drive by our house, pull in our driveway or knock on our door, I would literally get heart palpitations. I would think Laura was coming home or worse."

Though his daughter's killer still eludes justice, Miller says recovering Laura's body gave him the closure he needed, and the impetus to help others in similar situations.
"If someone is out there and they are not alive, these families need closure, and law enforcement needs a crime scene," he says. "This is where EquuSearch can help."

Pay it forward

After Police located Laura along with another unidentified young woman in a field where a total of four young women's bodies have been recovered over the years, Miller found himself haunted by the need to discover his daughter's killer.

He monitored missing person's cases and when bodies were located, he'd visit the site where they'd been found to learn if there were any similarities to his daughter's case. He also found himself drawn to the emotional lives of these families. He'd share his story and provide the family with needed support and caring from someone who'd walked the walk before them and understood what they were going through. From this stepping stone, he began aiding the families he touched in whatever ways he could, from distributing flyers to conducting mini-searches.

Then one day a friend planted the seed that he should create a mounted search team with the two horses he had received as payment for a bad debt. This seed quickly blossomed into reality.

When he founded EquuSearch, Miller says he figured he and his horses would act as a resource for other search teams and would conduct three to four searches a year while he continued to operate his construction firm.

He was wrong on all counts.

His organization quickly expanded to an active membership of 280 people with more than 35,000 volunteers from all over the nation at its disposal. And Miller had to sell his business to keep up with EquuSearch's hectic pace.

"I didn't realize it would be this big," he says. "I never anticipated we'd be called out on more than 470 cases in less than six years."

"Tim has created so much more than just a search organization," Barbara Gibson of EquuSearch told Court TV, explaining the organization's popularity.

"It's a place to help put your energy into helping others," she says. "Many of our members are the families of missing persons who are deceased. Collectively, I feel all of our broken pieces help to make us whole again and better people than before."
The fact is it's often a search for their own healing that brings volunteers to the organization. Many members have suffered the loss of a missing loved one and as such are geared toward easing a family's concerns and burdens. "The family needs assurance and support from someone who understands what they are going through," says Sgt. Patricia Cooper, who works Missing Persons for Harris County (Texas) Sheriff's Office. "This helps law enforcement because if a family has support, they are able to provide us with information in a calm manner that allows us to work as quickly and efficiently as possible to find a missing person."

The organization's technical capabilities also have expanded from low-tech horseback expeditions to helicopter searches, underwater explorations and everything in between. Today the technology at EquuSearch's disposal includes side-scan sonar equipment, ground penetrating radar, infrared and night vision gear, cadaver dogs, and more.
"We've got a lot of talent on our team, from all areas," Miller says. "We've been so fortunate to have these resources - and it keeps growing and growing."

With such advanced capabilities, one would think utilizing EquuSearch would cost an arm and a leg. But the Dickinson, Texas, organization does not charge the families it serves or law enforcement for its assistance. "We live strictly off of donations," Miller says. "And we've been very blessed. There have been times when we've wondered how in the world we were going to pay our bills, but it always works out. The money comes in, our bills get paid and it gets us to our next search."

A dogged effort

Of the cases the organization has been a part of, more than 70 individuals have been confirmed dead and EquuSearch teams recovered more than 35 of these bodies themselves. However, while many cases do involve a homicide and a dead body, Miller stresses just as many include a live person who's either wandered off or run away. "We've gotten many, many individuals back that if we hadn't gone out searching, they would have ended up dead," he emphasizes.

The number of people (more than 300 if necessary) EquuSearch can assemble in just a few hours is what Sgt. Randy Burrows attributes to the group's high success rate. Burrows, while working as a major crimes Investigator for the Galveston County (Texas) Sheriff's Office, frequently relied on EquuSearch to assist with homicides and missing person's cases and says he's been impressed with the speed of the group's response. He cites a case where dispatchers received a call about a missing teen at 6 a.m. Galveston County authorities contacted EquuSearch and within three hours approximately 10 volunteers headed out to search. Before the day was through, volunteers had located the teen's body.

Success is in the numbers, agrees Miller.

"The more people you have, the more eyes you have out there, the better your chances of finding something," he says. "A body is pretty big, but they are very, very easy to miss."

Time is critical in missing person cases, so EquuSearch responds to requests as quickly as humanly possible - even if the case involves a runaway. "The longer a runaway is out there, the more endangered he or she becomes," Miller explains. "Our view is, 'Let's bring that runaway home, and get the family into counseling and functioning again.' "
His philosophy grew out of his own experience with harried authorities. When Miller first reported the 1984 disappearance of his daughter, he recalls Police told him, "Go home and wait; your daughter is going to call you. She's a runaway."

"Laura had run away a few times before. Laura had problems," he admits. "She had a seizure condition and wanted to be accepted. Unfortunately, she trusted the wrong person and ended up dead."

Never giving up on a case also boosts success rates, says Cooper, noting Harris County routinely draws on EquuSearch teams to assist with the 2,800+ runaway and missing person's cases its seven Investigators work each year. "Many times their success is due to a continued dogged effort," she says. "When you think everything's been searched, they go back and search again."

Mum's the word

Law enforcement is often reluctant to let outsiders cross the thin blue line, thus outside volunteers must be carefully selected and scrutinized, and their activities monitored to ensure confidentiality is kept.

Keeping information close to the vest is paramount, so much so law enforcement agencies often only provide the minimum details to get searchers started. "We operate on what we call a 'need to know' basis," says Burrows. "That is, if you need to know, we'll tell you, and if you don't, we won't."

Miller operates on the same philosophy. For instance, law enforcement officials may ask the organization to search a specific field. But when Miller rounds up the troops, he tells them to examine the area but doesn't share why.

"We know how easily rumors start and when they begin it interferes with the investigation," he says. "So we stay pretty discreet about the details."

And, in the rare instance where a volunteer spreads rumors about a case, they are asked to leave.

"I stress we are there for one reason and one reason only - and that is to search," he says. "If we're walking through a field talking about rumors, we may miss a shoe or a purse or something important. I tell volunteers if you can't stay focused on what you're doing, then we don't need you on this search."

Search, not investigate

When a loved one is missing, a family will do just about anything to get them back. And to families who understand little about the law enforcement function, it can appear Investigators are not doing enough. It is this frustration that often drives them to seek outside help, and for that EquuSearch is there.

"We are usually called by families," admits Miller. "But we never do a search until we've spoken with law enforcement."

Because of the organization's popularity, Cooper says families often call for assistance soon after filing a Police report. "EquuSearch always notifies us and asks what we need them to do," she says, "and if we say nothing, they stay out of the way."

When law enforcement doesn't approve a search, EquuSearch abides by their wishes. For instance, there's a New Jersey family who recently contacted them about a missing family member, but law enforcement officials advised the organization not to search. "They told us there is an area they believe should be searched and that there is a suspect, but they lack enough information for a search warrant," Miller recalls. "Searching that area, they said, might tip the suspect off and interfere with the case."
EquuSearch decided to let law enforcement work its angle - and the family had a hard time with that. "They have a child who's been missing 15 to 16 months, and they want their child back now," he says. "But many times it takes a long time for law enforcement to gather all the information they need to crack a case."

The power of people

The added manpower EquuSearch brings can be a boon to staff-drained law enforcement agencies. Search and rescue teams can canvas large areas quickly, navigate difficult terrain with horses and four-wheelers, post flyers, and help locate individuals with information. "The biggest thing is getting flyers distributed in a short period of time," Cooper says. "Flyers list a number to call if you have information, and this helps get leads coming in and gives us a direction to go."

Law enforcement's consumed with the investigation and often lacks the resources to conduct intensive searches, but EquuSearch does not, according to Miller. For instance, when searching for Rachel Cooke, in Georgetown, Texas, EquuSearch summoned 3,200 volunteers to hunt for her body for nine days. The team utilized horses, helicopters, airplanes and other technology. In fact, one EquuSearch member, who works for NASA, fixed a satellite on nearby Lake Georgetown to help identify the body. "We knew her body weight and water temperature, and that if she was in the lake, she would float on a specific day," Miller explains. Searchers were unable to find the girl, but her father, Robert Cook, is now an active member of the organization, finding his own healing in helping others.

"We could put together that kind of search but it would take a long time and would involve fire departments and other Police agencies," says Burrows. "Using a team like EquuSearch brings manpower to the table more quickly and frees up Investigators to follow up on specific leads."

No panacea

Miller acknowledges there are times when the organization's relationship with law enforcement is less than seamless. Four years ago, he recalls, a 14-year-old boy had been missing for nine days. Law enforcement hesitated to let the organization assist - they felt the young man had run away because of problems at home. EquuSearch persuaded the agency to allow a search, and volunteers discovered the boy's body on the second day.

But Miller harbors no ill-will toward officials who make calls like this - their caseload is astronomical. In Houston, Texas, eight officers investigate missing person's cases, he says, and there are 500+ missing person cases per month. "What do you do?" he asks. "They can't run every one of them."

The volume of leads each case generates further complicates things. Ninety-five percent of the tips received can be attributed to mistaken identity from people who truly believe they spotted the missing person. "We've got to gamble on that five out of 100 tips are probably accurate," he says.

EquuSearch aids law enforcement by following up on leads, but does not gather leads themselves. "If someone comes to them with a lead, Tim refers them to us," says Burrows. "We have an understanding that they are not Investigators, they are strictly manpower-intensive search personnel and as such leave the investigating to us."
Miller's says he's gained an appreciation for law enforcement and has developed a sense of compassion for the tough spot Investigators find themselves in.

"I criticized the Police department for many, many years about my own daughter's case and how they handled it. Now I see how big the picture really is," he says. "God bless the officers who are out there trying to work these cases. There is nothing they can do right when a family's loved one is missing. Investigators have their detective work to do and can be distracted by the family calling them every day. They need other people to do the ground work and support the families."

Community helping hands

The scope of Miller's mission goes beyond search and rescue to prevention. The organization hosts educational efforts designed to teach kids about stranger-dangers and avoiding predators. At schools, churches, fairs, and other events, volunteers help photograph, fingerprint, tooth print and DNA mark children so that if they do end up missing, the parents have this information available for authorities. "We hope the families never have to use it," Miller says. "But with more and more sex offenders being released from prison every day, our children are in danger."

In Texas alone, Miller points out there are more than 7,000 unidentified bodies. To help put these individuals to rest, EquuSearch has teamed with the Texas DNA database at the University of North Texas. The organization assists by encouraging families to file their DNA.

This project's already experienced some success. Two years ago, a young Hispanic girl disappeared in Houston. She had ridden the bus to school but when she got off, never made it to class. Rumor had it, the girl had a boyfriend and had run away, but in spite of this, Miller encouraged her mother to go to the Houston Police Department and put her DNA on file. Five months after the teen's disappearance, Police in Sugarland, Texas, had discovered a body. For more than a year, this body laid in the medical examiner's office. But when authorities entered the mother's DNA into the system, a match was made.

"On Valentine's Day [2005], we finally attended her funeral," Miller says. "If we wouldn't have taken the [DNA] kit there, she would still be unidentified."

Where there's a need

Every community has the need for a search and rescue organization, and obviously EquuSearch cannot completely fill this void. Other organizations do exist, but more are needed, Miller says, underscoring the importance of search and rescue teams by recalling his own experience.

When he filed a missing person's report in his daughter's case, he mentioned to the officer taking the report that five months prior to Laura's disappearance the remains of a young lady named Heidi Villareal Fye were found at an abandoned oil field in League City, Texas. "I asked if they would check the area where this girl had been found, or tell me where it was located so that I might search it myself," he says. Instead, the officer assured him Laura would be home soon. Three days later, Miller learned Fye had lived just four blocks from his house. He returned to the Police station and was again sent away.

"If I'd known then what I know now, that field would have been one of the first places I searched," he says.

But could a search organization have saved Laura's life?

"Probably not," he admits. "But she would have been found and there likely would have been some evidence on the scene to aid the Police investigation."

Would Jane Doe, found in the same field, have been murdered?

Miller says, "probably not, or at least not at that spot."

And even more importantly, a search organization may have been able to locate Laura's body more quickly, sparing Miller months of agony.

Though the pain and trauma of losing his child still shadows Miller as he works these cases, he says something good arose out of his own personal tragedy and that was EquuSearch.

"I've been able to hand three children back to their parents, who were Amber Alerts," he says. "If Laura was alive, I wouldn't have done that.

"All the wonderful people I've met because of her death is just overwhelming," he continues. "I've been blessed. I've truly been blessed."

And so have the families of the missing, who have been touched by the organization of a man who works every day to make sure the lost and their families are not alone.
(accompanying the article is photos taken in ARUBA during “Texas EquuSeach” efforts there, captioned with the following descriptions)

(photo) “Sometimes I feel law enforcement officers do not want citizens or the media involved in their cases,” says Sgt. Randy Burrows of the Galveston County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office. “But in this day and age, agencies lack the manpower to perform intensive searches without the help of these types of organizations.”

To counteract such fears, it is suggested that law enforcement organizations:

Develop a volunteer registration process when working with volunteer search and rescue (SAR) groups. On extensive and long-term cases in which many volunteers may participate, there must be a registration process, Burrows stresses. The members of a specific volunteer search and rescue organization, such as Texas EquuSearch, are fine, but when the group asks the general public for help, volunteers must be documented and the information provided to law enforcement.

“I’ve heard of cases where suspects in a homicide have participated on search teams,” Burrows says. “You need to record who’s participating, who’s there and who’s not there on any given day.”

Detail the assets being used by the search team. “If it’s a homicide and you have four- wheelers and horses all over the place, you have to be able to explain those contamination aspects in your crime scene,” Burrows says.

Communicate your expectations. Volunteers need to know their role and what is appropriate. “There are people who love to do these kinds of things and participate just because they want to help. That’s good and we need that,” Burrows says. “But they must understand there are certain aspects of an investigation they do not need to know about or be involved in.”

Maintain confidentiality. Only give volunteers information that is absolutely necessary for them to assist. “We don’t withhold information,” says Sgt. Patricia Cooper of the Harris County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office. “But we also don’t provide every bit of information to just anybody. We supply necessary information to help those who are assisting us, but it may not be everything.”

Communicate, communicate, communicate. Volunteers must know how to reach you and exactly what you need them to do, Cooper notes. “It’s just good communication,” she says.

(photo) Volunteers also helped distribute flyers in Aruba asking for information on Natalee Holloway.

(photo) EquuSearch member, Lyn Parsons and her dog Rudy search for Holloway.

(photo) The flyers were posted on Teketria Buggs’ disappearance. She was later found by EquuSearch members.

(photo) EquuSearch volunteers aid a forensic diver as he prepares to search a cave in Aruba.

(photo) EquuSearch in the news

• Natalee Holloway. After being contacted by Holloway's uncle, Paul Reynolds, EquuSearch sent approximately 93 volunteers to search in Aruba. Among the searchers were forensic divers from the University of Florida, and the Cook County, Illinois, and Harris County, Texas, sheriff's departments. Volunteers, specialized in land searches, used Jeeps to cover rough terrain, while divers utilized sonar equipment and boats to comb the coastline. Infrared cameras aided searchers at night. Cadaver dogs sniffed key areas for Holloway's scent, while ground penetration units looked for disturbances in the ground that might indicate digging or show a body's location underground. Searchers were unable to locate Holloway's body, and to this date Holloway remains missing and her killer at large. "We're not done by any means on the search for Natalee. Natalee needs to be found," says Tim Miller, founder of Texas EquuSearch. "Unfortunately, I don't think that day will ever happen. I think somebody knew what they were doing. But you know what? If we don't search, there's absolutely no chance of finding her."

• Plane discovered in Lake Erie. Volunteers located a plane in Lake Erie after the family of missing pilot, James Regal, asked EquuSearch to conduct a search. On the plane were University of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, graduate Lindsey Meyers; her boyfriend, Kevin Jestead; and the 23-year-old pilot. The craft crashed after flying over Niagara Falls where Jestead had planned to propose to Meyers, says Miller. The organization utilized side-scan sonar and ROV equipment to map the area and pinpoint locations to search. A New York City dive team examined each region, discovered the downed plane and recovered the bodies.

• Sri Lanka. Nothing volunteers knew about hope and death could have prepared them for what they experienced in Sri Lanka, says Miller. A team of 15 volunteers, after being contacted by the International Foundation for Revitalization, Empowerment, Education and Development, traveled to Sri Lanka to help look for tsunami victims. The team brought along all-terrain vehicles, night vision goggles and infrared gear. "Within the first hour and 15 minutes, we found the remains of six people," Miller recalls. Later, Miller went inland and found a construction company willing to rent him equipment and crews. Before the organization left, they had located more than 220 victims, cleared out a village and financially assisted a young man who had lost his family. In one instance, Miller says they helped a man, who had also lost his three children in the tsunami, locate his wife. "We found her; she had a gold chain around her neck and a barrette in her hair," Miller recalls. "He asked if we would stay while he cremated his wife. We did, and it gets me choked up to this day. After he cremated her, he buried her remains and put a stick in the ground with her chain and barrette on it. That was his memorial to her."





5-15-06

On 5-15 the JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI NBC TV channel 3 “WLBT” reported:



Help Coming To Search For Michelle Combs

The search continues for Michelle Combs of Brandon, who disappeared in Jackson on Feburary 7th. Because she was of age, Police are treating this as a missing person's case.

Michelle's family, desperate for answers, has done a great deal of Police work themselves, and they're about to get some help from a well known search group.

Mother's Day passed, and still no word from Michelle for her parents Phil and Bettye Combs of Brandon.

Bettye Combs says, "I'm afraid we won't find her alive, but if we can find her it will give us some closure."

The family has now summoned the help from Texas EquuSearch, the same group that has been leading the search for missing Clinton native Natalee Holloway, in Aruba, since last summer.

Phil Combs says, "We've provided them with a lot of backgroud info thus far and they've indicated they want to come over, gather info, then they will proceed from there."

Texas EquuSearch plans to bring sonar, and other devices to look in the ground and the water for Michelle.

Phil Combs says, "They've indicated the first place they want to eliminate is the Pearl River. We received info several weeks ago Michelle might have been thrown in the river."

Michelle suffers from a brain injury she received after a car accident several years back. She was taking medicine for her condition, which her parents say has run out. She has not used any of the money in her bank account since she disappeared.

Texas EquuSearch says they have about an 80% success rate.

Cindy Wisdom, a case worker with the organization says, "The most important thing we need to do is find out what happened to Michelle so that her family can get on with their lives, and they feel like they've done everything they can to help find her."

Also assisting in the search in the Hinds County Sheriff's Department. Captain Henry Glaze says, "She was seen in the early days she went missing. I'm very confident that some people had contact with her then. In the last 4-5 weeks, I can not find anyone who has had any contact with her."

Texas EquuSearch representatives say Dave Holloway, Natalee Holloway's father, has said he will be joining the search party in Jackson, and to offer support to the Combs family, as the search for both of their daughters continues.

Texas Euusearch plans to be in Jackson near the first of June, to begin looking for Michelle Combs.





On 5-15 the “Scared Monkeys blog" reported:



Why Do Three Boys Go to Carlos N’ Charlie’s One Half Hour Before Closing when Mountain Brook Teens were there on their last night in Aruba? Gee, I Wonder?

So what would make three boys, Joran van der Sloot, Deepak Kalpoe and Satish
Kalpoe go to a known bar with drunk tourists one half hour before closing? It certainly was not to dance as Joran has told us he does not really dance. It couldn’t be for Deepak or Satish to flirt with the female tourists as they seemed to not do that by all accounts of the records of what happened that night at Carlos N’ Charlie’s.

So why would these three boys go to a bar to meet a group of girls from Mountain Brook, AL one half hour before the bar closed if Joran van der Sloot had previously stated that Sunday night was no fun at C&C’s.

MCVAY: He came with his friends. He had told us that night that Sunday was not a fun night on the island and that no one goes out. So we found it ironic that he showed up.
Joran van der Sloot confirms that is exactly what he said that night to the Mountain Brook girls.

VAN DER SLOOT: And I remember afterwards going into — right behind that casino is a little bar, and I remember watching — walking in there. And there was a baseball game on TV, and again, the group of girls was sitting there. And they said, Oh, yes, don’t forget to come out tonight. And I told them that on Sunday, it wasn’t a good night to go out. It wasn’t fun. It wasn’t — and — but they said, You know, if you want to come, come. And I ended up deciding that, yes, I might as well go and have fun. (Fox - ‘On the Record,’ Part 1)

However, Joran van der Sloot while meeting the Mountain Brook teens at the Excelsior casino at the Holiday Inn,learned that they were going to Carlos N’ Charlie’s later that night. Joran van der Sloot must have also learned that this was the teens last night on Aruba as well. To many boys on the island that is code for a “Shark feeding frenzy.”
VAN DER SLOOT: You know, we were just talking socially. It was just — it was just — it was just talking with nothing — nothing else involved. And then they ended up asking me if — they ended up telling me it was their last night and asked if I wanted to go to Carlos 'N Charlie's.

VAN SUSTEREN: Had you been to Carlos 'N Charlie's before? You know the place?
VAN DER SLOOT: Yes, I know the place. I went there on weekends a lot. It’s just — it’s a place where I know — it’s fun place. It’s a place where people go and hang out and have fun. I mean… (Fox News - Greta)

So who did Joran initially intend to meet up with at Carlos N’ Charlie’s? So in one half hour prior to closing Joran van der Sloot did not find his intended target, but managed to find another.

VAN SUSTEREN: Interested in any of them at — at the poker table?
VAN DER SLOOT: Interested? No, not really. I was more talking — the girl that was sitting next to me, I was — I thought she was pretty and I was talking to her. And when I went — what the point was for going to Carlos 'N Charlie's was I wanted to actually meet up with her.
VAN SUSTEREN: Do you remember her name?
VAN DER SLOOT: I don’t — I didn’t remember it, but I remember it now because I heard it afterwards. I think her name was Kathleen.

After having told the Mountain Brook girls that C&C’s was a waste of time on Sunday night, Joran van der Sloot decided that he was going to go anyhow. Joran would also make the conscious decision to lie to his father that he was going out to Carlos N’ Charlie’s. WHY? We thought that the van der Sloot taught their son to tell the truth? Isn’t that how they claim they brought him up?
VAN SUSTEREN: At the point where you called him, were you intending to go to Carlos and Charlie’s at that point? Had you made up your mind?
VAN DER SLOOT: Yes, I’d made up my mind that I was going to go there, and I’d also made up my mind that I wasn’t going to tell him that I was going to go there because I know he would have said no. He would have said that I couldn’t go. So I had made up my own mind that I was going to go out without him knowing.

What makes Joran van der Sloot’s decision to go to C&C’s even more interesting after stating that, “Sunday, it wasn’t a good night to go out” was the fact that he knew that these girls had been drinking. This coupled with his views of how American’s drank on vacation and on their last night was all that was needed to change his mind to go out.
The fact that he would find fault in that “they go overboard, and that’s something that’s — that’s bad, something that shouldn’t happen.” A bad thing? This is what he hoped and prayed would occur.
VAN DER SLOOT: I mean, yes, they were drinking liberally and freely, but I mean, I think they had every right to. I mean, they had graduated. They just finished their high school. You know, they’d just been — they’d finished their high school, and I think they had every right to come to Aruba and have — and you know, and celebrate their graduation. I mean, they worked for that their whole life. And I’ve met tons of people that do the same thing.
And I mean, one problem I might have seen with it is the drinking age in the United States is 21 and the drinking age in Aruba is 18. And you know, I’ve met a lot of people that when they’re — you know, whose parents don’t let them drink or do anything like that, and when they — you know, when they come to Aruba and they get a chance to drink, they go — you know, they go overboard, and that’s something that’s — that’s bad, something that shouldn’t happen.

Joran van der Sloot then calls Deepak Kalpoe and asks him if he wanted to go to Carlos N’ Charlie’s as he had met some girls at the casino earlier in the day. Deepak says yes as he has done in the past. This was not the first time that Deepak and Joran had ever gone to C&C’s together.
VAN SUSTEREN: What — so where — where’d you ever gone with Deepak? I mean, what kind of stuff did you guys do? How well do you know him?
VAN DER SLOOT: You know, we hung out together sometimes. We’d go out to Carlos and Charlie’s together sometimes, but I don’t know him that well.
Joran claims he did not know Deepak all that well but he had no issue to call someone at 11pm and ask them if they wanted to drive to his house and then to Carlos N’ Charlie’s.
VAN SUSTEREN: Had you ever called him sort of late at night or 10:00 o’clock at night, 11:00 o’clock at night before and said, Let’s go out?
Joran states, “So I’d give him a call sometimes, or another friend of mine, you know, Let’s go out.” Or another friend? So Joran in his comment thinks of Deepak as a friend. Or is it that he “does not know him that well?” Joran van der Sloot can’t even seem to be consistent on this answer.
VAN DER SLOOT: Oh, yes. I’d done that before, you know, because I don’t have a car. I don’t — didn’t have a driver’s license and I’m not allowed to drive. So if I want to go out, yes, I’m dependent on — on friends, that — you know, that have a car. So I’d give him a call sometimes, or another friend of mine, you know, Let’s go out.
Deepak and Satish Kalpoe get in Deepak’s car and drive to pick up Joran van der Sloot They arrive at Joran’s house and then drive to Carlos N” Charlie’s and arrive there at 12:30am. The bar closes at 1am.
VAN DER SLOOT: When they picked me up, we went straight there, straight to Carlos and Charlie’s.
VAN SUSTEREN: When you arrived at Carlos 'N Charlie's, any idea about what time it is?
VAN DER SLOOT: It was probably, you know, 12:15, I think, 12:30 maybe.
VAN SUSTEREN: How late does it stay open?
VAN DER SLOOT: That night it was open until 1:00 AM.
VAN SUSTEREN: Is that usual? I mean, every…
VAN DER SLOOT: Every — during weekdays, it’s open until 1:00 AM, yes.
VAN SUSTEREN: And were the girls from Mountain Brook already there?

Joran van der Sloot gets to a bar where he pretty much knows that these Mountain Brook teenage girls have been drinking all day since and after he met them at the casino. It is now 1/2 hour to closing time and they have been in C&C’s where all there is to do is get drunk and Joran knows that they are on their last night of vacation and they are partying hard. What does the responsible Joran van der Sloot do who claims that American teens drink too much? Joran van der Sloot orders Natalee Holloway a 151 rum shot. WHY? This is hardly a shot that a girl would do. One could envision a shot of an Alabama Slammer, a Jolly Rancher or even tequila. Not a shot of 151 rum, hell I haven’t even ever done a shot of 151, only on the rocks.

So Joran’s answer is to find the easiest mark, who had been drinking the most and showing the most signs of being drunk and feeding even more alcohol to her. Then as the end of the night grows near at Carlos N’ Charlie’s manage to separate her from her friends. Joran had stated that they had been drinking when he met them at the casino, what good reason could he have to be feeding Natalee Holloway 151 rum on top of every thing else if it was not to get her even more drunk?
VAN SUSTEREN: Is there a way to describe her, I mean, and whether she seemed or appeared to be, you know, drinking? Did she seem to be drunk?
VAN DER SLOOT: Oh… she’d been drinking, but she wasn’t drunk. I mean, she knew what she was doing. And you know, all the people there were drinking, as well. I mean, that’s just — that’s normal when you go out and have a drink with your friends.
VAN DER SLOOT: Well, so next, then she said OK, so let’s take another shot, is what she told me. So she wanted to take a shot with me. But it was probably close to 1:00 AM there then, and the bar was closing. So I said, OK, well, we can go to the other bar. And then I asked her, What do you want to drink? And she’s, like, Whatever. So she said, yes (INAUDIBLE) What do you suggest. And I said, Bacardi 151. That’s a shot I normally take with my friends. And we took a shot together. And after that, we just were talking a while. And I saw Satish, and Satish said — said, Let’s go. And then — Deepak, I don’t know where he was. I didn’t see him in Carlos and Charlie’s after that.
Joran van der Sloot then leaves Carlos N’ Charlie’s at 1am, one half hour after he got there, where he somehow managed in that short time span to spot, target and and leave with Natalee Holloway. His intension was to take her back to his house. Look like he has done this before?
VAN DER SLOOT: No, not at all. That came very spontaneously. She’s like, “OK, you want me to go with you?” And I was like “OK.” And I saw her go up to some of her friends. I don’t know what she said to them. And then, yes, then we — then we ended up leaving. The plan was to go to my house.
VAN SUSTEREN: So, what time do you think you stepped foot out of Carlos 'N Charlie's?
VAN DER SLOOT: Probably, yes probably 1:00 a.m.
VAN SUSTEREN: Did you walk — you walked out with Natalee?
VAN DER SLOOT: Yes, I walked out with her.
VAN SUSTEREN: And she had your hand or you had her hand?

Joran and Natalee Holloway walk out of Carlos N’ Charlie’s to Deepak’s car that was parked in the back parking lot. Interestingly enough Deepak Kalpoe was already in his car and the engine running. Were the three boys leaving a bar with Natalee or was this a getaway car ala a bank heist? Why would Deepak have already been in the car and Joran escorting Natalee out right at the exact closing time? Why separate Natalee Holloway so quickly from her friends? Who is already in a car waiting at the precise time a bar closes? No bar empties out that quickly that one has to precisely leave at 1am.

VAN SUSTEREN: Where was Deepak?
VAN DER SLOOT: He was waiting at his car.
VAN SUSTEREN: Any reason why he went out ahead?
VAN DER SLOOT: I don’t know. You have to ask him that.
VAN SUSTEREN: Is he sort of, I mean a guy who enjoys the bar scene?
VAN DER SLOOT: I don’t know. Again, you’ll have to ask him that I mean.
VAN SUSTEREN: How about the girls, they like him?
VAN DER SLOOT: I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him that.

Does anyone really not understand what these three were doing all along? Joran van der Sloot even states that what they did this night at Carlos N’ Charlie’s was no different than they had done in the past.
VAN DER SLOOT: Yes, Greta: And you’re like, you know, what, you know what are you doing? Because it was… it was a normal… it was a normal thing for us to do, you know, go to our friends, go to the beach, talk to American tourists, you know, then go out with them and have a good time and, you know, nothing… nothing ever bad has ever happened. I mean it’s happened probably 20, 20 times nothing has ever gone wrong. (Fox - Greta Interview part 2)

So according to Joran van der Sloot what transpired that night had probably happened some 20 previous times. However, nothing bad ever happened. Doesn’t this sound strangely familiar to the statement from early in the investigation to “something bad happened?” Then suddenly the statement was retracted.

One of three young men who took an Alabama teenager to the beach during a high school graduation trip to Aruba said “something bad happened” to her, Police said Friday.

Deputy Police commissioner Gerold Dompig told The Associated Press that the man was leading Police late Friday to the scene. He refused to identify which young man had
made the statement.

Joran van der Sloot states that he lied about leaving Natalee on the beach because he was scared. How could one be scared of a pattern of behavior? Joran van der Sloot went to Carlos N’ Charlie’s with Deepak and Satish as they have done numerous times in the past. To find a drunk or drugged American tourist girl and have sex with them. Whether the girl remembered or not the next day or while on the return flight back to America was irrelevant.

Joran van der Sloot, the Dutch teen who was the last person seen with Natalee Holloway the night she disappeared in Aruba, said he lied about leaving the American teen alone at the beach because he was scared. (ABC News)
The fact that Joran states that he did not have sex with Natalee Holloway because he did not have a condom is laughable. The sole point of why he went to Carlos N’ Charlie’s one half hour before closing time to find a drunk Mountain Brook teen was to have sex with them. It did not matter who, that was the plan and that was the game.

That was always the game.

The Kalpoes state that Natalee Holloway was drunk, Joran states that she was not. Joran’s attorney Joe Tacopina has even made statements to the effect that Natalee was drunk. How could she not be at this point?

The question becomes among many, what did Joran van der Sloot mean by, “nothing ever bad has ever happened. I mean it’s happened probably 20, 20 times nothing has ever gone wrong?” Is he saying something went wrong as to the reason why she is missing? Does he mean that he has left 20 girls on the beach in a drunken state? If this is so it is hardly believable that he feels bad in leaving Natalee on the beach as he has done so to so many others before.

The next question that needs to be answered is why did the Kalpoe’s drive to Joran’s
house and to Carlos N’ Charlies? What was in it for them? No one just leaves home, drives a friend to a bar for a half hour so he can scam on female tourists and then drives them around the island so he can make out in their back seat, leaves them at a beach and then pick then up later at the end of the night. NO ONE. What was Deepak’s and Satish’s reward for being the getaway driver?

This is the reason why the three suspects stories do not match. This is the reason why they continually lied in jail. This is the reason why neither party can come out and just blame the other for the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. They are all, Joran, Deepak and Satish tied into the story of Natalee’s disappearance. To blame one is to blame all.

All three will be found to be complicit. Thus the lie continues.
Why would three suspects continue to lie about their obvious involvement and being the last to ever be seen with Natalee Holloway only makes it more obvious. This was a pattern of behavior with these three with American female tourists. Joran van der Sloot said a mouthful when he made the following comment.

Because it was… it was a normal… it was a normal thing for us to do, you know, go to our friends, go to the beach, talk to American tourists, you know, then go out with them and have a good time and, you know, nothing… nothing ever bad has ever happened. I mean it’s happened probably 20, 20 times nothing has ever gone wrong.

What more admission does one need?





5-16-06

On 5-16 the “Real Aruba Truth” blog reported:



Interesting Rumors

Here's some interesting rumors I've heard lately...well, actually two of these I've been able to confirm. I am trying to confirm the rest as quickly as I can! Can you guess which two are verified as true?

1. A website at www.realarubajustice.ru was up from 03/01 to 03/04. It had news photos of Paulus, Joran, the Kalpoes, and Steve Croes, and each had a bounty: $20,000 U.S. for Paulus DEAD, $30,000 for K2 and Steve Croes DEAD, and $100,000 for Joran DEAD. The website was traced to Bialystok, Poland (the .ru is domain suffix for Russian websites).

2. Joe Mammana has taken some of his wealth and invested it in stocks so that he has a steady supply of money to pay his PIs for investigating and watching the van der Sloot's.

3. Some of Holloway-Twitty supporters are raising money to buy and donate a copy of Dave's book to the public library of each state capitol in the U.S.

4. Joe Mammana is going to buy some of Dave's books, get them autographed, and auction them off to help Dave get his Natalee Holloway Foundation off the ground financially (the foundation is non-profit but this qualifies as a donation).

5. There is an upcoming America's Most Wanted that will be all about Natalee and her family's efforts, ordeal, and future plans. I understand it will air Memorial Day weekend.

6. One group of concerned Americans are investigating the legalities and lawfulness of encouraging an all-out political revolution and governmental overthrow in Aruba from the U.S.





On 5-16 BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA NBC TV channel 13 reported:



Court Considers Dismissing Holloway Lawsuit

A lawsuit filed in February by the parents of missing Mountain Brook teen Natalee Holloway will be the subject of dismissal arguments Wednesday at New York's Supreme Court.

Beth Twitty and Dave Holloway are seeking undisclosed monetary damages from the family of Dutch national Joran van der Sloot, who is considered a prime suspect in the case.

Natalee Holloway vanished in Aruba one year ago.





On 5-16 TACOPINA said to MSNBC:



ABRAMS: Coming up, Aruban suspect Joran van der Sloot‘s attorneys heading to court tomorrow hoping to get a lawsuit filed by Natalee Holloway's mother thrown out. Joran‘s lawyer is with us, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ABRAMS: We are coming up on a year since Natalee Holloway disappeared in Aruba. Joran van der Sloot is scheduled to be in court tomorrow here in the United States. He and his attorney are trying to get a civil suit filed against him and his father by Natalee‘s parents tossed out.
Joining me now is Joran‘s attorney, Joe Tacopina. Joe, thanks for coming on the program. Appreciate it.
JOE TACOPINA, JORAN VAN DER SLOOT ‘S ATTORNEY: Thanks, Dan.
ABRAMS: First question, is Joran showing up in court?
TACOPINA: No, he won‘t be here tomorrow.
ABRAMS: Doesn‘t need to be there, right?
TACOPINA: He‘s in school...
ABRAMS: In the Netherlands.
TACOPINA: ... in the Netherlands, so...
ABRAMS: Right. All right.
TACOPINA: ... not quite that convenient for him.
ABRAMS: Now, the primary argument you‘re making here is going to be one of jurisdiction, right? You‘re going to say that this case doesn‘t belong in this court.
TACOPINA: Well this is not really so much—yes, in theory, but it‘s not really a jurisdictional argument. It is based on a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) convenience legal principle and in New York State the laws are pretty clear. There‘s a leading case that lays out five factors, Dan that the court needs to consider whether or not New York is convenient for him and the five factors are whether the parties are nonresidents. Here all parties are nonresidents. Whether the course of action arose in a different, a foreign jurisdiction, here it did. Whether the—there is going to a burden...
(CROSSTALK)
TACOPINA: ... on New York courts. Here obviously we‘re dealing with some foreign languages involved in some of the litigation, the hardship to the defendants. Clearly, there would be enormous hardship on the defendants unless there‘s an alternative form available and you know the answer to all those questions is yes. The courts have held that you need two or more of those factors to be in favor of the court ruling (UNINTELLIGIBLE). We have all five.
ABRAMS: Do you—I mean it sounds—I mean look, you have a pretty strong legal argument in that regard and we talked about that before here, but do you expect that the court is actually going to throw it out at such an early stage?
TACOPINA: I—you know what? To borrow a line from my adversary, I was not dropped on my head at birth. I‘m not going to go into tomorrow‘s proceeding predicting what the court is going to do, but I am confident in our position. I‘m confident in our legal positions and Dan, I‘m very confident in our factual arguments if we should ever get there, although I don‘t think we will.
ABRAMS: All right, but what if they file suit in Aruba? Right? I mean they could do that, right?
TACOPINA: Sure and we‘d invite that. As a matter of fact, they could serve me tomorrow, I‘ll accept service in court and they want to give us service with a suit in Aruba, we would love to litigate.
ABRAMS: Why do you want to—I mean don‘t you just want to not go to court on this? I mean...
TACOPINA: Well, sure, but you asked me if they wanted to, I would gladly accept service tomorrow. I mean do I want to litigate, of course not. Do I want to show and prove that Joran has had nothing to do with Natalee‘s disappearance and her death, if in fact she is dead?
I mean look, you know I think this case has taken a different direction in the last several months. Fortunately, I think people are starting to realize that there has been a massive void where there should be evidence of his guilt and people are looking elsewhere. The Investigators are looking elsewhere and that‘s a refreshing thing and hopefully, I—his name will be cleared very shortly.
ABRAMS: Do you have a theory as to what happened to Natalee?
TACOPINA: I have a few. I have a few, but...
(CROSSTALK)
TACOPINA: ... you know what? No, you know, Dan, I‘m not going to share that because it‘s just as unfair for me to speculate as to what happened to Natalee, both for the Holloway family and for people who I believe to be involved as it was for people to speculate about Joran‘s guilt. So I‘m not going to go down that road.
ABRAMS: But your Investigators has some evidence?
TACOPINA: You know, I think some of those leads have been followed up on. I know some of them are actively being followed up on. And I‘m still hopeful, Dan, believe it or not, I may be in the minority here, but I‘m still hopeful that one day soon this thing is resolved.
ABRAMS: What about you? You had threatened some lawsuits against people who kept saying that Joran sexually assaulted Natalee, that Joran murdered Natalee, et cetera. Are you filing those lawsuits?
TACOPINA: Well, it‘s not so much a threat as a promise. I mean you know we have Rosemarie Arnold, who‘s been on your show, myself, Chad Seigel, we‘re reading through transcripts and going through dozens of transcripts and people have made statements and we‘re going to make some decisions at the end of this, you know, litigation. But people have made statements that are slanderous, libelous, and actionable, and we are going to pursue at least two claims.
ABRAMS: Against people who have made comments, what, on TV and stuff?
TACOPINA: That‘s right, public comments and yes on TV.
ABRAMS: Talking head types?
TACOPINA: Just people.
ABRAMS: What do you mean just people, ordinary...
TACOPINA: Not you, Dan, not you...
ABRAMS: Man on the street people or like...
TACOPINA: You‘re going to see—Dan, I‘m not going—I‘m not—you know, we‘re not to tip out hat at this early juncture, but...
ABRAMS: You know who it is, though? You know the two people you‘re suing.
TACOPINA: Oh, yes. We have—I have two people who are—who have made the grade. So...
ABRAMS: Do they know it?
TACOPINA: They will.
ABRAMS: But they don‘t know it yet?
TACOPINA: I don‘t know. I don‘t—you know, Dan, I haven‘t contacted them. I‘m not negotiating with them. When this is all said and done, when Joran is finally cleared, when the civil litigation is over, we are going to be pursuing the claims that I‘ve been talking about because it‘s the right thing to do, because people have sought to destroy this boy‘s life without any facts, without any evidence, and there are people who have made these claims, Dan, recklessly, and in violation of the law quite frankly.
ABRAMS: Are you going to put any of my competitors out of business?
I mean is that going to be like a good thing for me?
TACOPINA: We‘ll talk off camera, Dan.
ABRAMS: All right. Joe Tacopina, thanks a lot.
TACOPINA: Thanks.





5-17-06

On 5-17 FOX News GRETA VAN SUSTEREN reported in her “Gretawire” blog:



Holloway Hearing

Expect news today in the Natalee Holloway case! There is a showdown in a New York state court today — we will be there to watch and then report back to you tonight. You will hear not only from us, but from the key people involved in this showdown. Both of Natalee's parents will be together on our show tonight.

We will also have the lawyers for both Natalee's parents and the van der Sloot's. The two lawyers will be arguing over the issue whether the civil suit brought by Natalee's parents against Joran and Paulus should remain in the New York state court or be booted out. Joe Tacopina and his clients say the New York court is a "forum non conveniens" — meaning that it is "inconvenient" to everyone involved, including potential witnesses. John Q. Kelly, who represents Natalee's parents and brought the suit for them, says the case should be litigated in New York City. We shall see....





After the NEW YORK CITY Court hearing ended on 5-17, when FOX News GRETA VAN SUSTEREN was asked how are the people of the state of NEW YORK served by having the civil court case proceedings held in NEW YORK, FOX News GRETA VAN SUSTEREN reported, “If you ask the lawyers for Beth Holloway-Twitty and Dave Holloway, what they said is that 60,000 New Yorkers travel to Aruba every year, and they have an interest in making sure that Aruba is safe and what goes on there. There are many, many cases in this court in which the litigants are not residents of this state, and the cause of action did not rise in this state, according to the lawyers for Dave Holloway and Beth Holloway-Twitty. Now, the one thing the judge did say during the arguments that made, sort of, my ears ‘stand up’ is, she said, ‘But nobody lives here,’ and that‘s when the lawyer for the plaintiffs, for Beth Holloway-Twitty and Dave Holloway, said, ‘Look, it doesn’t matter that nobody lives here. That’s not the case law in New York. Lot’s of cases--the courts have many times accepted cases where the parties don’t live here, and New York can still have a tremendous interest in the case.’”

On 5-17 identity “papparazzi” of “The Freedom of Blog” wrote (with an obvious TACOPINA bias):



Eye witness account of court

Beautiful day in New York City. Arrived at NY Courthouse, 60 Centre Street at 11:30AM. No crowds. Fox News satellite truck outside in prime location across the street. Small channel 9 van nearby. No others at this time. No line at metal detector. Arrived at Room 514 only to learn that Justice Barbara Kapnick's courtroom is in Room 341. Found the room. No one there. Read the computer printout taped on the wall outside and saw that Elizabeth Ann Twitty vs. Joran van der Sloot, case # 1022541 is to be seen at 2:15 PM. Went inside the courtroom and spoke to the clerk. They will open the room after lunch at 2:00 PM. It's a large old courtroom. One large table in the well for the attorneys. Nine benches in the back, seating above five each. One jury box on each side of the well. A bench in the back next to the door. I go out to the corridor to sit and wait.

About 12:30 PM the clerk walks by. He is silvered haired, with a white shirt on, and is armed with a gun at his waist. About 1:00 what looks to be a young female reporter arrives and goes into the courtroom. Shortly thereafter, another woman comes down the corridor and goes into the courtroom. She looks like Beth's friend Sunny, but I can't be sure. After a few minutes the women come out of the courtroom and sit on a bench down the corridor from me. There are about four benches in this large, inner corridor, outside the courtroom.

About 1:00 PM Greta van Susteren arrives by herself. She is wearing a navy pantsuit and flat shoes. She looks younger and more attractive in person than she does on TV. She smiles and says hi as she passes by. She goes to read the computer print out and then comes and sits at the other end of the bench I am sitting on. She sits quietly taking notes as I read my book. She wanders off down the corridor about 1:15 PM. A few other unknown people have arrived. There are about nine of us waiting in the inner corridor.

About 1:45 Greta wanders back, alone. She stands and chats with what I discern to be a freelance reported named Andy. Greta is telling Andy about John Q. Kelly and that Kelly was the civil attorney for the Brown family in the O.J. Simpson case. Greta is now on her cell phone and I hear her say, "I have enough blouses."

At 2:00 the courtroom doors open. By now about 20 people have gathered in the inner corridor and all rush into the courtroom to take a seat. There are more people now coming from the outer corridor. I get a good seat on the aisle, in the back, near the door.

At 2:10 Joe Tacopina arrives with his retinue, including Les Levine and Rosemarie Arnold, and several others. They sit in the front on the opposite side of the room. Meanwhile, Greta has taken a seat directly in front of me. She calls out a hello to Joe as he passes her. He turns around and smiles and returns her hello. By now, John Q. Kelly is coming through the door with his retinue. Bo Dietl is "ringing up the rear with Beth Twitty. This group stands clustered together for a minute in front of the door. Greta motions to Kelly to sit with her and he does. She has moved over and he sits on the end of the bench. They are both now directly in front of me. Bo and Beth sit together on the only bench along side the wall next to the door. They are directly across from me.Beth is wearing flip-flop leather sandals and has bright red toe nail polish. Like Greta, she looks younger and more attractive than she does on TV. She is wearing a light olive colored, tight fitting, lightweight jacket and matching pants. She has on a low cut white t-shirt with a chain necklace with something I can't make out on it. She is clutching her hands so I don't see if she is wearing rings. But I do see she is wearing bracelets on both wrists, including a light blue one, which I assume is her Natalee bracelet. She is wearing a neutral pink beige lipstick and her strawberry blond hair looks nicely combed. She is wearing a pleasant poker face and looks intense and somewhat nervous. Dave Holloway is not there. No one else from Natalee's extended family is there that I could see.

The courtroom has filled up quickly. There are 50-60 people there. An eclectic group of individuals. Not many seemed to be together. All seats are filled except for the jury seats. John Q. Kelly and Greta are chatting very quietly together. They are across the aisle from Beth and do not chat with her. Bo is providing a running commentary for Beth who is saying little if anything. Bo points out some of Joe's private Investigators to Beth. Bo says he has to have dinner with Imus tonight. A woman with a large hand held drawing board approaches Beth and sits down to sketch a portrait of her with colored chalk. This woman then approaches John Q. Kelly to sketch him too. She compliments him on his tie and asks if it is an Hermes. He says no, it is from the Vineyard actually. She tells him he has a very nice hair cut and he thanks her. Bo is telling some men who have approached him they should boycott Aruba and keep it that way. He then says, oh so you want to come to Aruba with me.

At 2:20 PM we are told to all rise. Justice Barbara Kapnick enters the courtroom and takes her chair at the front. She is wearing a nice black suit with a brooch on the lapel. She has short dark brown hair and a good haircut. She looks serious and chic and very much a professional. She too looks attractive and younger than expected. Joe Tacopina, John Q. Kelly, and Bo Dietl are all wearing very expensive suits with shirts and ties that look terrific on them. Prior to the judge's entrance, Joe was animated and had been talking with his people. Kelly chatted quietly with Greta. Bo chatted with Beth who sat quietly while fidgeting with her hands. Neither Greta nor Kelly chatted with Beth.

The oral arguments began promptly, following the poll of the calendar read by the clerk. Six lawyers took their seats at the one table in the well. Joe Tacopina was seated in the middle on the right. John Q. Kelly sat at the end of the table on the left. The case was called for Twitty vs. van der Sloot . The judge began by providing a brief summary of the papers that had been filed to date. None of it addressed content. She then said she would hear about five minutes of oral arguments from each of the attorneys. Joe went first for the van der Sloot's, followed by Scott Barber for the Twittys. John Q. Kelly did not participate.

Joe was outstanding and made powerful points, one after the other, straight out of his response papers. He argued it would be difficult to try the case and impossible to defend the case in New York. New York was not the forum, it was an imposition to try it here, the plaintiffs are not residents, the defendants aren't residents, events did not occur in New York, 50+ witnesses needed to try the case are not in New York, and there is no nexus of action in New York. He went on to list the five factors of consideration and pointed out that all five were met where only two are needed. He proceeded to site some case law and spoke of Aruban law, codified in Dutch, to be applied; translations issues, and the burden on New York taxpayers. He spoke of the overwhelming hardship to the defendants and no compulsory process to subpoena witnesses. He told of Karin Janssen not spending time with Rosemarie Arnold. And he asked, how do you defend when the Hague convention doesn't compel witnesses. He stated Joran van der Sloot had absolutely nothing to do with it and didn't harm Natalee Holloway in any way. He spoke of Aruba as not a dangerous place, quoted the US State Department as saying crime is low in Aruba and said tourism is Aruba's main economy. He pointed out that although Beth Twitty had said she was threatened and followed in September, she returned to Aruba in November. He said the students were not credible witnesses to when Joran and Natalee were alone together. He spoke of the Jane Doe witness and said that she lives and would testify in Aruba and denies the allegations. He said he had no interest in arguing about Natalee's behavior and whether she had been drinking too much. He concluded by emphatically stating New York has no interest in this matter and it would be impossible to try and to defend the case here

Scott Barber spoke next. He argued that this case is not as complicated as Joe Tacopina was making it out to be. That it was just a simple sexual assault case and the family's last chance at justice. And he added that he was not there to pull on any heartstrings. He referenced some New York law I couldn't quite hear and said no forum is perfect. At this point the judge interrupted for confirmation that none of the plaintiffs or defendants were residents of New York. Scott Barber confirmed and went on to say this case rests on Joe Tacopina's contrivance that this is complex case. He said he appreciates that the court is busy. But this is nothing more than an assault case. He spoke of 60,000 New York tourists who travel to Aruba and said this case would make it safer for them. He pointed out they could only get pre trial discovery here and the case would only take about a week or two weeks and not months. He said Aruba does not want this case. He said that Aruba is dangerous. He said that someone had threatened to cut up Beth Twitty and put her in a fish trap.

Scott then tried to present a supplemental affidavit from Helen LaJuez re Jane Doe. Joe Tacopina objected. The judge confirmed that Joe had never seen the affidavit and refused to accept it. She did, however, say Scott could tell her about it. Scott basically said Jane Doe had changed her story and that another attorney in Aruba would corroborate Helen LeJuez. Scott ended at this point.

The judge let Joe speak again and he said he was appalled. Joe became even more passionate this time.

He said they weren't going to bring this up, but now they would. He said that Jane Doe had been offered things of value and had been subject to threats and bribery. He reiterated that Jane Doe was not afraid to testify in Aruba. Joe pointed out that Beth didn't get chopped up in Aruba and is here today. He then spoke of the students' testimony. He mentioned John Q. Kelly's interview where Kelly said the students could add nothing of value to the case. And, mentioned Jug Twitty's January 2006 interview with Greta where he said the Mountain Brook students would be happy to return to Aruba to answer questions. Joe pointed out he had transcripts with him. Joe said Karin Janssen should be discounted in full because, among other things, she had written to the F.B.I. to ask if Beth were related to Hitler. He pointed out Karin Janssen had said a trial in New York would be good because it wouldn't interfere with the investigation in Aruba. He closed by pointing out he had affidavits from two Aruban newspapers that said they would cover this case no matter where it was held. The judge asked if Joe was done. This was a friendly exchange and Joe sat down.

The judge then said she had reviewed all the papers, that she would review them again, and that she would review the transcript of this hearing. Then she would notify both sides when she was ready with her decision. I had the impression this wouldn't take more than a few days. The proceedings were over before 3:00 PM.

Greta rushed out first, and waved a hello to Beth as she passed. The Kelly group then left together. The Tacopina group was speaking with people in the corridor as I left. The Fox satellite van was still outside but I didn't see any others. There were no crowds. If there were any press conferences, I didn't see them.





On 5-17 the “AP” reported:



Lawyers argue in New York over Natalee Holloway civil trial site

NEW YORK (AP) — The mother of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama teen who vanished in Aruba, heard arguments in court for the first time Wednesday about whether the trial of her lawsuit over her daughter's disappearance should be held in New York.

Holloway, of Mountain Brook, Ala., was 18 when she went missing in May 2005 during a high school graduation trip to the Dutch Caribbean island with classmates. In February, her parents, Elizabeth Twitty, of Alabama, and Dave Holloway, of Mississippi, sued Joran van der Sloot, who was questioned about the teen's disappearance, and his father, Paulus.

The parents' lawsuit accused Joran van der Sloot, 18, of imprisoning and sexually assaulting their daughter and causing her disappearance. It also said his father had enabled his delinquent behavior, including the Dutch youth's underage drinking.

A lawyer for the van der Sloot's, Joseph Tacopina, told the court the case should be dismissed or sent to Aruba. He argued that the parties, the witnesses, the physical evidence and the events that led to the lawsuit have no connection to New York.

"It would be impossible to try this case and defend this case in New York," Tacopina told state Supreme Court Justice Barbara Kapnick. "This state, you honor, has absolutely no interest in this matter."

A lawyer for Twitty and Holloway, Scott Balber, served the van der Sloot's with the lawsuit when they arrived in New York from Holland for an interview with ABC News. In that interview, Joran van der Sloot denied involvement in Natalee Holloway's disappearance.

Balber told the judge the case should be heard in New York in part because the law gives "deference to the plaintiff's choice of forum." No site is perfect, Balber said, not New York, Aruba, Alabama or Mississippi.

"This is their last chance for justice, to find out what happened to their daughter," Balber told the judge.

Balber said it was up to the defendants to prove that a New York trial would be so inconvenient and burdensome that it would not serve the interests of justice.

The arguments in Manhattan's state Supreme Court lasted about 25 minutes and basically reiterated points the lawyers had made previously in court papers. The judge said she would notify the lawyers when she reached a decision.

Twitty entered the courthouse minutes before the proceeding and said nothing to waiting news reporters. After the hearing, she and her lawyers left the courthouse immediately without commenting.





On 5-17 MSNBC reported:



ABRAMS: Natalee Holloway's parents are in court today in New York. They are suing the family of Joran van der Sloot, once considered the lead suspect in Natalee‘s disappearance. They say Joran along with help from his father abducted and assaulted Natalee. Natalee was from Alabama. The van der Sloot's live in Aruba and now both sides are trying to convince a judge why the case does or does not belong in New York.
The hearing ended a short time ago. The judge said she would consider the case and issue a ruling later. Here‘s Joran van der Sloot‘s lawyer, Joe Tacopina leaving the courtroom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE TACOPINA, JORAN VAN DER SLOOT ‘S ATTORNEY: This is not a situation where we‘re afraid of the facts. Aruba is the appropriate forum. As I‘ve said before and I said today in court, Aruba is the place this case should be tried if they want to try this case. As a matter of fact, if they were ready to serve us with papers today and are moving the case to Aruba, we would gladly accept on behalf of our clients.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABRAMS: Joining me now is former prosecutor and MSNBC analyst Susan Filan and defense attorney Lauren Lake. All right, Susan, how do you possibly justify having this lawsuit from people who live in Alabama talking about something that happened in Aruba in New York?
SUSAN FILAN, MSNBC LEGAL ANALYST: OK, Dan, what you‘re basically saying is the defendants are going to attack jurisdiction, why serve it in New York, why file it in New York, why have it stay in New York? Because there is no forum more convenient. Where would you have it? Aruba? Alabama? Mississippi?
Where is that convenient to the plaintiffs? Where is that convenient to the defendants? It‘s not any more convenient anywhere. It‘s not any less convenient anywhere and the courts give great deference to the plaintiff‘s choice of jurisdiction. They chose New York. They have personal service on the defendants.
They‘re in persona jurisdiction. They‘re personally served. There‘s no reason for this not to go forward in New York. Let me say, I‘m not going to say they don‘t have any jurisdictional issue, but I think it‘s one that they can and will survive and should survive.
ABRAMS: I don‘t know. I mean—go ahead. I mean I don‘t see it, but go ahead.
LAUREN LAKE, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: That was so good Susan.
ABRAMS: Yes.
LAKE: However, you know what, let‘s be honest here, from a human perspective, we all in our guts, we‘re rooting for Beth and Natalee‘s family saying we want this girl found too, but come on, legally there is just no jurisdiction here. There is no way in the world you can say—what are they going to call all the witnesses from Aruba to come to New York to testify?
FILAN: Why not?
LAKE: Oh, come on Susan...
FILAN: Listen...
LAKE: ... let‘s be serious here.
FILAN: Listen.
LAKE: This can‘t happen this way.
FILAN: Beth has said - Beth Holloway-Twitty has said that she was subjected to death threats in Aruba and that if she returned to Aruba, she would be chopped up and fed to the fish. Remember, this is a woman that called for a boycott of tourism to Aruba. Aruba suffered great economic...
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: And she he went back over and over again...
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: ... to look for her daughter...
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: ... so surely she can go back again for a lawsuit that she wishes to file.
FILAN: She also said...
LAKE: Now that right there...
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: Susan, that doesn‘t cut it. That doesn‘t cut it.
(CROSSTALK)
ABRAMS: Go ahead, Susan. Yes.
FILAN: She‘s also said that witnesses have said that they are afraid to testify in an Aruban court and won‘t tell the truth the way that they have to the Investigators and to people...
ABRAMS: That‘s not—but that‘s not an argument. You can‘t just say oh well, because witnesses say that they‘d rather testify in New York than in Aruba...
FILAN: No, they‘re not saying they would rather testify, they‘re saying they won‘t and they‘re afraid...
ABRAMS: Beth is saying...
FILAN: ... to testify...
ABRAMS: Beth is saying...
FILAN: ... and I think the courts can consider that whether the lawsuit...
ABRAMS: Look at the guy walking behind Beth. Do you know who that is? That‘s Bo Dietl. All right. If she‘s got Bo with her, I think she‘s going to be OK.
LAKE: And Dan, Bo already showed he knows how to handle his business when we watched the tapes of that serving.
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: So let‘s get back to the point...
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: Let‘s get...
(CROSSTALK)
FILAN: Let the witnesses into court...
LAKE: But Susan, let‘s get back to the point of the court and the fact that this is just not a convenient forum. I love the fact that you put forth a very vigorous argument here, but it is not convenient. This act didn‘t even occur here. The people don‘t live here. What interest does it serve the state of New York?
ABRAMS: Let‘s put up the five reasons that the defense is saying this case should be moved out. None of the parties are New York residents. The alleged incidents happened in a foreign jurisdiction. The burden on the New York courts is tremendous. Hardship to the defendants. And the Holloways can file suit in Aruba.
FILAN: And you can argue for and against each of those but what the court has to do is it has to balance out all of those factors and in the end if the rule of law is that the court gives great deference to the plaintiff‘s choice of forum, there is no forum more convenient. It isn‘t unduly burdensome on New York courts and it isn‘t unduly burdensome on the defendant who has been personally served in New York. There really isn‘t any reason to kick it. Where are they supposed to go? Alabama? Missouri? Aruba?
LAKE: To Aruba where the act allegedly happened.
FILAN: That‘s not their choice of forum...
LAKE: Go there. Why would it not be?
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: They‘ve already shown that they can go back and forth to Aruba for every investigation, every search, every piece of evidence. She has gone back there a million times.
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: So why can‘t she go for a suit that is rightfully filed there?
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: There‘s no way the New York state court needs to entertain this lawsuit and what kind of precedent would that be setting if they start listening to lawsuits from everybody whose family member was harmed allegedly in another country?
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: We‘re going to start every time somebody lands in New York, they can be served and we‘re going to try...
ABRAMS: Go ahead, Susan...
FILAN: That‘s not the rule of law though...
ABRAMS: Susan, go ahead.
FILAN: That‘s not the rule of law. That just isn‘t. I mean they can go back to Aruba but they don‘t want to and therefore they shouldn‘t have to. The courts have already ruled...
LAKE: It‘s not about want.
FILAN: It is.
LAKE: It‘s about jurisdiction under the law.
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: It‘s not about want. You can want a lot of things. If there‘s no jurisdiction, Susan, the case should not be heard.
FILAN: Well that‘s—I mean any first year law student can tell you that.
LAKE: It‘s not about want.
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: Yes...
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: Exactly.
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: So why are you speaking about want? That‘s not even a legal term. Want is not a legal term.
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: That‘s not even a first year law term either.
FILAN: Lauren...
ABRAMS: Go ahead...
FILAN: Did you hear the court‘s ruling that they give great deference to the plaintiff‘s choice of forum?
LAKE: Exactly. But the bottom line is there must be jurisdiction.
FILAN: And there is...
LAKE: And there is not...
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: At the same time, have you heard...
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: ... have you heard of minimum contact?
FILAN: ... jurisdiction in this case.
LAKE: What about minimum contact?
ABRAMS: Here‘s what the lawsuit says. The lawsuit says that Joran assaulted Natalee, kept her against her will. Natalee was sexually assaulted, was fondled and was touched without her consent by Joran and his accomplices over and over again as she drifted in and out of consciousness. Natalee did not consent to these sexual acts nor in light of her intoxication at the hands of Joran and her periodic unconsciousness could she.
Do you think, Susan, if this case is dismissed, is—if they determine that New York is not the appropriate forum, that the case will be filed in Aruba?
FILAN: I think it will be filed somewhere else. I don‘t know that it will be filed in Aruba. This case isn‘t going to go away. Again, remember of course, as you know, Dan, it‘s a civil case, which means the burden of proof is a preponderance of evidence. Is it more likely than not? Can the scales be tipped in favor...
ABRAMS: Yes.
FILAN: ... and the plaintiff‘s lawyers have already come out and said this case is thoroughly investigated, they‘ve got their proof, they‘re able to prove their case...
ABRAMS: And the defense said—yes, I know. And look, both sides are claiming that they‘ve got their Investigators and yes, they both got some of the best Investigators...
FILAN: But the point is that the plaintiffs aren‘t backing down. They‘re not saying this is a frivolous lawsuit. We did it to grab headlines. We did it to prove a point.
ABRAMS: No, no, no, no, no, no...
FILAN: They‘re saying...
ABRAMS: Yes.
FILAN: ... we‘ve really got the meat and potato.
ABRAMS: No, and I understand that...
LAKE: It‘s not that, but it‘s still a factual mess, Dan.
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: That‘s going to be tough to prove.
ABRAMS: We‘ll see. I think this case is going—and again, I think you made the point earlier that it doesn‘t mean that you‘re against the Holloway...
LAKE: Absolutely not.
ABRAMS: ... family. To say that as a legal matter this case still may get thrown out of a New York court. Susan Filan and Lauren Lake, thanks a lot. Appreciate it.
FILAN: Thank you.
LAKE: Thank you.





On 5-17 MSNBC reported:



COSBY: And lawyers for Natalee Holloway's parents went head-to-head with an attorney for prime suspect Joran van der Sloot in a New York City courtroom today. At issue whether or not a civil lawsuit filed by Natalee‘s family against Joran and his father should be heard in a New York court. Natalee‘s mother Beth Holloway-Twitty was inside the courtroom and she told me she is happy the case is finally being heard.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY, NATALEE HOLLOWAY‘S MOTHER: We‘re just relieved that it is all in the judge‘s hands and, you know, now that, you know, she can make the decision on, you know, whether we can have Natalee‘s case heard here. You know, it felt so powerful though to be there in the United States courtroom and, you know, we can just remain hopeful for a longer period of time now, Rita.
COSBY: Did it feel good to be in that courtroom as you just said, like justice is maybe being served, like there‘s a sense it is moving in a direction?
TWITTY: Oh, absolutely and I think what the family, what we have thought about all along is this the most tangible or almost tangible issue we have been able to hopefully move towards and I know we are not there yet. We have put a lot of hope and effort in it and we‘re going to continue to remain hopeful.
COSBY: How tough is this waiting period going to be, because no one knows if we are looking at a few days, we‘re looking at a few weeks, few months?
TWITTY: Rita, I‘m so relieved since I‘ve left the courtroom that I know I don‘t have an answer now but, you know, we don‘t have to know.
COSBY: What do you say to critics who say why should this case be heard in New York, why should New York bare the responsibility of the costs when nobody lives in New York?
TWITTY: From a mother‘s standpoint and from Natalee‘s standpoint is that, while we want to hear because it would be the best chance at Natalee getting justice that we will ever have and that‘s why we want it here. I think that everyone has witnessed the injustice that has gone on around the family in Aruba.
COSBY: Why do you believe New York? Why do you believe this versus Aruba?
TWITTY: Well, I think that this is where the van der Sloot's chose to come here and they didn‘t have any problem coming here and granting interviews for media. So just I think they initiated that. We reacted to their coming here.
COSBY: If the case gets thrown out in New York, is there a point where you say, look, I have done it all. That‘s it.
TWITTY: You know, from that point, Rita, I guess we will just regroup and I don‘t know where we will go from there. We just hate to cross that bridge yet since we‘re not there.
COSBY: The first anniversary is coming up, Beth. I know that is going to be tough for you. You and I have been talking about this unfortunately for a long time. What are you going to do to mark the anniversary?
TWITTY: Really, at this time the family doesn‘t have any plans to do anything, Rita. I think that when we look at the date coming, a year coming up, it is no more difficult than every day to live and see what all Natalee is missing and has missed and will continue to miss.
COSBY: Plans in Aruba, we have been hearing so many mixed messages Beth. On one hand, we hear about this arrest of all these different people, then they get let go. We‘re also hearing that they‘re even talking about trying to maybe close the case and then you are also hearing of more searches, right.
TWITTY: Right. We are hearing that this week that they were doing some more water searches. I know that is coming, probably from Tim Miller‘s efforts because he is planning on returning to Aruba, I believe, next week.
COSBY: In your heart of hearts, do you believe this still will be solved, even though we‘re approaching a year?
TWITTY: Yes. We really think that we‘ll hear something Rita. I think that there has been too much effort put into this. Everyone has witnessed this. There has to be something that could break. I feel as if there has to be, Rita. I just can‘t come to that.
COSBY: We are all rooting for you that you get some answers. And Beth, nobody deserves it more than you. We love having you on Beth and we will do whatever we can. Thank you so much.
TWITTY: Thanks, Rita.
COSBY: And I also spoke to Joran van der Sloot‘s American defense attorney Joe Tacopina. He says he is confident in his case and his client‘s innocence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE TACOPINA, JORAN VAN DER SLOOT ‘S US ATTORNEY: We think the case law is very much on our side. Clearly, this judge gave us all the time we needed to lay out all our positions, all our arguments. And I think it is a sign of a judge who wants to be thorough and wants to be correct.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSBY: Joran van der Sloot and his family came to New York to do an interview. Didn‘t it open himself up and others up, just like stepping on American soil, to maybe get into the suit?
TACOPINA: No, not in the least bit. I mean this is a motion to dismiss this, because New York is not a convenient forum. Rita, the case cannot be tried in New York. As a trial lawyer, I‘m telling you, it would be impossible to try this case in New York because we couldn‘t compel witnesses to come over here and testify. Don‘t forget, Joran came here on the dime of a network that wanted to foot him his bill for the television interview. He came here after nine months of being called everything from a murderer to a rapist, to a predator. And he came to defend himself. It was a very brief visit. That does not give the states of New York the right to try this case. It gives the plaintiff‘s personal jurisdiction over him which they got. We don‘t contest that.
COSBY: There are a couple of moments that I heard got a little heated today when the other side was sort of suggesting that one of the witnesses, this Jane Doe. We were hearing some word that she was claiming that Joran raped her, then backed out. There was some suggestion that maybe she was bribed or coerced to change her story.
TACOPINA: That was a clear moment of desperation for the plaintiffs. It was almost a pathetic moment quite frankly, because they‘re not saying that she was. They‘re just speculating. I mean they need to explain to this court why it is they submitted an affidavit by some attorney - a second hand affidavit from some attorney from some woman named Jane Doe who was making these claims. Well, as we now know Rita, the cat‘s out of the bag. Jane Doe is not Jane Doe. She is Karen Martinez. She‘s a young lady who was brave enough to give us an affidavit that she swore to under penalties of perjury, saying Joran never did anything of the sort to me. He never sexually assaulted me. He never did anything bad to me. And I never said I wouldn‘t testify in Aruba. What in fact she does say is that pressure was exerted and put on her by representatives of the plaintiff‘s camp.
COSBY: How is your client, Joran van der Sloot doing? Have you talked to him and what was his reaction about today?
TACOPINA: We spoke. I mean he spoke to members of the team. He was very upbeat and very gracious, as he always is. He was very thankful and he is in school. So he is studying and worrying about those sorts of things not the proceedings in New York. We are just hopeful for their sake that this nightmare will soon come to an end.
COSBY: If the judge decides to keep this case in New York, what are you going to do?
TACOPINA: We have about four or five other motions ready to come down the pike. But I don‘t want to speculate as to what the judge will do just yet. We‘ll react accordingly.
COSBY: What do you say to the Holloway family tonight, Joe. They are just desperate. They want answers and they are just trying to find any sort of legal jurisdiction to do so.
TACOPINA: It is understandable. I think they are just so emotionally invested in Joran being part of this even though he‘s not..
COSBY: The cops still sort of suggest he is a suspect.
TACOPINA: They suggest everyone they ever questioned is a suspect. Don‘t forget, it‘s done a little differently in Aruba. But clearly by their investigation, they are looking elsewhere. They are looking for other leads. They are looking in other directions. They‘re not towards Joran anymore.
COSBY: Joe Tacopina, thank you very much.
TACOPINA: OK, Rita, thanks.
COSBY: So just what are the chances that the Holloway case might actually end up in New York? Live & Direct tonight our criminal defense attorney Lauren Lake and also former prosecutor Lisa Pinto. Lauren, first you, what do you think the chances that the judge is going to rule for the Holloway family?
LAUREN LAKE, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Slim to none. No. It is not happening. This is not a convenient form. And let me just start by saying, it just isn‘t. The alleged act happened in Aruba. The defendants are Aruban citizens. New York has nothing to do with this case besides the fact that they were lucky enough to catch that personal jurisdiction when they landed here in New York City. There is no reason for the New York State courts to be entertaining this lawsuit (INAUDIBLE) and is going to be (INAUDIBLE).
COSBY: . on the fact that they did step in New York soil. They came here. Some of the witnesses have some ties to school. Are those things enough to lay hold and say OK, it should be in New York.
LISA PINTO, FORMER PROSECUTOR: Lauren must be rubbing her crystal ball looking into the future. In six months when Judge (INAUDIBLE) will decide this motion. She set aside her judgment at this point. They were served in New York. Certainly, there is a public policy interest. As a New York citizen I don‘t want minors from my state getting abducted and held against their will overseas. I hope we can set a precedent here in New York that we will hold people accountable for that.
COSBY: Should New York foot the bill, Lisa because then any case can come to New York.
PINTO: What is the cost here?
COSBY: It could be exorbitant. They‘re bringing people to Aruba.
PINTO: Keeping our children safe or paying for a couple of flights on expedia.com. What is alleged by John Q. Kelly Rita is that this happened three times before, that Joran was gambling with his dad, that his father had him in therapy for this behavior (INAUDIBLE). These parents were clearly negligent if you believe the allegations in Kelly‘s complaint. He took his son gambling and partying and he gave him a VIP...
COSBY: What about the case. (INAUDIBLE) Is there some issue here?
PINTO: They do but the proper place for it is Aruba. Come on here.
COSBY: They are also saying that these witnesses are too scared, that some of these girls are too scared to go down there? Is it fair to say (INAUDIBLE) force them to go down?
PINTO: Absolutely, this is getting ridiculous, this whole fear thing. This case is operating, investigation, search parties and everything else that comes in Aruba. When it is time to find her, everybody‘s in Aruba. So you know what, when it‘s time to try the case it needs to be in Aruba.
LAKE: (INAUDIBLE) Look how well that has gone so far.
LAKE: You are reaching a little bit far. You want to talk about public interest. If every person in this nation goes out of the country and something happens to them they then can bring this case to New York and they just happen to catch. You are setting a precedent that I don‘t think we‘ll be able to deal with.
PINTO: When they hire New York city attorneys, when they do the full press media gig where they go on national television based in New York, flying here at their own expense, when they are served, when they hire New York counsel, when they litigate this case in the America media - (INAUDIBLE) When they are forced to because they are served with a suit. They are forced to hire. They want to deal with thing in Aruba. You heard (INAUDIBLE) say that. They‘ll deal that in the place where it allegedly happened.
LAKE: . has an in in Aruba. Daddy was a former judge and best friend.
COSBY: Lisa, where do you think this is headed? Do you think—Lauren said slim to none. What do you think.
PINTO: I think it‘s possible Judge Cabinet (ph) may let the case go forward in which as, let the witnesses come forward. Let them have their day in court. What‘s to lose here?
COSBY: Both of you stick with us. We‘re going to have a lot more with both of you later in a moment.



On 5-17 JOHN Q. KELLY stated to FOX News that he estimates that it will take the NEW YORK judge who heard the case arguments today a minimum of “weeks” to review the pre-hearing written arguments, review the written transcript of today’s hearing arguments, then, render a judgment on whether to continue the civil case. KELLY stated that the judge’s office will notify his office that a decision has been rendered, then someone from his office will go and pick up the written decision. KELLY stated it was good for the HOLLOWAY’s that she did not render a quick decision from the bench today. KELLY stated it was obvious that the judge had taken the time to read the written pre-hearing arguments submitted by KELLY and TACOPINA. As it stands right now, the case will continue.

On 5-17 DAVE HOLLOWAY, BETH HOLLOWAY-TWITTY, JOHN Q. KELLY, and JOE TACOPINA stated to FOX News:
(Thank You and Hat Tip to “Michelle Says So”)



JOHN Q. KELLY: This is a multi-front battle. It’s not just the civil case, it’s part of my job since I’ve been engaged here sort of to push them down there after I got involved in November there was new light breathed into the investigation and they have been working hard. They’ve got up to 91 tips from the show they did…they’ve been following up on all of them. There were a couple of other witnesses, in fact, one that I was involved with Dave that was brought to his attention that they are checking out now and a lot of other things that have been going on that we just sort of touch base on.

VAN SUSTEREN: Do you have any sense of optimism that it is going to be solved through a criminal investigation in Aruba at this point?

JOHN: I’m not optimistic, but there’s hope. It’s going to be something quirky at this point.

GRETA …someone finally comes forward and says “I know this, and here it is.”

JOHN: Yeah and it’s going to be someone slipped, or talked, or said the wrong thing in an unguarded moment then we catch a break.

VAN SUSTEREN: It’s surprising that the reward, there is a lot of money on the table that usually attracts information…NONE here.

JOHN: None. I mean, the $250,000 just for information leading to a recovery or something like that. You think anybody who knew anything would hopefully turn on their best friend or if they thought it might even be good information, to come forward and share it right away…so it’s almost like the ‘almost perfect crime.”

VAN SUSTEREN: They are searching today…another search. What provoked this search and where was it?

JOHN: It was in the sea. I don’t know the exact location, but it was based on information we received from the witness.

VAN SUSTEREN: What are they looking for? At this point, I don’t mean to be particularly graphic, but if Natalee was placed in the sea, it seems like there would not be a lot of clues left.

JOHN: Yeah, but there would be a recovery possibly.

VAN SUSTEREN: That whole thing about the trap, is that what they are looking for?

JOHN: They are just looking for weights or something like that, where there would be some indication still or some possibility of a recovery.

VAN SUSTEREN: Deputy chief Dompig, totally out of the picture at this point?

JOHN: He hasn’t called me (laughs)

VAN SUSTEREN: He hasn’t called me…he hung up on me the last time I tried to call him.

JOHN: Yeah, totally out of the picture as far as I know. By the way, a piece of information and a lot of talk about Janssen stepping down this summer and leaving the case. Absolutely no truth to that.

VAN SUSTEREN: Is she going to stay on until it is solved?

JOHN: Well, she said until next year.

Beth and Dave Speak

VAN SUSTEREN: Dave I think that you and Beth have been unable to catch a breath or get any good luck on this, and even today you came all the way from Mississippi to go to the hearing, and you never made it.

HOLLOWAY: Never made it. My plane…fog got us caught up in Cincinnati and just as I got here, the hearing was over.

VAN SUSTEREN: I have to tell you, seeing the father of a missing child would be quickly racing up with his luggage to the courthouse…it’s hard to watch that. Just hoping to get some answers.

DAVE: Yeah, sometimes you just can’t catch a break, but maybe we will this time.

VAN SUSTEREN: Beth, you sat in the courtroom and watched it…what do you think? Were you nervous?

BETH: Oh Greta, I haven’t been that nervous and anxious and just so emotional…it took me back to June. It honestly did. I think that the difficult task she has before her. And I know it won’t be an easy decision, whatever she comes to…I know that.

VAN SUSTEREN: Can you live with a decision that the case gets thrown out…what happens then?

BETH: You know Greta, after sitting there today and seeing what is before her (judge) I know that we will be respectful for whatever decision she comes to. Of course we wanted her to hear us, but I know it’s a difficult task before her and we will have to be respectful and supportive of her decision that she hands down.

VAN SUSTEREN: You know Dave, when I first met both of you down in Aruba, I thought this was a day story. Whether there would be good news or bad news. I never dreamed that the three of us would be sitting in NY a year later, still no answers. It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?

HOLLOWAY: Well, I had a flight plan for Aruba to go home within 3 days, and here we are almost a year later. It is unbelievable.

VAN SUSTEREN: The most recent search, do you have any hope in that search today?

HOLLOWAY: We initially discounted the witness and we called his bluff and he put himself on the line of being deported from Aruba. So, maybe there is something there.

VAN SUSTEREN: What is it that he claims he might have seen or might have known…did he actually see something? Is that what is going on with this latest witness?

HOLLOWAY: Well, I don’t want to get in too much details, but he indicated that he saw something and he had some evidence. We made some arrangements with him and Jossy Mansur to meet directly with the prosecutor. So, maybe there’s something to it.

VAN SUSTEREN: Beth, do you have any faith in these latest searches or do you have search fatigue at this point?

BETH: Hmmm…I think I have search fatigue at this point. I know Tim Miller is trying to gear up and go back to the island and I think that there is always that possibility, there’s always that chance and we just have to keep hopeful. It just becomes an overwhelming task of just wondering…are we ever going to get any type of break at all? I just don’t know.

VAN SUSTEREN: Why do you think you can’t catch a break. This has been going on…whether it’s Dave at the landfill in 200,000 degrees, and you handing out flyers and asking questions. It’s a year later, and it’s like you haven’t gotten a break.

BETH: And you know I really thought we were. I really thought that we would have with reward money…in fact that once we raised it to $250,000…just information that leads to her whereabouts. Anything! I mean anything! And we have the million in place for her safe return. But I just kept thinking that was going to help…that was going to bring about something. It’s just hard for me to realize that a year has gone by and it didn’t…absolutely nothing.

VAN SUSTEREN: Dave, is there one major blunder in the investigation that makes you the maddest?

HOLLOWAY: The most obvious was when they waited nine days in which to make an arrest when Beth handed the three suspects over on a silver platter...the first day. It seems like they just turned their head and decided to look elsewhere.

VAN SUSTEREN: It’s hard to imagine your two lives. What it’s come to. You both have gone off, have other families, other marriages and now you are back together…to do the worst thing, to try and find your daughter.

BETH: I don’t think that any parent can imagine themselves being in our shoes….it’s just unbelievable that we have to be here this long, too. Just searching…just searching for anything to lead us to what they did with her that night. And that’s what’s been so frustrating about it. It’s just gone on for so long now.

VAN SUSTEREN: Dave, when you see other missing children, do you ever imagine the pain can be as bad as it is…and now you see these other stories…hundreds of them. Every night we do them.

HOLLOWAY: You sit down and watch TV, flip through the channels and see all of it, and then all of a sudden you are thrown into it, and then you have a new respect for those people who have lost missing loved ones.

VAN SUSTEREN: How did you first hear that Natalee was missing?

HOLLOWAY: I was sitting on the back patio enjoying Memorial Day weekend. Matt called and indicated that Natalee missed her flight and that Beth was on her way to Aruba on a private jet.

VAN SUSTEREN: What do you think, there’s my daughter acting like an 18-year-old?

HOLLOWAY: Oh no…I was concerned. I know she was very prompt…always on time, never late for anything. It’s just by the book…just dot the I’s and cross the T’s…I knew something was wrong.

VAN SUSTEREN: (to Beth) And you were on the road when you got the cell phone call.

BETH: I was.

VAN SUSTEREN: Likewise, you didn’t think this was just…

BETH: I knew immediately. I knew within seconds.

VAN SUSTEREN: Is it just Natalee’s personality?

BETH: I think from a mother’s intuition and just of course knowing Natalee…no, I knew immediately. I even was calling a friend of mine just trying to find out if they knew of anyone who was a private pilot. And I remember telling her and we talked about it…it happens just like this, doesn’t it? I knew then.

VAN SUSTEREN: And your life immediately changed in a split second…and nothing has been the same for either one of you.

BETH: No.

VAN SUSTEREN: Can you go without thinking about this for a day, Dave?

HOLLOWAY: No…you think about it all the time. You wake up thinking about it, you think about it all day. You know, you work and your work helps you get it off your mind. But you still have that slight moment of whatever is on your mind…you go to bed thinking about it, you even dream about it. What happened and where is she?

VAN SUSTEREN: Do you, I remember talking to Sharon Rocha, and she told me that she would hear the phone ring, and she would think it’s Laci…and then, oh no, it’s not Laci. I mean you get sort of those phantom thoughts that it’s a daughter gone.

BETH: You know I had my first dream about Natalee about two weeks ago, Greta. And that was just really…I was just so…I think some parents would be difficult to dream about their missing loved one, but to me, it had been so long since I had a dream about Natalee before June. It was wonderful…it was the first time and it was about two weeks ago.

VAN SUSTEREN: We haven’t seen either one of you have lost your temper and broken down. I mean, I imagine this isn’t how you really are in private about this.

BETH: Oh no…no.

HOLLOWAY: You have those bad days.

BETH: Yeah, sometimes you have really bad days. Really bad days. Absolutely.

VAN SUSTEREN: Do you ever think that there is a point where you stop? You give up…you say you are not going to get the answers.

HOLLOWAY: You can’t. If you have kids, you understand that you don’t give up on your kids. You just don’t all of a sudden say, well, I’m just going to stop. Sometimes you think about it…how much longer can I go…how much longer can I continue doing this…and someone will come up and give you that support and a call, or a thank you card, or whatever. And it will get you fired up again.

GRETA: And we look at your families…all the families were down there.

BETH: We’ve been so fortunate and we still have a huge support group, as Dave said. There are people that are encouraging us and supporting us on a daily basis to get to the bottom of it. I just don’t think it’s just Dave and I, her stepmother and stepfather want an answer…a lot of us do.

VAN SUSTEREN: Will Karin Janssen solve this? Is she the one, if it can be solved?

BETH: Well I think if she could have done it, she would have done it a long time ago.

VAN SUSTEREN: So you are finished with her? I mean in your mind, she is out right now.

BETH: Well I certainly hope she can prove me wrong. And I would love nothing more for her to solve this. But, a lot of time has passed by...a lot of frustration, and I think she had a prime opportunity to solve this.

VAN SUSTEREN: Has she been good to you in a sense that she is been dismissive…is there a way to describe your relationship with her?

BETH: I think that her relationship with, and I can speak for myself, it was very difficult for me to get her to communicate with the family…and I had been told by several officials there that they do communicate with families during a crisis like this…but for some reason I was just not able to get communication from her. Of course John Kelly has been very successful at it…that’s a good thing.

VAN SUSTEREN: How about you Dave? In terms of dealing with the Police and Karin Janssen?

HOLLOWAY: Well, you know my book was out, and I think there are some Police officers who are working against us…I think there is a lot more that is working with us, but there are some elements there that I think helped these kids out.

VAN SUSTEREN: An unbelievable amount of sadness I see in you guys. Early on I saw you with more drive, now I feel the sadness. It just doesn’t go away.

BETH: No. No, it doesn’t . You know what I think with me, I think that, of course the sadness is so overwhelming but I’ll be honest Greta, the anger, the anger really tends to override the sadness when I see what all Natalee has missed and what she is missing, and what she will continue to miss for the rest of her life…and THAT is what drives me.

VAN SUSTEREN: And I’ve seen it in a lot of parents is that when they are driven and when they are looking for answers, you don’t feel that sadness because they are on such a mission to find the child…and then you get to the point where it’s like, ‘what’s the next step?’

HOLLOWAY: Well, you’ve got a picture up on the wall and imagine her walking through…you just can’t get that out of your mind. You just keep on going.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(PICKUP INTERVIEW WITH TACOPINA)

VAN SUSTEREN: Why weren’t the van der Sloot’s at the hearing today?

JOE TACOPINA, LAWYER FOR CURRENT SUSPECT JORAN VAN DER SLOOT , FORMER SUSPECT PAULUS VAN DER SLOOT , and ANITA VAN DER SLOOT : No, it’s not a question of whose side I’m on. Clearly, for the Holloway family that was just here, from the bottom of my heart want closure for them and want them to get some answers.

VAN SUSTEREN: You have five kids…

TACOPINA: I have 5 kids yeah…and this is not about trying to prevent them from getting answers. I 100% believe in my client, Greta. I believe in Joran. I wouldn’t have come into this case if I make my own finding that he had nothing to do with her disappearance. I understand they are emotionally invested in believing he had something to do with it…and I hope they get answers. But on the same token, I hope my clients get their lives back.

VAN SUSTEREN: Why weren’t your clients there today. They don’t have to be there, but they could have been there.

TACOPINA: Well they could have been, but the problem is part of our argument it is not a convenient forum for them. Joran is in college in Holland right now. He is an honor student, he takes his schooling very seriously. He is doing very well in his first year. Paulus’ life has been turned upside down. He lost his judgeship that was pending in Aruba.

VAN SUSTEREN: I thought he failed it…did they lose it because of this case, or did he have some sort of…

TACOPINA: Now he is struggling to make a living right now as an attorney. A trip here is not an easy thing for them. The bottom line is they called us with their fate in our hands today and you know (inaudible)…

VAN SUSTEREN: In terms of the hearing today, did the judge say anything to you…she thought that was a great question for us, or that is a lousy question for us?

TACOPINA: No. The judge really let both sides have at it. Laying out their arguments and gave us a chance to reply…and clearly is going to take this very seriously, very thorough. She made a point she is going to read a transcript of the hearing…read the briefs again. The only comment she made was about the fact is that none of the parties are residents of work.

VAN SUSTEREN: And the lawyer then responded that there are lots of cases in the New York Courts where there parties don’t live here.

TACOPINA: It is just absolutely not accurate.

VAN SUSTEREN: If your clients lose, will they answer and defend the case, or will they default the case.

TACOPINA: They will not default the case.

VAN SUSTEREN: So they will be subjected to depositions, answer questions under oath, the whole bit.

TACOPINA: …we are going to fight the case, but, as far as fighting the case, there are literally about five other motion what they call the supercedes law 3211 in New York State that are right for dismissal. We have made other motions to dismiss. This isn’t the first…quite frankly clear cut. I think the factors are like this: I think the scales aren’t even close. There are other motions, but if they had to litigate, but it’s not the facts that we are afraid of here…Joran is innocent, there is no evidence to show that he had anything to do for her disappearance or harm her in anyway.

VAN SUSTEREN: Did you talk to your clients and tell them what happened today?

TACOPINA: Yeah, they called afterwards and we spoke…they are just getting run down, no surprises. They clearly want to know if there was any movement by the Court…they were as gracious as usual and very appreciative.

VAN SUSTEREN: Is Joran an involved client? Some clients are really involved, some are not. Is he paying attention to this or busy with studies. How do you describe him?

TACOPINA: We’ve tried to keep him off this quite frankly--he is paying attention because this is his life, and his life has been really in turmoil for the last year. But he is now in Holland, studying…his first year of college…he is probably most mature, articulate 18-year old boys. I mean you’ve spent some time with them. He’s been a real help quite frankly in this case and in this investigation.

VAN SUSTEREN: One of the things I thought interesting today, and obviously you and the other side have a very different view on this…whether or not you had subpoena power. If this case remains in New York State Court, can you reach into Aruba and subpoena witnesses. You say yes, and the Holloway-Twitty faction say yes because of the Hague Convention.

TACOPINA: The Hague Convention doesn’t speak that at all. The Hague Convention really encourages cooperation between governments as far as discovery and sharing documents. It is not in any way shape or form.

VAN SUSTEREN: So you say no…so you can’t bring witnesses into Court…

TACOPINA: I cannot subpoena a witness in Aruba and make them appear in that New York Court. It does not speak (inaudible).

VAN SUSTEREN: It was very interesting because the lawyer on the other side, and it wasn’t John Q. Kelly said that was absolutely false. One of you got the law wrong and I don’t know who it is…the judge will tell us.

VAN SUSTEREN: Have you ever talked to Deepak Kalpoe?

TACOPINA: No, not at all. We went down there and spent some time there…we’ve spoken to a lot of people from this individual named Booty to other alleged suspects, to witnesses, to people claiming they have real information. It’s hard to (inaudible) because everyone seems to want to be a part of this. We did not speak to the Kalpoes.

VAN SUSTEREN: Did you try to?

TACOPINA: Well, they have lawyers, and we respect the (inaudible) client privledge. We reached out to their counsel, and I think they just want to disappear since this.

VAN SUSTEREN: Booty is enormously…Booty is someone who hangs out on the beach, made a live on the beach. Someone who I have been told has a criminal history. He is there sometimes at night…has access to a boat, is the brother in law of Gerald Dompig.

TACOPINA: And…most importantly, he had a hut on the beach and he showed us where it was that had a direct shot into the room stayed at that night. We were there…the beach that he lived in, I mean literally stayed on this beach out there. What you have to understand this climate permits something like that. It’s just a cover and that’s where he stayed.

VAN SUSTEREN: Is there any place where you have seen the Police talked to this man. He’s a brother in law to the Police chief…you would think he would have information about the beach.

TACOPINA: That’s the funny thing. The Police reports we have gone through…thousands of pages of Police reports. They are silent as to this individual. And we know he is going is going to make statements to several people who have been down there, television…claiming to have information about Natalee’s disappearance, and yet there is no Police report that speaks to this individual.

VAN SUSTEREN: You know what I think is weird, I’ve talked to journalists down there and they say they are afraid of him. That is what is so peculiar…if it’s so easy to pick someone up, why don’t the Police bring him in, detain him, question him, maybe because he’s the brother in law. What is his boating access?

TACOPINA: Well, you know apparently he had access to some sort of a boat that was on the beach that disappeared after May 30. Who knows what that means…they should have least looked into this.

VAN SUSTEREN: Something the Police definitely should have looked…this is a no brainer and certainly I would like to know what Booty might know, or at least he may know what’s going on the beach.





On 5-17 CNNHN reported:



NANCY GRACE, HOST: Very quickly, tonight`s "Case Alert." A lawsuit filed by parents of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway in court at New York supreme court level, Beth Twitty, Dave Holloway seeking damages from the family of Dutch judge`s son Joran van der Sloot, as you know, named a prime suspect in the case. The Alabama girl vanished in Aruba nearly one year ago this month.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE TACOPINA, JORAN VAN DER SLOOT`S ATTORNEY: This is not a situation where we`re afraid of the facts. Aruba is the appropriate forum. As I`ve said before and I said today in court, Aruba is the place this case should be tried, if they wanted to try this case. As a matter of fact, if they were ready to serve us the papers today, you know, moving the case to Aruba, we`d gladly accept on behalf of our clients. They`re not afraid of the facts of the litigation, they just want a fair shot at defending the case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)





5-18-06

On 5-18 MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA TV channel “WSFA” 12 reported:


Parents of Abducted Children Speak at Breakfast Hosted By AUM

Parents, Police and other members of the public get a sobering message about the safety of the today's children.

Three people who know the pain of child abductions first hand shared their stories during a breakfast Thursday at Auburn University Montgomery. Among the speakers, Donna Greene, Natalee Holloway's bible study teacher and family friend.

As the year anniversary of Natalee's disappearance in Aruba approaches, Greene warned the audience about the dangers their children may experience as they go away on senior trips. Greene says, "Natalee had a false sense of security there among her many friends she must have felt being in that bar with that big group made her safe she felt too confident, too safe. She let her guard down for a moment and in that moment... She vanished."

Holloway's mother, Beth Holloway-Twitty, now travels the nation teaching young people and their parents about the lessons she's learned the hard way. Greene says, "She t ells them at their age the best thing they can do is save themselves by initiating a full circle safety plan no matter where they are. She wants them to hear the message that they are now responsible for their own safety."

Twitty also created a foundation to inform people about safe travel tips.





On 5-18 the ARUBAAN's news-source "Aruba Tradewinds Times" reported:



Prime Minister Oduber heads for China

Aruba's Piece Of The Chinese Economic Cake

ORANJESTAD-Aruba's Prime Minister, Nelson Oduber left on Tuesday for a business trip to China. The Prime Minister is accompanied by Augustin Vrolijk of Foreign Affairs and Greg Peterson of Free Zone Aruba. The three men will meet with executives of the firm Kang Mei Group who are very interested in converting Aruba into the Chinese trading hub for Latin America and the Caribbean. Kang Mei recently visited Aruba and is very impressed with the island, so impressed that they invited the Prime Minister to China.

The Prime Minister will discuss investment opportunities in Aruba's Free Zone with several Chinese firms. In addition the Prime Minister will discuss constructing an exhibition and distribution center in Aruba for Chinese products to Latin America and the Caribbean.

The first Chinese trade exhibition will be held in October of 2006. Kang Mei Group will open two "Aruba Promotion Offices" in China, one in the megalopolis of Beijing and the other in Guangzhou (Kanton). The goal of the offices is to actively recruit at least 100 large Chinese firms to the exhibition in Aruba. The trade exhibition will be attended by businessmen from mainly Latin America and the Caribbean.





On 5-18 “Blogs For Natalee” identity “bleachedblack” wrote:



Please note that Mathews Cremation Services seems to indicate on their website that they have supplied Aruba with at least 1 crematory. Also, I believe that the Valero oil Refinery on the south east coast of aruba has an incinerator.
http://www.matthewscremation.com/industry/international.asp
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Cremation Society of Great Britain
INTERNATIONAL CREMATION STATISTICS 2002
Aruba
Number of crematoria: 1
No further information
SOURCE





On 5-18 the “American Chronicle” reported:



A Lack of Evidence

Dale Netherton
May 18, 2006

What do you do when a crime is committed and there is not a trace of evidence to pursue? You have three choices. You can endlessly search for evidence and if nothing turns up eventually you must turn to the second choice which is to file the case away in the cold case files. Either of these two choices will lead you nowhere if you ‘re looking for evidence in the wrong place.

How do you decide where to look for evidence? You can look where you have already looked or you can look in a new location. Given the size of the earth you would probably like to narrow your search to somewhere more likely than less likely. How do you decide where is more likely? Here you must revisit the known facts of the case and formulate a theory that will give you some possibilities of where to look. Otherwise you will be looking at random over a vast area which limits the possibility you will find anything. This is why a theory must guide you in your search.

For a concrete example let’s revisit the Natalee Holloway case. There has been no evidence of her found to date. There have been searches in all places where there was some indication her body might be found and nothing has turned up. There have been interrogations and arrests and releases and nothing reported that indicates there is a likely location her body will be found.

Searching for a body of someone we don’t have any evidence is dead is a flaw in the investigation strategy. Time spent looking for what at this point is an assumption, narrows the investigation and excludes the question, “ What if she is alive?” At this point in the investigation there is just as much evidence she is alive as that she is dead, yet where have all the searches been conducted and for what.? No one thought they would find a live person in any of the search areas. This show the bias of the dominant theory driving the investigation. Likewise there is a bias that the chief early suspects, especially Joran van der Sloot, were participants in her disappearance to the extent they “knew what happened to her”.

Perhaps they participated and didn’t know what happened to her after she was “delivered”. This option seems to be either ignored or dismissed but it hasn’t been proven to be out of the question.

So if the current theory that Natalee is dead is not coming up with any findings, why isn’t someone pursuing the possibility she is alive? If you watch the interviews and the talking heads all you get is an attitude of resignation that comes from “ no body has been found therefore we can’t proceed”.

Not once has there been anyone that I have seen on TV say,’ Let’s suppose Natalee was kidnapped and may be held a this very moment in a live and captive position”. This statement would lead to a whole series of questions that may be pertinent to finding Natalee. Such as, “ Where could she be?” “ Who would have taken her and for what purpose?” “ Is it possible for someone to take a girl from the island of Aruba without the authorities knowing it?” Or “ Could the authorities have known about it and looked the other way?” None of these questions are being asked nor pursued and the viewing pubic should be asking why they aren’t.

I have contacted several networks asking about this approach and I have received no response. These are news organizations that would rush in thousands of cameras and reporters to look at a dead body but won’t consider that might not be the story at all.
Why is their mind set so rigid? They know they are finding nothing new. They know this case is fading from the public view because of a lack of leads, Yet they will not consider what might create new leads. This is a free press that is supposed to be searching for the truth and reporting it but instead it is more interested is clinging to a theory that is going nowhere. What kind of a mindset clings to the hope of finding a dead body for a story instead of exploring the possibility that the person is living and could be rescued? How many times has it occurred that someone given up for dead is later found alive and has lived in captivity? This is not an unknown happenstance yet in the Natalee Holloway case it is evidently taboo.

For those readers out there who would like to see the media consider a positive approach that could lead to a happy ending I urge you to do your part and make it known to your friends and the media you subscribe to that this story is not being fully considered. It is floundering in false unproven assumptions and there are many possible suspects that are being ignored. When a large reward is posted, as one has been and no one has responded this tells you something is fundamentally wrong in the investigation. Either there is no one who knows anything ( which is highly unlikely ) or they are under threat if they talk.

This needs to be ferreted out. The media thrives on giving attention to others mistakes and incompetence. Like the government self examination is not something they do with any regularity. It would be a good time to give them a wake up call and ask them what they are afraid of and why they are reluctant to investigate rather than just sit around waiting for a phone call. There is a comparison used in the selling trade between a salesperson and an order taker.

This is analogous to having a reporter that waits for the news and one who searches out all the possibilities. One asks where could evidence be found and the other sits and bemoans a “ lack of evidence”. If you had been kidnapped, which one would you rather was covering your disappearance?





On 5-18 ARUBAAN's news-source "Diario" reported:



Search on the seas

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Searches continued on Wednesday on the seas, to try and locate Natalee Holloway. American press dedicated attention to this, and even lawyer John Q. Kelly indicated that he spoke Tuesday for about half an hour on the phone with Prosecutor Janssen, on the progress of the investigation. Beth Twitty indicated that Tim Miller is on his way back to Aruba to help in the search.





On 5-18 the “National Enquirer” reported:



NATALEE KILLED AFTER PASSER-BY WITNESSED RAPE

Three men were interrupted by a passer-by as they took turns raping Natalee Holloway — and that sealed the fate of the missing Alabama teen, her father believes.

Joran van der Sloot and his pals Deepak and Satish Kalpoe murdered her to prevent her from pressing charges against them, says Dave Holloway in a new book.

And later, when the passer-by witness came forward, he was shuffled off the island before he could give evidence against the trio, Holloway charges in Aruba: The Tragic Untold Story of Natalee Holloway and Corruption in Paradise.

It's a sensational picture of Natalee's final minutes that will bring new pressure on the Aruban authorities to solve the case, sources believe.

The mystery witness — as The ENQUIRER revealed exclusively in our April 10 issue — is 27-year-old Carlos Alberto Penata, a gardener for a wealthy Aruban businessman.

Pick up this week's issue of The ENQUIRER to read the rest of this story!





On 5-18 ARUBAAN's news-source "Diario" reported:



A big group is heading to Aruba relating to the Natalee case

The first year of her disappearance will be remembered

ORANJESTAD (AAN:) New information that DIARIO received shows that before the end of May, 'something big' will happen in Aruba, relating to the disapearance of the American youngster Natalee Holloway. In the U.S. there is already a big group of American press that is ready to come with Beth Twitty where there will be different activities.

It could be seen that these people were very quiet in these times and that means that they will come with everything there is to remember the first year of the disappearance of Natalee.

We can be sure that they're going to move heaven and earth to revive this entire case.
There is a high rise hotel that already has reservation awaiting this group that will arrive before the end of the month so that ceremonies can take place in the United States.





5-19-06

On 5-19 ARUBAAN's news-source "Amigoe.com" reported:



Minister Briesen of Tourism negligent

ARUBA – The Lack of recent figures on the tourism has big consequences for the economic development of Aruba. Without these figures the development can no longer be observed. AVP-parliamentarian Andy Lee accuses the Tourism-minister Edison Briesen (MEP) of negligence. The most recent tourism figures are from December 2005.

Aruba’s economy depends mostly on tourism. The amount of visitors to the island and the amount of money that is being spent is of relevance to the country. Based on these figures and the comparison of new and older figures determines the achieved return. This is how a development in the tourism, and thus in the economy is ascertained. For years the tourism figures became available real fast; most of the time 15 days after the end of the preceding month. These figures gave a clear picture of the tourism in Aruba and if necessary, fast and adequate actions could be taken. Lee says that in the past two years, the figures were received later and later and currently there are no figures at all. Since August and September of 2004, the monthly reports of respectively the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) and the Central Bank of Aruba (CBA) do not include tourism figures. The lack of tourism figures has consequences for other figures that are important for the economy. We don’t know how much money was spent by the tourists and if this is more or less than the preceding years. We don’t know the status of the economy. Lee is of the opinion that due to this, it will not be possible to make structural plans and find solutions for pressure points.

He says that Briesen is taking unnecessary risks for the development of Aruba. Lee proposed that Briesen comes with a good information system, so that the development of the tourism can be monitored efficiently and effectively. This way we can react fast in order to remain in a positive competitive position.





On 5-19 the “Aruba Dirty Police” blog reported:



Janssen and Jacobs: Company Men

In October of 2005, Dave Holloway met with chief Dompig in a parking lot in Oranjestad. The purpose of the meeting was to request that Dompig conduct a thorough interrogation of Koen Gottenbos. Dave Holloway told Dompig that he believed Koen was ready to crack.

Koen's name first surfaced in June when Beth Twitty was shown some of the suspect statements by the Prosecutor, Janssen, and in those statements Joran had made reference to Koen's father's boat. The same month Dave Holloway was told by one of Joran's classmates that they used Koen's father's boat to get rid of the body.

Koen Gottenbos lied to the Police and the Gottenbos'have moved off Aruba. The assistant Prosecutor resigned over Janssen's refusal to question Koen. Only the father came in to speak for him.

Dave Hollowy requested they bring Koen in for questioning and that someone other than Dennis Jacobs conduct the interview. Dompig told Dave Holloway he would have to consult with Jacobs.

Later that evening Dave kept getting urgent phone messages from Dennis Jacobs. Dave was unable to answer his phone because he was searching a swamp but was aware of the calls. Dennis Jacobs even called Dave's office in Mississippi and told them it was urgent that he speak with Dave.

When Dave finally answered Jacobs calls he was frantic, almost panicked, wondering why Dave had met with chief Dompig? Jacobs told Dave that he should not meet with Dompig without first consulting with him. Dave felt Jacobs was concerned that Dave would relay some info or evidence to Dompig without him being able to control it.

Insane and unprofessional?

Dennis Jacobs, the man who Dave first approached and was asked "how much money do you have?". Dennis Jacobs, a career narcotics officer ILLEGALLY appointed as lead Investigator without experience in missing persons by Jan van der Straten. His appointment created hard feelings within the Police department.

He is one of the only constant figures in the entire investigation, the man responsible for EVIDENCE.

Dennis Jacobs interviewed the suspects on May 31st, 2005 and he admitted that there were inconsistencies in their statements, however, he didn't think it was necessary to re-interview them for days after they lied about dropping Natalee off at the "Holiday Inn." If Beth hadn't told him that she reviewed the video camera film at the "Holiday Inn" and Natalee was not on it being dropped off by the suspects as they insisted he may not have re-interviewed them at all. But he already knew that Joran and the Kalpoe's had lied about dropping Natalee off.

Dennis Jacobs, the career narcotics agent, was instrumental in orchestrating the arrest of the security guards along with the Prosecutor Karin Janssen. They did this after knowing full well that the 3 had lied about dropping Natalee off.

Booty, the beach bum drug dealer was the one who swears he saw them going in and out of Natalee's room and the reason Janssen stated they "have more than circumstantial evidence" to hold them on kidnapping and murder charges.

Now we are supposed to believe Janssen had "more than circumstantial evidence" against the security guards but not more than circumstantial evidence against Joran van der sloot?

Art Wood found a belt similar to the one Joran is holding in a photo in a spot searched by Fred Golba. At one point the search dog began digging in the sand in the exact spot and dug up pieces of plastic that Fred Golba wanted to record and enter into evidence. Dennis Jacobs threw them into the wind saying "they were of no value."

In October, Dennis Jacobs took a statement from Dave Holloway regarding the meeting that Dave had with Paul van der sloot in August. Jacobs questioning lasted 3 hours and when Dave saw an english translation prepared by Jacobs it was reduced to one page. Three hours of questioning and it failed to even relate to the subject that they covered. Instead, it made refernece to Beth and Jug and the Natalee Holloway fund. The statement was witnessed by another Police Officer who was not even present during the testimony.

Insane and unprofessional?

Later that month, a young dispatcher in the Police department informed Dave that Jan van der straaten was a frequent visitor to the office. To meet with Dennis Jacobs.

After one year, there appears to be no evidence and yet Jacobs and Janssen are still in place.

It was called a murder when the guards were arrested, why? You have the Prosecutor calling it a homicide, Dompig says it was an overdose and van der straaten called it murder. How? On what evidence can they make these statements yet cannot connect them to a suspect?

Insane and unprofessional?

What type of prosecutor would take a job 7here there is supposedly very little crime? Can it be possible that Dompig and Jacobs were simply at odds over procedure but both had the same goals? Or is it more likely that one was trying to sabatoge the investigation?

With Dompig having stated "the 3 are guilty as hell" and confirming Natalee's death then being forced to retract it, does it not appear that Dompig was trying to tell us something?

And now he's gone, and not Jacobs or Janssen.

Karin Janssen could not get DNA from the 3 suspects? A procedural mistake? This alone is highly suspicious. How is it possible that Joran van der sloot could be held for 3 months and yet Janssen failed to get DNA from him and the Kalpoe's whom she arrested twice?

Insane and unprofessional?

And if you have Paul van der sloot arrested and Joran as the main suspect, how is it possible you cannot get a search warrant for these suspects property? The incompetence is so great that you have to wonder if that is the plan.

"We have ways of dealing with these things." Nelson Oduber

Karin Janssen, by normal standards has appeared to be so completely incompetent that it has to be considered just what exactly is the role of a prosecutor in a place that claims to have little crime yet is world reknown for drug trafficking? Does anyone think Jacobs and Janssen are where they are to eliminate the drug trade from Aruba?

Her consciousness of guilt manifested in her inability to communicate with Natalee's family, her 2 week vacation prior to the suspects release, her inability to secure DNA from the suspects or convince a judge to issue a search warrant for suspects she arrested, and her failure to prevent Paul and Joran van der sloot from being compensated, and she is still even has a job?

Or is she doing exactly what she is supposed to?

Is it a coincidence that an Aruban court that we were continually told has laws we don't understand seems to be waiting for the outcome of civil trial in the U.S. to decide on the amount of Paulus's compensation? How are they related? It seems to be a make it up as you go legal system.

And is it a coincidence that Joe Tacopina claims to have re-read thousands of documents and suddenly at the very same time we have a flurry of new arrests that went nowhere?

Just what is she doing? Promising fireworks and writing the U.S. Justice department asking if Beth is related to Hitler.

You can only surmise that Karin Janssen is part of a cover-up to sabatoge this case. Dompig has intimated that he was only doing what he was told by superiors. I believe him. I believe he thought he would be the chief of Police and was trying to broker a de facto plea bargain whereby he would confirm Natalee is dead without finding fault for Dutch Nationals the van der sloots.

But on whose order? It can only be Nelson Oduber.

Karin Janssen came to Aruba for a reason, and it was not to clean up crime. By any standard she has failed Natalee completely, yet probably succeeded in carrying out the wishes of her superiors.

3 women had come forward before Natalee arrived in Aruba claiming they were raped by Joran van der sloot. 2 of them have been paid for their silence. This comes right from Police reports. A third was handled by a child advocate. The security guards have also been silenced. Not even one interview? Nothing. They were scapegoats, now rewarded for their inconvenience and convenience to a cover-up.

The question remains, how do they know Natalee is dead? Is it the blood in Deepak's car? The Joran confession that "something bad happened." Or the Chicago videos where on the day Natalee was confirmed dead, there appears to be a coroner's van and the VCB working in large numbers around an obvious crime scene?

Those videos are begging an explanaition. The first was they were preparing to put up a sign. But when asked why a coroner's van, the VCB and men in suits were needed for placing a sign 50 yards away, that answer was retracted.

Now a new reasoning will be brought forth, they actually did find something, but I can only guess that we will hear another familiar phrase.

"It is of no value."

That sums up the sadistic and barbaric nature of these people in Aruba and their feelings about Natalee. The depth of anti-American feelings used as a reason to defend a sociopathic liar, like Joran van der sloot. Still the last know person to be with Natalee.

Can a case close when Joran first said he dropped her at the hotel, then the beach and Deepak picked him up, then the beach and Satish picked him up?

Finally, from Tamikosmom, these "theories" are based on what? Why is it so difficult for them to name names?

How anyone can not see what this type of speculation does to the family of Natalee is obscene. To be able to put out these "theories" while the people they are theorizing about are walking free is sadistic and cruel and will not be forgotten.

Janssen and Jacobs will also be held accountable and deserve to be subject to the very same treatment they have dished out.

Karin Janssen and Dennis Jacobs, you are cowardly men and will receive no mercy when your day of reckoning comes. You have fooled some people but not all.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,159252,00.html
June 11, 2005

David Cruz, a spokesman for the Aruban Minister of Justice (search) told FOX News Natalee Holloway (search), who was on vacation with friends with a graduation trip when she disappeared, was confirmed dead and that authorities knew the location of her body. However, Cruz later retracted the statement, saying he was a victim of a "misinformation campaign."


Gerold Dompig, Deputy Police commissioner

http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/...icles/79383.php
June 12, 2005

Deputy Police commissioner, Gerold Dompig, told The Associated Press that one of three young men arrested in the case admitted “something bad happened” to Holloway and was leading Police to the scene. Prosecutors refused to comment on Dompig's statement, and Dompig Himself refused to identify which of the three young men who took Holloway to the Northern beach the night she went missing made the statement.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006...644_page3.shtml

Dompig says he believes Paulus van der Sloot does know more than he has been telling about the circumstances surrounding Holloway's disappearance.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/22/48hours/main1430644_page4.shtml

The Aruban authorities’ new theory is that someone, someone possibly very close to the young suspects, took the time to carefully hide the body, not once but maybe twice, literally re-burying her.

Took the time to carefully hide the body? Who gave them time to do this?

Karin Janssen and Dennis Jacobs of course.
Maggie Says:
May 18th, 2006 at 9:36 pm
This is from Nova where Paulus says he is a replacement judge and step down when Joran became a suspect, so maybe that is what Joe T was talking about. What I don’t understand is how he can be a replacement judge, if he didn’t pass being a judge-in-training?????? If there was a video of Natalee in HI with Frances.. the prosecutor would be on that story and John Q. Kelly would know about it.
Reporter: Which function do you have here at the island? Because many stories go around about that. What is your function?
PvdS: I am a replacing member of the joint court of justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba [plaatsvervangend lid van het gemeenschappelijk hof van justitie van de nederlandse antillen en Aruba] and I am appointed for a period of three years, from January the first, 2003, until January the first, 2006.
Reporter: So, you are replacement judge?
PvdS: Yes.
Reporter: Do you know the people very well, for example, the people here from the public prosecutors’ office that ordered your detention?
PvdS: Yes, for sure, because, before that, I have worked for eight years as chief of the cabinet of the prosecutor general [kabinetschef van de procureur generaal].
Reporter: So, you also know the current prosecutor general?
PvdS: Yes.
Reporter: Mrs. Croes.
PvdS: Yes.
Reporter: Yes, and what does that mean when your colleagues stop by to arrest you?
PvdS: That gives a feeling of absurdity. It is indeed almost unimaginable that by someone you actually know very well, where you worked together with for a long time, that one comes to tell you that you are suspected of complicity to murder.
Reporter: Who was that in your case?
PvdS: That was, in this case, that was the leader of the team of Police commissioners.
Reporter: Jan van der Straten.
PvdS: That was Jan van der Straten, yes.
Reporter: And you know each other very well?
PvdS: Yes.





5-20-06

On 5-20 “AweMainta.com” reported that someone from ARUBA who had left ARUBA and gone to HOLLAND recently has been arrested in HOLLAND in relation to NATALEE’s disappearance.
(online translator literal translation of “AweMainta.com” article)

for of yesterday morning early, we owing to being informa cu at the netherlands one detencion owing to being haci on one young dutch, ken de was bibu at aruba, relaciona cu his envolvimento in the caso of desaparicion de natalee holloway.

at once awemainta did take contacto cu his coresponsal at the netherlands, for averigua one que another, but debi at miss of datos of the person, is haci the work some dificil.

at aruba, of we near, we did take contacto cu ministerio publico, but because; the vocero, mariane croes is cu vakantie, we owing to being ask for let we questions behind, y cu the fiscal will contesta awemainta, thing not did take lugar till cu yesterday tardi 7 or.

we have name y surname, but because; is deal of one situation much delicado, we is reserva this, till hour cu have confirmacion of such detencion.

of thing awemainta owing to being informa is, cu the young here, kende was go mon plaisir college, tam occasion owing to being see in compania of natalee holloway, y of acuerdo cu some witness, cu owing to being interview, they owing to tell cu during the period of end of half ana happen, the young here owing to come scol cu very rasca y una at his curpa, cu today they're believe cu will is producto of action cu the desparecideo.
(another translation)
Yesterday a young dutch man was detained in Holland in the Natalee Holloway case. Because Mariane Croes was on vacation (off for the weekend?) Aweminta did not get official verification although they did contact a corrrespondent in Holland.

They're not giving his name because of the delicate nature or the family's name OR confirmation of who was detained.

The young man was a student at Mon Plaisir High School. He quit and went to Holland to study. He had bruises & scratches that (Monday) morning at school. He had also been seen in the company of Natalee. He (may be or have) witnessed something. He had been interviewed in (that?) 6 months.


On 5-20 the “AP“ reported:



Report: Dutch Police arrest new suspect in Holloway case

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands Dutch media says Police in the Netherlands have arrested a new suspect in the disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway.

The 18-year-old went missing in Aruba last May during a high school graduation trip to the Dutch Caribbean island with classmates.

The Netherlands' national broadcaster N-O-S says the suspect was arrested in the Netherlands, but it's unclear where and when. The new suspect is said to be of Aruban nationality, and an acquaintance of Joran van der Sloot (YOHR'-uhn VAN'-dur-sloht), another suspect in the case. He's the last person known to have seen Holloway alive.
Authorities have previously arrested eight people in connection with Holloway's disappearance and then released them for lack of evidence.





On 5-20 TITO LACLE stated to FOX News:
(Thank You and Hat Tip to "Heli”)



NOT VERBATIM NOT COMPLETE

KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE, HOST: Tito, fill us in. Do you know about this newest arrest in the Netherlands?

TITO LACLE, REPORTER: First of all, this morning one of the newspapers of Aruba published front page news about possible new detention not in Aruba but in the Netherlands of a Dutch boy, a blond person, filling the description the same as the others arrested. He was arrested early this morning on suspicion of being involved in the case of Natalee Holloway, of being with her. That's what we were told.
Being the weekend it's hard to get information. I got several calls from lawyers of other suspects. Slowly but surely I got the information that it was another arrest this morning. Things are as they were before.

GUILFOYLE: Does this come as a surprise that there is another arrest? You thought there would be two more arrests after GVC. Is this one you were anticipating?

TITO LACLE: No, not a real surprise. We expected more. The two I mentioned were not the ones I talked about before. These were not the ones we were referring to earlier this month.

GUILFOYLE: Do you suspect the two arrests you told us about a few weeks ago will still occur?

TITO LACLE: We do not think so. My sources don't think so anymore. As far as this new arrest, it doesn't surprise me.

GUILFOYLE: I received information that this guy was supposed to graduate from school. He left Aruba and fled and was arrested in the Netherlands.

TITO LACLE: Correct. He was a popular guy in Aruba. He went to school where I went to school; the Mon Plaisir School. He started exams last Wednesday and it should have continued to early June. Before this happened he had word of this and he wanted to go earlier fearing for the situation he got himself into and then this happened this morning in the Netherlands.

GUILFOYLE: I have reports that he spent time with Natalee and was seen the following day with scratches on his body?

TITO LACLE: It was reported that after Natalee disappeared, he showed up at school with bruises and scratches. All this info is coming from witness reports. Again, he was part of a list. I mentioned this name to several lawyers. Some of them recognized it, others did not know the name. He's part of that famous list that people are going through right now and processing.

GUILFOYLE: Any idea whether he knows Joran van der Sloot and the Kalpoe's, or other people arrested prior to this date?

TITO LACLE: While none of them say they know Joran, they know each other. Michael [ARUBAN Police commissioner GERALD DOMPIG] and Geoffrey van Cromvoirt know the others, but they do not know Joran or Kalpoes. That group knows each other. They've been hanging out...

GUILFOYLE: This is very important information. Beth w)ll want to hear and Beth joins us from Birmingham.

BETH HOLLOWAY-TWITTY, NATALEE’S MOTHER: Absolutely Kimberley, it surprises me. Really I thought after the last suspect GVC, things would quiet down. I really didn't have any thoughts or info coming from anyone about arrests. This one definitely surprised me.

GUILFOYLE: Could this be something substantive? We're getting reports he had bruises and scratches on his body.

BETH: We're encouraged. Gosh, Kimberley, after the last one, the last suspect, it came and went so quickly. It dashed our hopes, but here we go again.

GUILFOYLE: It's coming up on the anniversary of the disappearance of Natalee. How difficult is it for you?

BETH: It's no more difficult than every day is. We live each day without Natalee. You know marking the anniversary, it's no worse. Every day we just have to endure.

GUILFOYLE: You mentioned the other night it's not the sadness for you as much as the anger and outrage.

BETH: It is. Honestly when I said that I meant it. The anger does override the sadness. I see what Natalee has missed, is missing, and will always miss. It angers me that we've worked so hard to get justice for her, and, gosh, it's like we're not further along than when we arrived on the island. We've worked so hard to get a resolution.

GUILFOYLE: With Mothers' Day just past, I'll tell you what, she's lucky to have had a wonderful mother like you. Continued success with this investigation.
Now joining me on the phone is David Koch, attorney for the Kalpoe brothers. Again, breaking news out of Aruba. Is this a surprise to you? You represent two of the primary suspects.

DAVID KOCH, LAWYER FOR CURRENT SUSPECT DEEPAK KALPOE AND CURRENT SUSPECT SATISH KALPOE : You know, I don't know. I was thinking that it's going to be one year since the disappearance of Miss Holloway. I thought either something is going to happen or the DA will shut it down. I don't know what to think.

GUILFOYLE: We had report from Tito Lacle about this individual scratches on him. What do you know about him?

KOCH: Yes, those have been the rumours today. This happened once again on the weekend, like it often happens. We really won't know before Monday. We won't get details before Monday.

GUILFOYLE: Take us through the law; will he be held in Holland?

David: Yes, we are part of the Kingdom. There is very good co-operation. He will be detained there. If the Judge finds that he should be detained, he could be transferred to Aruba. That will happen.

GUILFOYLE: We're you contacted by the prosecutor in advance of this arrest?

David: We were not. We'll be eager to hear on Monday if this is a prime suspect or suspect who will play any kind of important role, or, if it's just somebody they wanted to interview.





On 5-20 “Blogs For Natalee” identity “FloridaDoug” reported:



Book Report -- “The Natalee Holloway Case” by Isaac Chin

Some of my General Comments --

…

In the chapter called "My Scenario" -- Isaac Chin gives his opinion of what happened to Natalee. In brief his scenario has the beach near the fisherman's huts as the crime scene where JVDS rapes and kills Natalee -- accidentally strangling her in the process of silencing her screams. JVDS calls his father, and Natalee's body is disposed of in Boca Mahos where sharks devour the body. Isaac Chin says he has driven the route to Boca Mahos and there is no chance of being seen driving a vehicle to or from Boca Mahos or being seen disposing of a body. The disserted landscape around Boca Mahos and the fact that a vehicle can be driven right up to the cliff edge, makes Boca Mahos an excellent choice for body disposal in Chin's view. According to Chin, Boca Mahos was not searched by divers until 41 days into the case -- too late.





5-21-06

On 5-21 FOX News reported:



New Arrest in Natalee Holloway Case

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Dutch Police have detained a man on suspicion of participating in the kidnapping and killing of Natalee Holloway last year in Aruba, the suspect's lawyer said Sunday.

Gerard Sponge said his client, whose name was not disclosed, was suspected of "assisting in the murder" of the Alabama high school senior.

The charge is the most severe "in our criminal code," Sponge said on the Netherlands national television broadcaster, NOS.

Holloway was 18 when she went missing in May 2005 during a graduation trip to the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba with classmates. She was last seen leaving a bar with three young men on May 30.

Dutch marines, the Aruban Coast Guard, the F.B.I. and hundreds of volunteers have all searched the island and coastal areas of Aruba for Holloway, to no avail.

The suspect was arrested Wednesday and is being questioned in the city of Utrecht, Sponge said. The suspect has not been formally charged. The questioning was to continue Monday, he said.

Sponge said he planned to file a suit Monday to prevent his client from being extradited to Aruba.

Karin Janise, a prosecutor in Aruba's public prosecutor's office, declined to comment on the arrest.

Authorities have previously arrested eight people in connection with Holloway's disappearance and then released them for lack of evidence.

Sponge said the suspect is a friend of Joran van der Sloot — the last person known to have seen Holloway alive. van der Sloot says he left Holloway alone on a beach after the pair kissed.

The suspect was questioned three times in Aruba shortly after Holloway's disappearance and twice later by Dutch authorities, Sponge said.

Utrecht Police spokeswoman Danielle Freedman said Dutch officials will not comment on the investigation, which is being carried out under the authority of Aruban prosecutors.

Holloway's parents are attempting to sue van der Sloot, 18, in a New York court. Their suit alleges he imprisoned and sexually assaulted Holloway, and caused her disappearance.





On 5-21 TITO LACLE reported to FOX News that the person arrested for suspicion of involvement in NATALEE’s disappearance was a current high school student in ARUBA who, even though was scheduled to start his 2004-05 school years final exams in ARUBA, asked his parents to send him to HOLLAND just before his final exams started. The arrest was reported by the UTRECHT, HOLLAND Police, and occurred in HOLLAND according to DUTCH TV. TITO LACLE reported to FOX News that this persons father sent the suspect to HOLLAND at the start of the 2005 ARUBA government elections campaign.
There are also rumors the person was arrested on 5-17 and his name is GUIDO WEVER, who is possibly the son of the ARUBA Minister BOOSHI WEVER (one of BOOSHI WEVER’s job responsibilities encompasses the same ARUBA government-owned landfill garbage dump that DAVE HOLLOWAY and “Texas EquuSearch” dug into and searched through before someone(s) filled in the large area they had excavated out) Current Murder Suspect GUIDO WEVER is in the custody of the UTRECHT, HOLLAND Police, and is being interrogated. Current Murder Suspect GUIDO WEVER worked as a croupier at the “Holiday Inn’s” “Excelsior Casino” (the same casino NATALEE and her friends had been in). There is a rumor he is a family cousin to lawyer ARLENE ELLIS-SCHIPPER, who is also a member of the “Aruba Strategic Communications Task Force.” Apparently the ARUBAN Police are trying to get him transferred to ARUBA, but his lawyer will try to stop the transfer. Current Murder Suspect GUIDO WEVER is now 19 years old and he left ARUBA in early June 2005, very shortly after NATALEE vanished, and, WEVER left ARUBA despite the fact he had also just received a brand new car. He has not returned to ARUBA since NATALEE vanished. Current Murder Suspect GUIDO WEVER has admitted that he is/was also one of Prime Murder Suspect JORAN VAN DER SLOOT ‘s friends.

On 5-21 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA NBC TV channel 7 reported:



New Murder Suspect Accused Of Helping Kill Holloway

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- Dutch Police are holding a suspect on suspicion of murder in the disappearance of an Alabama teenager.

That word comes from the suspect's lawyer. He said his client is accused of "assisting in the murder, heavy battery and kidnapping of Natalee Holloway."

Holloway disappeared a year ago during a high school graduation trip to the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba. Aruban authorities believe she is dead but her body has never been found.

The lawyer told Dutch television that the suspect is a friend of Joran van der Sloot, the last person known to have seen Holloway alive.





On 5-21 the “Post Chronicle.com” reported:



Gardner Witnessed Natalee Holloway Rape, Then Silenced

A blockbuster report in the National Enquirer says that a gardener for a wealthy Aruban businessman had accidentally interruped the rape of Natalee by three men, but was suppressed and shuffled off the island before he could testify.

According to a new book by Dave Holloway, the Enquirer reports:

"Three men were interrupted by a passer-by as they took turns raping Natalee
Holloway - and that sealed the fate of the missing Alabama teen, her father believes.
Joran van der Sloot and his pals Deepak and Satish Kalpoe murdered her to prevent
her from pressing charges against them, says Dave Holloway in a new book.

And later, when the passer-by witness came forward, he was shuffled off the island
before he could give evidence against the trio, Holloway charges in "Aruba: The
Tragic Untold Story of Natalee Holloway and Corruption in Paradise".

It's a sensational picture of Natalee's final minutes that will bring new pressure on
the Aruban authorities to solve the case, sources believe.

The mystery witness -- as The ENQUIRER revealed exclusively in our April 10 issue
-- is 27-year-old Carlos Alberto Penata, a gardener for a wealthy Aruban
businessman.

Maybe this will be the final piece to solving the puzzle for the Holloway's family and friends. The case has lingered unsolved for a year, and the high school graduate remains missing.





On 5-21 the DUTCH Teletext reported:



The Police in Utrecht on Wednesday made an arrest in the case of the missing Natalee Holloway. It is an Aruban boy who is friends with Joran van der Sloot.

The arrested person has been in a jail cell in Utrecht on the accusation of kidnapping and murder of Natalee Holloway, this information has been given by his lawyer Spong. Spong has started a legal procedure in which he asks a judge to prevent extradition to Aruba.

Van der Sloot is one of the last people who are known to have seen Natalee alive. The new suspect came to the Netherlands in June last year. He has previously been interviewed as a witness in the case.





On 5-21 the DUTCH news-sourced “AD.nl” reported:


New Arrest in Holloway Case

The Police in Utrecht last Wednesday arrested a person in connection with the Holloway case.

This according to NOS teletext. It supposedly is an acquaintance of Joran van der Sloot.

The 18-year-old American schoolgirl disappeared in the night of May 30th last year. She was last seen in the company of three boys while leaving a bar. One of the boys was Joran van der Sloot, the person who has been the main suspect for a very long time. So far the DA's office and Police have found no proof of his involvement.





On 5-21 CNN reported:



Source: Arrest in Holloway case made in the Netherlands

(CNN) -- Dutch Police have arrested an acquaintance of Joran van der Sloot, who was once a focus of the investigation into last year's disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, a source close to the case told CNN.

The arrest was carried out last week in the Netherlands, said the source, who did not have any other details.

Dutch authorities have cooperated with Aruba, a self-governing Dutch protectorate, in the ongoing investigation.

Karin Janssen, the chief prosecutor in Aruba, declined to comment on the arrest.

Under Dutch law, Police can hold a suspect for more than 100 days before filing charges.

The arrest was the eighth in the case. The other people detained, including van der Sloot, have been released.

Holloway, then 18, was last seen leaving a nightclub in Oranjestad, Aruba, on May 30, 2005, with three young men -- Dutch national Joran van der Sloot, the son of an Aruban judge, and Surinamese brothers Deepak, 21, and Satish Kalpoe, 18.

The three men -- who have maintained their innocence -- were arrested the following month, but released after a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to hold them.





5-22-06

On 5-22 “Monsters and Critics.com” identity “Ace F.” wrote:



Tip Emerges in Aruba Over Missing Girl

well what have we learned from our speakers... One thing is for sure, the girl is missing. Another thing is for sure, it is no mystery. Now let's simplify things a bit. Lets say from all the detective shows we have watched, the CSI shows now airing, why oh why have this case not pulled in more clues to where this girl is. We have a local government agency for all intensive purposes let call the the Poorlice of Aurba. The poor part is not a mistake. It is the attitued or lack of that keeps them alive. Why alive you ask, well maybe the boss wants them to look that way. who's the boss? Oh let me think of a person who can set you free. How about a Judge? So lets play poker or tunk. In my hand I have 5 playing cards. Only 5 cards to help me find Natalee. These are the clues they have given me. So I have 3 jokers (boys) one Judge, one police Captain. Now if drug trafficking was being swept under the rug by the local officals, and this protection was coming from people who can set you free. We look at our hand of cards. Can you use anyone in your hand to set a criminal free. why yes we do. could we assume that anytime someone got in trouble, and the bussiness of trafficking was on the brink of discovery; one could use one of the cards in your hand to make things right? sure you could. So back to keeping it simple. The three jokers who have knowledge to Natalee whereabouts are protected by the Judge, who has knowledge about the trafficking because he and the local police help to keep profits alive. Now could drug people also run other things? sure they could, after all thats their bussiness. And if the busissness got in a little trouble could the cops and the judge keep things on an even keel? sure they could. So when cops say they are doing all they can, believe you they are, but they are doing it for themselves. Someone had it right a while back. YOu are going to have to put some real fear into one of the jokers to make him talk, or like the ole days sqeel like a pig. And then you will get the train moving into where Natalee is. As long as people keep saying shes is probably dead, the better the jokers like it. They have been told what to say. And as long as we think she is dead then they know she will never be found. why? because they know she is not dead. They have nothing to fear. Now lets do something about. Lets give them something to fear, dig up the dirt under the sand, find out what else is going on in Aruba and you will inadvertanlty find what really happen to Natalee. The cards are in your hand now use them...





On 5-22 the DUTCH news-sourced “AD.nl” reported:



Ex-croupier gearresteerd in zaak-Holloway
Nieuwe arrrestatie in zaak-Holloway

AMSTERDAM - De Utrechtse politie heeft afgelopen woensdag een arrestatie verricht in de Holloway-zaak.

De Utrechtse politie heeft vorige week een voormalige croupier gearresteerd op verdenking van onTVoering van en moord op Natalee Holloway op Aruba. Gerard Spong, advocaat van de verdachte, spant vandaag een kort geding aan om uitlevering aan Aruba te voorkomen.

De verdachte, Guido W., is een Nederlander die op Aruba woonde ten tijde van de vermissing van Holloway. W. is een tennismaatje van Joran van der Sloot en werkte drie maanden als leerling-croupier in het casino van het hotel waar Holloway verbleef. Op 30 mei, toen Holloway pas enkele uren vermist was, moest W. ook werken. “Hij zag er raar uit,” herinnert een medewerker van het Arubaanse casino zich. “Hij kwam zorgelijk binnen.”

W. werkte nog enkele dagen in het casino, maar hield er eerder mee op dangepland. Hij vertrok in juni naar Nederland om te studeren. Na Holloway's verdwijning is W. enkele keren, in Aruba en in Nederland, gehoord als getuige.

Holloway kwam tijdens haar korte vakantie op Aruba regelmatig in het casino. Ook op de laatste avond dat ze levend is gezien, was ze daar. Ze ontmoette toen van der Sloot, een van de drie mannen die als laatste met haar is gezien.

Van der Sloot wordt nog altijd verdacht van betrokkenheid bij Holloway's verdwijning, maar is wegens gebrek aan bewijs op vrije voeten. De arrestatie van Guido W. vond plaats op verzoek van het Openbaar Ministerie (OM) in Aruba. De verdachte zit vast in Utrecht. Geruchten dat er op Aruba afgelopen week een tweede verdachte is aangehouden, zijn niet bevestigd.





On 5-22 FOX News GRETA VAN SUSTEREN reported in her “Gretawire” blog:



I had hoped the weekend would be quiet since we were on the road, minus sleep, crisscrossing the country since last Sunday morning. Rest was needed. As luck would have it, we got word early Saturday of a new arrest in the Holloway case. We were told that it would probably not be of great significance — an arrest like GVC — but we had to dig deep into it to find out who, why and where. We could not simply ignore it. We did learn the arrest was in Holland on Wednesday of a man who was a dealer at the casino in the "Holiday Inn" where Natalee stayed and where she met Joran. He was questioned last summer. I am sure we will talk more about it tonight on the show.

As we made millions of calls to sources about the arrest in Holland, we were told there may have been another arrest on Saturday in Aruba. I have not confirmed this second arrest, but will be back working sources today. (It may be confirmed by others as today progresses.) So… stay tuned.





On 5-22 “People Magazine” via Internet service provider "America Online" reported:



New Arrest in Natalee Holloway Case

MONDAY MAY 22, 2006 08:55AM EST
By Stephen M. Silverman

Dutch police have arrested a new suspect in the year-old case of the Aruba
disappearance of American teen Natalee Holloway.

The new suspect, who has not been named, has not been formally charged. His lawyer,
Gerard Spong, said he would fight extradition to Aruba, ABC News reports.

"My client is indicted of murder and manslaughter," said Spong. "He has never met
(Holloway). He claims that he has never seen her and he claims that he is completely
innocent."

According to ABC News, the suspect was working in an Aruba casino when Holloway, an
18-year-old Alabama native, vanished in May 2005. The suspect claims he does not
know another suspect, Joran van der Sloot, who has admitted he kissed Holloway the
night she disappeared.

But van der Sloot's lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, said, "Joran knew this individual casually,
both from the tennis club and from seeing him out and about … and certainly hasn't
spoken to him in the last six months or so."

Holloway's mother, Beth Twitty, said she and her family are trying not to be overly
optimistic: "With each arrest and question and release, we have been totally just been
devastated numerous times during the investigation, so we really have to just stop, take
a minute and see what happens."

Authorities have arrested eight suspects in the case, including Aruba teen Geoffrey van
Cromvoirt last month, and released all of them for lack of evidence.





On 5-22 ARUBAAN's news-source "Amigoe.com" reported:



With the exception of food, everything more expensive

ARUBA – The draft budget for Finance shows that the government is planning to considerably increase the import tax on almost all products. Opposition leader Mike Eman (AVP) indicated that from a letter to the governor dated May 10th he gathered that a ‘national ordinance adjustment import taxation’ will be proclaimed. “With the exception of food, everything becomes more expensive.”

The increase will apply to almost all products in chapter 22 up till 99 of the tariff book. Products that currently have an import tax levy of 0 to 3 percent will increase to 6 percent; those with 6 to 8 percent import tax, will increase to 12 percent.

It’s about a great variation of products, like clothing, chocolate milk, beer, paint, soap, filler, cosmetic articles, glue, insecticides, household articles, watches, jewelry, belts, shoes, hats, caps, bed sheets, blankets, tents, porcelain, ceramic, glass, paper, magazines, newspapers, cd’s, sewing articles, fishing nets, appliances, and many more. “The mid-class population is the money spinner of the government”, said Eman. “The ‘category poor’ group of people will get bigger. The mid-class that is now being squeezed will get smaller. With time, what is going to be left is a big group of poor people, a relatively small group of mid-class people and a small group of rich people.” He says that the least well-off would not be able to pay the bills, because they won’t have the money or will no longer be able to buy much of these products. In the elucidation on the national decision, minister Nilo Swaen (MEP) of Finance and Economic Affairs indicated, “with regard to the financial consequences of this national decision he anticipates that the marginal return will be about 30 million florins”.

Eman is indignant about the fact that the government expects to knock up 30 million florins from our citizens in six-month time! Especially the mid-class has already been hit with the increase of the AZV-premium, the increase of the threshold for AOV contributions, the maximizing of the interest deductibles on personal loans, and the modifications in the ‘fringe-benefits’-regulations. “These new increases will make the buying power of the mid-class population drop even more and will put them in a position of having to change their pattern of spending, because this will no longer be feasible.”
He is of the opinion that the population can no longer fill the hole in this government’s pocket. The AVP will call an emergency meeting this week to discuss the steps to take. The AVP had requested a Parliamentary meeting with the social partners and government advisory bodies to discuss these measures, but the Chairman of Parliament had never called this meeting. The chair opened and adjourned the public parliament meeting that the AVP had requested after this denial. The AVP has also appealed to the Governor to check the principles of proper governing, as the Advisory Council gave negative advice on namely the procedure that followed the creation of this national decision adjustment import tax.





On 5-22 LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS “Fox” TV channel 16 reported:



Natalee Holloway's mother talks about safety

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Just eight days before the first anniversary of the day her daughter Natalee went missing, Beth Holloway-Twitty stood before parents and students at Carlisle High School asking them to think about safety during international travel. She says she doesn't want any family to have to live through what she and her family have had to endure for the past year.

Beth says when Natalee went missing on May 30, 2005 on the island of Aruba her entire life changed. She quickly learned two things, one that dealing with foreign law is no easy task and that traveling abroad isn't as safe as she'd thought. Now Beth is using her experiences and the Safe Travels campaign to get the word out to parents and students.

"Just giving them a heightened sense of personal safety awareness and showing that also when you're traveling abroad that it's time to keep your guard up. I think Natalee's message shows some challenges they will face," said Beth.

Beth also advises parents to activate their child's international calling so that they'll have cell phone usage. She suggests they do research on a country's infrastructure, in other words, know the lay of the land and talk to them about the basic safety rules you gave them as young children.

"I think it can never be told too many times, I think what we try to do is present it in a different way."

Beth's message is really hitting home for Kyle Moery. His son is already on a senior class trip and his two daughters will be heading to Cancun this summer. He says you can bet they'll have more conversations about safety. "You just have to do everyth)ng you can to prepare your children to do the right thing. My son's in Florida on a senior class trip. It's scary knowing he's down there."

Mary Catherine Moery says she's been looking forward to her trip for awhile now, but having listened to Beth, safety is foremost on her mind. "Safety is important and this program makes me realize it could happen to anyone, it could happen to me. I’m gonna be very careful."

Beth will continue her Safe Travels campaign Tuesday at 10 am at England High School and wrap up at 1 pm at Cabot High School.





On 5-22 the LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS ABC TV channel 7 reported:



Natalee Holloway's Mother Speaks at Local High Schools

Lonoke - Monday, some Arkansas students heard first-hand about the disappearance of Natalee Holloway...from her mother.

Beth Holloway-Twitty spoke to students Monday afternoon at Lonoke and Carlisle High Schools. The visit comes just after another arrest is made in the disappearance of her daughter. Twitty says regardless of the arrest, she must keep her feet grounded until officials know more.

Escorted by the Lonoke County Sheriff, Beth Holloway-Twitty arrived in Little Rock Monday morning. After speaking with students at Lonoke High School, she spoke with members of the media about the arrest of Guido Wever, an Aruban national.

(Beth Holloway-Twitty) "We are hopefully, guardedly optimistic, but it’s encouraging. An arrest is better than no arrest, so hopefully it'll bring about something, but we'll have to just wait and see."

Police say Wever is suspected of participating in the kidnapping and murder of Natalee Holloway. According to Twitty, the suspect worked as a dealer at the casino on the island of Aruba. Reportedly, he knew Joran van der Sloot, who is the last person to see Natalee alive.

(Gerard Spong, Murder Suspect’s Lawyer) "My client, Guido, is indicted of murder and manslaughter, and it is a serious indictment, of course. He was a witness in June last year after Natalee disappeared."

Twitty says as they close in on the year anniversary of Natalee's disappearance, every day is difficult.

(Twitty) "I'm not going to mark it. Every day is marked with pain and no answers."

Twitty is traveling around the country, talking to high school students about the importance of taking safety precautions when traveling out of the country. She has started the International Safe Travels Foundation, to spread the message. To learn more by visiting the foundation’s Web site, click here.





On 5-22 ARUBAAN's news-source "Amigoe.com" reported:



Extradition new Holloway-suspect is still not certain

ARUBA – Guido, the Aruban young man that was arrested in Utrecht last week as suspect in the Holloway case, is trying to avoid an extradition to Aruba. His lawyer, the well-known Dutch criminal lawyer Gerard Spong has instituted a lawsuit against the Dutch State. The case is down for hearing in The Hague this coming Tuesday. According to Spong, his client is suspected of accessory to murder, grievous bodily harm, and deprivation of freedom of Natalee Holloway.

The NOS Journaal that announced the arrest yesterday evening said that the person’s name is Guido. Other media also mentioned his last name, but this could not be confirmed. GeenStijl.nl reports that the name of another young man, whose father has a fast boat, is also going around on a few American sites. Supposedly, this young man came to school with scratches on his face at the end of May last years. He was also in a hurry to go to the Netherlands. A student with the name ‘Guido’ was arrested in Utrecht last week upon request of the Aruban justice. The new suspect is a friend of the main suspect Joran van der Sloot. He was croupier in Hotel "Holiday Inn," where Holloway stayed a year ago. He was interrogated as a witness earlier in the investigation. He is the 10th person arrested in the Holloway-case.

The parents of the new suspect, who are divorced, gave a press release via Spong’s office last Monday. They did this in English. They expressed their horror at the arrest of their son as suspect. “For us, this was like a bolt from the blue, but we are all innocent till proven guilty. That applies also to our son.” The release had also a warning for especially the American media that in the past had thrown themselves as lions on the case. They told the media that they would take them to court if they go too far. They will not talk to the media.





On 5-22 the ARUBAAN's news-source “Caribbean Net News" reported:



New arrest in Holloway case in Aruba

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands (AFP): Police have made a new arrest in the case of the disappearance of a United States teenager in the Caribbean island of Aruba last year, the public NOS radio 1 reported on Sunday.

It said the suspect, whose identity was not released, was from Aruba and friends with Joran van der Sloot, a Dutch youth who has also been questioned in the case.

Natalee Holloway, an 18-year-old from Alabama, was last seen early on May 30 last year after a week spent vacationing on the 193-square-kilometer (75-square-mile) Dutch Antilles island with about 100 schoolmates celebrating their high school graduation.

Van der Sloot spent three months in custody on Aruba last year but was finally released because the authorities said there was not enough evidence against him.

Van der Sloot, who subsequently moved to the Netherlands, is generally considered to be one of the last people to have seen Holloway alive. According to the authorities in Aruba he is still a suspect in the case.

The new youngster arrested in the case was set to be moved to Aruba later this week, NOS reported.

Holloway was to have boarded a plane home to the city of Birmingham, Alabama, but never returned to her hotel after a night out at a bar with friends and some of their local acquaintances including van der Sloot.

Police found her packed suitcase, cell phone and passport by the door of her hotel room. No body has been found.

The hunt for the teen and criminal investigation was closely followed in the US media, and caused worries on Aruba that the vital tourist industry on Aruba could be damaged by the bad publicity.

Holloway's family believes Aruban authorities botched the investigation and have insisted that van der Sloot knows more than he told authorities about her whereabouts. They have filed a lawsuit against van der Sloot holding him responsible for her death and demanding damages.





On 5-22 the ST. MAARTEN “Daily Herald” reported:



Dutch arrest Aruba man in Holloway case

ARUBA--Police in Holland have detained an Aruba man on suspicion of participating in the kidnapping and killing of Natalee Holloway last year on the island, the suspect’s lawyer said Sunday.

Gerard Spong said his client, whose name was not disclosed, was accused of “assisting in the murder, severe battery and kidnapping” of Holloway. He also told Dutch national TV broadcaster NOS that the suspect had been a croupier at the casino in the hotel where Holloway had been staying.

The Mountain Brook, Alabama, girl was 18 when she went missing in May 2005 during a high school graduation trip with classmates to the Dutch Caribbean island. She was last seen leaving a bar with three young men on May 30.

It is not clear when the suspect was arrested, but he was questioned and is being held in the city of Utrecht, Spong said.

Utrecht Police spokeswoman Danielle Friedman said she could not confirm any arrests in the case. “If there was an arrest, it was on the orders of the Aruban prosecutors and all information will be provided through them,” she said.

Spong also told NOS the suspect was a friend of Joran van der Sloot, the last person known to have seen Holloway alive. van der Sloot says he left Holloway alone on a beach after kissing her.

Authorities have arrested at least eight people, including two last month, in connection with Holloway's disappearance, but released them all for lack of evidence.

Holloway's parents are attempting to sue van der Sloot (18) in a New York court, alleging he imprisoned and sexually assaulted their daughter and caused her disappearance.

Dutch marines, the Aruban Coast Guard, the F.B.I. and hundreds of volunteers have searched the island and coastal areas of Aruba for Holloway.





On 5-22 FOX News reported:



Natalee Holloway's Mother 'Guardedly Optimistic' About New Arrest

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — The mother of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway is "guardedly optimistic" about the Dutch arrest last week of a new suspect in connection with their daughter's disappearance.

"An arrest is better than no arrest, so hopefully it will bring about something," said Beth Holloway-Twitty, mentioning how there have been many supects and arrests but few answers.

Guido Wever, an Aruba national, is expected to face charges Tuesday in a Dutch courtroom connection with the disappearance of the high school senior. Wever's lawyer, Gerard Spong was expected to file a suit Monday to prevent his extradition to the Caribbean island on charges of "assisting in the murder, heavy battery and kidnapping" of the teen.

Holloway's father said he was encouraged by the authorities' move.

"Maybe he knows something and maybe something will come out of this," Dave Holloway, Natalee's father, told FOX News.

"The prosecutor made a bold move by arresting this guy...I understand he had some political connections as well as hiring a prominent attorney in Holland."

But that attorney denies the charges against his client.

"He has never met her, he claims that he has never seen her and he claims that he is completely innocent," Spong said.

Wever worked as a croupier at a casino in Aruba and left the island June 1, the day after the teen disappeared, Aruban attorney Ricardo Yarzagaray told FOX News.

Wever was considered a witness last June by Aruban Investigators and was arrested Wednesday in Utrecht, Netherlands, said Spong, an attorney who specializes in deportation cases. Wever has not been formally charged.

Wever's parents, who are believed to still be in Aruba, released a written statement to the Dutch press Monday. "We are appalled at this development," it read. "We cannot believe that he should have anything to do with the case."

Holloway was 18 when she went missing in May 2005 during a graduation trip to the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba with classmates. She was last seen leaving a bar with three young men on May 30.

Dutch marines, the Aruban Coast Guard, the F.B.I. and hundreds of volunteers have all searched the island and coastal areas of Aruba for Holloway, to no avail.

Karin Janise, a prosecutor in Aruba's public prosecutor's office, declined to comment on the arrest.

Jossy Mansur, the managing editor of the Aruban newspaper Diario, said that Wever left the island for the Netherlands soon after Holloway disappeared.

Authorities have previously arrested eight people in connection with Holloway's disappearance and then released them for lack of evidence.

Yarzagaray says Wever is a "good friend" of Joran van der Sloot — the last person known to have seen Holloway alive, though Wever's father denies they knew one another. van der Sloot says he left Holloway alone on a beach after the pair kissed.
"They used to play tennis together at the racquet club," Yarzagaray said Monday.

Wever was questioned three times in Aruba shortly after Holloway's disappearance and twice later by Dutch authorities, Spong said.

Utrecht Police spokeswoman Danielle Freedman said Dutch officials will not comment on the investigation, which is being carried out under the authority of Aruban prosecutors.

Holloway's parents are attempting to sue van der Sloot, 18, in a New York court. Their suit alleges he imprisoned and sexually assaulted Holloway, and caused her disappearance.

When asked about how this new development might affect their civil case in New York, Dave Holloway responded: "We'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out. It looks like the prosecutors have gotten more aggressive in the last several months and you know, as time goes on, the truth will eventually come out, and that's what we're hoping."





On 5-22 HAROLD COPUS stated to FOX News that there is a rumor that Prime Murder Suspect JORAN VAN DER SLOOT is back in ARUBA, and he recently was seen with Current Murder Suspect DEEPAK KALPOE and Current Murder Suspect SATISH KALPOE and all 3 were gambling together in a casino.

On 5-22 lawyer SPONG released the following statement for Current Murder Suspect G. WEVER’s parents:



AMSTERDAM — Parents' Statement

Not only as parents but also as human beings we are appalled that a young girl is missing for a long time. And we sincerely hope and pray despite all odds that she will come back alive.

We think that our country Aruba has made a tremendous effort so far to find her. In Aruba such cases are very very rare, contrary to other countries where such occurs daily. One should only watch the American television and all the television programs on past cases.

As parents, we are now confronted with the fact that our son is being held on the suspicion to have something to do with the case of the missing girl. We are appalled at this development. We cannot believe that he should have anything to do with the case.

This comes out of the blue for us. We are law-abiding people and have raised our son to respect the law and persons. Our son was constantly reminded of how to behave properly and to respect people.

We as parents have had some difficulties, like a divorce, but remained as very good friends. This was not only because of our son, but also because of the kind of people we are.

We do feel for the other families that are somehow connected with the tragedy and as we have said we hope and pray the girl will be found alive.

We now face the fact that our son has been arrested and we hope and pray everything will come out all right for him. In fact, we do not expect otherwise for he is a caring person and very much liked by all others.

Although a broken family, we are a family with good ties and relations. Parents and son have a good relationship and understanding. There exist no authoritarian or terrorized relationship between parents and son.

Nevertheless, justice should be done. However, justice — although legal systems and procedures may differ from country to country — is an international criterion and not the property or patent of any country.

We all pretend to live in a civilized society. Justice should not be carried by ethnocentrism and not be franchised or patented. We are all equal and we all have rights and obligations. We are all innocent until proven guilty. This counts also for our son.

Therefore, we request and urge everyone, especially the media, local and international, to respect us and our son as persons, and also our interests. We have professional legal system and we all should observe the law and human rights.

The media has certain rights to gather information to inform the public but not at the expense of any individual. As we said, we are all equal, no one is more equal than others, although some American media may think otherwise. There is no better breed, no new Aryan race.

We will not tolerate disrespect, any harassment of our son and us, stalking, abuse in anyway, name calling, mud throwing, slander, insults, invasion of our son's and our privacy — we reject any type of sensationalism.

We will not tolerate these things and will not hesitate to act with all legal force, here in Aruba and elsewhere and go after these actors. Our son and we are not to be intimidated in anyway; our good names and reputation wrecked in anyway.

We will not be sacrificed for the sake of news or any type of publicity. We respect freedom of opinion and freedom of the press, but not at our personal expense. Any opinion should have a basis or proof.

We will not be crucified on any television program. If anyone has anything to say it should be with proof; if not, we will act. We will defend our son and ourselves with all our might and resources. If there is anything to say our lawyer will do so. We will not talk to the press.

This is our right and our privilege and we request it be respected. We expect the press not to camp outside our house and terrain, we will not tolerate stalking, trespassing and will act immediately with lawful means.

So we once more request and urge everyone to respect and await developments as civilized people and not sacrifice persons for the sake of sensation and program ratings."




On 5-22 CNNHN reported:



JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, GUEST HOST: Tonight, breaking developments in the Natalee Holloway case. A new suspect is in custody in the Netherlands. It's been almost one year since the Alabama teen went missing in Aruba. Is this arrest finally the big break authorities have been waiting for?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY, NATALEE HOLLOWAY'S MOTHER: They have really had just such a botched investigation from the beginning, and whether that was due to incompetence or corruption or cover-up, I mean, we don't know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Good evening, everybody. I'm Jane Velez-Mitchell, sitting in for Nancy Grace. We want to thank you for being with us. And get ready to ask some questions because we will be taking your calls on this big development.

A casino worker already questioned last year in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway is now considered a suspect. The 19-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder and manslaughter. His attorney says he is innocent. This makes the tenth arrest in the case. Again tonight, we are taking your calls.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My client, you know, is indicted for murder and manslaughter. He was a witness in June last year after Natalee disappeared. He is now a suspect. And the prosecution in Aruba is wanting him very quickly. He never met her. He claims he never seen her, and he claims he's completely innocent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, another suspect under arrest in the Natalee Holloway case. Let's send it straight to investigative reporter Leslie Snadowsky to bring us up to date on this bombshell development -- Leslie.

LESLIE SNADOWSKY, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: Jane, you're right. It's the tenth arrest that's been made. Nineteen-year-old Guido Wever has been indicted on charges of murder and manslaughter and is in custody in the Netherlands. Basically, he's under suspicion of participating in the kidnapping and battery leading to the probable murder of Natalee Holloway

VELEZ-MITCHELL: We are very, very delighted to have with us tonight Natalee's mom, Beth Twitty. Beth, you have been waiting so long. This has been such a roller-coaster ride for you. Do you think this is the significant development you have been praying for?

TWITTY: Well, Jane, what I'm getting from John, the family's attorney, is, you know, just to remain guarded and don't get too caught up in this. And you know, we just don't know. We've been down this road before, Jane, so it's just -- but I'll be honest, it is hard not to get caught up in it.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: So you do get excited, and your adrenaline starts pumping.

TWITTY: Well, of course, I mean, we do. We find -- especially within the first few days, it's really hard to keep your feet on the ground. But you know, he keeps reminding me just, you know, Beth, just -- just hang on. We just don't know, you know, what will result of this.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, when did you hear about this? Do you get the tips on these a little bit earlier than the media?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. In this case, I think it was just coming about so quickly from both sources, from the media and from John, that it was hard to tell. It was -- it just happened so quickly.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: We have a comment now from the attorney of the suspect. The attorney's name is Gerold Spong. The suspect's name is Guido Wever. He proclaims the teen's innocence. Let's listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEROLD SPONG, SUSPECT'S ATTORNEY: My client, Guido, is indicted of murder and manslaughter. And it is a serious indictment, of course. And he is -- the charge has been delivered to him last Wednesday. He never met her. He claims he never seen her. And he claims he is completely innocent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Let's go straight out now to Amsterdam and reporter Coen Springkamp with "De Telegraaf." Now, another bombshell, I understand in this case, late this afternoon, we heard that tomorrow's hearing for the suspect had been canceled. Tell us about this late development.

COEN SPRINGKAMP, "DE TELEGRAAF": Yes. That's correct. I've spoken a few hours ago with Gerold Spong, the defense attorney for Guido. He told me that the evidence the public prosecutor has is not enough to keep him along (ph) in custody, so he will be released within a few hours from now, from jail (INAUDIBLE)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I am completely astounded by this development! What you're telling me is that they arrest this man, they say they want to bring him back to Aruba with these very, very serious charges, and then they sort of say, Wait, never mind, we've got a deal, just stay available, be available for questioning in the Netherlands?

SPRINGKAMP: Yes. As you might know, Guido was arrested the 17th of May by special request of the Aruban public prosecutor. As you have heard, Mr. Spong said that his client denies all the allegations. But Aruban authorities wanted Guido back on the island as soon as possible for further interrogation. And according to his lawyer, Mr. Spong, that was nonsense (ph). It could be done in the Netherlands, as well.

But more important, the evidence they have on his client was very thin, he told me a few hours ago, and therefore, Guido's lawyer requested a hearing to prevent his client being transferred back to Aruba. That hearing (INAUDIBLE) start within a few hours from now, but is canceled. And Mr. Spong was able to convince the Aruban public prosecutor that she had no case at all, that the evidence she had was very thin. So they decided -- they agreed that Guido will be released within a few hours but must be available for interrogation in the Netherlands upon request, but he remains a suspect.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Prosecutor Stacey Honowitz, try to help me understand and our viewers understand what's going on. This doesn't seem to make any sense. There's a big development. They arrest this guy. They've been interrogating him for days in the Netherlands. They announce that he is a suspect on some very serious charges, according to his own attorney, allegedly suspected of assisting a murder, heavy (ph) battery. And then suddenly, well, never mind? It just boggles my mind!

STACEY HONOWITZ, PROSECUTOR: Well, Jane, none of us have the information. We don't know what was discussed between the prosecutor and the defense attorney in this case. The only thing that I can tell you is they arrested him either based on inconsistencies, maybe in some of the statements, because I don't know if most of your viewers know, he's already been interrogated about five times -- I think three times in Aruba, two times over in Holland. Maybe they found some kind of inconsistency.

And as you know, they can arrest, not like here in the United States, where you need probable cause, he really just needs to be -- have something suspicious, suspicious behavior. So we don't know what was worked out between the prosecutor and the defense attorney, unless it was stated that, Right now, we will agree to release him if he agrees to be interrogated, if he doesn't flee, if he doesn't leave. Now, those are pretty tough conditions to keep on somebody, and you really have to be able to trust that person that they will stay around for interrogation, so...

(CROSSTALK)

HONOWITZ: ... we don't know what is really there.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: To me, what I'm confused about is the difference between saying, Hey, come on in, we want to talk to you, we think you know something, and, Hey, we're going to charge you with something, we're going to take you back to Aruba and prosecute you. Those are two wildly different things.

HONOWITZ: Well, of course, it's two different things. And obviously, on May 17, they thought that they had enough to take him under arrest and charge him with these two crimes, manslaughter and murder, and even assisting in helping this murder. Things have changed drastically since then, within the last five or six days. From what the reporter said over in Amsterdam, the defense was able to convince the prosecutor that she had a very thin case.

Now, we weren't present at the hearing. We don't know. If some conditions were placed on him that, We still believe you're a suspect, but we don't need to keep you in custody, we want you to be available for further questioning. Also, we don't know if he said something again when he was this custody this time that's giving them a tip that maybe he has further information and can help them if he's out of custody.

So again, we're all sitting here. We're all -- we don't know what actually happened in this case.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. I gotcha, Stacey.

Let me go to Eric Marrapodi. He is our expert at the NANCY GRACE show on Aruba. Explain what's going on here.

ERIC MARRAPODI, NANCY GRACE PRODUCER: Yes, Jane. What happened here was this young man, Guido W., as he was identified to me by his attorney, was brought into custody there in Holland. And the reason he was brought in -- a source very close to the investigation tells me tonight, the reason he was brought in is there were some inconsistencies in some statements made by Joran and the Kalpoe brothers early on in this investigation, in June.

Now, the other thing Police wanted to know is his whereabouts that night Natalee disappeared. He was working there at the Excelsior casino, which is the casino there in the "Holiday Inn." He got off early. That's a new development we're hearing tonight. Police wanted to know what happened after he got off early.

Now, the next day, in Police statements, multiple sources have told us that Joran and Guido were hanging out, that they were together that day after Natalee Holloway disappeared.

Now, remember, Jane, back in April, there was a new lead Investigator who took over this case. His name is Adolfo Richardson. And what we've seen is we've seen two new arrests since he has taken over. And the pattern with this arrest and release is very similar to the one we saw with Geoffrey van Cromvoirt.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. And you bring up an absolutely important point, is the number of arrests in this case. This would mark arrest number 10. And we even have a graphic for you that can show you all the people who have been brought in and out throughout this process. It's absolutely astounding.

First we had the two security guards who were brought in. They had alibis -- totally innocent. Then we had Joran van der Sloot. He is still a suspect. Then the Kalpoe brothers, of course. Then we had the party boat deejay, who was brought in after the Kalpoe brothers. And after this guy, the party boat deejay, we had Joran's dad, Paulus van der Sloot. And then we had Geoffrey van Cromvoirt who was caught and released, as Nancy wants to put it. Then a mysterious man by the name of "AB." And then we had this final gentleman, who has been brought in and released.

Don Clark, former head of Houston FBI, can you put this in a perspective? Have you ever heard of such a thing?

DON CLARK, FORMER HEAD OF F.B.I. HOUSTON: Jane, it's a very difficult one. And to try to put it in perspective, this is a foreign investigative strategy to me in all of my years. It just does not appear to me that there has been a consistent effort to try to collect their evidence and really get it in a pattern that they could try to trace to who the guilty party might be in this.

And if you just look at this recent arrest -- I look at this recent arrest and add a little technology to it, like key word. And the key word in this arrest that makes me think that it's probably not going to go anyplace is the word "suspicion." Suspicious of being involved in kidnapping and killing tells me that you don't have very much to charge a person with kidnapping and killing.

So I think what they really have to do, it's almost like just scuttle everything, just shuffle it up again and really try to look at the evidence that they've got and see if they can find any real plausible leads and stop using this technique of going out, just grabbing somebody to bring them in and hoping that they'll get some information from them.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And Beth Twitty, you are listening to all of this. What is your reaction to this latest bombshell on top of the other bombshell?

HONOWITZ: Oh, Jane, I mean, I think I'm just at a -- you know, I'm at a loss for words. I mean, you know, this just came by such a surprise, you know, just the arrest, and then, all of a sudden now, you know, he's already -- you know, they're already discussing releasing him tomorrow. And you know, I think it what is so frightening to us is we just hope that maybe they were able to get some information, you know, while they had this suspect in custody.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And of course, we have to say that this young man has simply been arrested. His attorney says he never met Natalee, that he is completely innocent, and certainly, he deserves the presumption of innocence.

In fact, his family has issued a very strong press release warning the media not to stalk, harass, slander or insult their family. And in fact, we have some full screens that we can read you to. "We are equal and we have rights and obligations. We are all innocent until proven guilty. This counts also for our son." It goes on. It`s a very lengthy statement. "We are all equal. No one is more equal than others. Although some American media may think otherwise, there is no better breed, there is no Aryan race. And finally, we will not be crucified on any television program. If anyone has anything to say, it should be with proof. If not, we will act."

Defense attorney Hillah Katz, what is your reaction to this very strong statement?

HILLAH KATZ, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, I think what they're doing is instead of Guido himself coming out and professing his innocence, they're trying to speak for him. So they're allowing the attorney to speak for him, and they're coming out with this family statement. And it speaks volumes because his attorney managed, rather than having the prosecution put up their probable cause hearing tomorrow, too, in fact, get their client released. So he basically asked the prosecution, Put up or shut up. And the press release basically speaks just as strongly as that attorney did, and it seems to have been a tactic that worked.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, we have so much more, we have barely scratched the surface. Stay with us. We'll be back in a second.

To tonight's "Case Alert." A mass shooting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, leaves five family members dead and a sixth person fighting for their life. Twenty-five-year-old Anthony Bell facing multiple first degree murder charges for a shooting spree that began at a church Sunday. Among the victims, Bell's wife, her grandparents, and aunt and a cousin.

Also tonight, a 19-year-old co-ed missing in Nebraska, Jessica O'Grady (ph), last seen more than week ago, her car found in a parking lot near her workplace. Police have searched the home of O'Grady's boyfriend and classify the case as a criminal investigation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I'm Jane Velez-Mitchell, sitting in tonight for Nancy Grace. We're bringing you the latest now on a 19-old-year-old suspect arrested in the Netherlands in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, the teenager's family speaking out, warning he deserves the presumption of innocence.

Straight out to Little Rock, Arkansas, and Natalee's mom, Beth Twitty. We are very pleased to have with us tonight. Beth, isn`t part of the concern the credibility, at this point, of the prosecutors? I mean, Nancy called it the "catch and release" program. They've caught and freed nine other people. One of the last ones, Geoffrey van Cromvoirt, was released with virtually no explanation. And meantime, his name has been plastered all over the world. Do you worry that this is another red herring?

TWITTY: Well, Jane, of course, that is the concern. I mean, when we look at the list of suspects -- I mean, I believe there may even be one that we've missed. I mean, there was a Freddie (ph) (INAUDIBLE) that was arrested in August, and you know, he was discussed also as a person in person of interest in Natalee's disappearance.

And you know, it is frightening, and you know, we just -- although it's hard for me to believe, Jane, that they are not at least collecting evidence to lead them to the possibility of what happened to Natalee. I mean, I just have to feel, with this many suspects involved, and all of them, it seems like, have had either knowledge of her or contact with her, and it's amazing that no one knows anything.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, you know, it's kind of like arrest devaluation. If you make a lot of arrests, the value of them goes down.

We have been saying we're going to take your calls, and we are. Let's go to our first caller. Jamie in Arkansas, your question.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I'd like to know -- obviously, because they obviously don't know what they're doing in Aruba, if maybe Natalee's mother could maybe see the prosecutor or maybe Dompig, instead?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, Beth, do you want to take a try at that call?

TWITTY: Well, Jane, I better leave that in your hands. I think you know our attorney, John Kelly, really well, and I think you would know how he would want me to respond to that. So I'm going to let you do that, OK?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right.

And I want to go out to Jossy Mansur, managing director and editor of "Diario." Jossy, you've been observing all this. What's the reaction in Aruba to all these arrests? I mean, if I were a parent of a teenage young man who was at that casino that night, I might be concerned. Is there concern on the island?

JOSSY MANSUR, MANAGING EDITOR, ARUBAAN's news-source "Diario": Of course, there is. But they're very interested (INAUDIBLE) in this new development because the opinion here in Aruba is that it would lead to something, something solid that would bring a closure to this case. But apparently, they're going to release the man tomorrow. That news has not been publicized (INAUDIBLE) in Aruba yet. But I think that by seeing the program, the people in Aruba are becoming aware that there's another arrest and release within days.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, it's not just frustrating for Beth, it's frustrating for the entire people of Aruba.

Ellen, North Carolina, your question.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, ma'am. These boys sound like the pimp game (ph) to me. But my question is, with Paulus van der Sloot in training to be a judge and trying to get that position back -- and I understand that Guido's father is in political office in the Netherlands -- do you not think that this has something to do with these boys getting by with all this? Somebody's looking after them.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Well, Jossy, what do you make of that? They're saying, basically, it's inside baseball, that everybody knows each other.

MANSUR: Well, this is a small community. Of course, everybody knows each other. But I don't see any relationship between, for example, the father of Guido and Paulus van der Sloot. The father of Guido is a political leader in Aruba. He is the leader of a political party called Allianza (ph) that participated in two elections, didn't get any seats. But I don't see any relations there, no.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. And we're going to learn more about the family in a moment.

To tonight's "Case Alert." A body pulled from the Missouri River in Iowa has been identified as 35-year-old Tracy Tribble. Tribble had been missing since May 3, her body identified through dental records and tattoos. Police say this is an ongoing investigation. No charges have been filed. Tribble's husband is considered a person of interest in the case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She had a fun childhood. I had a fun Tracy's childhood. I loved her so much!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TWITTY: When I see Natalee's friends, I think about the things that Natalee has missed in her life, the most difficult thing that we deal with on a daily basis as, you know, I know now that Natalee -- Natalee should almost be a sophomore in college.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I'm Jane Velez-Mitchell, in for Nancy Grace tonight. Is the latest suspect arrested in the Natalee Holloway case the missing link to solving this nearly 1-year-old case? That's right, at the end of this month, it will be the year anniversary.

Jossy Mansur, editor of ARUBAAN's news-source "Diario" newspaper, how has Aruba been impa#ted in the past year? I spoke with one Aruban business leader. He told me tourism's down. The Arubaans feel their entire island has been unfairly tarnished by the media because of this.

MANSUR: Well, the tourism is down. I mean, the official figures show a decrease of a certain percentage. It hasn't been affected totally or in a serious degree, but it has been affected by this. And the Aruban people are concerned, not because of that but because of the girl that's missing, and they want a closure to this because it's dragging on too long now. It's going for a year.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And Beth, I see a commonality between your interests and the interests of the Aruban people, in the sense that everybody would benefit from a resolution in this case. I mean, one of the reasons why the media covers it so much is that there hasn't been any answer.

TWITTY: Oh, absolutely, Jane. And you know, Jane, any time I can get it out, especially on CNN, we just want to keep that reward money out there and to let these witnesses know that it is there, $250,000 for just any information that leads to her whereabouts. And I just feel with so many people involved, somebody surely has something that they can come forward with and feel comfortable in doing so because we need a resolution so badly. The island of Aruba does, and we do.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Everybody does. And I think that, you know, political scientists will say one of the reasons why this is so fascinating is because we don't have an answer. So it's like an ongoing soap opera, and I think everybody wants closure at this point.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I'm Jane Velez-Mitchell sitting in for Nancy Grace. Tonight, we're bring you the very latest development in the Natalee Holloway case. A 19-year-old suspect is in custody in the Netherlands. Is it the big break we have been waiting for?

Here tonight, Beth Twitty, Natalee's mom.

And, Beth, I want to ask you: How are you coping emotionally? Is it getting harder as time passes or easier?

TWITTY: You know, Jane, that's funny that you asked that, because, you know, you would think, as time goes on, that it would become a little easier to deal with the emotional ups and downs. But, you know, tonight, when I'm hearing again, you know, how we just get our hopes up, another arrest, and then he's released, and we still have no answers, you know, it's just getting more and more difficult, Jane. I really can't believe that it can even get more difficult.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I certainly can understand that.

And let's go to psychologist Patricia Saunders. You've dealt with families of victims, people who just have no closure. Is it like a festering sore that gets worse and worse?

DR. PATRICIA SAUNDERS, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: There's no reason to think it's going to get better with time. What Beth is describing is, really, the worst kind of loss. It's ambiguous loss.

This family is frozen between hope and despair; they're stuck between wanting to hold on and letting go. There's no comfort for rituals, because they don't have any answers, and I'll bet even friends, if not family, are kind of torn between wanting to be optimistic and hopeful with you, and wanting to be sympathetic and, you know, offer condolences.

There is no easy way. It does get worse with time. What is so positive is that Natalee's mom and her dad, too, have been so active in reaching out and not just sitting there waiting for officials to give them news, and that's the best therapy that any family can do for themselves.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And, Beth, in fact, you go to schools and you urge young women, if you're going to a foreign country, make sure to activate your international calling, because that's something that, apparently, Natalee did not do, correct?

TWITTY: It is, Jane. And, you know, and I in no way want to discourage traveling internationally. I mean, Natalee was going to be in the international honor's program at the University of Alabama. And, you know, a lot of her friends are traveling internationally. I just want them to be prepared and I just want them to be informed so they can travel more safely.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And let's hear from the attorney of this latest suspect. He describes how his involvement in the case came about.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GERARD SPONG, ATTORNEY FOR GUIDO WEVER: He was a witness in June last year, after days Natalee disappeared. And since February of this year, he is now a suspect, and the prosecution in Aruba is wanting him very quickly. He is still in the Netherlands, and is being questioned every day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: What we're trying to do, without jumping to any unwarranted conclusions, is to try to figure out where this young man fits in the puzzle, if he fits at all. Again, he has a presumption of innocence.

But let's go to private Investigator Vito Colucci. You've been listening to all this. We've heard that this young man, apparently, allegedly is friends with Joran. They were both at the casino that night, the very last night of the high school vacation. What do you make of why this young man was arrested and how he helps explain this mystery?

VITO COLUCCI, PRIVATE DETECTIVE: Well, what I'd like to know, Jane, is what was gleaned from their interviews of him, especially at the beginning. Because we know he was with Joran the day after Natalee disappeared. So what did Joran say about his conversations with Guido? What did Guido say? And you comparing notes.

So, to me, that speaks volumes. I'd like to see what happened on that and where this has gone.

You know, when I talked to your producer today, I saw the key word, "assisting in the murder." So I'm saying to myself, "All right, who did he assist?" That jumped out to me. OK, maybe he's a possible key player. Maybe he assisted somebody else, and they really needed to bring this guy to Aruba to see if he is, in fact, at least culpable, and maybe he had information on some of the other players.

But he's been in the radar screen now, from what we've seen, from the first week of this, Jane.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, that's what I don't understand. NANCY GRACE Aruba expert Eric Marrapodi, they interviewed this guy a couple of days after Natalee disappeared. At that point, they undoubtedly had his schedule, the fact that he left early and that his whereabouts were unaccounted for later that evening. What now, almost a year later?

MARRAPODI: Well, I think what Aruban authorities are trying to do, if my sources are right, is just trying to fit those pieces in the puzzle together and tighten some loose ends there with the investigation, as they're going through and going back to the beginning and starting over and making sure they've chased down every lead.

And what happened with this young man is, shortly after he was questioned by Police in June, he headed off to Holland. Now, that's not a suggestion of guilt, I don't think, at all, but he went over there to study, to finish high school, and then to go on to some higher education over there.

And Police wanted to track him down and ask him some more questions. And as they've gone back and seen his name reappear in some of those earlier statements from Joran, some of those earlier statements from Satish and Deepak, they wanted to go back, and check it out, and make sure they knew where he was when Natalee disappeared, because, as my sources have told me tonight, he left that shift early at the "Holiday Inn" and couldn't be accounted for after that, and they really wanted to tighten that up.

Now, is that enough to continue to hold him? Perhaps not. And, as we've seen tonight, Mr. Spong, his attorney, has brokered a deal with Karin Janssen and saying, no, it's not enough to continue to hold him in this pretrial detention, as we saw with some of the other boys, which goes back to that suggestion this may have only been an assistance role that the Police think that he was involved in with this case, and perhaps not in anything more than that.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Wow, so fascinating. We have so many callers standing by wanting to ask questions. Let's go to Ellen in Michigan, your question?

CALLER: Good evening, Jane. Good evening, Beth.

First of all, Beth, I would just like to say that, if ever had to go through this experience in my life, I just hope that I could have your courage, and your grace, and your dignity that you have shown throughout this. And I think that you really are a true American hero.

My question for you, Beth, is: Do you think, with all these recent arrests that have occurred, and since Dompig is now out of the picture, that they are really trying to put a new face on the Aruban law enforcement and trying to bring up tourism with that?

TWITTY: Well, just to respond to your question, the first part, you know, the reason why I have been able to, you know, remain so focused and strong during this is for supporters like you, and I am forever grateful.

And, yes, I agree with you. I think that, you know, we've seen a resurgence in the prosecution in wanting to have a resolution. And so, you know, that's a good thing. That's a positive sign.

And we just hope that, as they are arresting these new suspects, that they are gathering, you know, new information that will lead to actually what happened that night with Natalee.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: And we have another question from Joann in Alabama. What is your question, Joann?

CALLER: Well, first of all, I want to say I agree with Ellen. I just totally admire Beth and Dave, have read the book, and who are praying every day for this situation.

But my question is this: I would like to know, if we know who is paying this high-priced attorney that the van der Sloot's have in the United States and, also, who is paying this high-priced attorney over in the Netherlands? Where is that money coming from?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, let's take that out to Jossy Mansur, managing director and editor of "Diario." Jossy, what do you know about the prominence of the family of this latest suspect? Because, apparently, the attorney they hired in the Netherlands is one of the top attorneys in Europe.

MANSUR: Well, from what we know about them, they're not very rich people, none of them, not Paulus, not the father of Guido, surely not the Kalpoe brothers. So the question of the lady is very important.

I would like to know, also, who is paying the battery of lawyers here in Aruba, who is paying the lawyer in New York, and who is paying for the lawyer, this very high-priced lawyer in Holland.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. Well, let's bring our expert, Eric Marrapodi, can you offer some insight, Eric, into this legal situation and who's paying the bills?

MARRAPODI: Yes. As for who's paying the bills, that's a question yet to be answered. But, Jane, I can tell you, in the beginning, Joran van der Sloot had about three attorneys, Richie Kock (ph), Antonio Carlo, Arianda Bee (ph). The Kalpoe brothers each had their own attorney. Now they're just being represented by David Kock and Elgin Zeppenveldt.

And, of course, now with the civil suit, we have Joe Tacopina has entered the picture and is representing Paulus and Joran van der Sloot in the civil suit, as that's taking place here in New York City.

So it's a question that's still up in the air. And like people are saying, you know, Mr. Spong, Gerhard Spong, one of the best attorneys. We understand tonight that he even at one point had helped in the defense counsel of Slobodan Milosevic when he was being tried in the Hague. So certainly no spring chicken there in Europe.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: In fact, this would be the equivalent of hiring a Johnny Cochran or some of the famous attorneys that we have seen handling some of the biggest cases in the United States, wouldn't that be true?

MARRAPODI: Yes, absolutely. And people we talked to tonight said don't make that assumption that, because they've hired Mr. Spong, that there is any assumption of guilt here. And as his parents have said, you know, he still has that presumption of innocence, and they don't even have enough to continue that pretrial detention tonight. So Mr. Spong, whoever is paying him, they're certainly getting their money's worth out of him tonight.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right, Eric, thank you. We at NANCY GRACE want very much to help in our own way solve unsolved homicides, find missing people. Tonight, take a look at 19-year-old Kassie Federer, killed on September 13, 1999, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

If you have any information on Kassie Federer's homicide, please call the Carole Sund Carrington Foundation toll-free, 1-888-813-8389.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I'm Jane Velez-Mitchell in for Nancy Grace tonight. Almost one year ago, Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway went missing without a trace in Aruba. Tonight, authorities in the Netherlands have arrested a suspect in the case.

Now, prosecutor Stacey Honowitz, this young man has been in jail since last Wednesday. He's been interrogated daily, I'm told. You'd think if -- and it's a big if -- if he had the key to the puzzle, he would have said whatever he had to say by now. He would have cracked.

What doesn't make is, if there is a crime that involves several people, especially young people, how can all of these young people stay bandied together and not crack when even many hardened criminals would have turned by now?

HONOWITZ: Well, first of all, Jane, we don't know what came out of this hearing. Again, we had some breaking news before you went on the air tonight that he was getting released. I'm sure we'll hear some more things tomorrow, when the hearing was supposed to be.

In this case, like I said earlier, he obviously gave some statements that maybe were inconsistent from way back, and they are going back with this new Investigator and they're trying to find out and fit all the pieces together.

If they are banding together, if they know something, it is kind of hard to believe that no one would crack yet. Like I said earlier, maybe he was just a witness earlier, became a suspect. He's given some information, and we'll find out what's to come.

But it is hard. It's a hard case, but I think that everyone has to be mindful of one thing, that sometimes murder cases, very bad cases, aren't solved within a year. We keep saying it's been a year. Sometimes cases go many years before they're cracked.

And I think Beth has to keep the faith that something is going to happen. We've had several cases, the Skakel case happened years later. He was arrested. The priest, 26 years later, last week was convicted in a courtroom for the nun's murder.

So she has to keep the faith, and we have to hope that, even though their method and their process of doing business and whatever they're doing right now doesn't seem to be working, maybe all the pieces of the puzzle will come together at one point.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: All right. I think you make an excellent point. And, remember, that just because this man's been arrested doesn't mean that it exonerates Joran van der Sloot.

Let's listen to what Joran, who remains a suspect, said about what happened that fateful night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do you leave a girl on the beach?

JORAN VAN DER SLOOT , LAST SEEN WITH NATALEE HOLLOWAY: I told her I had to go home. I had school the next day, and I thought maybe she'd understand. She told me, no, she wanted me to stay there with her because the next day she was leaving and she wanted to stay there the whole night.

I told her, no, I had to go. I even lifted her up to carry her back to her hotel. And she told me put her down. I left her there. I sat down next to her, talked to her a while. And I called Deepak to ask him if he could come pick me up, which Deepak didn't do, but...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was she angry?

VAN DER SLOOT: She wasn't angry. If it's anything, she was probably more upset that I was leaving her there. And I don't know what reaction she had. I don't know.

At the time, I didn't feel it was a bad idea. At the time, I really didn't. It didn't seem wrong. It didn't seem -- of course, now I look back at it, and I think (bleep) I'm an (bleep). What did I do? But there's nothing I can do about it now.

If I could have that moment back, I would have made sure she got back to her hotel room safely, but I can't change that now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Investigative reporter Leslie Snadowsky, you have covered so many big cases. Everybody says, "Well, why are we covering this case so much?" It's because something doesn't add up, something doesn't make sense fundamentally. No body, no crime is what they say. You have all of these explanations; you have all these people being brought in.

What do you make of this? Is there some kind of big picture that we're missing?

SNADOWSKY: I think, with the most recent developments, that the most interesting thing is, is the relationship between Guido and Joran.

Now, earlier on, about a week or two ago -- excuse me, I guess Wednesday it would be -- Gerald Spong said that Joran and Guido never met, they weren't friends. I think just today he conceded that, no, they were acquaintances.

But Joran's own attorney said, no, the kids knew each other. They went to the tennis club together in Aruba. They were nightclubbing, casino hopping. I mean, where is the truth? I mean, I think the relationship between these two I think is very, very interesting and should be explored some more.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Don Clark, former head of the F.B.I. Houston division, you know, Stacey just made some really important points there, the shifting stories like the shifting sands on the island?

CLARK: Well, they are shifting stories and they have been shifting stories, Jane. But, you know, this thing kind of reminds me of kind of being a running back. If you stumble getting out of the backfield, you don't usually make it very far.

And the same thing with an investigation. If you start making mistakes and fumbling at the beginning, it's very, very difficult to overcome those. And we've got to bear in mind that investigations do a couple of things.

Number one, clearly you want to be able to identify evidence and the facts in the case, but you also want to be able to eliminate suspects that perhaps you don't have to deal with again. And I haven't seen that take place. And I certainly haven't seen the effort to bring in credible people, such as profilers, and psychologists, and other type of really strong Investigators to see if they can bring this information out that they really need in this case.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Don, thank you.

Quickly to tonight's "All-Points Bulletin." F.B.I. and law enforcement across the country on the lookout for Jose Gustavo Badillo, wanted in connection with the rape and molestation of a minor female in Oklahoma.

This suspect, 36, 5'9", approximately 190 pounds, black hair, brown eyes. If you have any information on him, please call the F.B.I. at 405-290- 7770.

Local news next for some of you. We will all be right back. And, remember, live coverage of a South Carolina man on trial for murder and burglary, 3:00 to 5:00 Eastern, Court TV.

Please stay with us as we remember Sergeant Israel Garcia, 23, Clint, Texas, killed in Iraq. He was granted U.S. citizenships minutes before he was laid to rest. Garcia, an American hero.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELEZ-MITCHELL: As we continue our examination of the latest developments in the Natalee Holloway case, let's go to the callers. We've got Sue in Canada. Your question?

CALLER: My question is, as a croupier, was Guido Wever able to extend a line of credit to Joran van der Sloot? And would any pressure to repair this line of credit, in kind or in cash, possibly lead to a trade, which would leave us with a living Natalee Holloway? Could we possibly examine this line of questioning?

VELEZ-MITCHELL: Wow. OK. That's a new one.

Jossy, you want to take a shot at that one?

MANSUR: Well, it's possible. But I don't think that Guido as a croupier, as a dealer, would have the authority to extend any line of credit to any player, much less a minor like Joran. It's not normally done. The casino manager would be the one and the owner or the director of the casino would be the ones that are authorized to extend lines of credit to gamble.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: You know, I want to go to Patricia Saunders, clinical psychologist, as we wrap up. You heard that excellent question. People really trying to use their minds and crack this mystery. Everybody's putting on their Sherlock Holmes hat because there are no answers.

Do you think the prosecutor, for example, should now hold a news conference and say, "Hey, here's where we stand"? Because one of the reasons why everybody is so obsessed is that there are no answers.

SAUNDERS: Well, it's certainly causing everybody a lot of anxiety. At this point, I think -- I'm thinking of Natalee's family that -- I'm hoping that the civil trial will give them some satisfaction, maybe answers.

VELEZ-MITCHELL: I want to thank all of our guests tonight for their insight. We want to thank our callers for calling in and asking some excellent questions. And thanks to you at home for tracking these very important cases with us.

I'm Jane Velez-Mitchell in for Nancy Grace. Nancy is back tomorrow, and we certainly hope to see you right here, Tuesday night, 8:00 sharp Eastern. Until then, have a great evening.





On 5-22 CNN reported:



Murder Suspect in Holloway case to be released

Attorney: Casino worker indicted on murder charge last week

(CNN) -- A man indicted in the Netherlands on murder charges in the disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway in Aruba will be released Tuesday but must remain available for questioning, the man's attorney said.

Guido Wever, 19, was to appear in court Tuesday in the Netherlands, an assistant to attorney Gerard Spong said, but an agreement reached between Spong and Aruban prosecutor Karin Janssen negated that hearing.

Under the conditions of the deal, Wever remains a suspect in Holloway's disappearance.

Earlier, Spong told the Dutch television network NOS his client was charged last Wednesday with murder and manslaughter, "and he is being questioned every day."
Spong said Wever was interviewed as a witness in June, days after Holloway disappeared on Aruba, a self-governing Dutch protectorate in the Caribbean off the Venezuelan coast.

"He is now a suspect, and the prosecution in Aruba is wanting him very quickly," the lawyer said.

Spong said he would ask the court in The Hague, seat of government of the Netherlands, to allow Wever to remain in the Netherlands "because I think that we can prove or make sure that he is not guilty."

If Wever, a casino worker on the island, is ordered by the court to be sent to Aruba, it would not be considered an extradition since Aruba is a Dutch territory.

Spong said "some witnesses" have identified Wever as a suspect, "but I think their statements -- their testimonies -- we can fight it easily."

Wever never met Holloway, Spong said. "He claims that he has never seen her, and he claims that he is completely innocent."

In a written statement, Wever's parents said they were "appalled" about their son's indictment.

Wever's parents described themselves as divorced but "very good friends," and said they "cannot believe that he could have anything to do with the case."

They said they hoped "the girl" will be found alive, and predicted "everything will come out all right" for their son, whom they described as "a caring person and very much liked by all others."

Though "justice should be done," they said, "we are all innocent until proven guilty. This counts also for our son."

The parents vowed to hold the news media accountable for any statements made about their son without proof.

"We respect freedom of opinion and freedom of press, but not at our personal expense," they said, adding they would not talk to the news media.

Wever is an acquaintance of Joran van der Sloot, who was once a focus of the investigation into Holloway's 2005 disappearance, a source close to the case told CNN.
Dutch authorities have cooperated with Aruba in the ongoing investigation.

Janssen, the chief prosecutor in Aruba, declined comment on the arrest, but is expected to speak to reporters Tuesday.

Under Dutch law, Police can hold a suspect for more than 100 days before filing charges.

Wever's arrest is the 10th made in connection with the Holloway investigation. All others held, including van der Sloot, have been released.

Holloway -- from the Birmingham, Alabama, suburb of Mountain Brook -- was celebrating her high school graduation with about 100 classmates and several parent chaperones on Aruba when she disappeared May 30, 2005.

A search of the tiny island by Dutch marines, the F.B.I. and hundreds of volunteers failed to find her.

Holloway, 18, was last seen leaving a nightclub in the Aruba capital, Oranjestad, with three men -- van der Sloot , then 17, a Dutch national who is the son of an Aruban judge, and Surinamese brothers Deepak Kalpoe, 21, and Satish Kalpoe, 18.

The three -- who have maintained their innocence -- were arrested the following month but were released after a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to hold them.
In February, Holloway's parents, Dave Holloway and Beth Twitty, filed a lawsuit against van der Sloot.

In court documents, the parents accuse him of "malicious, wanton and willful disregard of the rights, safety and well-being of the plaintiffs and their daughter, Natalee Holloway."

The parents asked for unspecified punitive damages from the young man and his father.





On 5-22 JOHN Q. KELLY stated to FOX News:



GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, HOST: Guido Wever and Joran van der Sloot know each other from tennis, from the Excelsior Casino in the "Holiday Inn," but that's not their only connection. Both men have now been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Natalee's been missing since May 30, and almost a year later, there are still no answers.
Joining us is John Q. Kelly, lawyer for Natalee's parents.
John, we have Guido Wever in custody in Holland at the moment, but you spoke to Karin Janssen, chief prosecutor. What did she say?
JOHN Q. KELLY, NATALEE HOLLOWAY'S PARENTS' ATTORNEY: He's going to be released tomorrow morning. They're done interrogating him, and it doesn't look like this latest arrest is going to really advance the investigation at all.
VAN SUSTEREN: Why did they pick him up? They interrogated him last summer. I think they've also interrogated him in Holland over the course of the winter. What was sort of the catalyst that picked him up on Wednesday?
KELLY: For the life of me, I don't know, Greta. You know, this is someone who, the evening of the morning Natalee disappeared, he was with Joran the entire evening, you know, there at the Windham Hotel, the Aruba Grand, then over at the Radisson from, you know, 7:00 in the evening until 2:00 the next morning, they were out in his car and doing different things. And he certainly should have at least been a person of interest that they should have nailed down all the questions that they wanted to ask him back the beginning of June.
VAN SUSTEREN: John, is Karin Janssen who makes — is she the one who makes the decision that she doesn't want him and to release him?
KELLY: That was my indication, yes, that, you know, they've gotten what they needed from him, and it's ultimately her decision, as chief prosecutor, to release him.
VAN SUSTEREN: Do you know what bothers me is sort of the reckless disregard for his liberty. If she decided that in a conversation that preceded our conversation right now, why are they holding him until tomorrow? Pick up the phone, fax a letter of authorization and cut him loose. It's almost a callous disregard for his liberty. If they think he's not involved, cut him loose now, not tomorrow morning.
KELLY: Well, I certainly don't want to be an advocate for him, but you know, also the fact that it's four days of interrogation. That would take us probably to Saturday, and we're sitting here Monday night talking about a Tuesday release. And the reason all this concerns me so much, it's just another example of the raised expectations where, you know, they're making almost a fiasco out of this arrest, you know, raising everybody's hopes, leading to a lot of speculation. It's just, you know, deflating Beth and Dave again, when, you know, they think there might be a glimmer of hope there, and then they're just let down again.
VAN SUSTEREN: Well, and the bizarre thing — I understand it's the Dutch system, where you can sort of round up people, but it's almost become the point is — you know — you know, if you're under 25 and you're a guy in Aruba, you know, you're eligible to be locked up and incarcerated. He's — apparently, according to his lawyer, he was indicted for murder and manslaughter, and those things stick with you until you are officially cleared, which is tough, bizarre.
KELLY: Well, it's — I'm glad I don't have to take the Aruban bar, but it seems like everybody who has been picked up for questioning has also been charged with these crimes. And you know, as I said, it just — it just bothers me that someone like this, who was — you know, I went back and I pulled — I've got a pretty good, you know, file of all the Police reports, investigative reports and things, and I went back and pulled them out. And this is an individual whose name is all over the statements of Joran's and Deepak's and others right at the early stages of the investigation.
And you know, I don't mind — I love that they're still actively engaged in the investigation. They're still, you know, picking people up, and they're still interviewing witnesses. But you know, to pick up someone like this and get everybody excited, when, you know, it should have been done a year ago and there should have been some resolution whether he was of value to the case or not back then, it just — it doesn't make me happy, and I know it doesn't make Beth and Dave happy to conduct in this manner now.
VAN SUSTEREN: When you spoke to Karin Janssen, a short time ago, did she give you any sort of sense of hope — Don't worry, John, we're on top of this, and we got it handled, we're going to pick up more people, we know who did it, we're going to — we're going to solve this for your clients?
KELLY: No, and I was trying to push the issue. I wanted to know if, you know, as a result of the interrogation, whether this would lead to more arrests. I didn't get a very strong response there. And you know, I tried to the get a sense of whether this was, you know, something that was going to, you know, advance the ball at all, and my sense is, it is not. It was clarification of some, you know, outstanding issues or some time gaps there, and that was it. And that should have been done a year ago, Greta, not now.
VAN SUSTEREN: Well, I'm sure she's not a fan of mine. I complained last summer when she decided to take a vacation in the middle of an important investigation. And now worse is that she wants to cut someone loose, but it's not going to happen until tomorrow because, I don't know, I guess they don't have phones or faxes or whatever in Aruba to do that. Anyway, John, thank you.
KELLY: Sure, Greta. Bye.





On 5-22 MSNBC reported:



Another suspect arrested in Holloway case

Rita is on a well-deserved vacation this week, and we are excited to welcome Lauren
Lake as our guest host. Some of you may know Lauren as an established defense
attorney who often appears on our show as a guest.

The new arrest of another suspect in the Natalee Holloway case is getting a lot of
attention today both here in the U.S. and abroad. Guido Weaver, 19, was arrested in
Holland this weekend, suspected of helping in Natalee's murder. Reports say that
Weaver worked at the casino in the Holiday Inn where Holloway was staying during
her class trip to Aruba. Those of us who cover this case can only hope this new arrest
will help bring justice for the Holloway family, especially as we near the one-year mark
since Natalee's disappearance. We know that Guido is currently in custody and in the
Netherlands, and he will be in a courtroom in the Hague tomorrow morning to fight an
Aruban request to bring him to the island of Aruba. As always, we will be covering all of
the developments in this investigation, and we hope you will tune in to watch Lauren fill
in for Rita.





On 5-22 MSNBC reported:



LAUREN LAKE, GUEST HOST: Good evening, everybody. I‘m Lauren Lake.
Rita Cosby has the night off.
Tonight, could it finally be the break Natalee‘s family has been hoping for? A new suspect under arrest with links to both Natalee and Joran van der Sloot. We will head to Aruba for the latest.
…
LAKE (voice-over): Still ahead: a new arrest in the Natalee Holloway case, as people grill one of Joran van der Sloot‘s friends. What‘s the suspect‘s connection to Natalee? And is it the breakthrough Natalee‘s family has been waiting for?
…
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GERARD SPONG, ATTORNEY FOR GUIDO WEVER: My client, Guido, is indicted of murder and manslaughter. And it‘s a serious indictment, of course.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAKE: Another dramatic development in the search for Natalee Holloway tonight; 19-year-old Guido Wever is now behind bars in the Netherlands for a possible link to the teen‘s disappearance.
The friend of primary suspect Joran van der Sloot is scheduled to go before a Dutch judge tomorrow. Natalee‘s mother is applauding authorities for making another arrest in the case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY, MOTHER OF NATALEE HOLLOWAY: Activity in the case is good. And, you know, an arrest is better than none. So, you know, we just are going to be hopeful that maybe, maybe, maybe this individual could have some information.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAKE: With us on the phone tonight from Aruba, Julia Renfro with the “Aruba Today” newspaper.
Julia, thank you so much for joining us.
What can you tell us about this Guido Wever? How is he linked to the case?
JULIA RENFRO, EDITOR IN CHIEF, “ARUBA TODAY”: Well, we are in a situation tonight where the lawyer, which I heard you had a small video clip from him earlier, had mentioned that he was indicted.
I‘m afraid that that‘s just a translation error from Dutch to English, because he‘s not indicted. He has not been charged. He‘s only been detained.
LAKE: OK.
RENFRO: And it is our understanding from the lawyer himself that he will be released from detention tomorrow.
LAKE: Oh, really, released so soon?
RENFRO: Yes. And—well, he‘s—he‘s actually been detained for more than six days. He was arrested last—or detained last Wednesday.
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: Well, I thought he was going to be in court tomorrow?
RENFRO: Yes.
LAKE: So, he will be in...
RENFRO: And our understanding from—directly from the lawyer of the young man, that he will be released.
LAKE: So, he will be released. But he will have to go to court tomorrow, still; am I correct?
RENFRO: Yes, he will.
And, of course, this will not release him from being a suspect, suspect for the same reasons that he has been basically charged with. And that‘s the assistance in basically the same thing that the other suspects have been charged with.
LAKE: Right.
OK. Julia, let‘s get to the meat of the arrest here now. What can you tell me? How well does this Guido know Joran?
RENFRO: Well, we do know that they are acquaintances.
And—but it‘s not necessarily the—that might not be the reason why he was detained. It very well could be the fact that he works at the casino that Natalee was, you know, last in, as well as working in the hotel, in the resort where she was staying.
LAKE: OK.
RENFRO: So, we don‘t know his exact relationship.
It could be a coincidence either way, whether or not it‘s her—or her knowing this young man or possibly just being a relationship with Joran.
LAKE: Well, Julia, thank you so much for joining us. I know you are going to keep us posted. We really appreciate you filling us in.
Live and direct right now is Joran van der Sloot‘s American co-counsel, Rosemarie Arnold.
Rosemarie, thank you so much for joining us tonight.
ROSEMARIE ARNOLD, ATTORNEY FOR JORAN VAN DER SLOOT: Hi, Lauren.
LAKE: OK. We have got to know. Now, tell us about Joran‘s relationship with Guido. Are they a friendly pair? I mean, I‘m trying to get to the bottom of this. Do they really even know each other?
ARNOLD: Joran and Guido know each other. They are casual acquaintances.
They met at tennis school. They have the same coach. They have been together in social settings in Aruba. It‘s a very small place. But they‘re not good friends. They are acquaintances.
LAKE: OK.
Have you spoken to Joran since this arrest? What was he saying? What did he feel about Guido being arrested?
ARNOLD: Well, yes, I have spoken to Joran. Obviously, I can‘t divulge to you everything he says.
But I think that since he‘s the ninth person that has been arrested in this case, Joran was not convinced that he had done anything. As a matter of fact, I don‘t think he thought he did. And, as I am getting word from our investigators in Aruba, Guido is going to be released tomorrow, because, after being questioned for six days, they don‘t have any reason to hold him.
LAKE: He‘s going to be released tomorrow, because, again, they don‘t have enough info to hold him. I thought he was supposed to be in court tomorrow.
ARNOLD: He‘s supposed to be in court tomorrow to—for the judge to determine whether or not they were going to hold him.
But I understand they have already determined that they are going to release him. Why they don‘t release him tonight is beyond me.
LAKE: Amazing.
Well, I mean, tell us, why do you think prosecutors were even zeroing in on this guy any way? I mean, wasn‘t he questioned way back in the beginning of the investigation anyway?
ARNOLD: In June, for five hours, he was questioned. I have absolutely no idea why they would reinvent this. They have done it in the past. And it‘s the same reason why, a year this has happened, they are releasing composite sketches of people who we know assaulted women on the beach within days of Natalee‘s disappearance.
It just goes back to the way the investigation was handled from the very beginning.
LAKE: And, Rosemarie, they are saying he was an accomplice. In other words, he was not even the principal. They are saying he helped someone.
How do you think that affects the case they are trying to build with Joran? Does that—think that it makes him look even more like a suspect, even more guilty, because they‘re saying that this guy is not the primary perpetrator, but an accomplice?
ARNOLD: No, I think that it makes him look less guilty, because I think they brought this guy in with nothing more than they knew last June.
And they held him for questioning for six days. I understand he has final exams to take in the morning that this incarceration that he‘s been put through has really put a damper on. And, after six days of questioning him again, they are releasing him, because they haven‘t gotten any closer to—sadly, any closer to what happened, to the truth about what happened to Natalee.
LAKE: Wow. That‘s amazing.
Well, Rosemarie, we thank you so much for joining us tonight. And I‘m sure we will be talking to you further about this matter. Thank you so much.
ARNOLD: Thank you.
LAKE: So, just what is going on in the Holloway investigation? And what can we expect at the court hearing tomorrow?
Live and direct tonight are former prosecutor Lisa Pinto and criminal defense attorney Kimberly Lerner.
Welcome, ladies. Thank you so much for being here.
Now, Kimberly, let me just ask you something first. OK. It‘s been a year. Now we have got Guido Wever. Is this the break we have been waiting for?
KIMBERLY LERNER, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Unfortunately, I don‘t think so.
I think Aruban officials are grasping at straws. I think, if you think about the fact that we have had nine arrests for a murder that we don‘t even know was committed—we don‘t have a body.
LAKE: Right.
(CROSSTALK)
LERNER: We don‘t have physical evidence.
LAKE: And, Kimberly, the part that is getting me is that now we have just learned he‘s going to be released before he even has to go to court. What do you think is going on with that?
LERNER: I think it‘s called a fishing expedition.
(LAUGHTER)
LERNER: I think there‘s a lot of pressure. There‘s a lot of media pressure. And with the year anniversary approaching, it‘s called—on the heels of the last release, they were hoping, you know, throw everything against the wall and hope something sticks.
LAKE: Well, Lisa, let me bring you in right now.
I want to play something for you. This is what Guido‘s attorney is saying about his client‘s previous contact with investigators. Take a listen and let me know what you think.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SPONG: He was a witness in June last year, after days Natalee disappeared. And, since February of this year, he is now a suspect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAKE: Lisa, now, what do you think? Did they just move too slowly?
I mean, come on.
LISA PINTO, FORMER PROSECUTOR: Lauren, Lauren, you can cut my mike. You‘re sitting in the hot seat. I can‘t even fight with you tonight, can I?
(LAUGHTER)
LAKE: Lisa, isn‘t this funny?
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: Try to fight with me, buddy.
PINTO: Congratulations.
Listen, my friend, these Keystone Cops have not—have done the most ridiculous job with this investigation. A year ago, June 1, the day after Natalee disappears, oh, he flies away from the island and nobody thinks to question him then. It‘s a little too late now, a year later, to decide that you are going to hold him for six days and try to beat a confession out of him.
Ain‘t nothing happening in this case. He doesn‘t even have to go to court tomorrow, my friend, because the prosecutor has agreed to cancel the equivalent of what we would call a probable cause hearing. He doesn‘t even have to show. He gets to take his exams, live his life. This is not a case going that is anywhere, Lauren.
LAKE: So, you don‘t think—you—are you losing hope, Lisa? Am I hearing you correctly?
PINTO: Well...
LAKE: You are actually losing hope on—or just the Guido case or the case as a whole?
(CROSSTALK)
PINTO: No, wait a minute.
I would go back to Mr. Tacopina‘s client, Joran van der Sloot, remember?
LAKE: OK.
PINTO: The guy that was the last one seen with the young lady, the guy that admitted he had sex with her on the beach, the guy whose story changed three times in regards to his relationship with her, that‘s where I would have been focusing my attention. Even if he was a judge‘s son, I would have executed a search warrant. I would have questioned him right then and there, instead of arresting two poor black men who did nothing wrong.
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: OK, now, yes, you know I agree with you on the black men.
But, you know, you are making my defense attorney nerve twitch a little bit.
(LAUGHTER)
LAKE: And, Kimberly, I need you to get her for me tonight.
Now, what do you think here? Do you think this case is going anywhere in reference to Joe Tacopina‘s client, Joran, as well?
LERNER: I think everything comes back to Joran.
I think, you know, they are focusing on the fact that this kid knew Joran. I think they are looking at him as a possible accomplice. Again, I think they have a lot of information that we do not have. I think there have been nine...
PINTO: Wait a minute. If they have so much information, why is he walking the walk tomorrow morning, instead of sitting in a jail cell or appearing before a judge and hearing the evidence against him?
They have nothing, my friend. They have to let him go.
(CROSSTALK)
PINTO: These cops cannot interrogate a psycho killer. They don‘t know what they are doing. They don‘t know how to run an investigation.
LERNER: I agree with you. I think they are trying to get them to turn on each other.
The problem is, in Aruba, with that word suspect hanging over your head, until a judge formally clears you, you have to...
(CROSSTALK)
LAKE: Ladies, I give it for you for the girl power tonight, but I got to run—compelling arguments on both sides. We will see what happens in court tomorrow.





5-23-06

On 5-23 “America’s Most Wanted” reported:



Aruban National Arrested, Released in
Netherlands

A lawyer for Guido Wever says his client was arrested in the Netherlands on May 17,
2006. But Wever was released on Tuesday, May 23rd. Wever's attorney says the
Aruban citizen is suspected of "assisting in the murder" of Natalee Holloway.

While no details have been released regarding Wever's alleged involvement in the case,
Wever was an aquaintance of Joran van der Sloot, and had been interviewed on three
different occasions several months ago as a "witness" by police in Aruba. AMW has
confirmed that Wever left the Caribbean island two weeks after Natalee's disappearance.

The Public Prosecutor's Office said Wever remains a suspect. But his lawyer claims this
is only a formality, saying: "It is unthinkable that he will be arrested again on the basis of
how things stand at the moment in the investigation."

Conversation Between Former Murder Suspects Secretly Recorded

In a press release issued by the Aruban prosecutor's office, authorities have verified that
the contents of a transcribed conversation between Joran van der Sloot, Deepak Kalpoe,
and Satish Kalpoe, are authentic. The recorded conversation reportedly took place in
June 2005 in a police vehicle while the three suspects were being transported either to
or from a court appearance or jail.

The six-page transcript shows the three young men exchanging harsh words, accusing
one another of lying, and mentioning Natalee Holloway several times, referring to her as
"the girl."

When the Kalpoe brothers and van der Sloot were released from custody in September
2005, then-Police Chief Gerold Dompig was still certain they were involved in Natalee's
disappearance, telling AMW, "I have a gut feeling that they're guilty...either it's murder,
or an accident, or rape...but something happened, and they were surely involved."

Since then, the three young men have remained under public scrutiny. Authorities will
not comment further on the recorded conversation or what they make of it.

In the meantime, the Aruban coast guard has been conducting an underwater search for
Natalee since Sunday, April 16, stopping on Thursday to study some underwater photos
taken during the search. Despite rumors that the search has been called off, the Aruban
prosecutor's office maintains it was merely a temporary halt.

Authorities' Latest Arrests

Geoffrey van Cromvoirt, a 19-year-old who was arrested on April 14, was released after
8 days. Sources close to the investigation say he is suspected of selling drugs, possibly
GHB, the so-called "date-rape drug," to Joran van der Sloot and/or his associates, and
that this activity may have been involved in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The
Aruban prosecutor's office said van Cromvoirt "remains a suspect."

On Saturday, April 22, Aruban police arrested a 20-year-old man identified only by the
initials A.B. He was questioned about the Holloway case for 6 hours and then released.

Aruban and Dutch authorities are also looking to talk to anyone who may have seen the
unique gray Honda Civic Natalee was riding in the last time she was seen. The car has
a lowered suspension and extended spoilers.

Authorities also say they are looking for information about "four sweaty boys with a
shovel" walking on the north end of the island on Monday, May 30, 2005 -- the day
Natalee was reported missing.

New Tips Spawn New Search

In the last month, Aruban authorities have launched new searches -- both on land and
at sea. But they have been tight-lipped about what may have prompted any of those
searches.

Aruban police are also searching for a man they say harassed another young woman
on the same beach where Natalee disappeared. With new leads coming in to Aruban
police every day, the Texas Equusearch team has decided to return to Aruba to do a
deep ocean search in general areas of interest.

A Boycott And New Clues

On November 8, 2005, Holloway-Twitty joined Alabama Gov. Bob Riley to propose a
boycott of the island in an effort to urge Aruban officials to action. Nearly six months
after Alabama teen Natalee Holloway disappeared, her family remains steadfast in their
search for clues surrounding her disappearance. Natalee's father, Dave Holloway, and
her mother, Beth Holloway-Twitty, have both done their part to keep their daughter's
memory alive and her name in the news headlines.

Dave and Beth have also returned to Aruba numerous times, searching for clues and
confronting the Aruban government about their investigation of Natalee's case. In late
October, Dave, accompanied by EquuSearch - a search and recovery team for missing
persons - discovered a makeshift memorial for Natalee. A small wooden cross,
surrounded by rocks and coral and draped in rosary beads, stood just yards from where
Natalee was reportedly last seen alive. Carved in the corner of the cross were the
initials "N.H." An American tourist later reported that she had left the cross in honor of
Natalee.

The non-profit, volunteer group EquuSearch has used highly sophisticated sonar
equipment, helicopters and manpower to search both land and sea for clues about
Natalee's disappearance. Natalee's family is hopeful that with the help of EquuSearch
they may finally find some closure.

History Of False Hope

The search for Natalee Holloway has followed a winding path. Each time Beth
Holloway-Twitty and Dave Holloway have found a lead to cling to, their hopes have
been dashed.

All Murder Suspects Released

On September 3, 2005 Joran van der Sloot, Satish and Deepak Kalpoe were all
released from police custody on the condition they stay available to authorities for
questioning. Although prosecutors wanted to hold all three suspects longer, an
Arbuban judge ordered their release. Even though the three men are free, authorities
say they will continue to investigate the connection between these three men and the
disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

No Sign Of Missing Alabama Teen At Aruban Pond

Investigators serached a pond not far from the Holiday Inn where Natalee stayed -- but
there were no signs. The pond was searched after a witness claimed to have seen the
three suspects named in Natalee's disappearance sitting in a parked car near the pond.
In addition to the pond, authorities searched a landfill three times.

DNA Not Holloway's

According to the FBI, DNA taken from strands of blond hair stuck to duct tape found on
a beach in Aruba did not match the DNA of missing Alabama teenager Natalee
Holloway. A park ranger found the duct tape while collecting trash on Aruba's northeast
coast - the opposite side of the island from where the Alabama woman was last seen in
public. The results of two tests on the hair came back negative.

Tracing Natalee's Steps

Natalee Ann Holloway had just graduated from Mountain Brook High School in
Birmingham, Ala. She was looking forward to attending the University of Alabama on a
full academic scholarship.

On an unofficial annual senior trip Natalee and approximately 130 of her classmates
ventured thousands of miles away to enjoy the white sands and blue waters of Aruba.

For five days the recent graduates and seven chaperones relaxed, sun bathed and
enjoyed the Aruba nightlife.

Dressed in the same blue and green striped low-cut blouse and jean miniskirt that she
wore at the beach earlier in the day, Holloway spent Sunday evening partying at Carlos
'N Charlie's, a popular restaurant and dance spot where tourists and locals meet in the
Aruban capital, Oranjestad.

Monday morning, May 31, 2005 when the rest of the group gathered to catch their flight,
Natalee was no where to be found.

Carlos N' Charlie's master of ceremonies, Jose Hernandez, saw Natalee leave about 10
minutes before the restaurant's 1 a.m. closing. He reports that nothing seemed out of the
ordinary. Meanwhile, some of Natalee's friends say they saw her getting into a vehicle
outside the nightclub.





On 5-23 FOX News GRETA VAN SUSTEREN wrote in her “Gretawire” blog:



Can you believe the latest in the Natalee Holloway investigation? The young man arrested last Wednesday… held… interrogated… and now, this morning, released. He is not the first to get this "treatment." He was questioned last summer several times — but not arrested (until now). I keep hoping that the police and prosecutor are on the right track but there are no obvious signs they are. I hope I am wrong.

What is most disturbing about this most recent arrest is the cavalier attitude by the Aruban authorities. As of last night, per the chief prosecutor in a call with John Q. Kelly, she decided to release him — but then why didn't the authorities release him until this morning? Why hold him for another 12 plus hours? For sport? I think that is horrible — if they had a reason to detain him, then detain him, but once it is decided that there is no reason to hold him or lawful authority to hold him, release him... immediately. Don't just make him sit in jail! As you know jails are both unpleasant — and dangerous.

We are doing a special this Friday on the Natalee Holloway investigation — I hope you watch.





On 5-23 the “International Safe Travels Foundation” reported:



SAFE TRAVELS REACHES MILESTONE

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas – May 23, 2006 – The nationwide safety awareness campaign created by Beth Holloway Twitty known as SAFE TRAVELS wrapped up this school year in Twitty’s home state of Arkansas. Following presentations in four high schools there Twitty reached a milestone, delivering Natalee’s story to a total of more than 10,000 students and adults since kicking off the safety campaign from her daughter’s high school on February 28th.

“I admire Mrs. Twitty’s dedication to teaching these young people the importance of international travel safety,” commented parent Sharon Wilkins. “My son just left last Saturday for China and I just emailed him the International SAFE TRAVELS Foundation information.”





On 5-23 the “AP” reported:



Lawyer for New Holloway Murder Suspect Files Suit to Fight Extradition

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — The surprise arrest of a new suspect in the disappearance of American teenager Natalee Holloway has revived hopes of solving the case, with a Dutch defense lawyer saying for the first time that Aruban authorities believe she was murdered on the Caribbean island last year.

Lawyer Gerard Spong identified his client only as "Guido W." — citing Dutch privacy laws — who was a croupier at the hotel casino where Holloway was staying when she disappeared last May during a high school graduation trip.

Countrywatch:Netherlands

In an interview with Dutch NOS television late Sunday, Spong said Aruban authorities suspect his client of "assisting in the murder, battery and kidnapping of Natalee Holloway."

In a statement, Guido W.'s parents said their son was "innocent until proven guilty," and they "cannot believe that he could have anything to do with the case."

The youth was arrested and jailed last Wednesday in the city of Utrecht and has been undergoing interrogation by Dutch Police at the direction of Aruban prosecutors since then. He has not been formally charged.

He was expected to be released on Tuesday after his attorney and the Aruban prosecutor's office worked out a deal, the Nancy Grace show on CNN Headline News reported late Monday. Aruban Prosecutor Karin Janssen declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.

Guido W. was reportedly working at the "Holiday Inn" where Holloway was staying.
Spong's office said Monday he would contest a move by Aruban authorities to have his client brought there for arraignment. The case will be heard Tuesday.

Court officials in The Hague said Spong, one of the most famous defense attorneys in the Netherlands, had filed suit against the Dutch state to prevent the transfer.

Court spokeswoman A. Van Rens said that because Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the transfer would usually be no more difficult to accomplish than moving a suspect between any two Dutch cities.

Holloway, of Mountain Brook, Alabama, was 18 when she disappeared. She was last seen leaving a bar with three young men on May 30, the final night of her high school graduation trip to the Dutch Caribbean island.

Spong said his client is a friend of Joran van der Sloot — the last person known to have seen Holloway alive. van der Sloot says he left Holloway alone on a beach after the pair kissed.

While Aruban authorities are keeping all options open, they believe Holloway is most likely dead and buried somewhere on the island. Police in Aruba say prevailing currents would have likely washed her body ashore if she drowned or her body was thrown into the sea.

In January, Aruban Police fruitlessly searched sand dunes on the northwest coast of the island with more than 50 officers. Later, they said Holloway may have died from alcohol and drugs complications.

Dutch marines, the Aruban Coast Guard, the F.B.I. and hundreds of volunteers have also searched the island and coastal areas of Aruba for Holloway, to no avail.

Authorities previously arrested nine people in connection with Holloway's disappearance and then released them for lack of evidence.

Holloway's mother, Beth Holloway-Twitty, said Monday she was glad that there had been an arrest but she wasn't "getting her hopes up" after previous arrests failed to lead to charges. Twitty spoke at Lonoke High School in Arkansas.

"An arrest is better than no arrest, so hopefully it will bring about something," she said. But, "I think we really got caught up with the arrest of G.V.C.," referring to suspect Geoffrey van Cromvoirt, who was arrested and released last month.

The latest suspect was questioned three times in Aruba shortly after Holloway's disappearance and twice later by Dutch authorities, Spong said.

Karin Janssen, a prosecutor in Aruba's public prosecutor's office, declined to comment.
Police in Utrecht also declined comment, refusing even to confirm the arrest and saying they were acting under orders from Aruban prosecutors.





On 5-23 FOX News reported that Current Murder Suspect GUIDO WEVER has been released from custody by the UTRECHT, HOLLAND Police. His lawyer, GERARD SPONG, has stated that WEVER is openly gay, and that the “scratches” that witnesses have stated they saw on WEVER may have been cosmetic make-up that WEVER wears. Current Murder Suspect GUIDO WEVER has agreed he will return for Police questioning should the Police require further questionings. It was reported that during his days in the custody of the UTRECHT Police that live satellite video feeds of Current Murder Suspect G. WEVER’s interrogations were fed to ARUBAN Police.

On 5-23 the “AP” reported:



Dutch Authorities Release Holloway Disappearance Murder Suspect

UTRECHT, Netherlands - A man arrested in the disappearance of an American teenager on the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba was released from custody Tuesday, a court official said.

The release of the suspect, identified only as "Guido W." because of Dutch privacy laws, means he will not be transferred to Aruba, said the court official, Martine de Bruijn. His lawyer, Gerard Sprong, told Dutch television there was not enough evidence to hold his client.

A spokesman for the Dutch national prosecutor's office declined to comment, saying the case was in the hands of the Aruban public prosecutor.

The suspect was arrested last Wednesday in the town of Utrecht. He was a croupier at the casino in the "Holiday Inn" hotel where American Natalee Holloway was staying when she disappeared a year ago during a high school graduation trip to Aruba.

In an interview with Dutch NOS television Sunday, Spong said Aruban authorities suspected his client of "assisting in the murder, battery and kidnapping of Natalee Holloway."

Guido W.'s parents said in a statement that their son was "innocent until proven guilty," and they "cannot believe that he could have anything to do with the case."

Holloway, of Mountain Brook, Ala., was 18 when she disappeared. She was last seen leaving a bar with three young men on May 30, 2005, the last night of her trip to Aruba.
Spong said his client is a friend of Joran van der Sloot, the last person known to have seen Holloway alive. van der Sloot says he left Holloway alone on a beach after they kissed.

Holloway's parents are attempting to sue van der Sloot, 18, in a New York court. Their suit alleges he imprisoned and sexually assaulted Holloway, and caused her disappearance.

While Aruban authorities are keeping all options open, they believe Holloway is most likely dead and buried on the island. Police in Aruba say prevailing currents would have likely washed her body ashore if she drowned or her body was thrown into the sea.

In January, Aruban Police searched sand dunes on the northwest coast of the island. Dutch marines, the Aruban coast guard, the F.B.I. and hundreds of volunteers have also searched the island and coastal areas for Holloway.

Authorities have arrested eight people including van der Sloot in Holloway's disappearance and released them for lack of evidence. The latest suspect was questioned three times in Aruba shortly after Holloway's disappearance and twice later by Dutch authorities, Spong said.





On 5-23 CNN reported:



Murder Suspect in Holloway case freed

Attorney: Casino worker indicted on murder charge last week

(CNN) -- A man indicted in the Netherlands on charges of murder and manslaughter in the disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway in Aruba was released Tuesday, according to his attorney's office.

Guido Wever, 19, was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday in the Netherlands, an assistant to attorney Gerard Spong said, but an agreement reached between Spong and Aruban prosecutor Karin Janssen made that hearing unnecessary.

Under the conditions of the deal, Wever remains a suspect in Holloway's disappearance.

Earlier, Spong told the Dutch television network NOS his client was charged last Wednesday with murder and manslaughter, "and he is being questioned every day."
Spong said Wever was interviewed as a witness in June, days after Holloway disappeared on Aruba, a self-governing Dutch protectorate in the Caribbean off the Venezuelan coast.

"He is now a suspect, and the prosecution in Aruba is wanting him very quickly," the lawyer said.

Spong said he would ask the court in The Hague, seat of government of the Netherlands, to allow Wever to remain in the Netherlands "because I think that we can prove or make sure that he is not guilty."

If Wever, a casino worker on the island, is ordered by the court to be sent to Aruba, it would not be considered an extradition since Aruba is a Dutch territory.

Spong said "some witnesses" have identified Wever as a suspect, "but I think their statements -- their testimonies -- we can fight it easily."

Wever never met Holloway, Spong said. "He claims that he has never seen her, and he claims that he is completely innocent."

In a written statement, Wever's parents said they were "appalled" about their son's indictment.

Wever's parents described themselves as divorced but "very good friends," and said they "cannot believe that he could have anything to do with the case."

They said they hoped "the girl" will be found alive, and predicted "everything will come out all right" for their son, whom they described as "a caring person and very much liked by all others."

Though "justice should be done," they said, "we are all innocent until proven guilty. This counts also for our son."

The parents vowed to hold the news media accountable for any statements made about their son without proof.

"We respect freedom of opinion and freedom of press, but not at our personal expense," they said, adding they would not talk to the news media.

Wever is an acquaintance of Joran van der Sloot, who was once a focus of the investigation into Holloway's 2005 disappearance, a source close to the case told CNN.
Dutch authorities have cooperated with Aruba in the ongoing investigation.

Janssen, the chief prosecutor in Aruba, declined comment on the arrest, but is expected to speak to reporters Tuesday.

Under Dutch law, Police can hold a suspect for more than 100 days before filing charges.

Wever's arrest is the 10th made in connection with the Holloway investigation. All others held, including van der Sloot, have been released.

Holloway -- from the Birmingham, Alabama, suburb of Mountain Brook -- was celebrating her high school graduation with about 100 classmates and several parent chaperones on Aruba when she disappeared May 30, 2005.

A search of the tiny island by Dutch marines, the F.B.I. and hundreds of volunteers failed to find her.

Holloway, 18, was last seen leaving a nightclub in the Aruba capital, Oranjestad, with three men: van der Sloot, then 17, a Dutch national who is the son of an Aruban judge, and Surinamese brothers Deepak Kalpoe, 21, and Satish Kalpoe, 18.

The three, who have maintained their innocence, were arrested the following month but were released after a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to hold them.

In February, Holloway's parents, Dave Holloway and Beth Twitty, filed a lawsuit against van der Sloot.

In court documents, the parents accuse him of "malicious, wanton and willful disregard of the rights, safety and well-being of the plaintiffs and their daughter, Natalee Holloway."

The parents asked for unspecified punitive damages from the young man and his father.





On 5-23 the “Wyoming Star Tribune.net” reported:



Latest Lead in Holloway Case Evaporates

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - The latest lead in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway evaporated Tuesday when Dutch Police released a man identified by witnesses as having long, deep scratches on his face shortly after the Alabama teen vanished in Aruba nearly a year ago.

The suspect's lawyer said it was not hard to prove the story was nonsense. The man, identified only as "Guido W.," 19, was freed unconditionally with the consent of Aruba prosecutors after six "long, hard days" of questioning, attorney Gerard Spong said. He was the ninth person arrested and jailed in the case. All have been freed for lack of evidence.

However, Guido W. remained a suspect and agreed to be available for questioning when summoned by Police, Spong told The Associated Press.

The suspect was a croupier at the casino in the "Holiday Inn" where the 18-year-old Holloway was staying when she disappeared May 30, 2005, during a high school graduation trip to the Dutch Caribbean island. The Mountain Brook, Ala., woman was last seen leaving a bar with three young men on the last night of her trip.

The release of Guido W. apparently leaves Aruban authorities no closer to cracking a case that has generated worldwide media attention and tarnished the island's reputation. Islanders fear that Aruba, which gets 70 percent of its gross domestic product from tourism, will be permanently scarred by the mystery.

A man answering the phone at the suspect's family's home in Aruba said the family would not make any statements.

"The family has made it perfectly clear that they will not comment, react, whatsoever to whomsoever," said the man, who did not identify himself. "We refer everybody to the lawyer ... the family wants to be left alone right now."

Guido W.'s parents said Monday their son was "innocent until proven guilty," and they "cannot believe that he could have anything to do with the case."

The man was freed hours before a scheduled court hearing in The Hague on Aruba's request to transfer him to the island for further investigation. Spong said the Aruban prosecutor was persuaded there was an insufficient case to support the transfer request, and the hearing was canceled.

Guido W. was detained after five witnesses claimed to have seen him with deep, 3-inch-long scratches on his face that could have come from human nails, Spong said.

But those witness accounts were delivered eight months after the disappearance, he said. Police had questioned the teenager three times before he left Aruba on June 8, and no one had reported seeing suspicious facial scars.

The defense also had testimony from the suspect's tennis coach that he was not scarred and photographs of him from that period, the lawyer said.

"It was obvious that this was a fake story," he said.

Spong said the witnesses were fellow casino workers, but he declined to speculate on the motives behind their statements.

Spong said prosecutors had raised other reasons for their suspicions, including what they called Guido W.'s hasty departure from Aruba just nine days after Holloway's disappearance.

But Spong said the young man's father booked the air ticket to the Netherlands a month earlier, long before Holloway landed on the island.

Police also questioned him about the white car he drove in Aruba. A white car was seen near where Holloway disappeared, but Spong said "half the population" of Aruba drives similar cars.

Guido W. went back and forth to Aruba to be with his separated parents but since has returned to his studies in the Netherlands. Spong refused to say where he was now.

Guido was a friend of Joran van der Sloot, the last person known to have seen Holloway alive. van der Sloot says he left Holloway alone on a beach after they kissed.

Holloway's parents are trying to sue van der Sloot, 18, in New York. Their suit alleges he imprisoned and sexually assaulted Holloway, and caused her disappearance.

While Aruban authorities are keeping all options open, they believe Holloway most likely is dead and buried on the island. Police say prevailing currents likely would have washed her body ashore if she drowned or if her body was thrown into the sea.

In January, Aruban Police searched sand dunes on the northwest coast of the island. Dutch marines, the Aruban coast guard, the F.B.I. and hundreds of volunteers also searched the island and coastal areas for Holloway.





On 5-23 LINDA ALLISON stated to FOX News:
(Thank You and Hat Tip to “Heli”)


NOT VERBATIM NOT COMPLETE

Hannity & Colmes

Allan:

The lawyer for Guido Wever says his client does not make a good suspect because he's gay. Linda, if he was an accessory why does it matter that he's gay?

Linda Allison:

I heard that his sexual orientation is why he was released and I don't understand that at all. It has nothing to do with being an accessory or if you have information about Natalee's disappearance.

Allan

Whose word are they taking about his sexual orientation? Everytime there's a new suspect, is it a roller coaster ride for you and the family; it must be.

Linda:

It is definitely an emotional roller coaster ride and if you look at the events for this particular suspect, you can't help but grasp hope for this one, althought it's alleged that the charges brought were that he was involved with battery and murder and that's the shotgun approach they always take, then when they look at the evidence they have to release him, however it looks like that's how their system works.

ALlan

Are there other people who haven't been made public that should be questioned?

Linda

I do think there are some friends of the 3 suspects that may have been questioned and need to be brought back again. There's a witness they've been questioning lately, he was at the beach that night and potentially witnessed or actually said there was an occurrence that happened at the beach, later he was able to obtain some forensic evidence

Allen

Yesterday we had Joe Tacopina on our show and he says that his client is innocent, do you disagree with that?

Linda:

We do know that the Police remain focused on the 3 original suspects. You see that each time a suspect is brought in and held for 3 days or 6 days but those 3 suspects were detained the longest, which still doesn't mean they're guilty of murder but there's info there that they're not sharing

Sean:

I want to go back to what you mentioned before, that they are questioning this witness who was there the night of Natalee's disappearance, talking about an occurrence at the beach and some forensic evidence

Linda

This is information that came to light about a week ago, I don't have any other info at this time, but I hope that this witness is credible

Sean:

A witness or potential guilty party or somebody responsible

Linda

Actually this individual was a witness to observe some things that occurred on the beach.

Sean:

Did they witness something with Joran?

Linda:

I really can't elaborate at this point, we've had a witness that saw the 3 suspects, the gardener, he was an illegal alien and I think it's with this one as well Ppl can come and go that are not citizens, it was discussed early on

Sean:

One question about the occurrence, are we talking about sexual or violent activity?

Linda:

I'm not sure of those details, I just know an occurrence was observed

Sean:

This pattern of behaviour of the LE, they find somebody, put him in jail, hopes are raised and it sputters out. Haven't they lost credibilty with you and the family and even with the people or Aruba?

Linda:

With each arrest we think they may come closer, we're hopeful that GUido was co-operative, that he answered all the questions truthfully.





5-24-06

On 5-24 the ARUBAAN's news-source "Aruba Tradewinds Times" reported:



Average hotel occupancy rate fell in March 2006

Fall Occupancy Rates, Still At Acceptable Level

PALM BEACH-The average hotel occupancy rate stood at 83.5 percent in March 2006 in comparison to the occupancy rate of 88.9 percent of March 2005, a decline of 5.4 percentage points. The decline in average occupancy rate is a direct result of less visitors to the island in March 2006.

The decline in visitors to Aruba in March 2006 is linked to the fact that the long Easter weekend fell in April this year instead of March last year. The long Easter weekend traditionally attracts thousands of Latin American visitors to Aruba mainly from Venezuela. Aruba Tourism Authority has yet to release statistics of the amount of visitors to Aruba for the first 3 months of 2006.

The occupancy rates in Aruba have shown a declining trend since September 2005. The average hotel occupancy rates for January and February 2006 are of 83.1 percent (2.8 percentage points decline) and 87.8 percent (1.7 percentage point decline) respectively. Though the average occupancy rates fell, they are considered at acceptable levels in the hotel business.





On 5-24 the “Arkansas Leader.com” reported:



Keep up guard, victim’s mother warns students

Beth Holloway-Twitty, the mother of Natalee Holloway, an Alabama high school graduate who vanished almost a year ago while on a trip in Aruba, told The Leader Tuesday the release of a 10th suspect in her daughter’s disappearance was “another disappointment.”

Twitty, a speech teacher from Birmingham, Ala., was in Cabot speaking to several hundred Cabot High School students about the importance of keeping their guard up while traveling abroad. The day before, she spoke at Lonoke High School.

“We picked this time of year because a lot of juniors and seniors will be traveling this summer,” said Lonoke County Sheriff Jim Roberson, who coordinated Twitty’s local speaking engagements.

She has spoken to about 10,000 students in 12 states in recent weeks.

Twitty told the students the last time she saw her daughter alive was May 26, when she drove Natalee to the airport.

“She was so happy and excited,” Twitty said.

Natalee Holloway, 18, went missing last May, during a graduation trip to the small island with 124 of her Mountain Brook high school, Ala., classmates. The last time anyone saw Natalee, she was leaving Carlos’ n Charlie’s, a popular tourist bar and grill in Oranjestad, Aruba, at 1:30 a.m. May 30 with Joran van der Sloot, 17, Deepak Kalpoe, 21, and Satish Kalpoe, 18, in Deepak’s gray Honda.

“Natalee had a false sense of security with her many friends there. She was too confident and she felt safe and she let her guard down for a moment and in that moment she was kidnapped, raped and most likely murdered,” Twitty said.

Twitty learned of her daughter’s disappearance on May 31 when the travel agent called to tell her Natalee had missed her return flight from the Dutch Caribbean island. Twitty, her husband George Joe Twitty, along with several other concerned parents boarded a plane and arrived in Aruba at 11 p.m. May 31 where they found Natalee’s passport, neatly packed luggage, and mobile phone in her hotel room.

Her mother told students if the phone had international calling activated, Natalee might have been able to call for help.

“Natalee’s international calling wasn’t activated. That weighs heavily on my heart when I remember her hotel room,” Twitty said.

The Twittys and hundreds of volunteers spent a month in Aruba searching for Natalee everywhere, including the island’s crack houses and brothels. It was 10 days before anyone was taken into custody for questioning.

“Those 10 days gave the suspects time to clean up, corroborate their stories and hire lawyers,” Twitty said.

She was optimistic several times in the past year that the case would be solved, but her hopes were dashed when Police on the Caribbean island later released other potential suspects. The most recent suspect had been working as a card dealer in an Aruba casino at the time of Natalee’s disappearance. Identified only as Guido W. by authorities, he was taken into custody in Holland.

As part of her International Safe Travels Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to provide safety information to travelers, Twitty urged students traveling overseas to be aware of their surroundings and keep up with friends.

“You are responsible for your own safety,” she said.

“It’s been almost a year now since living every parent’s worst nightmare,” she said. “I don’t know what happened to Natalee, I don’t know where she is, I don’t know whether she is alive or not. It doesn’t look good,” Twitty said.

“I can’t make you understand the emptiness I feel when I wake up every single morning. I can’t describe to you the pain of walking past her bedroom door every day. I pray that your parents will never experience my pain,” Twitty told the students following a short film paying tribute to Natalee.

The film showed graduation photos of Natalee set to the song “Natalee, Where Are You Now?” written by Erika Harvey of Nashville, Tenn.

“I want the kids to walk away with a heightened sense of personal safety awareness,” Twitty told The Leader.

“We want to show them that there are challenges and consequences that they could face should they be a victim of a crime in a foreign country.”

For more information visit http://www.safetravelsfoundation.org.





On 5-24 “Blogs For Natalee” user identity “rammstein” reported:



Dutch news item about the release of Guido W. and transcript

(picture missing poster of Natalee)

voice:
Natalee Holloway disappeared in May last year
More than 10 suspects have been detained and released

(picture changes to ABC News video and other images of US news shows)

voice:
The Aruban public prosecution office is being hounded by a US media that claim/perceive any stalling/perceived period of no outward activity as incompetence or unwillingness on the part of the Aruban LE.
That criticism will only grow with the arrest last week of Guido W. in the Hague and his quick release

The Public Prosecutions Office thought it had solid evidence against Guido W.

0.26 minutes to 1.19 minutes

(picture blue screen with picture of Natalee on the left side and on the blue part is writting fleeing/vlucht)

voice:
In the first place Guido was said to have fled from the island shortly after the disappearance of the schoolgirl

(picture changes to Guido's lawyer mr. Spong)

voice of Gerard Spong:
the sudden flight theory was easily refuted because his father was able to produce the booking ticket/booking confirmation of the flight. The flight was booked on May 9th so three weeks before Natalee went missing.

(picture changes back to blue screen with Natalee's picture and the words "krassen op gezicht" which translates to scratchings on face)

voice:
according to five witnesses Guido had long scratches on his face the day after Natalee disappearance, possibly from fingernails

(picture changes to Guido's lawyer mr. Spong)

voice of Gerard Spong:
that was also very easily refuted because two officers of the Aruban Police interviewed him on June 3rd, June 7th and June 8, so within a few days of Natalee's disappearance had seen no trace of scratching in his face so that strongly points to the notion that there never were scratches to begin with.

(picture changes back to blue screen with Natalee's picture and the words "auto op strand" which translates to car on beach)

voice:
and witnesses had seen a white car on the beach, possibly Guido's car.

(picture changes to Guido's lawyer mr. Spong)

voice of Gerard Spong:
he does have a white car, but almost half the aruban population owns a white car. In tropical countries one mostly drives in white cars.

1.19 minutes to 1.51 minutes

(picture of Joran being lead away from the Police station)

voice:
Spong doubts that the Aruban public prosecution is able to handle this case

voice of Gerard Spong:
We also have to take into consideration that the Aruban LE has been suffering from tunnelvision

(picture changes to Guido's lawyer mr. Spong)

voice of Gerard Spong:
They have not sufficiently looked critically at the evidence that has been brought forward, people talk and B.S. around and because of that my client has been arrested and has been the victim of 5 fraudulent statements.

(picture changes to Aruban KIA prison)

voice:
according to Spong the dutch DA's office needs to take over the case from the Aruban DA's office but the sensitive relationship between the two prevents this.


THE END





On 5-24 ARUBAAN's news-source "Amigoe.com" reported:



Chinese interest in oil-prospecting near Aruba

Prime Minister Nelson Oduber (r) explaining what Aruba has to offer to Chinese investors.

ARUBA – A Chinese oil-refinery has shown interest in exploring and exploiting of oil and gas in the territorial waters around Aruba. Prime Minister Nelson Oduber (MEP) learned this during his visit to China.

On this trip, Oduber was accompanied by amongst others director of the Foreign Relations Administration (DBB) Agustin Vrolijk, director of the Free Zone Greg Peterson, and interim-director Aruban Investment Bank Frendsel Giel. Together with a representative of China Brazil Development Office, the Aruban delegation visited the PetroChina Fuel Oil Company that showed interest in exploring and exploiting of oil and gas in the territorial waters around Aruba. At the end of the visit, a representative of the Chinese refinery made it clear that the company would like to talk to Aruban business- and investments experts.

Karel van Oosterom, interim ambassador for the Royal Dutch Kingdom gave a reception in honour of the Aruban delegation, during which Oduber gave a presentation on “what the smallest island in the western hemisphere has to offer to the biggest country in the eastern hemisphere’ to representatives of the Chinese government, Chinese investors, representatives of countries in the region, and the media in Beijing. The presentation was in English and an interpreter translated his words for the Chinese listeners.

He talked about the possibilities that Aruba has to offer to investors and products from China that Aruba can import to the Latin American region, the Caribbean, and North America via gateway.

There was also another reception in honour of the Aruban delegation given by the KangMei Group, during which Oduber received a poster with more than 100 good wishes.





On 5-24 TITO LACLE stated to FOX News:
(Thank You and Hat Tip to “Heli”)



NOT VERBATIM NOT COMPLETE

Greta:

Tito, yesterday they did a search of Guido's house. What can you tell us about that?

Tito

They'll look for anything that can connect, documents, computer records possibly vehicles...in this particular case they took a computer, a quad racer and an odd piece of vehicle ...why we don't know. Anything that could possibly have a connection

Greta:

Is there any explanation from KJ since he was interviewd many times, why she waited almost a year to do the search and about a year after he left home

Tito

No, KJ is not talking at all, in fact no statement has been issued after the release, basically only happened from the lawyers.

Greta:

I take it the search took place after Karin Janssen decided to release him; she didn't have any evidence to keep him detained but she still got a search warrant for his house

Tito

Decision was taken last Monday, his lawyer was given a heads up and around 3:00 or 4:00 aruba time they did the house search which was about one and a half hours.

Greta:

Ted what do you think, this search after he was released?

Tedd:

This becomes dumber and dumber, this is so stuck on stupid, you release the guy, don't they believe he's going to contact his parents, they had one year if there was something in that house it would have been destroyed a long time ago.

Greta:

Jeff?

Jeff:

Ted is right, what we're looking for is fibre, hair DNA and all those things would be gone. Search his records on the computer for statements, that might inculpate him.

Greta;

Jim we're so , I admit I'm the leader about being discouraged, it's possible that there could be something in a document saying I did it, this is where the body is

Jim

We could play incredible aruban prosecutor, maybe they know somthing, maybe there's a diary with a confession. If we could ask about Aruban Law Enforcement, is there probable cause for that search warrant, I'd sure like to have seen that.

Greta:

After the person is released from custody, it's a signal you can't prove a case but yet in Aruba you're still stuck with charges.

Bernie?

Bernie:

By definition I'm a defense lawyer, I don't have words of wisdom. 9 days after Natalee disappears, he goes to Netherlands. His father says the flight was booked a month before, his father says his flight was bought a month before, it's keystone cops and we laugh. Nobody has seen anything, notoby can tell anything, nobody knows anything

Greta:

They say things off camera, Dave and Beth, they have a game face for the camera, off camera their hearts are broken

If they got answers, they could understand, they don't get answers but all they get is the goofy run around.
They can't blame Beth or Dave for that, that's the prosecutor's fault.





5-25-06

On 5-25 FOX News” FOX News GRETA VAN SUSTEREN reported in her “Gretawire” blog, “As most of you know, Guido Wever, age 19, was arrested in Holland last week in connection with Natalee Holloway's disappearance. He has been released. Here is a small news item: He is related to a frequent guest on our show — Arlene Ellis-Schipper. I was told they are cousins, but I don't know if that is first, second, etc. Cousins... and yes, Aruba is a small place.”

On 5-25 the “National Enquirer” reported:



EYEWITNESS TO NATALEE MURDER!

By David Wright

In a blockbuster development in the Natalee Holloway case, Police have questioned a man who claims to have witnessed her rape and murder on a desolate beach.

And Investigators in Aruba are seeking evidence the new witness says was left at the lonely crime scene that would reveal the DNA of the killer, The ENQUIRER has learned.

The stunning new twist in the case that has gripped America comes as Natalee's family endures the pain of the anniversary of her disappearance on May 30 last year.

The witness is a 40-year-old Colombian construction worker who says he's stayed silent until now because he's living in Aruba illegally and feared deportation.

The Colombian was turned over to prosecutors by former U.S. Secret Service agent Art Wood, who'd interviewed him on the island in April after the witness contacted Natalee's parents through an intermediary.

"He told me that the night Natalee vanished he had an argument with his wife, borrowed a friend's car and drove to the beach near the lighthouse," Wood told The ENQUIRER in an exclusive interview.

Pick up The ENQUIRER to read the rest of this story.





On 5-25 the “American Chronicle” reported:



Investigating by Contrasting Methods

Dale Netherton
May 25, 2006

There is rapidly evolving the realization that haphazard accusations and media flashes and alerts have as much value in determining the solution to a crime as a dartboard with random suspects. Getting viewers to tune in “for the latest” and then seeing nothing of substance is a way for the little boy to cry wolf and eventually turn off viewers which will dismiss this sensationalism as just more of the same. You will notice this approach produces sitcoms and series that die from repetition. It will also kill an investigation. Much like the executive that centers his career on short-term results and fails when he is faced with long term consequences from a limited vision, so too the media moguls have programmed themselves to fight for moments of attention instead of providing recognition that some stories are not conducive to this approach.

We return to the Natalee Holloway case and how this media frenzy for attention getting tidbits has left us with a missing person and a lot of disconnected dots. It is normal for a person to want their missing offspring to have awareness in the hope that the more people that know about the missing person, the more likely there will be someone who will know something and come forward. With a $250,000 reward and the attention that has been broadcast, it cries out for an explanation why there isn’t a soul that knows anything about anyone that might have been involved that has told what he knows.
If a carrot doesn’t work, you can be pretty much assured there is a stick that is overriding the temptation. In this case whoever knows something also knows there are those that can punish those who step forward and/ or their families or loved ones. This hokum about a rigorous methodology coupled with a legal system of requirements that keeps everything secret and occasionally pops up with a revelation, smacks of deception, delay and pandering. I’ve been told the crime rate in Holland is much lower than in the U.S. With such a system of justice that plays catch and release and exposes nothing for scrutiny, is it any wonder?

This facade of an investigation is going at it all wrong. The governments involved and the American media are not looking at the information they have and they are misleading the persons most concerned with finding Natalee down a primrose path that may appear to be supportive and as effective as could be expected, but they overlook two important factors. First they are not compiling the information to formulate possible solutions and secondly they are not getting any results which is a sure way to lose the public interest. There is a propensity for the media hounds to snoop and pry for new findings without thoroughly digesting what things have been discovered and how they fit together. This has been the direction given them and their obvious motive of seeking an attentive audience with this approach has accomplished the objective of them keeping their job, but it hasn’t produced a significant lead to finding Natalee.

When you keep doing the same thing and the results keep coming up the same, a reasonable person will consider whether another path might be appropriate. Driven by ratings and viewers attention the goal of truth has been overshadowed and diminished. The search for truth in the search for Natalee needs to override commercial concerns if answers are to be found. When the answers are found (which they won’t be by this randomized scoop method), then it will be time to analyze what it took to get to the bottom of this mystery. It’s funny that the media has never considered an analysis prior to the solution as an appropriate venue to accomplish a solution and at the same time have a lot of viewer’s attention. This is either because they don’t know how to analyze a mystery or they’re afraid it would be too risky as it would not be their familiar pattern of short flashes of comment and conjecture.

This could be done and it could provide not only an interesting series, but it could also be an alternative that opens up a lot of unconsidered possibilities. It could have audience participation and it could capture the information and many creative minds to consider ideas that haven’t been pursued because they did not fit the mold of the current day approach. It would be a wake up for the media that too long has thought it was the voice of the people and it knows what they want because they have done extensive polls. Did any poll ever ask if night after night of the same old rehash by the same old talking heads was preferable to actually conducting a mock investigation centered around compiling and digesting information? I doubt it.

Let’s suppose there was a program each week when a major disappearance or crime appeared to be unsolvable. Each week would bring experts and interested parties to posit their theories and concerns with the objective of compiling all avenues of approach to the investigation. Each week the previous week’s findings would be reviewed and a list of concerns would be documented for the audience and anyone interested to review and tie together all the known facts. Theories could be presented and critiqued for consistency and those that contradicted known facts would be discarded. Finally a theory that explained the known facts with the least amount of credible assumptions would be pursued for verification. This would narrow the search after sifting out the irrelevant. This would also allow for anonymity from those who have information but cannot get it visible without recrimination. Now this may not have the hype of a “news alert” that can be viewed and discarded as momentary revelation but it should lead to a solid analysis of the facts and a solution. This type of program would not be geared to the instant flashes of bit and pieces of information bounced on the screen to attract attention but a deliberate results oriented process designed to consider all of the known facts together instead of random shots at what might or might not be relevant. Obviously this would not appeal to everyone but it would certainly be more satisfying to the people that want answers and progress instead of pot shots leading nowhere.

Reality shows came into vogue because the video writers weren’t coming up with enough interesting material to attract audiences. This is what drives the industry i.e. finding what it is the viewers want to see. Now the antics of ordinary people placed in extraordinary conditions is fading. Getting a long term interesting run should be the goal of the networks and one that brings amateur sleuths together to solve a real life crime might just be the approach that will serve both the interests of the media and the crime victims. Bringing volunteer resources together to solve a crime motivated by their curiosity and passion would certainly get a lot of people involved in searching, theorizing and collaborating if it could be done via a process that could be commonly be agreed to. This is possible. If it materializes it may even discourage a crime or two. For no fox will rob a hen house where the dogs are in such huge numbers hungry for a chase. This would constitute a collaborative effort along with such programs as “America’s Most Wanted”.

It would be more focu3ed on one case offering a more in depth analysis. Otherwise we don’t have much to look forward to except more of the same which is not producing results. The contrast of the two methods is clear and with time so will be the lack of results from the current avenue of pursuit. Maybe a more vigorous search for the “new” instead of the “news’ would get this ball rolling.





On 5-25 of the “Scared Monkeys blog" reported:



I see everyone wants to know about this witness in jail, or where ever he is...i also see there are articles written about it... especially the NE.. so it cant really hurt to tell the truth...

so lets set the record straight about who and what he has seen or what he has or knows...

first he is from veneszuela. he has been paying $500 dollars to travel to aruba for a few times at a minimum. he seems to have been traveling back and forth for some time.. not legally...hes a illegal immigrant, but i dont think for work.. but for fun...

on 5-29-2005 ~ 5-30-2005 he and his wife were on aruba. he had a fight with his wife and decided to get out of where ever they were staying and take a break from her.. he traveled down to the lighthouse area. he was just hanging around.. he witnesseed joran and natalee, no kalpoes, having sex \ rape \ ???? he saw something very strange happen.. joran wrapped Natalee up in a blanket, he carried her down to the shoreline, he placed her on the ground and removed all of his clothes. he then picked Natalee up and carried her into the water and was gone for appox. 8-10 minutes...he re-emerged by himself. NO NATALEE.. and proceeded to put on his clothes...

he the went up the dune area and got into a car BY HIMSELF and DROVE HIMSELF AWAY... no kalpoes...

this witness was quite shocked by the entire episode and then proceed down to the area to see if anything was left behind, when he discovered a used condom.....

there is the evidence if true....if not....another dead end...

see you guys when i see you...





On 5-25 JOHN Q. KELLY stated to FOX News:
(Thank You and Hat Tip to “Heli”)



NOT VERBATIM NOT COMPLETE

Greta:

Is this the perfect mystery that can't be solved. John Kelly, should chief Prosecutor Karin Janssen step down?

John:

Either that or step it up, my patience is exhausted, my client's patience is exhausted , they've been let down continually. We need some answers, I've been trying to play good guy with this prosecutor and Police down there ..

Greta:

This ia a marked change in your tone about this. when did you get into this case

John

November

Greta:

It sounds like you're at the frustration level we've been at for awhile

John

I've been trying to coach the family to stay calm, that hasn't worked, there's been no focus no purpose, everything has been futile. I've gotten calls from Janssen asking if we can be accommodated with the one year anniversary coming up, Steve Cohen and the tourism board and everybody is on high alert with the year anniversary. It's the prosecution and the Police they've been sitting on their hands for a long time ./..

Greta:

Are they lazy, inempt or is this the perfect mystery

John

You have 3 young men who were clearly with Natalee, they know what happened to her, they've had had no repurcussions from the Police, they were let out for 10 days to get their ducks in a row

Greta:

I'm scandalized that people hanging around on the beach didn't get questioned ...

John

I agree, I don't have tunnel vision on J2K's, they're primary suspects with the evidence we have against them..any number of things can have happened, we can't eliminate anything..I don't think they've explored everything. This guy in Holland they should have interrogated him a year ago, searched his house a year ago.

Greta:

The answer is yes then, Karin should go?

John

At some point she will be going Greta

Greta:

She won't be talking to you anymore …





5-26-06

On 5-26 the ST. MAARTEN “Daily Herald” reported:



Discussion on granting of airport concessions

ARUBA--Aruba Airport Authority (AAA) absolutely denies that there were irregularities with the granting of concessions in the airport building.

“We are still negotiating, thus the final decision still has to come,” says spokesperson Ruben Trapenberg. According to him, favouring a certain businessman is out of the question.

The reorganisation of the airport also includes changes to the retail businesses. Several newspapers placed announcements of the forthcoming public bid in mid-January. Interested companies could register and receive detailed information on the plans and the requirements to qualify for business space at the airport. There was a selection of the best businesses and these were invited to take part in the negotiations.

The companies that fit best in the plans of AAA will be announced in the coming weeks.
Activist Milton Ponson, leading man of Rainbow Warriors International, sounded the alarm. Somebody informed him that AAA had granted almost all the concessions to the companies of Richard Lacle. Ponsom said AAA had violated the rules for tender.

This was reason for Rudy Lampe of the opposition party RED to question the matter. Apparently, Lacle is connected with possible criminal offences, like money laundering and fraud.
The American justice department suspects him of laundering government money via all sorts of devious channels and of committing fraud with the building of the Piarco airport in Trinidad and with Calmaquip that was involved in the renovation of the Reina Beatrix airport.

Lampe is of the opinion that due to the above suspicions, this person should not be considered at all for concessions.





On 5-26 FOX News reported:



Friday & Monday 10pm / 3am ET
As the one-year anniversary of Natalee Holloway's disappearance approaches, Greta van Susteren reveals the missed opportunities, false leads and outright lies that have plagued this investigation from the beginning.

• Click over to watch a clip.

…

Crime Scene: Missing In Paradise
It's the one-year anniversary of Natalee Holloway's disappearance and we put together all that's known to form a picture of what might have been the perfect crime
• Watch Friday and Monday at 10 p.m. ET

…

Crime Scene: Missing In Paradise

An Alabama teenager goes missing on a school trip to Aruba. She is last seen leaving a popular nightclub with three local boys who provide conflicting stories about what happened next. Within twenty-four hours, her family is on the island, putting pressure on the boys, their parents and local Police for answers. And Greta van Susteren and FOX News are with them.

We've been investigating this case for the last twelve months. Now, as the one-year anniversary of Natalee Holloway's disappearance approaches, we put together all that we've learned. The missed opportunities, false leads and outright lies that have plagued this investigation from the beginning are revealed in a one-hour, "Crime Scene" special. Joran van der Sloot, still the prime suspect, gives his version of his last moments with Natalee. It's an account that has never been corroborated by anyone else.

Everyone has seen bits and pieces of this story. When you put them all together, they form a picture of what might have been the perfect crime.




TRANSCIPT OF THE SHOW. HAT TIP THANK YOU TO “Blogs for Natalee” identity “Jane”:



CRIME SCENE: MISSING IN PARADISE, hosted and narrated by Greta van Susteren.
Video clip quotes indented.

Her smiling face has filled television screens for the last year. But as everyone now knows, Natalee Holloway, known as Hootie by her classmates, never made it home from her school trip to the Caribbean island of Aruba.
BETH TWITTY: Oh, I knew, within, probably three seconds, that Natalee had been kidnapped in Aruba.

But was she?
ANITA VAN DER SLOOT : She will, she will appear somewhere.

Three local boys admit to being the last ones to see her.
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : She was asking me to stay and I told her I really had to go.

But a year after her daughter mysteriously disappeared, a mother still frantically searches for answers.
BETH TWITTY: We’ve come way too far now. Now we are deep in it and there is no turning back.

Hello and welcome to Crime Scene. I am Greta van Susteren.

During the last 12 months, the Holloway case has raised far more questions than it has answered. Is her mysterious disappearance a tragic accident, a kidnapping or a cold-blooded murder?

Fox News has been investigating this one from the beginning. And now, we put together everything we learned. Let’s begin with a quick trip to a very unlikely crime scene.

PALMS & PROMS

TITO LACLE: Paradise. Gorgeous beaches. Arubaans are very friendly people.

Welcome to the island of Aruba. A tropical oasis located in the heart of the Caribbean. Just 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela. Twenty miles long by six miles wide, Aruba is only slightly larger than our Nation’s capital.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: What’s the population?
TITO LACLE: A little over 100,000.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: So chances are everyone doesn’t know everybody but you know a lot of people?
TITO LACLE: Somebody has met everybody at one point.

Tito Lacle is an investigative reporter for Aruba Today. He’s lived here for the last decade.
TITO LACLE: Everybody that lives in Aruba for a couple years becomes an Aruban.

But, it’s the 1.5 million tourists who visit the island each year that drive the country’s economy --- many of them young people from the U.S.

Last year, 18-year-old Natalee Ann Holloway became one of them.

Natalee’s mother, Beth Holloway-Twitty …


GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: When did you first hear that Natalee wanted to go to Aruba?
BETH TWITTY: Hmm … probably about as early as, umm … let me say February.

Life was just beginning for this blond, blue-eyed beauty from Mountain Brook, Alabama.

Natalee’s stepmother, Robin Holloway …


GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: If I ran into Natalee on the street, just the two of us, what would I think about her?
ROBIN HOLLOWAY: Beautiful, sweet, smart … you’d like her. She’s outgoing, talkative, outstanding, amazing girl.

And like most 18-year-olds, headstrong.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Independent child?
BETH TWITTY: Oh, absolutely. Unbelievably independent. Absolutely.

In 2003, Natalee’s stepbrother, George, then a senior, went to Aruba for his graduation. The trip was a hit and Natalee was determined to go, too. After all, with a slogan like “One Happy Island,” to describe the place, who wouldn’t want to celebrate the end of his high school years here?
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: How do you describe her level of excitement?
BETH TWITTY: Oh, it was huge! I think we started to buy the bathing suits in February.

The trip was to include 124 seniors from Natalee’s high school. Bob Plummer when along as a chaperone.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: How many chaperones went on the trip?
BOB PLUMMER: Ah, there were seven. We met with the students everyday, to make sure that everything was fine, that they were … , you know, nothing was happening.

And, with seven adults to watch out for the kids, what could go wrong?
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Did you travel as a crowd?
ELIZABETH CAIN: Right, no one every traveled alone.

Natalee and her classmates booked rooms at this hotel --- the "Holiday Inn" on Palm Beach.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Any American’s, or any Aruban woman, or any other tourists ever have trouble in that area? Any single women have trouble?
TITO LACLE: I’ve heard of people having trouble, in the past, but nothing major.

And knowing that her daughter was off to a foreign country where bars and casino gambling are open to anyone age 18 and older, Beth Twitty sat Natalee down for a few words of wisdom.
BETH TWITTY: Maybe it was Tuesday or Wednesday, before Natalee left, I just remember having that very simple mother-daughter talk, just to remind her, you know, Natalee, when you are out at a club like that --- she turned 18 in October --- but Natalee had not had the experience of frequenting night clubs.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: On the morning that she left, where you there when she left?
BETH TWITTY: Oh, I was. I took her to a friend’s house at 4 a.m. on the morning of the 26th and just dropped her off there. And, she was happy and I gave her a kiss and love you and have a fabulous time.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Do you remember your last conversation before she left, before you dropped her off that morning?
BETH TWITTY: You know, really I don’t, Greta. I mean, it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

But, there is one thing that sticks in Beth Twitty’s mind today: a detail rarely reported about her stepson George’s trip to the island two years earlier.
BETH TWITTY: I believe they were at Carlos’ n Charlie’s and there were several of his classmates there --- some girls and they were dancing and some of the guys in the club were hitting on them. And, George always felt like if he hadn’t have been there, he was not really sure where that might have … what might have happened.

Up next, inside the club where Natalee spent her last night.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: What were people saying about her conduct on the island.
TITO LACLE: Very wild.

Tough questions for the boy who was seen leaving with her.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: I assume, correct me if I’m wrong, you’d take her back and have some sort of relationship with her at that point?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Yeah.

We’re back at the Crime Scene in 2 minutes and 45 seconds.

(break)
Welcome back. Natalee Holloway was last seen leaving a local club in the early hours of May 30th, 2005. She was scheduled to fly home with her classmates later that day. What happened between approximately 10:00 p.m., when she left her hotel room, and 3:00 a.m., when she was, supposedly, left alone on a local beach holds the key to why she never made that flight.

LAST CALL

During the day, there is no end to the places tourists can enjoy Aruba’s near perfect climate. But, when the sun goes down, if you are under 30 there’s just one spot to be, Carlos’ n Charlie’s.
TITO LACLE: It’s a fun place. Americans drive there 7 days a week. Unbelievable. It is always packed, always full.

Carlos’ n Charlie’s was certainly a big hit with the students from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who would get a special musical greeting each time they showed up.
TITO LACLE: The minute they would walk in, (Carlos’ n Charlie’s) would play “Sweet Home Alabama”, and (the Mountain Brook students) would go nuts.

Now the popular hang out if famous for something else: It’s the last place Natalee Holloway's classmates saw her.
ELIZABETH CAIN: It closed at 1 so everyone so just moved outside altogether and got in taxis.

Everyone except Natalee who we now know left with this boy: 17-year old Joran van der Sloot and two of his friends.
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : It was like, ok. Yo5 want me to go with you and I was like, ok.

They had met only a few hours earlier at the Excelsior Casino in Natalee’s hotel.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: This is the entrance to the casino where Natalee met Joran.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : I was there, alone ... I was there alone playing cards.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Did Natalee talk to him?
RUTH MCVAY: In passing, not a conversation.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Anything catch your attention about Natalee or her friends? Anything do you recall?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : I mean no. Nothing catch my attention. Seemed like normal girls.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: What did you think of him?
RUTH MCVAY: Normal teenage boy.

Just normal teenagers having a normal time. But exactly what’s considered normal for a group of kids celebrating their high school graduation at a resort in Aruba?
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: What do you hear about Natalee? What were people saying about her conduct on the island.
TITO LACLE: Just like all the others. Very wild.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: When she was there, was she drinking a lot?
RUTH MCVAY: No.
FRAN BYRD: No.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Drinking a little tipsy?
RUTH MCVAY: She is really responsible.

And, Joran van der Sloot?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : I had a drink during the poker tournament but at that point, I hadn’t taken a drink. They were drinking, however.

Joran says he was driven to Carlos’ n Charlie’s by two friends, brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Did you tell Deepak, that night, that you had met these ...
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Yeah, I told them, that’s exactly what I told them. I told them I met a couple girls and they asked if I wanted to go out. So, that’s what I plan to do.

He snuck out of the house without telling his father. And, according to his story, when they got to the bar, Natalee was already in a party mood.
She was dancing. She screamed at me to go dance with her.

It’s a story that has never been collaborated by any of Natalee’s friends.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Did Natalee say anything about him when he came in?
RUTH MCVAY: No.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Not a word?
RUTH MCVAY: She didn’t say anything about him. The only time ... I left a little early and she was standing with him, but she wasn’t ...
ELIZABETH CAIN: The hadn’t planned on seeing each other, at all.
RUTH MCVAY: They didn’t know each other.
ELIZABETH CAIN: Yeah, they didn’t know each other.

Yet, according to Joran, Natalee was coming on to him, big time.
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : She took me to the bar which is on the other, left hand side and she jumped on the bar, so sitting on the bar.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Sitting or lying down?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Sitting first and then she said, are you going to take a jelly shot off me.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: What is that?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : It is just something that ... A jelly shot is what you put on your belly button, a body shot, I mean. And, you take it off of the belly button.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: And, you did that?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : And, I did that.

If this were new behavior for Natalee, it certainly wasn’t for Joran.
YOUNG MAN FAMILIAR WITH JORAN: He gets a lot of girls.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: So, is he a real ladies man? Is that a good description?
YOUNG MAN FAMILIAR WITH JORAN: More or less.

And he seems proud of it. We found these photos on a web site listed as his personal blog.

Now, there is nothing criminal about a 17-year old boy chasing girls. But, what happens when he catches them?
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: One of the theories that got batted around was Natalee’s drink, that night, could have been spiked? Every find any information or evidence to support that?
TITO LACLE: People tell me that there is no proof of that but they visual saw, from experience at Carlos’ n Charlie’s, that Natalee had drunk a lot that day.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : She’d been drinking but she wasn’t drunk. I mean, she knew what she was doing.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Any interest in her at that point?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Ahh ... at that point, when she got my hand and took me to the bar, yeah.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: At what point did you leave Carlos’ n Charlie’s?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Ahh ... yeah ... when it was ... when it was closing ... when everyone started leaving and you saw all the groups of people leaving.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Had you made any agreement or arrangement with Natalee, at that point, to leave with her?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Oh, no ... not at all ... she ... that’s a ... oh, that came very spontaneously. She said, ok ... yeah ... do you want me to go with you. And I was like ok. And ... ahh ... I asked her if she wanted to go back to her hotel? And that’s when she said she wanted to ... she asked me if I had a big house or not. And ... ahh ... then, then she said ... I said, do you want to see my house? She said, like yeah. So ... I want to go to your house.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: I assume, correct me if I’m wrong, you’d take her back and have some sort of relationship with her at that point?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Yeah.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Did you actually make it to your house?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Yeah. We did. We actually did stop in front of my house. We got to my house. And ... ahh ... then ... ahh ... and then I ... and then she said wanted to go see sharks.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Why sharks? Any Idea?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : I have no idea why she wanted to go see sharks. And so, I was laughing, telling her there’s no sharks.

Not the aquatic kind, anyway. And not behind the Marriot Hotel where they were dropped off by Deepak and Satish.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: What’s the beach like, north of the Marriott, at 3:00 in the morning? Any idea?
TITO LACLE: It’s what you call a love cove. I am not sure of the right wording, but people make out there. It’s very romantic. It’s very secluded. Very private.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : That’s where ... where we got out of the car and I told ... ahh ... Deepak that ... ahh ... I’ll call you later ... to ... to pick me up and he said ok. And he left. And we walked on the beach.

CRIME SCENE

Still to come ...
BETH TWITTY: Well, what could he do? It was too late.

A desperate mother’s search begins.
BETH TWITTY (talking to someone inside of a store): ... Hope for Natalee bracelet. Could you wear one? Ok, good! Great!

What did Joran do to Natalee on the beach that night?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : It was the biggest, biggest mistake, ever ... probably the biggest mistake of my life.

Crime Scene: Missing In Paradise continues after this break.

(break)
Joran van der Sloot and his two friends have admitted to leaving a popular club with Natalee Holloway on her last night in Aruba. What happens next depends on who you choose to believe.

THE MORNING AFTER

We know that Natalee Holloway and her classmates were drinking at Carlos’ n Charlie’s the night she disappeared.
FRAN BYRD: There was about 100 people there and we would all just stick together there.

At least one of them saw her leave the club with Joran and his two friends Deepak and Satish and Kalpoe in Deepak’s car.
FRAN BYRD: He was able to describe to Natalee’s mom and step dad, later, what the car looked like.

And we think we know where they went next.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: This is the beach ... the beach that, apparently, Joran is now saying he came with Natalee Holloway in the early morning hours of May 30th. But, the one thing that I cannot emphasize enough is that we don’t have it verified.

That’s because as far as we know, not a single person has reported seeing them that night.
BETH TWITTY: They’ve got the fishermen, you’ve got restaurant help, security guards saying that there’s no way that they saw Joran and Natalee where there.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Are you able to estimate how long you were on the beach with Natalee?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Ahh ... yeah ... it was probably an hour, maybe not even an hour.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: What did you guys talk about?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : We talked about ... she said about that she was going to her school, and she didn’t want to leave Aruba because she loved it so much ... she thought it was the best place in the world. And ... uhh ... yeah, umm ... that’s stuff we talked about.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Did you have sex with Natalee?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : No ... no ... not.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: How come? I mean, that was your intention and ...
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : I mean, when ... umm ... when ... when it actually at the point when it did get down to that, I didn’t have a condom with me.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: And what was her reaction to all this?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Yeah ... she understood that and she didn’t want to do it without a condom either.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: At some point, you and Natalee separated according to ....
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Right.

Joran says he told her he had to get up for school in a few hours. But that she didn’t want to leave.
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : She was asking me to stay and I told her I really had to go, so for me to bring her back to her hotel. And ... ahh ... then, I said at the end, I said ok well I am going to call Deepak to come pick me up.

But according to Joran, it was Satish, not Deepak, who showed up around 3:00 a.m.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Did Satish ever get out of the car when he picked you up?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Oh ... no no no never. He stayed behind the wheel the whole time.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Did you point to the general area where Natalee was?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Yeah. I said that we were right there and ... umm ... that ... that ... you know ... he said, yeah, screw it, let’s go home.
We really went without even saying goodbye to her, without even really saying ... telling her at that point that we were going to go.

Joran van der Sloot made it into school that morning.
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : I took an exam that day and I did well in the exam.

Natalee Holloway was never heard from again.
BETH TWITTY: ... moments that I am so angry ...

Beth Holloway-Twitty got the grim news on her cell phone outside of Memphis, Tennessee.
BETH TWITTY: I began immediately placing 911 calls. And, I said, my daughter’s been kidnapped in Aruba. I need help.

She was on a flight with her husband that same night.
BETH TWITTY: I think it was 5:00 or 5:30 and we were off.

After touching down in Aruba, they were taken to the van der Sloot home. Joran, his father Paulus and Deepak Kalpoe were waiting outside.
BETH TWITTY: There just standing there talking. I’m thinking, you know, we know they have her, we know they took her, why can’t we ... why can’t we do something?

The Aruban Police had already assigned 10 officers to the case. But this early on, there was nothing to suggest a crime had been committed.
TITO LACLE: It was a person missing. Many people go missing for a day and then end up sleeping at another place or the party all night and they just went on their own.

But when Beth Holloway-Twitty confronted Joran at the "Holiday Inn" later that evening, she knew something terrible had happened.
BETH TWITTY: I was clutching Natalee’s senior picture and Joran approached the car. And, as he approached the car, I said, “I want my daughter back.” And, all he would do is hit his chest and throw his head back and just (say), “What do you want me to do?”


What could he do? It was too late. (Beth voice begins to crack with emotion.) It was too late. I mean, that’s what it was. It was too late and there wasn’t anything he could do about it and he didn’t care. That what it was. That’s exactly what it was.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: And your search began here.
BETH TWITTY: uh huh.


Still to come.
BETH TWITTY: Those three boys and Paul van der Sloot, they know what happened to Natalee. They know where she is. Yes, they do.


Police begin to real in their catch. Joran and Deepak are caught in a lie.
ANTONIUS “MICKEY” JOHN (one of the two security guards arrested): He and the Dutch guy and the Dutch guy’s father ... they sit and made up this story.

And the son of the former lead Investigators reveals new information about one of the latest suspects.
MICHAEL DOMPIG: What he does is, he buys a lot of drinks for the girls. As soon as the girls are like little drunk ... that’s the only way he gets them.

Crime Scene: Missing In Paradise continues after this break for the latest news.

(break)
Welcome back to Crime Scene: Missing in Paradise. I am Greta van Susteren.

It’s been a year since Alabama teenager, Natalee Holloway, vanished from a school trip to Aruba. During that time the Aruban Police have come under a torrent of criticism for the way they’ve handed the case. Whether you agree or disagree with their tactics, they’ve certainly been busy. Ten suspects have been arrested, released and in some cases, re-arrested. But are we any closer to finding out what really happened?

THE NET TIGHTENS

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Were you home when the Police suddenly showed up?
ANTONIUS “MICKEY” JOHN: Yeah, I was home, sleeping
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
RUUD OOMEN: My client was Deepak ... that he maintains his innocence.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
DAVID KOCK: ... Eighteen-year-old boy. All of the sudden, now, is in big jail.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
STEVE CROES: I don’t want to say anything about the whole case.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
UNKNOWN REPORTER: (Asking Joran van der Sloot) Are you guilty?

Someone certainly is, but who? But what no body and no forensic evidence, exactly what are they guilty of?
TITO LACLE: Anyone in Arubam law that is arrested, the minute you are arrested, you become a suspect.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: So if you can’t afford a lawyer to go back in court to clear you name, even if you have done nothing wrong, you remain a suspect?
TITO LACLE: Exactly.

First to feel the fickle hand of Aruban justice, local security guards Abraham Jones and Antonius “Mickey” John.
ANTONIUS “MICKEY” JOHN: I open my eyes and 10-15 detectives inside my room.

The two previously worked near the "Holiday Inn" where Natalee and her classmates had been staying
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Mickey, when you got picked up, did you think you would be getting out?
ANTONIUS “MICKEY” JOHN: Yeah, I was positive, I knew I would be out. Sooner or later, I knew I would be out because I knew I was very innocent.

Evidently, Police thought so, too. The pair were leased eight days later.
ANTONIUS “MICKEY” JOHN: (Said to the press with clapping in the background) Do nothing, fear nothing.

But, why were they picked up in the first place? The surprising answer came from a fellow prisoner with a familiar name.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: At some point Deepak was brought into the same facility. Deepak Kalpoe, right?
ANTONIUS “MICKEY” JOHN: Uh huh.

Deepak Kalpoe, brother Satish and their friend, Joran van der Sloot, were the last ones seen with Natalee Holloway the night she disappeared.
ANTONIUS “MICKEY” JOHN: If I knew that there were at least three people more involved ...

At first, according to this Police statement obtained by Fox News, the trio told Police they had dropped the very tipsy teen off at her hotel in the early hours of morning.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: If someone came in through the door drunk, that drunk, for instance, the person at the desk might remember that?
HOLIDAY INN SPOKESPERSON: I guess, certainly they would. Definitely, because there’s always someone here.


Yet, nobody saw them and there is no evidence of Joran and Natalee on security camera tapes, either. There’s a simple reason for that. She was never there.
ANTONIUS “MICKEY” JOHN: The story being made up ... about dropping the girl off at the "Holiday Inn" or something was made up.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Whose idea was it to make up the story? Yours or Deepak’s?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : It was kind of both of ours.

But, according to Mickey John, there was a third person involved in the bogus story.
ANTONIUS “MICKEY” JOHN: He and the Dutch guy, and the Dutch guy’s father -- they sit and made up the story.

The Dutch guy’s father is Joran’s father, Paulus van der Sloot, a prominent legal figure on the island. If he really advised his son of what to say, what we are looking at here are three suspects in a possible murder investigation being coached by a judge in training.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Did he specifically say, Deepak specifically say to you that the father was part of that?
ANTONIUS “MICKEY” JOHN: Deepak told me that he and the family sit down and they made up this story.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: So family and not father.
ANTONIUS “MICKEY” JOHN: Well, I don’t know who the family consists of, but I know the father was involved according to him.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Ok.


If Joran van der Sloot had expert legal advice, it couldn’t keep him out of jail. Ten days after Natalee disappeared, he was arrested, with Deepak and Satish, and brought in for questioning.
TITO LACLE: As time progressed, witnesses were coming forward and everything was in the direction of Joran.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: We know Joran van der Sloot was the last person to be seen with her, but was there any evidence that there was, indeed, foul play, a murder; any evidence that Joran had done it other than other than inconsistent statements and lies, and everything else?
TITO LACLE: They say they had phone records, they have internet records, they have message records but nothing else.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Sometimes they’d integrate me from 8:00 in the morning till 10:00 at night.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Under what conditions?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Umm ... in a room with a video camera on you and a ... two interrogators in the room.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Other than the lie about the "Holiday Inn" and the two guards, did you lie to the Police at all?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Umm ... that’s what I said to you about that ... that, umm, that Deepak and Satish dropped me at my house ... that’s ....
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: So two lies, essentially?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Yeah.

Was the investigation really heating up? Two more people linked to the "Holiday Inn" lie are picked up by the Police: Steve Croes, the DJ who said he say Joran, Deepak and Satish returned Natalee to the hotel is first:
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: So, you just, you just made that up?
STEVE CROES: Yes.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Why?
Grumbling seen from the passenger in the car that Steve Croes was driving
STEVE CROES: Don’t worry, ahh ... (said to the passenger).
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Just tell me why and I will let you go. Why?
STEVE CROES: Maybe I was just trying to be a good person to help somebody. That’s it.

He’s quickly followed by Joran’s father. But, where the ill fated security guards spend nearly nine days in the slammer, Paulus van der Sloot pulls just three.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Just quickly, what story did you tell the Police?
STEVE CROES: I just ... I cannot tell (garbled) ...
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Just give me a little brief summary -- I'll go.
STEVE CROES: I just told you guys already. I don’t want to talk anything about the case anymore.

It’s doubtful Joran’s father told Investigators much of a story, either. According to Aruba attorney, Ruud Oomen, legally he didn’t have to say a word.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Under law here in Aruba, if a child says something to a parent, is there a privilege so the parent doesn’t have to disclose it?
RUUD OOMEN: Yes.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: So if, hypothetically, if Joran said something to his father, that would ...
RUUD OOMEN: The parents don’t have to make any statement on whatever their son is charged with.

Up next …


GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: You said Deepak gave you a ride home and then it changed to Satish ...

Joran isn’t the only one to be caught in a lie.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: You know Deepak?
STEVE CROES: No.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: You don’t know Deepak?
STEVE CROES: I don’t know none of them.

And a new suspect appears. Crime scene continues after this.

(break)
From the morning after she disappeared to the latest arrest, the Natalee Holloway case has been plagued by false leads, missed opportunities and outright lies. Now looking back, they seem as clear as day, but why weren’t they caught early on?
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: You know Deepak?
STEVE CROES: No.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: You don’t know Deepak?
STEVE CROES: I don’t know none of them.

SEX, LIES & AUDIO TAPES

LOCAL ARUBA REPORTER (?): He knows Deepak from Cybernet Café where he works, I mean where Deepak works, and Steve Croes came there, frequently there, and met Deepak. Joran --- he knows from the "Tattoo".
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Do you know the DJ from the "Tattoo" --- the party boat?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : I don’t know the guy. I never met him before.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: You don’t know this guy?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : I don’t know this guy and I never talked to him before.

Three different interviews --- three different answers --- to one simple question.
TITO LACLE: They have a sense that Joran is not telling the entire truth.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: You said Deepak gave you a ride home and then it changed to Satish. Can you explain that or is there not a discrepancy?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : No, there is a discrepancy there and I did at one point say that … ahh … that Deepak took me home. We said … ahh … when we were in the house talking that we would keep … ahh … that we keep … ahhh …. Satish’s little brother out of it as much as possible when we’d actually made up the story to say that we dropped her off at the "Holiday Inn."
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Why did you want to keep Satish out of it?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : I didn’t want to. That’s what Deepak wanted.

But in a twist that could destroy Joran’s van der Sloot’s alibi, on the night he claims to have left Natalee on the beach, neither of the Kalpoe brothers would admit to coming back to pick him up.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Why did you think they didn’t say that?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : I don’t know. I mean, of course, you start thinking, you know … why wouldn’t someone say that they … why wouldn’t you just come forward and tell the truth now?
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: And what did they say?
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : Either they didn’t say anything or they said, yeah, we didn’t pick you up.

Now the lies seem to be getting to the liars, too. This is a transcript of a conversation between Joran and the Kalpoe brothers, recorded while in Police custody. It has been translated into English.

Here, Deepak claims to have heard that Joran has fingered him as the killer.
VOICE FOR DEEPAK KALPOE : “Your going to talk s**t about me that I have buried the girl by fisherman’s hut.”


VOICE FOR JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : “Who said about burying, I said nothing about burying.”


VOICE FOR DEEPAK KALPOE : “That’s what you testified. Stop with that bulls**t.”

And was the statement from Satish intended as sarcasm?
VOICE FOR SATEESH KALPOE: “Yes yes yes yes, I picked you up and after I went back to the beach, again, for her.”

If Natalee were buried on the beach, searchers should have found her by now. Tito Lacle was in on one of their early efforts.
TITO LACLE: They loaded, like more than 15 buses of people, including Marines, all over the island, the whole afternoon searching until late night. People who had no clue who Natalee was. Locals, they gave up their afternoon. Mothers, fathers, kids. They searched. I was with them. Unheard of. Never before.

The hunt for Natalee took Investigators everywhere --- from a local pond to a septic tank behind the van der Sloot home.
EQUUSEARCH VOLUNTEER (while looking at some sort of scan readout): He hit something there --- right when he went over the bush.

The Arubaans were joined by volunteers from an American company, Texas EquuSearch. Founder, Tim Miller.
TIM MILLER: … there was actually all over the island. We were at Fisherman’s hut with ground penetration radar. We were over at the pond, but most of us were at the dump and really interested in some things over there.

Even as the search continued, new tips kept pouring in.
TITO LACLE: We just saw Natalee. Person that looks just like Natalee. We saw Natalee at the beach that day. That went on for the first three to four weeks. Constantly.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
BETH TWITTY: And you, you were, felt like you were so close to her, you felt like you were just about to get her, and it wasn’t her. I cannot tell you how unimaginable, how horrific that … that, that was.


The only thing theory Beth Twitty can definitely rule out is the possibility that Natalee ran away on her own.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: This is the room that Natalee was staying in?
BETH TWITTY: Uh huh.


Shortly after she vanished, [Beth] gave us a guided tour of Natalee’s hotel room.
BETH TWITTY: Those are her things. She’s all packed and ready to go.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: So it looks like that she even packed before she went out that night.
BETH TWITTY: Yeah, she was ready. Natalee’s a very organized little girl.


Unfortunately, according to medical examiner and Fox News contributor, Dr. Michael Baden, when it came to evidence gathering, Aruba authorities weren’t organized at all.
DR. MICHAEL BADEN: They didn’t look at and collect any of the forensic evidence from Joran and these two boys in the car, and the father’s car, which they should have done. Had they done that on day one, they may have a lot of forensic evidence that could have told them what happened.
If there were, was blood in Joran’s car or the father’s car, in the trunk, if there were hairs, if there were torn clothing, if there were bite marks on Joran, or scratch marks; all of that, on day one, would have been extremely helpful in trying to reconstruct.


Even Joran’s mother questioned, Anita, questioned the early hours of the investigation.
ANITA VAN DER SLOOT : Why did they let the boys go? Why didn’t they interrogate immediately? Deep, see wherever, any …


GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Including your son?
ANITA VAN DER SLOOT : Including my son, yes. He should have been held. He should have been interrogated from the beginning on. What did you do? Where did you go? Is there anything you have seen there? But they let the kids go.

So journalist Giovanni Lane says, Investigators are left playing catch up.
GIOVANNI LANE (Dario): They are now focusing on, not on the suspects they have now, but everything around it, like exactly what happened. What time did they actually leave from Carlos’ n Charlie’s? Who did they meet?

And unless new evidence can actually be found, Joran van der Sloot is under no obligation to help them.
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : I’ve told them everything I know and that’s all I can do. And it’s up to them now to solve the case.

When we return.
TITO LACLE: One Police person told me Natalee is not on the island.

A shocking new theory prompts another underwater search. And a new suspect linked to Joran van der Sloot is picked up in the Netherlands.
GERARD SPONG (attorney for Guido Wever): He was working in the casino.

Are Police close to finding what happened to Natalee? The final act of Crime Scene: Missing in Paradise is next.

(break)
Welcome back.

Everyone has a theory about what happened to Natalee Holloway. But, until recently, the Aruban Police weren’t revealing theirs. Now, a new revelation and with it, new arrests.

THE LATEST

After months of silence from Aruban authorities, last March, former lead Investigator, Gerald Dompig, revealed that Natalee may have died from a lethal mix of drugs and alcohol. He went on to say the Alabama teen might be buried on the northern tip of the island.

Then a month later, a surprise arrest. Was it related to Dompig’s theory?
ARLENE ELLIS-SCHIPPER, member of the ARUBA “STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS TASK FORCE”: It may have something to do with her disappearance and he is held for drug charges.

The new suspect is 19-year old Geoffrey von Cromvoirt. His family runs a security company that keeps an eye on Aruba’s hotels and beaches. Apparently, it didn’t keep a close enough eye on Geoffrey.
MICHAEL DOMPIG: He’s umm, the typical kid. Umm, only, the thing is, he’s ahh … for his age he is very childish.

Gerald Dompig’s son, Mike, worked beach security with Geoffrey.
MICHAEL DOMPIG: He always, as soon as he sees me, he’s like, ah, jumping behind me, coming, following me, hey where are you going, you going out, you know, let’s go out.

In an exclusive interview with Fox’s Julia van deras, Mike says Geoffrey like to party with young American tourists. A trait he shares with Joran von der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers.
MICHAEL DOMPIG: Well, he tries to be a ladies man. What he does is, he buys a lot of drinks for the girls.

Did Geoffrey try to get Natalee Holloway? His attorney, Eline Lotter Homan.
ELINE LOTTER HOMAN: They never met.

So, why was he picked up in the first place?
ELLIS-SCHIPPER: The arrest has been made because of reasonable suspicion. Reasonable suspicion under our law, you already have when you have a credible lead.

In recent months, reasonable suspicion put two more young men into Police custody.
ELLIS-SCHIPPER: They just confirmed that they, indeed, arrested a man, of 20 years old and with the initials “A.B.”

He’s followed by this man, Guido Wever, a dealer at the casino at Natalee’s hotel.
GERARD SPONG: He has stands for long days of interrogations, 6-7-8 hours a day.

Attorney, Gerard Spong …


GERARD SPONG: He has not seen Natalee coming into the casino. His job was looking at the table and not at the door.

And like von Cromvoirt and A.B., Police don’t have enough evidence against him. All three are released but they can be re-arrested at any time.
GERARD SPONG: He still stays a suspect, yes. And I think that is for formal reasons.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Dave, I suppose that you go up and down an emotional roller coaster as you hear this information about someone being arrested and we’ve been through this before?
DAVE HOLLOWAY: Yeah, we have a number of times, Greta.

But through it all, Natalee’s father, Dave, has clung to one idea.
DAVE HOLLOWAY: My theory has always been that they used a boat in disposal of Natalee.
~ ~ ~ Different Video Clip ~ ~ ~
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Did Police ever find anybody who was either friend of, or colleague of, or associate of, or someone the three knew, Joran or the Kalpoe bothers, who had a boat?
TITO LACLE: The story went, Steve Croes has a boat --- that is a person with a boat.

Steve Croes --- the DJ on the party boat, "Tattoo", who claimed to have seen Joran drop Natalee off at the "Holiday Inn" --- he lied about that. Is he lying again now?
TITO LACLE: Somebody had a boat. Not the "Tattoo", but a boat that could have taken Natalee out.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Are the Police embarrassed at all about this investigation?
TITO LACLE: Somewhat. In the beginning they admitted messing up. But after that, they think that everything they tried to do to fix everything that was going in the wrong direction.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Think this will be solved?
TITO LACLE: The better word is “hope?”


GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: What are the odds?
TITO LACLE: I don’t know.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Would you agree that we are still no father ahead than we were in last June?
TITO LACLE: I’ll tell you this much. Something happened. These three boys were involved. And there are pieces missing.

You can bet those missing pieces won’t come from the last known person seeing Natalee alive.
JORAN VAN DER SLOOT : I’m not going to talk to the Police anymore. They put me through a lot as well. You know, they were trying to solve the case but I don’t trust the Police anymore.

Beth Twitty doesn’t have a choice. For all the missteps and mistakes made by the Police, she needs to keep believing they can help her find her missing daughter.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: I don’t understand. Where do you find it within yourself, the strength --- at every single day, get up and be persistent, do it with determination, seemingly good cheer?
BETH TWITTY: I really look at it as I just don’t have another option. I don’t have a way out. This is the only way out.

Now, Natalee’s parents have taken matters into their own hands. They filed a civil suit against Joran van der Sloot and his father Paulus. A New York State Supreme Court Judge has yet to decide if the case can go forward.

Meanwhile, the criminal investigation continues. We’ve been on it from the beginning and we’ll stay on it to the end. For all of us at Fox News, I’m Greta van Susteren. Good Night.





5-27-06

On 5-27 the DUTCH news-sourced “AD.nl” reported:



Holloway Case, Netherlands Take over

Amsterdam - Exactly one year on and the investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway is virtually stalled.

Criminal law experts and the mother of Natalee see only one possible solution: direct action from the Netherlands

Dutch officers should take over the leadership of the Police team that is investigating the disappearance of Natalee Holloway on Aruba. That is what eminent criminal law expert Peter van Koppen wants to happen.

The investigation into the disappearance of the US teen is stalled after one year of investigating. At least 9 people are being accused of having kidnapped and murdered Natalee Holloway, more than 280 witnesses have been interviewed and there is a dossier on the case of 40.000 pages. But what happened to Natalee in the early morning of May 30th 2005 on Aruba? The investigating team does not know.

Criminal law experts and involved parties are under the impression that the Police and justice department have lost the plot. "It looks like the Arubaans have been arrested suspects out of thin air", according to van Koppen.

He thinks it would be wise to "have a Dutch team take over the case instead of letting the Arubaans plod on". "The Police team that is on the case now, is apparently not able to differentiate between ripe and green. A good Dutch team could steer them properly".

Lawyer Gerard Spong, who got to know the dossier through him defending the suspect Guido W., agrees with van Koppen. Spong calls the Aruban investigating the work of amateurs. According to him the case is so complex that a three judge group should deal with the case. Something that is not possible on Aruba.

The mother of Natalee Holloway, Beth Twitty, also hopes that Dutch detectives can finally shed some light on this case. In an interview with AD she calls the investigation on Aruba so far "a mess".

Aruban lawyers have noticed that witnesses and suspects keep being interviewed again and again. "People that have been interviewed twenty times get tired of that. Several witnesses refuse to even talk to the Aruban Police anymore", according to a lawyer. Police and justice department on Aruba do not want to comment.





On 5-27 ARUBAAN's news-source "Amigoe.com" reported:



Holloway-case leaves its marks on the Police-commissioners’ conference

ARUBA – The topic of the Association of Caribbean commissioners of Police (ACCP) conference is ‘Safety and Security’. Many of the meetings used the disappearance of Natalee Holloway as eye-catching example of the topic. Not so much the tracing of the teenager was relevant during the conference, but the learning of a lesson through that case.

The annual conference of the ACCP takes place from May 25th up till 31st. During the opening ceremony, Governor Fredis Refunjol emphasized the importance of the safety image. “People on vacation do not want to be concerned about what to expect around the next corner. Going on vacation is to forget the day-to-day concerns. Aruba is not the only island that has to deal with the consequences of a tragic incident. More islands had experienced negative publicity in the media in the past. That is a big problem for countries that depend on the tourism.”

He indicated that it is necessary to spread as much adequate information as possible on medical facilities for example and to display the amount of surveillance and control. According to the governor, safety is an integral part of the tourist product and enough attentions should be paid to the promotion of that.





On 5-27 ARUBAAN's news-source "Amigoe.com" reported:



Atia: Price control measures do not solve anything

ARUBA – The Aruban Association for Trade and Industry (Atia) concluded that the price control measures that the government has proclaimed do not solve anything; on the contrary, they produce an extremely negative effect on the tourism, the economy, and the society. Aruba prices herself out of the market.

According to Atia, it is about time that the government and the social partners sit down and talk and together come to a solution for the big- and still growing problems. Atia is of the opinion that the solution is not increasing the import tax on many products. “It is irresponsible to burden the community with more measures, without considering the micro- and macro economic consequences; especially now, after the price increases due to the increasing fuel prices.”

Atia admits that there are some external factors that influence the economy negatively. The Holloway-case plays an important part in this, but the government has to look at herself. The government apparatus is way too big. It is not the first time that this is being said. The International Monetary Funds, the World Bank, the Central Bank of Aruba and a great deal of other independent local and international instances pointed this out at several occasions.

Atia says that the government expenses are way too high for such a small community like Aruba’s. You cannot go back on the consequences of this by introducing measures and by blaming others for the situation, neither by intimidating persons that are not in agreement with the policy. The only way to go back is to decrease the expenses, says Atia.

Atia is afraid that the proclaimed measures have disastrous consequences for the economy. “In addition to the alarming prognoses for this year’s tourism, this can influence the revenue of the government adversely on the long run.”

Not only the local population of Aruba will notice the price increases, but also the tourists. Clothing, jewelry, and watches are the most popular articles for the cruise tourists. Atia is afraid that they would buy these products in other cheaper islands where their ship go. There are only two reasons why the government decided to increase the import tax on most of the products: the government has other priorities than the general interest, or the rulers do not have the capacity to take the right decision. In both cases, the result is extremely bad for Aruba.





On 5-27 “Summit Communications” reported:



INTERVIEW NELSON ODUBER

Aruba’s Premier talks about investment, safety and tourism

Nelson Oduber took over as Prime Minister following a landslide victory for his People's
Electoral Movement Party (MEP) at the polls in September last year. The MEP won 12
out of 21 Parliamentary seats making it the first single political party to take control of
the island since the early 1980s.

What kind of foreign investment is Aruba looking for?
We are working to improve the service and quality that we offer—this is the direction we
are going in now. We are looking for investors for premium hotels in the private sector.
We want to invest more in our communications, airport and service industry. We recently
took a $100 million investment commitment. Announcing investment like that is great, it
inspires confidence. Last week I had investors interested in Aruba from Hong Kong. This
is impressive. They see the potential in Aruba. They want to come with a different
concept of tourism.

Why should U.S. investors come to Aruba as opposed to any other Caribbean
island?
We have a lot of American investors already on the island. We are associated with the
European Union through being part of the Dutch Kingdom. That relationship is important.
We can introduce ourselves easily in the European market. Our good relations with the
U.S. and the EU give us the capacity to act as a bridge of markets. We speak their
languages—the whole administration of the private sector is conducted in English. We
have good infrastructure, water, electricity, airport and telecommunications, and our
education is very high level. We will also continue to offer incentives to investors.

Is Aruba a safe destination for foreign investment?
It is important for a country to have political stability if it is to attract investors. Aruba is
very safe and stable. We are the only party in the history of Aruba that ever won a
majority without a coalition. Investments are secure here. We have supervision of our
financial sector and we can use the Dutch supreme court. Our relationship with the
Dutch is crucial. They guarantee our financial system and human rights. Both
international and local investors are well treated here. You can bring your money in
and take it out of the country without any problems. Integrity is a key factor. We have
been working on this with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD). Integrity is what the world is looking for and this is what we offer.

How important is tourism and what is being done to develop the sector?
Tourism is the most important pillar of Aruba’s economy. We have to work with the
private sector, to promote and market Aruba. We have to differentiate ourselves from
the other Caribbean islands. We have to work on our identity, culture and heritage.
Arikok park, archaeological sites, marine biodiversity, art and culture are all important.
We need to show our tourists things other than the sea, sun and beaches of Aruba. We
will have a new golf course and we are looking for new investment to create something
like Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco to enhance the area and attract other
businesses to the island. We want to stress safety. We are a good product as a tourist
destination because of our relations with the United States, the Latin American and
Caribbean region and the Dutch Kingdom. All these create a perfect combination on
a small island with happy people. Investors and tourists need to know this.

How important is quality?
We are focusing primarily on higher quality investments and diversification. Hotel rooms
will increase in terms of quality rather than quantity. We want to attract and satisfy people
who will pay $400 a night for a room, not $50. We are working to attract income earners
of more than $75,000. Service must be assured if such high-standing guests are to come
here and become repeated visitors to the island. Developing conference tourism is also
part of our plan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS
AT: 1040 FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 395, NEW YORK, NY 10022-2902.
TEL: (212) 286-0034 FAX: (212) 286-8376 E-MAIL: info@summitreports.com





5-28-06

On 5-28 “YouTube” Identity “Debziedo” provided the following video entitled “We Remember”

On 5-28 the MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI “Meridian Star” reported:



Holloway looks back on year

MERIDIAN — Tuesday marks the one-year anniversary of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway during a high school senior trip to Aruba.

Her father, Dave Holloway of Meridian, spoke with The Meridian Star’s Editorial Board last week about the search for his daughter and the investigation by officials in Aruba, which he believes has been flawed by corruption and incompetence.

Holloway talked about his book, published in April, “Aruba: The Tragic Untold Story of Natalee Holloway and Corruption in Paradise,” which details the many “red flags” he identified involving the investigation.

Holloway and his former wife, Natalee’s mother, Beth Twitty, also have filed a civil lawsuit against the family of Dutch national Joran van der Sloot, considered a prime suspect in Natalee’s disappearance.

He also said Natalee’s case will be featured on the television show “America’s Most Wanted” on June 7 and that an ocean search may be carried out next month in Aruba.

Holloway, who spent 75 days in Aruba looking for his daughter, and who was last there in October, doesn’t plan to return to the island.

“I did all I could do as far as land searching. The ocean search I leave to somebody else. Plus, I just have a feeling there are some folks down there who would like to retaliate against me over the book,” Holloway said.

“I don’t hold any punches so to speak. I kind of soften some things up. I know that one of the Police officers down there was upset with me for pushing this case forward and quoting him on some things he told me.”

Read the complete Editorial Board interview with Holloway in Monday’s edition of The Meridian Star.





On 5-28 the BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA “Birmingham News” reported:



Holloway Family Deals with Topsy-Turvy World

Teen's relatives, friends wrestle with vacuum

In Beth Twitty's life, there is no normal.

Almost a year after her daughter's disappearance, Twitty remains fixed on finding the 18-year-old or her killers and warning others of the dangers of travel to places like Aruba, where Natalee Holloway disappeared May 30.

In the past eight weeks alone, Twitty has spoken before 10,000 students across the United States, giving them tips about safe travel.

Seven days ago, she was facing the hot, bright television lights in a studio at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Twitty checked and rechecked her hair and makeup in a magenta compact she kept on the set as, in a fast but now familiar pace, producers bounced her image via satellite from one national network to the next. She was reacting to the arrest of yet another teen, held for five days and questioned in the Netherlands, and the ninth person now released in connection with Natalee's disappearance.

"The life that I could return to no longer exists," the on-leave Mountain Brook schools speech pathologist says in the few minutes of conversation possible after a night in the studio. "I can't return to my life as it was before unless we have Natalee."

Twitty, and others, say their lives have been forever altered in the year since Natalee was last seen at 1:30 a.m. May 30 outside the Aruban bar Carlos'N Charlies.

Dave Holloway, Natalee's father, talked about that earlier in the day as he drove through Texas from his Mississippi home. His wife and two young children rode with him as he headed to a fund-raiser for a company that had aided in the Aruba search.

"Obviously you lose a daughter and it's going to change you, but I haven't really had a chance to just sit down and think about it," said Holloway, who works at State Farm in Meridian and co-wrote a book about his daughter's case this spring. "You've got a job, you've got a family and we're still trying to figure out what happened to Natalee. How do you get it all into one day?"

George Twitty, a stepbrother, says the case has turned the lives of the family upside down. He and Matt Holloway, Natalee's brother, a senior at Mountain Brook next year, have grown closer through the experience but have stayed out of the limelight, he said. "Matt and I both wanted to keep all the attention on Natalee."

George Twitty said he won't ever forget the last conversation he had with his stepsister. It was the night before she left on her graduation trip.

"She was really excited," said Twitty, 21. "It was one of those things like waiting for Christmas morning. She couldn't go to sleep."

Twitty, a biology major at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., understood. He'd made the same trip two years before when he, too, graduated from Mountain Brook high school. He gave her two pieces of advice: Watch out for drug dealers and take a lot of pictures.

"It was one of the most fun trips I'd ever taken," George Twitty said. "We went to Aruba because we thought it was a little safer than Jamaica."

As the hunt began in June, George Twitty stayed home with Matt, although both briefly joined the search with their family in Aruba. Even before, Twitty said, he knew life was forever different.

"It's never going to be back to normal. I knew that from the very beginning."

'No red flags':

Liz Cain understands. She spent the first semester of her freshman year looking at the empty twin bed in her dorm room at the University of Alabama.

Natalee, one of her best friends, was to have been there with her, experiencing all that they had looked forward to together. The unused bed was a daily reminder to Cain of all that had been lost in Aruba.

"That could have been any of us. It is hard to look back on that," Cain said. "She wasn't doing anything wrong. None of us were. At the time, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Everyone was just doing the same thing. There were no red flags."

Frances Ellen Byrd, another of Natalee's friends also now at UA, said classmates look out for each other, probably more so than ever. "If someone does get separated, we find out where they went immediately," she said. "Everyone has an understanding that you will know where each other are at all times."

Byrd said she can't help but remember what happened a year ago, especially since her younger sister is now graduating and going through all the same pomp and circumstance.

"It's bittersweet, I guess," she said. "It was such a happy time, but it also was the last time before your friend went missing and everything changed."

"I think school has been good for us, to go to a fresh place and all that," she said. "Still, it's hard to think she's supposed to be there with us."





On 5-28 the BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA “Birmingham News” reported:



Chaperone Knows Tragedy's Effects Will Linger in Hearts

Adults on trip stayed visible but Mountain Brook grads were given rein, teacher recalls

Bob Plummer will never forget the drowning death of his best friend just before high school graduation more than 20 years ago.

The tragedy marred one of the happiest times of any student's life, and it's one of the many reasons his heart goes out to the Mountain Brook high school Class of 2005. Especially those who were on the ill-fated graduation trip to Aruba where classmate Natalee Holloway disappeared.

"It's something that will affect them the rest of their lives," said Plummer, one of the chaperones on the trip. "It's something they had no control over, but it will always stay with them."

Plummer is an eighth-grade social studies teacher and golf coach at Mountain Brook Junior High. Holloway, like others on the Aruba trip, had been a student. Those going on the trip voted who they wanted to go as chaperones, and divided up the cost of the chaperones' travel among all students. It was Plummer's first stint as a graduation trip chaperone.

There was much talk after Natalee's disappearance that seven chaperones weren't sufficient for 130 graduates. "Most people didn't understand when we went down there, we were mostly there for an emergency, and we held their passports," he said. "It was made apparent they were on their own."

The chaperones, he said, stayed at the "Holiday Inn" resort the entire trip, leaving only one time for about two hours to go downtown to shop for T-shirts. The adults met with the teens daily around 11:30 a.m., reminding them to be careful.

"We just wanted to be there, be visible at all times," he said.

Plummer said only one incident stood out in his mind, and that was early during their stay. Some of the kids were being too loud in the hotel, so the chaperones told them to take it to the beach. Another hotel guest sought out Plummer and warned him that a man was on the beach trying to sell drugs to the students.

"I just asked him to leave them alone," Plummer said. "He went ballistic and threatened to slash me up."

Plummer called the Police, and met with the hotel manager on the day they left to express his concerns about the incident. He said there was no mention of bad behavior by the students.

"I can't tell you how many people came up to us and told us how well-behaved they were," he said.

Plummer said he thinks about Natalee's disappearance often.

"You always naturally wonder what could have happened if something was done differently," he said. "But there's nothing else we could have done."





5-29-06

On 5-29 the MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI “Meridian Star” reported:



Holloway talks about Natalee’s missing year

Natalee Holloway, 18, disappeared on May 30 while vacationing on the island of Aruba with her high school graduating class from Alabama.

Her father, Dave Holloway, is an insurance agent who lives in Meridian with his wife, Robin, and their family. As the one-year anniversary of Natalee’s disappearance nears, he spoke to The Meridian Star Editorial Board about the search for his daughter and the Aruban investigation, which has led nowhere.

Holloway and his former wife, Natalee’s mother, Beth Twitty, have filed a civil lawsuit against the family of Dutch national Joran van der Sloot, considered a prime suspect in Natalee’s disappearance.

Holloway also wrote a book, published in April, called Aruba: The Tragic Untold Story of Natalee Holloway and Corruption in Paradise, which chronicles the disappearance and his concerns over what he sees as a mismanaged investigation.

He hasn’t been in Aruba since October, but he still brings attention to Natalee’s case. He recently returned from Texas, where he participated in a golf tournament to raise funds for Texas EquuSearch, a search and recovery team for missing persons who helped in the Holloway search.

“They had to have a fund-raiser and asked me to attend. I’m the kind of person, if they help me, I’m going to help them. We raised $15,000 to $20,000,” Holloway said.

He also said Natalee’s case will be featured on the television show “America’s Most Wanted” on June 7 and that an ocean search may be carried out next month in Aruba.

The Meridian Star: What are your thoughts as we approach the anniversary of Natalee’s disappearance?

Dave Holloway: A lot of people have asked me about that — what am I going to do? It’s not going to be a celebration, obviously, for me. We’re just going to spend time with family and that’s it. It’s just another day for us.

A lot of people have asked us if we are going to have a candlelight vigil or a prayer service. The answer is no because we started a lot of those, even in Aruba, prayer vigils and candlelight services — and every time it would turn into a makeshift memorial service. Everyone had good intentions, but before it would be over with, everybody got emotional and tearful. It was just one of those deals where to me it felt like a funeral.

The Star: What has sustained you through this year?

Holloway: When I got that phone call late Monday afternoon from my son who relayed the message that Natalee missed the flight in Aruba and her Mom was on her way to Aruba, I immediately tried to get some information.

I tried to call the hotel to find out what was going on because it was late in the afternoon and obviously all the students had already left the island and none of the chaperones were still there, so it was hard to find out anything. So I went ahead and booked a flight to fly out of Meridian the next morning. I asked my son to keep me posted on what was going on.

As we gathered more details, unbeknownst to me, one of the chaperones called Delta Airlines and rebooked the ticket for the following day out. So in calling airlines and all this kind of stuff, I found out her ticket had been rebooked. So in calling back and forth we thought, “Did Natalee do it? Was all of this a mistake?” He was kind of optimistic that was what happened, so I canceled the morning out.

The next morning I started calling again and found out it was a chaperone who rebooked the ticket out. I knew then it was bad for us.

So we had to start over and rebook the tickets. We couldn’t get out until the next morning. My pastor called, so to answer your question, he was out of town but we had prayer over the phone and the last thing I remember was “God help David’s family get through this situation.”

I hung on that. I still do. Every day I still remember that time I had prayer with my pastor before I left. That’s what’s gotten us through it, keeping an optimistic approach about it — that we’ll either find her or we’ll find out what happened.

The Star: When did it appear this would lead to a homicide investigation?

Holloway: At some point into this investigation, as time goes on and you don’t find her, you start realizing that things are not looking good. We got that confirmation pretty much from the FBI on June 10. They came to us and said the investigation appears to be heading toward a homicide case.

Then you get into this roller coaster ride that we’ve been on. The FBI comes to you on a Friday night, and you go through that process through the weekend and meet with the Arubaans — and the spokesperson with the Aruban Police denied that it was a homicide investigation. He was optimistic we were going to find Natalee alive so, now you get your hopes up.

They continued the approach that they are investigating this from a disappearance standpoint all the way up until probably October. They finally admitted that this is a homicide case.

You can imagine your feelings. Is she alive, not alive? Then you look at the investigation and all the red flags I brought up in this book and you still, deep down, have to wonder are they right or wrong or what?

The Star: What made you decide to write the book?

Holloway: I started keeping notes within about a week to 10 days because one person would say one thing and somebody else would say another. Somebody would say something and then turn around and deny saying it.

So I started taking notes on who we talked to and what they said and where the investigation was headed. Every day I kept a journal of who said what and what was going on.

Beth kept notes as well. I decided I better keep notes, too, because things weren’t working the way I thought they should work. It seemed like they were always trying to close the investigation.

I saw when they released these kids back in September they were ready for this case to be closed. I mention in the book, with all these red flags, a conversation with the lead detective who pretty much wanted to close the case down and say it’s over with, get back to tourism.

In my opinion, they thought more about tourism than they thought about Natalee’s case. In fact, they didn’t want it to tarnish their image of tourism — one happy island, no crime and everybody going their own way.

While I was down there I ran into a number of people who were journalists who were writing information. In fact, two or three people approached me to start writing a book now. I said no.

It finally got down to a situation where we saw a bunch of stuff placed on the Internet. It got down to the point where it was, “We’re going to put something together — if it’s going to be with you or without you.”

Then it got down to issues of doing it to further the investigation, doing it to document what’s happened if they close the investigation. I don’t want the money. We use the money to further the investigation on locating Natalee and whatever we’ve got left over, we’ll give it to charity.

I had a lot of people here in Meridian help me out. I want to turn around and help someone else.

The Star: Are you convinced this is a case of corruption rather than incompetence or a combination of the two?

Holloway: I think it’s a combination of both. Aruban Police officers have told some of our people that they don’t know who to trust in the Police department. That’s serious. A lot of weird things or strange things have happened. Even a Dutch law professor in Holland looked at this case and made the comment, just recently back in April, that this was one of the most strange and unprofessional Police investigations he’d ever seen.

The Star: Do you have a sense if the travel boycotts to Aruba suggested by some states (Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia) have had any impact on the tourism?

Holloway: For the most part I think people can look at the case and make up their own mind whether or not they want to go down there and support the economy. I’ve heard tourism is down about 15 percent. So it’s had an impact.

If this had happened in a country that didn’t rely on the U.S. dollar, you would have never heard anything more about this.

The Star: Do you have any hope that there will be a serious investigation of the Police in Aruba?

Holloway: We’ve asked certain people be replaced, especially the lead detective.

If you look back at some of the people who have been the spokesperson for Aruba, they’ve gone through probably five or six people who were spokespersons for the island. What happens is the American news media asks them questions and they get defensive and want to defend a position that’s indefensible — and they end up making themselves look bad.

I remember one comment as we were trying to search the landfill and we were trying to get some cooperation from individuals on renting some equipment.

One of the spokespersons said “Well it’s not like we have a bulldozer sitting on the back of the White House lawn” or whatever. He just got irritated and lost his cool. It wasn’t a good statement to make.

You’ve got two players here. The Police and the prosecution who are trying to move the case forward, and you’ve got the suspect and their attorneys who are trying to counteract the investigation in my opinion. And you’ve got a small island; there are probably more people in Lauderdale County than in that whole country.

The Star: What is happening now to keep the focus on Natalee?

Holloway: “America’s Most Wanted” is going to air two weeks from now. On June the 7th that will air. We still might get up a final ocean search. That was initially the plan for two weeks ago. The expense at this point in time has kind of delayed that, so I think it will happen probably within the next month.

And then this lawsuit, I’m sure that will bring a lot of attention, whatever the verdict is on that. If it sticks, a lot of things will happen.

The Star: Will you go back to Aruba if there is a final ocean search?

Holloway: No. I was on the island for 75 days. I did all the land searching, searching with helicopters across the island. I did all I could do as far as land searching. The ocean search I leave to somebody else.

Plus, I just have a feeling there are some folks down there who would like to retaliate against me over the book. I don’t hold any punches so to speak. I kind of soften some things up. I know that one of the Police officers down there was upset with me for pushing this case forward and quoting him on some things he told me.

The Star: Talk about your community, Meridian, and its response to your ordeal.

Holloway: It’s been an overwhelming response. I couldn’t believe it. The whole community rallied. I was gone and seeing the signs and posters overwhelmed me when I got back. Church members mowed the grass. Some of my former agents helped out in the office. A number of things occurred that made you feel good that you are from a small town where everybody cares about you and helps you.





On 5-29 ARUBAAN's news-source "Amigoe.com" reported:



Wellink: ‘Aruba’s financial situation critical’

Nout Wellink, president of the Bank of the Netherlands, is extremely critical about the financial situation of Aruba and incites the government to\deal with the problems democratically and in good consultation with the established institutions.

ARUBA – The financial situation of Aruba has reached a critical point. The fiscal prospects are alarming and the island needs far-reaching measures to guarantee future economic growth. That was the president of the Bank of the Netherlands (DNB), Nout Wellink’s message during the annual diner of the Chamber of Commerce last Friday evening. He incites the government to do everything possible to regain the confidence in her policy.
He advised the Aruban government to boost the government finances by decreasing the expenses in salaries and pensions of the government officials. If the government does not do that, he anticipates gigantic problems for the medium- and long range.
“Aruba is by long not the only country that is faced with difficult problems. Especially governments of small countries are under the pressure of the voters that want the politicians to solve their problems, but they prefer not having to pay for it.”

In the past six years, the Aruban national debt has increased from 28 percent of the gross national product (bnp) to almost 46 percent of the bnp at the end of 2005; 1.9 milliard florins. Wellink pointed out that the onrushing ageing is extra threatening for a small populous island. “Aruba is approaching the borders of her capacity. In combination with a low growth in labour productivity, a weak fiscal starting position, and the lack of measures, the ageing could lead to an explosion of the national debt in the next two to three decades.”

He reminded his audience of the recommendations of the IMF and the Central Bank that in order to get the government finances on an acceptable level, the fiscal responsibilities have to be tied down in the law. With such law, the government policy would become more transparent and more stable and an unbearable debt-position can be prevented.

He also indicated that regaining the confidence of all partners is most important for the government.





On 5-29 ARUBAAN's news-source "Amigoe.com" reported:



Debt Aruba to the Antilles on the agenda of the Contact-plan

CURACAO – Aruba owes the Neth.Antilles 9.1 million guilders for services rendered in the past. This debt is on the agenda of the bi-parliamentary Contact-plan that takes place between May 31st and June 2nd.

Also the debt of 5.5 million guilders that Aruba has with the Solidarity fund and the initiative for establishing a parliament for the Caribbean will come up for discussion.
The debt of 9.1 million guilders is for services of the Joint Court of Justice, GOG, the meteorological service and the Capriles Clinic.

According to PAR-Member of Parliament Pedro Atacho, during the deliberations of the two parliaments, they will also talk about establishing a free-zone between the Antilles and Aruba, which initiative was originated during conversations between both parliaments. “We have observed that there is already an agreement between both governments. All we have to do now is interpret it into legislation. Such free-zone has a lot of benefits for both countries. It implies that Antillean products or goods processed here can be put on the Aruban market without having to pay import tax; same for the Aruban products on our market.” Atacho indicated that establishing such agreement would bring along a further expansion of the different markets, with economic growth and with the increase of employment as consequence.

The initiative of the Antillean- and Dominican Republic parliaments to establish a Caribbean parliament will also be discussed. Atacho said that there is currently an Association of Caribbean States (ACS), with the representation of regional leaders. A Caribbean parliament can help us solve our common problems, like combating natural disasters and airlift problems. The plan is to approach several other parliaments in the region.





On 5-29 ARUBAAN's news-source "Amigoe.com" reported:



Inflation, decreasing the buying power, and unemployment with higher import tax

ARUBA – The intended measures of the government to increase the import taxes effective June 1st, will stimulate the inflation, decrease the buying power and the economic activities, and would finally lead to less revenue for the government. The Chamber of Commerce (KvK) is utterly against these measures and is of the opinion that they are in defiance of the norms of good government.

KvK indicates in a statement that it is true that the import tax on some food articles is being lowered, but that the government obviously does not consider clothing and shoes as vital necessities, because the import tax on these are being increased. According to the KvK, some businesses would possibly close their doors with the consequence that people loose their jobs. Also the employees of the financially steadier businesses will notice the consequences, because these companies will no longer be able to continue paying extra benefits.

The increase of the minimum wage, modification of the premium fundamentals, and the increase of the AZV-premium have already burdened the business life lately. The government should be extra reserved now with increasing the tax-rates, considering the external factors as the increase of the oil price on the world market that has driven up the costs of water, electricity, and gasoline. There is no telling when the oil price will go down again.

And on top of all this, the government wants to introduce a sales tax per January 1st, 2007. The KvK also says that the Finance-minister has announced a compensation for the income- and profit tax, and that the KvK supports that plan, but that the percentages of these compensations have not yet been made public.

An example of bad government is according to the KvK the fact that the population is not informed about the purpose and effects of the measures and that the advice of the Advisory Council (RvA) is ignored. RvA’s advice was to consult government instances and social partners before introducing measures, and now that this had not happened, the necessary support for the government’s decree is missing.

The KvK makes an urgent appeal to the members of the different parties in Parliament to rethink the serious consequences of the government decree.





On 5-29 ARUBAAN's news-source "Amigoe.com" reported:

Leave the reserves of the Central Bank alone

ARUBA – AVP-leader Mike Eman is worried about the plans of Oduber-cabinet to try to use 60 to 70 million florins from the reserves of the Central Bank for the financial deficit. He says that some of the commissioners associated to Oduber-cabinet are pressing.

Eman understood from Prime Minister Nelson Oduber’s words that he thinks that the Central Bank is hiding the reserves from the government and that there was friction between the two. These developments are extremely concerning, says Eman. In article 4 of the Central Bank ordinance is stated that the Bank is to keep a reserve of 10 million florins to cover possible losses of the Bank. This amount can be increased to 15 percent of the Central Bank’s passive of the preceding fiscal year. The government claims that the Central Bank has more than the 15 percent mentioned above in her reserves. The government wants to lay hands on this part of the reserves.

According to Eman, none of the cabinets have ever taken money out of the reserve fund, because there is an agreement on this with the Bank. Eman says that the government disputes this agreement and now wants to claim what they consider as a surplus in the reserve fund. When the Central Bank is forced to comply with the government’s demand, they will have to transfer the requested amount from the reserves that actually guarantee our monetary stability. “This is very dangerous. What the government is now doing opens the independent position of the Central Bank to questions and endangers the reserves.”

The Central Bank-ordinance is to enact the independent position of the Bank: “the core of the proposal at issue is establishing the independent position of the Bank in relation to the minister of Finance”, is stated in the elucidation of the ordinance.

“If the government misappropriates the right to lay hands on reserves that the Central Bank considers as part of the funds that has to be reserved for guaranteeing the position of the Bank, the government endangers the position of the Central Bank as an institution that should guarantee the stability of our currency and the credibility of the Bank as an independent institution”, warns Eman.





5-30-06

On 5-30 an individual writing the MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI “Meridian Star” reported:



Time for America to get tough with Aruba

Aruba knows the “Natalee Holloway” tourism costs. For better or worse, in the United States, “Aruba” has become a poster child for teen travel safety abroad. What outcome is best now?

Americans should “kick butt and take names.” Few Americans doubt Aruban complicity in luring youthful Natalee away with drinks, drugs and deception. Fewer still doubt Aruban law enforcement’s ineptitude — and complicity. Ineptitude or callous indifference allowed the perpetrators to abduct, rape and murder with impunity. To avoid prosecution, conspirators disposed of Natalee. Aruban judges shielded them, even as they acted.

In the past, people sought Aruba for safety. That perception changed, probably forever. Aruba’s traditional visitors will continue visiting. However, new prospects will think about Natalee Holloway. Bargains may sway them, but some will defer travel based on perceptions.

Callous indifference to human life, decency, judicial and law enforcement cronyism, and sordid support of rapists and murderers will cost the island visits from families with female adolescents, no matter how cheap. Parents simply won’t risk their kids’ victimization for a bargain. Americans remain appalled that dumping young girls on the beach passes for acceptable behavior in Aruba.

Perhaps advertising can sweep Aruba’s dirty little problem under the rug. However, Beth Twitty’s traveling the country with her personal story of grief caused by “travel to places like Aruba” will play until the end of time. What’s Aruba’s cost?

Aruba could have worked with Beth Twitty closely from the beginning; that opportunity was lost. Her song plays like a broken record. It should — on and on.

Unfair? It was unfair for young men to take Natalee’s life, but they did. They fed her booze — and what else more, we’ll never know. Then they dumped her — by their sworn accounts. Someone should pay now; it’s not fair.

If Natalee’s perpetrators aren’t responsible, who is? For Americans, the base answer: those accountable for shielding those responsible. Who is that?

J.K. August
Denver





On 5-30 “Blogs For Natalee2” blog identity “Mr. Justice” wrote:

(reformatted & re-paragraphed for emphasis)

To the People of Aruba:

It has been a year since Natalee Holloway was abducted on the island of Aruba.

We have witnessed the repeated lies of Joran van der Sloot and can only be left to wonder what he is hiding?

We have witnessed less than appropriate treatment of Natalee's family by the Aruban government, as Prime Minister Nelson Oduber has, on more the one occasion, said he is sick of this case, and, in turn, Natalee.

It is clear that this story is not going away, and that is to my surprise, as I am sure it is to yours.

It is time to realize that the problem can never go away for the family of Natalee, nor will it for Aruba until the whole truth is known.

It is clear that Natalee's family cannot trust the Aruban government, and it is a position that I support.

It is also clear that Aruba would prefer to pretend this never happened.

It did happen!

Natalee became the victim of local criminals on the island of Aruba.

Even if I were to believe as some claim she is alive and simply ran away, that would not account for the many lies of Joran van der Sloot; nor would it eliminate the fact she was a stranger to Aruba and it would be next to impossible for her to have left the island by whatever means without a local witnessing it.

Why would a local have kept quiet, allowing their country to be exposed to this black eye?

I am sure you can conclude, as I, that there is only one logical explanation; that whatever one witnessed was criminal in nature.

Some have even gone as far as to claim Natalee's classmates are responsible for her disappearance, but that is flawed. How could they have hidden her body, so well in a few hours on an island that they were strangers on? Surely, if Natalee is dead it is at the hands of someone(s) that knows the island well.

The conclusion must be that the enemy is within the Aruban community.

On an island of approximately one-hundred-thousand people, surely, someone not criminally involved knows something or has heard something.

Why have they not come forward to the Police?

Do they fear the government?

Even if it is not for Natalee's family, come forward for the sake of the Aruban people.

Here are some questions that I ponder; the investigation has been poorly run. Is it out of corruption or lack of intelligence in conducting investigations? If the answer lies in the former, than it would explain why no physical evidence or body has been found. On the other hand if it is out of the latter, then it seems unlikely some physical evidence accidentally has not been recovered. However, the Police continue to pursue a rape/murder scenario. That would not be worthy of an investigative gold star.

Does one really think that the perfect crime has been committed, or might it be a bad investigation?

Why is it that Karin Janssen and all other Investigators have not been replaced? While I do not think they are conducting the best investigation possible, even if they were, and at this stage with no justice, it would only be prudent to bring in a new team that may be able to see what they have missed; a fresh set of eyes and perspective. I can think of a multitude of kidnapping scenarios and not just sexual slavery. It is clear that there is a sex slavery problem the world over and in particular this region, it is shameful that some would choose to mock such a suggestion and even if it never happened in Aruba before consider this; something always has to have a beginning. I can even come up with none sex slavery scenarios involving Joran van der Sloot.

The situation is clear; Natalee's family cannot move forward, and Aruba will not be allowed to move forward, until the truth is known.

It is vital for the sake of Arubaans that this case be solved.
Someone amongst the Aruban community knows what happened to Natalee; is it you, your neighbor, a friend or a stranger?

Understand that there is but one victim, and it is Natalee.
It is natural to want to have someone to blame for our problems, even though more often than not we alone are responsible. I can understand the desire of Arubaans to blame Natalee's family, and in particular Beth, for their problems and black eye. It must be conceded that their actions are in response to the abduction of their daughter and the fact the Police allowed known liars to run loose in the form of Joran van der Sloot [and Deepak and Satish Kalpoe].

If Joran is guilty, all blame falls on him. If he is innocent he still must shelter a lot of the blame.

One can only wonder how it would have been different had he chosen truth over lies.

You want someone to blame?

Look no further than Joran van der Sloot.

It is time to be a hero for Aruba and come forward with the truth of what happened to Natalee.

Mr. Justice





On 5-30 CNN reported:



Holloway case a mystery after a year of 'catch and release'

Tactics illustrate difference between Aruban and U.S. law

(CNN) -- A year has passed since Natalee Ann Holloway, accompanied by three young men, walked out of a nightclub in Oranjestad, Aruba, and into oblivion.

It was about 1:30 a.m. on May 30, the wee hours of what would have been Holloway's last day on the island, where she and about 100 classmates were celebrating their graduation from Mountain Brook high school in suburban Birmingham, Alabama.
Holloway's passport and her packed bags were found in her hotel room after she didn't show for the flight back home.

That was the last trace anyone had of the 18-year-old, 5-foot-4-inch blonde despite an exhaustive search and investigation that became a media sensation in the United States, Aruba, the Netherlands and elsewhere.

The case riveted attention on a small island with white sand beaches off the coast of Venezula. About the size of Washington, D.C., Aruba knew little crime. Now, says Jossy Mansur, editor of Diario Aruba, the island has lost its innocence.

"People don't give opinions in Aruba," MANSUR stated. "But I think that everyone here is aware that this case was mishandled from the beginning."

A landfill was searched, a pond drained, sand dunes and beaches combed. Boats and planes equipped with radar and infrared gear searched offshore.

At least 10 men -- including an Aruban judge whose son was the last person seen with Holloway -- were arrested and identified as suspects either in Holloway's disappearance or in a cover-up. All were interrogated and released.

No suspect in custody

A year later, no one is in custody and authorities appear no closer to finding Holloway -- dead or alive -- than they were in the first feverish days of their search.

"It's hard to remember a case where even as something emerged as a possible breakthrough, it was shot down," said Philadelphia criminal defense attorney Theodore Simon, who has represented clients in Aruba.

With each false lead, Holloway's mother, Beth Holloway-Twitty, spoke freely about how her hopes have been raised, and then dashed.

"We just get our hopes up, another arrest, and then he's released, and we still have no answers, you know. It's just getting more and more difficult," Twitty told CNN earlier this month when an arrest appeared to breathe new life into the case, then went nowhere.

The unfolding investigation had all the dramatic elements needed to captivate television audiences, said Simon, who has commented widely on the case.

"An American on an idyllic island supposedly celebrating her graduation goes missing under less than clear circumstances," he said.

"It's a mystery that desperately wanted to be solved, with parents who were energetic and active and fully engaged in trying to get to the bottom of the matter at whatever cost."

'Catch and release' justice

As she pushed for answers, Twitty was as much a fixture at Aruban Police headquarters as on television crime shows.

She led the criticism of what plays in the United States as a bungled investigation under what has been characterized in the media as a "catch and release" system of justice.
"They have really had just such a botched investigation from the beginning, and whether that was due to incompetence or corruption or cover-up, I mean, we don't know," Twitty said during an appearance on CNN Headline News' Nancy Grace show earlier this month.

Legal experts say differences in Aruba's criminal justice system should be taken into account.

The U.S. system, based on English common law, holds that no one can be arrested unless authorities can show a judge there's probable cause a crime was committed and the suspect did it.

Grand juries investigate and trial juries decide innocence or guilt in an adversarial process.

Aruba's system is based on Dutch law, a descendant of the Napoleonic code.
In Aruba, a "reasonable suspicion" that someone knows about or is involved in a crime is all that's needed for an arrest.

Magistrates investigate and judges determine guilt or innocence. There are no jury trials.

Arrest as an investigative tool

Simon, the Philadelphia lawyer, said Twitty is doing exactly what the parent of a missing person should by keeping the case in the news.

On the other hand, he said, the authorities in Aruba are being judged by a skewed standard.

"Someone could look at the Aruban system and say, 'My God, that's an outrage that someone could be held without probable cause.' We don't believe you can go around arresting people on a whim," Simon said.

"But there are people looking to solve the case that might say that's a good system. Arrest becomes an investigative tool," he said. "Civil libertarians would say this is an outrage. Someone from a law enforcement perspective would say this is a wonderful tool."

The three young men who left the club with Holloway -- Joran van der Sloot, now 18, and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, now 22 and 19, have told varying stories, and were held the longest. All maintain they are innocent of wrongdoing.

They initially led authorities to two security guards, who were questioned, released and never formally charged.

Steve Croes, 27, a disc jockey on a party boat anchored offshore from Holloway's hotel, was arrested after one of the teen suspects pointed to him. After being released for lack of evidence, he admitted he lied to authorities to protect his friend Deepak Kalpoe.

Rights waived

Van der Sloot's father, Paul, was arrested and suspected of helping to cover up what happened to Holloway. Authorities said he told his son that Police had no case without a body. He was released after three days of questioning.

While Aruba has no Miranda warning of the right to a lawyer and the right to not incriminate oneself, it does have something similar, called a cautio, Simon said.

And, Aruban law does not require parents and children to testify against one another. U.S. law does not recognize that privilege.

The van der Sloot's waived their cautio rights and the parent-child privilege during interrogation, Simon said.

During the summer and into the fall, a drained pond yielded nothing, a bone was found but wasn't human, a lead about strands of hair found on a piece of duct tape went nowhere.

The revolving door of arrests and multiple dead ends contributed to the perception Aruban authorities were "flapping around," said Kendall Coffey, a former U.S. attorney in Miami, Florida.

Political pressure increased. Governors of three U.S. states -- Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia -- threw their weight behind a boycott of Aruba's tourist industry to protest the lack of progress in finding Holloway.

Mansur, the Diario editor, said tourism has been hurt. As long as it doesn't decline further, he said he believes Aruba's economy will recover.

Twitty and Natalee's father, Dave Holloway, increased the pressure with a civil lawsuit filed in New York against Joran van der Sloot and his father.

The suit asks punitive damages from father and son and accuses the younger van der Sloot of "malicious, wanton and willful disregard of the rights, safety and well-being of the plaintiffs and their daughter." The case is pending.

Aruba pushes back

Aruban authorities began to push back. Gerold Dompig, Aruba's former lead Investigator, said Holloway may have overdosed or died of alcohol poisoning, The Associated Press reported.

In April and May, interest was aroused again with the arrests to two other young men. Both were questioned and quickly released.

Dompig told the Birmingham News that his son, under questioning by authorities, might have falsely incriminated suspect Geoffrey van Cromvoirt in April, because of a personal dispute.

''He's a kid; he got confused and frustrated and he said things he shouldn't have said,'' Dompig told the Alabama newspaper. ''It went too far.''

Earlier this month, another apparent lead fizzled when Dutch teenager Guido Wever was arrested on an indictment from Aruba. He was released, and his lawyer and family vehemently maintained his innocence.

Coffey, the former U.S. prosecutor, said the last two arrests fed the perception that officials in Aruba were desperate.

"When there's extreme pressure to 'do something,' rather than having a methodical, well-planned investigation, there's an appearance of flapping around with a 'go find me a suspect, arrest somebody' approach," he said.





On 5-30 FOX News GRETA VAN SUSTEREN reported in her “Gretawire” blog:



One Year Mark in Natalee Holloway Mystery

Tuesday marks one year since Natalee Holloway went to Carlos 'n C(arlie's, left the bar and vanished. We have some special interviews to show you tonight. In anticipation of the one-year anniversary, we took a day trip with our video and still cameras on Friday to her home in Mountain Brook, Alabama.

At her home — besides taking pictures that are posted today — we interviewed Natalaee's friends. You will see those interviews tonight. Two of the friends had been with her in Aruba and I was struck by what they thought when they first heard Natalee had missed her flight.

Natalee's friends' lives have changed much in this year: They went from essentially childhood to adulthood. They were high schoolers one year ago and now they have a year of college under their belts. It is obvious that Natalee's friends are close to Beth — and Beth to them.

We walked around Natalee's house with Beth and Natalee's friends, including going into Natalee's bedroom. Her bedroom reflects that transition from childhood to adulthood — there were lots of little Wizard of Oz dolls in contrast with her newly purchased adult dresses for her expected August sorority rush parties. There are pictures of her room posted.

Some have written me that maybe Natalee is a runaway but that is doubtful. She has a calendar hanging on her closet door — shown in one of the pics — with many plans in the future. With so many plans, why would she runaway? Plus, she was 18 when she vanished and she did not need to runaway — she could do what she wanted.

We went to Alabama on Friday because Beth did not want to be there on the actual anniversary of her disappearance — May 30. Beth wanted to try and get away and she did. As you might imagine, this is a particularly bad time for Beth. She has a good "game face" on TV, but in private she grieves as any parent would.





On 5-30 “UPI reported”



Natalee Holloway Case Still Unsolved

Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of the still unresolved disappearance of Birmingham, Ala., high school graduate Natalee Holloway in Aruba.
Despite the arrests and questioning of 10 people in the much-publicized disappearance of the attractive 18-year-old last seen at an Oranjestad, Aruba, nightclub, all were later released.

Earlier this month, mother Beth Twitty said the situation gets more and more difficult as suspect leads have fizzled.

"We just get our hopes up, another arrest, and then he's released, and we still have no answers," Twitty said.

The case has cost Aruba -- an island with little crime -- its innocence, said Joss Mansur, editor of the newspaper Diario Aruba.

"People don't give opinions in Aruba," MANSUR stated. "But I think that everyone here is aware that this case was mishandled from the beginning."

"Whether that (botched investigation) was due to incompetence or corruption or cover-up, I mean, we don't know," Twitty said.

Mansur also said the case has hurt tourism in Aruba.





On 5-30 the NEW YORK CITY “New York Post” reported:



A POX ON THE ARUBA BOOBS

May 30, 2006 -- THE memories for Beth Holloway-Twitty came flooding back.
Memories of a beautiful young daughter, Natalee, whose passionate love of life vanished on the island of Aruba exactly one year ago today.

But also nightmare memories - of a frustrating, bumbling investigation on the island and ugly threats against her life.

"One of the several threats I received was that if I stayed on the island, I would be chopped up in little pieces, put in a fish trap and floated out to sea," she said.

John Q. Kelly, her Manhattan-based lawyer, who on the stand chopped O.J. Simpson into little pieces in a civil suit, told me:

"Obviously, we don't know exactly where those threats came from, and the Police there don't seem to care. But there is a huge back-street drug market on the island and, frankly, a lot of people don't want Americans poking around there.

"The investigation has been a terrible example of a mixture of utter incompetence and corruption."

Dave Holloway, Natalee's father and Beth's ex-husband, told me, "Three weeks after Natalee's disappearance, the assistant prosecutor, Amalin Flanegin, quit the case.
"She indicated to me she pointed Police in the obvious direction . . . and they ignored her."

I caught up with Beth Holloway on the phone as she was boarding a flight to Montreal to expand an organization she started, Safe Travels Foundation.

"It is to inform people before going to foreign places how to proceed locally if faced with a crisis," she said.

"I'm extremely unwelcome in Aruba, so we could not even have a memorial service for Natalee one year after her disappearance. I'll never set foot on that island again."
"Nor will I," echoed Dave.

As for me - I once spent a vacation there, but I wouldn't go back if they paid me.





On 5-30 ABC News reported:



The Natalee Holloway Mystery, One Year Later

Alabama Teen vanished One Year Ago Today.

Why Has Her Disappearance Remained a Mystery?

A year ago today, 18-year-old Natalee Holloway mysteriously vanished on the last night of her five-day vacation with friends in Aruba.

Over the last 12 months, some cable news channels have seemingly devoted more time to the disappearance of the beautiful, blonde, straight-A student from Alabama than they have to the war in Iraq.

Holloway is not alone. Since May 30, 2005, thousands of other children and teenagers have also gone missing and have not had talk shows focusing on them night after night, fighter jets searching for them, or calls for a national boycott to pressure Police into finding them. Yet, despite the extraordinary efforts and international attention, Holloway's parents fear Investigators are no closer to cracking the case than they were a year ago.

"I don't think of it as a specific date to honor Natalee, because I truly feel that I honor her every day," Beth Twitty, Holloway's mother, told ABC News. "We don't have answers, and we are still in the middle of an active investigation. … We have raised expectations every time we hear of a new arrest and we think that, 'Oh maybe this is it' maybe this won't be a dead end."

The Prime Murder Suspect

From the beginning, Police have focused in on the last person to see Holloway alive, Joran van der Sloot, the Dutch teenager who said he kissed her on the beach that night. van der Sloot was arrested and detained for months, but Police never officially charged him with Holloway's murder.

Joe Tacopina, van der Sloot 's attorney, said Police wasted valuable time by focusing in almost exclusively on his client.

"He's an 18-year-old boy whose life has been turned upside down by this," Tacopina told ABC News' Law & Justice Unit. "People have called him all sorts of names like 'predator,' 'rapist.' But there is absolutely no evidence that he had anything to do with it. In fact, there's exculpatory evidence that he had nothing to do with it — like computer records and phone records that support his timeline."

Holloway's Last Moments

In an exclusive interview with ABC News senior legal correspondent Chris Cuomo in February, van der Sloot described the last moments he saw Holloway alive.
"She was sitting on the sand by the ocean. … We cuddled awhile on the beach just laying there. … Until I said, about time to walk her back to her hotel. … At that moment, she said she didn't want to go back to her hotel and she wanted me to stay with her, because it was her last night. I tried to convince her to go back to the hotel and she said just put me down."

Van der Sloot said he had made a mistake when he left Holloway at the beach.
"I should have brought her back to her hotel, or I should have made sure I left her with someone — one of her friends — but I just should have gotten her back to where she should have been."

Earlier this year, Holloway's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against van der Sloot and his father in a New York court, alleging that the teenager imprisoned and sexually assaulted Holloway and had been involved in her disappearance.

The lawsuit refers to van der Sloot as "the predator" and says that at least three young Aruban women had complained they were the victims of "date-rape" by van der Sloot and his alleged accomplices.

A Revolving Door

Despite the focus on van der Sloot, the investigation soon became a revolving door of people on interest. Police arrested, and then released, 10 different men — two of whom were later re-arrested and re-released. Last week, the latest suspect, a casino worker at Holloway's hotel, Guido Wever, was released six days after his arrest in Holland on May 17.

"Aruba needs to stop with the senseless arrests and really get focused on who these suspects are that they're going after," Twitty told ABC News. "Not just wind up with dead ends again, and again, and again."

A Potential New Murder Suspect?

Now a new chief of Police in Aruba may breathe new life into the investigation.
Tacopina said the new chief, R.F. Bernadina, was taking a fresh look at things and not just focusing on van der Sloot. He pointed to one potentially promising lead in particular: a composite sketch of a man who reportedly had encounters with as many as three women on the same stretch of beach where Holloway was last seen.

"They never looked for this individual," Tacopina said. "Never put a sketch on the island to see if there was a connection between this individual and Holloway's disappearance. … Now they're finally doing that."

Still, some critics believe Tacopina is trying to divert attention away from van der Sloot.
There are other developments. Last month, Aruban Police were seen searching the sand dunes on the northern coast of the island, even though those same dunes had been searched many times before.

Holloway's father, Dave, said a final ocean search for her body might be carried out next month, even though the chances of finding her in the waters off Aruba more than 12 months after her disappearance are almost nonexistent. Investigators say if her body were dumped in the surf, it would have washed back on shore. Anything farther out would have been carried out to sea on the ocean currents.

Parents Fight for Justice

Today, a year later, Holloway's parents continue to fight for justice for their daughter, even though each promising new lead has brought only heartache instead of answers.
There was the piece of duct tape found on the beach that was attached to some human hairs. Tests indicated the hair's DNA didn't match Holloway's.

Tourists watched as volunteers dragged a barrel from the ocean. The barrel was empty. Finally, even the Dutch military brought in three F-16s to fly over the island using infrared photography in an attempt to find Holloway's grave. They too came up empty. The family refuses to give up.

Last year, Dave Holloway wrote a book called "Aruba: The Tragic Untold Story of Natalee Holloway and Corruption in Paradise." For the last two months, Twitty has been speaking to high school students in nearly a dozen states, warning them of the unseen dangers of overseas travel. She said her goal was to tell Holloway's story to students in all 50 states.

Holloway's mother told ABC News that the biggest emotional milestone was overcoming her initial denial that she might never find her daughter alive. She said she didn't want to put Holloway's case in the same sentence with other famous cases with terrible endings.

"Take for instance Laci Peterson — I thought of her mother daily," Twitty said. "Daily, those initial three months in Aruba I just thought about her every day, every day. Because I couldn't see that I was going to have to place Natalee in the same setting as Laci and that was just a huge milestone for me when I was finally able to do that. … That her outcome may not be good."





On 5-30 “Court TV” reported:
(Thank You and Hat Tip to “Heli”)



NOT VERBATIM NOT COMPLETE

Lisa Bloom:

Paul Reynolds, Joe Tacopina, Raoul Manchada and Julia Renfro are with us today.

Julia Renfro, (the transplanted AMERICAN in ARUBA who moved to ARUBA 17+ years ago and owns an interest in many ARUBA businesses including an ARUBAAN's news-source)

I have to admit I was surprised it's been a year, for the family it must feel like much longer. What's the latest?


Julia

I understand from reliable sources that they were continuing water searches today based on a recent tip that came in, We looked around ourselves but saw no activity.

Lisa:

Where would this search have been taking place?

Julia

It would be that same area, suspicious area by the lighthouse, apparently a witness or a tipster has claimed to have seen some activity that might have included some of the suspects

Lisa:

In the last year, there have been 10 men caught and released by ALE, are they still all considered suspects?

Julia

yes they are, out of all of them they all are suspects, except Paul, who was released from suspicion last November.


Lisa

And Joran's status?

Julia

He is still the main suspect

Lisa

He is considered the key suspect, what about the other 9?

Joe

He's the key suspect because he was a suspect for the longest period. The investigation in my eyes and my Investigators' eyes has moved away from Joran, there is no evidence against him. The new Police superintendent has been doing other things, putting composite sketches out in the public, released the re-enactment show ..you then have them looking at parts of the beach patrol I think that's the encouraging part that they have a new superintendent looking at new things.

I think it's time to get a prosecutor who has the ability to do the same thing, this Holloway family has gone through so much as have my clients. They arrest people and release them, then they go search their house...if you're trying to get the truth out, one way not to do it is to have an investigation like this.

Lisa

Paul you're Natalee's uncle, we in the media every time we hear about an arrest... we get our hopes up that perhaps it will lead to something and every time the hopes are dashed. For you and the family with all these arrests and releases, how are you holding up?

Paul

It has been a roller coaster ride, our family has adjusted, we stay focused on the info that we need to resolve this case. We're glad the authorities continue to investigate, they seem to be expanding their investigation to other individuals. We want everyone to remember that the most damaging, critical piece of info comes from the original 3 suspects themselves. The fact that J2K's don't know how Joran got home that night. They can't agree how he got home confirms that one is lying and I would have to say the one who is lying is the one who is responsible for her disappearance.

Lisa

Joran did an interview with Prime Time Live ...

(plays clip from interview)

Couple of things disturbed me about that sound byte, "after everything she told me..."

JOe

Without wanting to sound crude, she didn't want to go back to her hotel or to Alabama. I don't want to bash their family relationships but this is a 17 year old boy answering questions, if we want to say that b/c Joran at 17 when he was bum rushed by a bunch of people who were very aggressive didn't come out and tell the truth...if that's going to make him a murderer, I'd say that's why the investigation is where it's at today.

Lisa:

This comment, it's one of the last things she said when she was alive, she was bashing her family?

Joe

I'm not going to get into what she said to him about her family, you know what, that's why Karin wrote the FBI asking about certain familial relations that the Holloways had with others. What Joran said is also backed up by her friends;

Karin wrote to the Justice Department Justice asking, as ridiculous as it sounds, if the Holloway family is in any way, shape or form related to Adolf Hitler Two of Natalee's friends told the prosecutor that very thing as well.

Lisa

Paul, is this news, this allegation that Joran reported that Natalee was bashing her family that night on the beach

SCARBOROUGH:

I never said he said that... I said I'm not going to speculate about bashing somebody's family. You want me to tell you what my client said to me... really? Lisa, come on ...

She wanted him to stay with her that night, she didn't want the night to end

Lisa:

Let me bring Paul in

Paul

We're simply not concerned about comments of that nature, we're concerned about Natalee's disappearance. When we came to different crossroads, Beth and I would talk...it's natural for young men or older boys to lie under duress, but one year later they shouldn't still be lying ...

Joe

Excuse me, that's not true, they're not lying, he's saying things

Paul

the lie is how Joran got home that night

Joe

He came clean after the first 3 statements, they gave 20 statements, and other than those facts about where he left Natalee and how he got home
Lisa

That's a pretty big discrepancy

Joe

Do you want me to answer or do you just want to go through interrupting

Lisa

The problem is you're a good spokesperson for JOran, but Joran himself doesn't come across as well

Joe

I disagree, at 17 if I was being interviewed , quite frankly I don't know if I could have done as well as Joran did.

If you look at Greta's interview, that turned the opinion of many including Greta... she came on the record and said that she was inclined to believe him. If you look at his story it's corroborated by phone and computer records. He's on the phone at 2:26 with Deepak to pick him up. We have emails--and I'll correct Paul on this--there are e-mails after Deepak is released where he's instant messaging friends. He's saying his brother picked up Joran at the beach that night. Maybe they don't 'want to be involved in the case anymore and they're just disavowing everything...

There's a computer record of Deepak admitting Joran was picked up by Satish. If you want to think he's the world's greatest killer, I'll tell you from the timeline it's almost impossible to carry out what he's accused of doing.

Lisa

Raoul, the most frustrating part is the Aruban system, bringing people in and then releasing them

Raoul

.... the real problem is not so much the ppl arrested, it's the system, they've had a few murders they don't know what they're doing. I don't think there's any chance now to ever find out what happened.

Lisa

What's the solution for American citizens who go to other countries, or vacation islands?

Raoul

There are treaties in the books between the US and other countries, we should lobby the US to enter treaties with foreign countries, you should notify the FBI within minutes of crimes taking place rather than leaving it to the local yokels to investigate.

Theres's no law enforcement in the world that can compare to US law enforcement

Julia:

I would like to add that the FBI was invovled since June 1, they were here ,more than a dozen agents. They were absolutely involved.

Raul

Not from Day l, no they weren't, they weren't involved in the investigation

Julia

They were involved in the investigation, they were assisting and giving advice since June 1, Paul Reynolds was there, he knows, he saw the FBI agents there, spoke with them

Paul

The FBI had a presence there , we don't know the level of involvement they had

Julia

Which would be June 1

Lisa:

Raoul, what does presence mean?

Paul

I saw them and spoke to them

Lisa:

What's the level of involvement and Raoul says

Raoul:

They should have been leading the whole investigation right away, that's what I say

Lisa:

Tim Miller says he's not giving up. Walk us through what TES did in Aruba to try to find Natalee Holloway?



Tim:

Oh God Lisa it was incredible, we did so much searching on land. We were at the landfill for 3 weeks, I brought in 3 different water teams, we used sidescan sonar and ROV's. We was scheduled to go back last week, we have equipment now to go to 1,000 feet..


It will take us out deeper from the fisherman's huts. In October Dompig told us it was very possible she was put in a fish cage, we thought it was good news for her to be found. The water is deep, cold and no oxygen and if she's in something metal, we're still optimistic we can find her

We put so much effort in, the people put so much effort in, the aruban people have become victims too in this

Karin contacted us last week, she was looking forward to us coming back and doing this search but there were funding issues.


Lisa:

It's nice to hear some nice comments about arubans


Tim:

They have been terrific, and you know how they co-operated with us, we invaded their island, we did get a lot of co-operation and we had few problems.

Everybody's emotions are different...


Lisa:

Tell us about the deep sea search, you had lack of funding, tell us about the fish trap theory


Tim:

This is one of the things Dompig told us that the night Natalee disapppeared the fisherman's hut was broken in and a knife, a rope and a cage was stolen. He told us 3 to 5 miles out there is where she could be. It's one of the things we put so much effort into, without doing this last big push we're never going to know. We have the resources now so we're trying to put the funding together.


I'm out of the investigation now, I'm just trying to find Natalee ...I applaud the ppl of Aruba, I applaud LE..Karin Janssen contacted us last week and is looking forward to working together with us again.


Lisa:

Raoul as you hear this...one of the problems is there isn't enough money for the searches...


Raoul:

TES is a great organization, they shouldn't be there, the family shouldn't have to be paying top dollar to have an investigation ...a good investigation takes funding, tax payer dollars, expertise..not wasting any time arresting and interrogating all kinds of people

This is a keystone cops situation, there's no reason to bring in a third party contractor..EquuSearch is the best in the country but it shoudn't have been necessary. Why should the family have to hire private Investigators and private searchers.

Theres's a big problem in the world, how bad do all these countries want US citizens to be visiting their countries


Lisa:

Joe, how is Joran doing?



Joe

He's doing well, he's in school in Holland, working. Every time something like Guido's arrest happens, it's disheartening, he hears what happened to this kid ..


Lisa

Paul the family on this one year anniversary, how are you all holding up?

Paul


My family has been very strong, Beth has certainly kept her focus, we want to be supportive to her, We are appreciative of all the efforts, Tim and TES and people in the US and people in Aruba have kept pushing on this, We're appreciative of that, but we also want some answers.

Lisa:


Natalee's story has certainly captivated this country, everybody wants to know what happened.





On 5-30 BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA NBC TV channel 13 reported:



Search For Holloway Reaches One Year Mark

One year ago, frantic searches started on Aruba's coast just hours after Mountain Brook high school senior Natalee Holloway was last seen.

Within days, the world knew her face and her story.

She was last seen outside Carlos and Charlie's bar, where, witnesses said, she got into a vehicle with three men.

The world also watched as her parents led the search for their daughter.

In June 2005 her mother, Beth Twitty, said, "Our primary goal is to bring Natalee back home. We will do whatever it takes. As I said from the beginning, I am not leaving Aruba without her."

The family and volunteers helped in the search by canvassing the island with fliers and looking for answers.

Leads seemed to come fast. Five arrests were made early in the investigation, with Joran van der Sloot and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe being considered key to the case.

Aruban Investigators and friends and family in Alabama felt encouraged.

In Mountain Brook, Holloway's neighbors adopted yellow ribbons as signs of hope. Her friends transformed a simple memorial into a wall of hope and memories.

Weeks became months. The searches changed. Divers started looking for a body and cadaver dogs were brought in to search the island.

The suspects were freed on a lack of evidence, walking out of jail and outraging Holloway's mother, who lashed out at Aruban authorities.

On November 2005, Twitty said, "We have been running around in circles on the island of Aruba."

There were more searches on Aruba, more leads and a handful of arrests, but no charges, no progress, and no sign of Holloway.

Earlier this year, the chief suspect, Joran van der Sloot, started speaking out.

"I asked her if she wanted to have sex and she was fine with it. I didn't have a condom with me, though," van der Sloot said.

He revealed an intimate night with Holloway, that ended on the beach where he left her, alive.

Van der Sloot said he doesn't know what happened next.

With more questions than answers, the case remains unsolved. Holloway's mother said the family is trying not to recognize the first anniversary of her disappearance.

Twitty said every day is filled with difficulty as a year-long search for answers leads to another.





On 5-30 the “AP” reported:



Family of Alabama teen missing in Aruba pass anniversary quietly

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Relatives of Natalee Holloway marked the first anniversary of her disappearance quietly today. The family continues to search for answers about what happened to the Mountain Brook teenager who mysteriously vanished during a high school graduation trip to Aruba.

Father Dave Holloway worked at his insurance agency in Meridian, Mississippi, while mother Beth Twitty spent the day in Montreal working on the Web site of her new organization to promote safe travel.

No public remembrances or ceremonies are planned marking the anniversary in Holloway's hometown.

Twitty began the International Safe Travels Foundation and often speaks to high school groups about the hazards of world travel and safety.

Victor Winklaar, owner and managing director of a newspaper on Aruba, said the island has been hurt by calls for a U-S boycott since the teen's disappearance. He had not heard of anything being done in Aruba to mark the anniversary.

Authorities investigating Holloway's disappearance have arrested nine people, but all were released for lack of evidence. Repeated searches of Aruba have failed to turn up any trace of the missing 18-year-old.

Twitty said getting through the past year was tough.





On 5-30 the TV show “Entertainment Tonight” reported:



Beth Holloway-Twitty: One Year Later

NATALEE HOLLOWAY disappeared last May and still Aruban authorities haven't charged anyone in her disappearance and her whereabouts remain a mystery. Our JANN CARL sat down with her devoted mother BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY to see how she's doing one year later.

"Nobody would give up until one thing has happened," Beth says. "Either charges have to be filed or the case has to be closed and right now we still have an active investigation, no charges have been filed. We're doing just what any parent would do at this point."

Beth is still living every parent's nightmare. Last May, six hours after she got the call that Natalee was missing, she was on a plane to the tropical island, where her daughter was celebrating her high school graduation with her friends.

Beth says that when she arrived she worked non-stop looking for her teenage daughter. "I didn't go to bed for five days," she says. "I didn't eat, I didn't sleep, I didn't take a shower."

She looked high and low hoping to find a trace of Natalee. "I ran through that country 24 hours a day for five days, running through crack houses, chasing leads, chasing tips. It was awful."

She tells Jann exactly what she was hoping for when searching the drug houses. "I thought that maybe they would have her hooked on drugs or something," she says.
Natalee's friends, who were with her on the fateful trip, have been a great source of support for Beth.

"If I had to lose Natalee, why would I want to lose her friends?" She asks. "I need to see them, I want to be with them, I want to go to Starbucks with them, I want to catch up."
Today Beth speaks at schools to warn other kids about the danger Natalee found herself in. She's also started www.safetravelsfoundation.org, which provides points of contact for travelers.

"It's so essential that you have that information because no parent wants to get that call from their son or daughter from a foreign country at 2 a.m.," she says. "They need help because there's nothing you can do. You're paralyzed if you don't have that infrastructure information."

And although she's still working for some sort of closure, Beth says she knows she may never see her daughter again. "I don't think any of us think that's a very good possibility," she says. "Of course every parent hopes to see their son or daughter alive again, but I think in Natalee's case we know that it doesn't look good."

For more on Beth's story, watch tonight's ET.





On 5-30 CBS reported:



Holloway Family Celebrates Grim Anniversary

(CBS News) Natalee Holloway's future couldn't have looked brighter: she was a good student, with a full scholarship to college, on a trip to Aruba to celebrate high school graduation with friends, a trip that turned her family's lives upside down.

The Alabama teen vanished without a trace on the island one year ago Tuesday and, as CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports, there are still few answers in the case.

There was no trace of her, but there were plenty of rumors: rumors that Natalee might have run away. And rumors that two hotel security guards knew what happened to her.

Then came the first in a dizzying series of arrests that would include the men who were with Natalee the night she disappeared: Satish and Deepak Kalpoe, and Joran van der Sloot. And Joran's father Paul, an official in the justice ministry.

In all, 10 people have been arrested and released in the past year.

Despite searching homes, picking through landfills, draining lakes and even re-enacting the night she vanished in the hopes of getting more witnesses to come forward, no one can say for certain whether Holloway is alive or dead.

For Beth Twitty, the anniversary of her daughter's disappearance means little.

"There is no reaction to the year-end mark. I'm not going to mark it any way. Every day is marked with pain and no answers," she says.

Investigators insist the Holloway case is neither closed nor cold, but with so little known one year later, many wonder whether it will ever be solved.





On 5-30 FOX News showed film of NATALEE’s bedroom in BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.
(5m02s VIDEO)
BETH HOLLOWAY-TWITTY stated to FOX News GRETA VAN SUSTEREN that she has hardly changed anything from how NATALEE left her bed room for the last time. Of interest was that NATALEE had already purchased dresses ahead of time for her college sorority rush events.
There was a crafted sign hanging on NATALEE’s closet door which read “Expect a Miracle”
Also shown and studied was NATALEE’s large, writable calendar showing that NATALEE had planned her activities ahead-of-time, at least, 3 months in advance, into August 2005 when she wrote reminders to herself on her calendar, including her exclaiming the start date for her college scholarship career at the University of Alabama which was uniquely circled boldly with a wide magic marker.

There was also a dated entry that NATALEE wrote on a calendar date that read “PHILANTHROPY.” The “American Heritage Dictionary” definition of “philanthropy” is….



Philanthropy

1. An activity performed with the goal of promoting the well-being of fellow man.

2. To dispense or receive aid in the form of a gift from funds intentioned for humanitarian purposes.





On 5-30 MSNBC reported:



DAN ABRAMS, HOST: Coming up, it’s a year to the day since Natalee Holloway disappeared from Aruba. Hard to believe -- when you look back, it’s also hard to believe how many theories have come and gone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY, NATALEE HOLLOWAY’S MOTHER: Natalee’s bags were packed, and she’s ready to come home. Please help bring her home. There is a significant reward for the person who returns Natalee to us safely, a reward that began by a $10,000 donation from our family has rapidly grown to $50,000. We will do whatever it takes. As I’ve said from the beginning, I’m not leaving Aruba without her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABRAMS: It’s hard to believe, it was one year ago today that 18-year- old high school senior, Natalee Holloway left Carlos N’ Charlie’s nightclub at 1:30 in the morning with three men Police believe she befriended there. Natalee went to Aruba on a senior trip with more than 125 other students from Mountain Brook high school, never showed up for her return flight to the U.S.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eighteen-year-old American Natalee Holloway remains missing in Aruba. She’s not been seen since she missed her high school group’s flight home on Monday. Police and the FBI are both involved in the search.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Despite six days of intensive searching, a beefed up reward of $50,00, and the assistance of federal Investigators from the United States, not a trace of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway has been found. Leaving authorities here to believe the Alabama teen’s disappearance is most likely a crime.

Natalee was last seen early Monday morning, the last day of her high school senior trip, in the company of three Aruban residents she met at a popular nightspot. The men who are being held for questioning claimed to have dropped Natalee back at her hotel, but she never showed up for the flight home. The roller coaster ride of emotions is taking a toll on Natalee’s parents who have come to Aruba to help in the search.

ABRAMS: First up on the docket tonight, three more arrests in the case of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama teen on a school trip, missing in Aruba for 12 days now. Early this morning Aruba Police arrested a 17-year- old Dutchman and two brothers, 18 and 21, from Surinam. The Dutchman, the son of a Dutch judge, apparently met Natalee at a hotel casino two days before she was last seen.

Two more suspects in the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway are released. A judge sent brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe home yesterday after three and a half weeks in custody. They were arrested on June 9, along with Dutch teen Joran van der Sloot and held on suspicion of the murder and kidnapping of Natalee, last seen on May 30. Now Joran is now the only suspect in custody.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Volunteers dropped sonar to search the ocean depths for signs of Natalee Holloway, is the second day teams with Texas based EquuSearch dropped high-tech equipment and a half dozen divers into choppy waters to find the Mountain Brook high school graduate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Efforts on land also continue Sunday. Three new Florida based dog teams join the search and recovery.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They have very high (INAUDIBLE) and what they can smell from a long distance, carried on the wind, if they come across something, the scent that they’re trying to locate, they will follow that scent, what we call a scent cone, which will spread out and the dog will narrow it down to the strongest source.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aruban authorities are expected to release Joran van der Sloot from a jail there today. van der Sloot has been held in connection with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Prosecutors are appealing that decision.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One of the suspects in Natalee Holloway’s disappearance left Aruba Monday. Joran van der Sloot left to attend college in the Netherlands. As a condition of his release though, he has to stay in Dutch territory.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The mystery of what happened to Natalee Holloway in Aruba last May has now made its way to the streets of New York, and to this courthouse. This is where Natalee’s parents have filed a civil lawsuit in the case of her disappearance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Target of the suit, Joran van der Sloot and his father, Paulus. The suit calls Joran -- quote -- “the predator” who was no stranger to sexual assault on young women, using ecstasy as his date-rape drug of choice. Joran prowled the island, seeking to prey upon young female tourists, especially blonds.

ABRAMS: What is going on in the Natalee Holloway case on the island of Aruba? Murder Suspect Geoffrey von Cromvoirt, arrested April 15, released in his parents’ custody today. Another suspect, a 20-year-old with the initials E.B. arrested Saturday then released six hours later.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A new arrest, this time in the Netherlands.

TWITTY: Yes, that’s just encouraging to me to know that there are still individuals out there who possibly have information that knows what happened to Natalee and where she may be. Marking the year means absolutely nothing to us. It’s marking every day that’s overwhelming to us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABRAMS: Guido Wever was released last Tuesday, making him the tenth suspect that Aruban authorities have arrested, questioned, and released in the investigation. Now there has been no shortage of theories about what happened to her. Many on Aruba initially speculated she essentially just run away. But as time passed and she was not found, the evidence began to point in another direction. Here’s a look at some of the theories that have come and gone over the past year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TWITTY: She’s approximately five-five. She weighs about 110 points. She has blue eyes and she’s very petite.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know Aruba is a friendly island, but it’s a safe island too, and we can’t accept that this happens in crime form, so we are hopeful that the girl is somewhere still alive.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We all went down there I mean to have fun, and we’re like the next day we come back -- we like -- we’re about to leave and we can’t find her and it was just -- it’s very shocking.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Without creating false hope we have reasonable belief and some credible evidence that Natalee Holloway is alive. We cannot prove that at this point, and we don’t know where she is, but you know there is a huge sex slave underground in some of those countries down there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABRAMS: All right. So you know the evidence about the sex slave stuff, well that’s where his theory lost some steam. He sent an investigative team down to a brothel in Mexico looking for Natalee, the result, nada.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RITA COSBY, HOST, “LIVE & DIRECT": But how realistic do you think this theory is?

TWITTY: You know, Rita, we don’t have any idea how realistic it is, you know but we do know that we’ve covered the island, of course due to EquuSearch, you know from the sand dunes to the water, dumps, ponds, you know it’s just been countless. And you know it’s something the family has never been able to do is look for Natalee -- the possibility of her being alive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We’ve had everything from the bloody mattress to the barrel, to clothing, north of the Marriott and of course right now they’re draining the pond and into this. So we’re following up on every lead, and this is potentially a good lead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A new witness tells Investigators he saw a white pickup truck here three days after Natalee vanished. He says men got out, took out what looked like a body and buried it, by now under nine feet of garbage.

TWITTY: As each day progresses and they have ruled out areas that were suspicious, just gives me more and more hope and keeps me absolutely more determined than ever that we will find her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shocking developments tonight in the case of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, who disappeared during her high school trip to Aruba last May. The island’s top cop says the teenager was probably not murdered, but likely died from too much alcohol and maybe drug use.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe the other part that Natalee may have been drugged.

(CROSSTALK)

COSBY: ... that maybe somebody did slip a date-rape drug? Do you think that is a realistic option?

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, that’s -- you know Natalee did not have any history of using drugs, nor did she use drugs, and none of her friends admitted that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me talk to you about the three men who you’ve been calling persons of interest. Are they in custody right now and can you tell us what their link is? I know they have claimed that they dropped her off at the hotel that night.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, they’re not in custody, because they are persons of interest, and on the basis of their story, we wanted to investigate further. And we are investigating around them and looking at all the clues. And we are reaching a point we feel very comfortable that the investigation is going in a good direction.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Prosecutors released this statement. The Kalpoe brothers are suspected with others of committing premeditated murder, or alternately murdering somebody or of robbing a person of her liberty with fatal consequences or of raping somebody.

TWITTY: We have to have answers from these three young men. They hold the key. They had the answers, it’s going to be up to the government to put enough pressure on these individuals to divulge the information. They know where my daughter is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABRAMS: Of course our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Natalee Holloway on this day.





On 5-30 MSNBC reported:



RITA COSBY, HOST: And one year after Natalee Holloway vanished, we will show you how the cops bungled it all along. Plus, I will ask her father about his next move.
He‘s coming up live and direct.
…
COSBY: Well, it may be hard to believe, but today marks exactly one year since the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway. The high school senior vanished without a trace during a trip to the island of Aruba last May. Since then, this case has taken so many twists and turns, but there is still no sign of the 18-year-old.
MSNBC‘s Alex Witt takes a look back at this troubling investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEX WITT, NBC CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mystery in paradise.
May 30, gone without a trace, a desperate search under way on the island of Aruba, after 18-year-old Natalee Holloway fails to show up for her flight home to Alabama.
BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY, MOTHER OF NATALEE HOLLOWAY: Natalee‘s bags were packed, and she is ready to come home.
WITT: Natalee was last seen getting into a car with three men outside a local nightclub. She was out with friends, wrapping up a trip to the Dutch island to celebrate high school graduation.
TWITTY: She‘s an amazing 18-year-old girl and Natalee is truly an angel.
WITT: Five days after she vanished, the three young men who picked up Natalee tell police they left her at her hotel around 2 a.m. Hotel workers say security cameras did not record her return. Less than 24 hours later, two former hotel security guards are under arrest, the first official suspects in Natalee‘s disappearance.
VIVIAN VAN DER BIEZEN, ARUBAN SPOKESWOMAN: We have two suspects detained, and that doesn‘t exclude the possibility that others will follow.
WITT: June 9, 10 days into the mystery, more arrests. Joran van der Sloot, the son of an Aruban legal official, and brothers Satish and Deepak Kalpoe, are arrested and questioned about Natalee‘s disappearance.
ANITA VAN DER SLOOT, JORAN VAN DER SLOOT‘S MOTHER: I believe 100 percent in my son. Yes, I believe he‘s innocent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you talk to us about this morning?
WITT: Just one day later a possible break in the case. One of the three men allegedly admits something bad happened to Natalee the night she vanished but still no sign of the teen.
June 13, the first two suspects, the hotel guards, are set free. Four days later police arrest local party boat disc jockey Steve Croes. He knew one of the Kalpoe brothers, already in custody.
JUG TWITTY, NATALEE‘S FATHER-IN-LAW: All I want is answers, and I want them now.
WITT: June 18, it‘s Joran van der Sloot‘s father Paul who‘s brought in for questioning, and within a week he, too, is behind bars.
A. VAN DER SLOOT: So bizarre that my husband is taken like this without any evidence.
WITT: After three days in jail, Paul van der Sloot is set free along with the deejay, Steve Croes.
ARIE SWAN, PAUL VAN DER SLOOT‘S ATTORNEY: There is no sufficient suspicion for guilt.
DAVE HOLLOWAY, NATALEE‘S FATHER: Everyone was surprised. Even Paul van der Sloot himself was probably surprised by the verdict.
WITT: July 1, the investigation is a month old, and Aruban prosecutors say Joran and the Kalpoe brothers could be charged with murder, even though no body has been found. Natalee‘s family is becoming increasingly frustrated.
TWITTY: We will do whatever it takes. As I said from the beginning, I‘m not leaving Aruba without her.
WITT: Three days later, July 4, a judge releases the Kalpoe brothers but keeps Joran locked up.
ANTONIO CARIB, JORAN VAN DER SLOOT‘S ATTORNEY: Today he is continuing to maintain his innocence.
WITT: July 25, Natalee‘s family announces a $1 million reward for her safe return.
B. TWITTY: Given the sensitive nature of this case, the person who gives the information will remain anonymous.
WITT: And the very next day two new witnesses come forward. One said he saw Joran van der Sloot drive to a local tennis club, trying to hide his face. Immediately, police pump a large pond near the Marriott Hotel, hoping to dig up any clues.
J. TWITTY: It makes me feel better that we‘re bringing in more dogs, more radar equipment, everything. And everybody‘s been down here searching.
WITT: July 28, the other witness takes authorities to a landfill where he claims the 18-year-old‘s body was left.
A month later, on August 26, the police make another big move. The Kalpoe brothers are again under arrest. Another man is also in custody,. Joran van der Sloot‘s friend, Freddy Arambatzis.
ELGIN ZEPPENFELDT, ATTORNEY FOR FREDDY ARAMBATZIS: Only in Aruba is this possible.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you sure he‘s innocent?
ARAMBATZIS: Of course I am. This is nonsense.
WITT: But then, by the beginning of September, a dramatic turn of events. On September 3 all four suspects in the Natalee Holloway case are released, this after lawyers argued there wasn‘t enough evidence to hold them. Despite media attention, the case goes nowhere.
B. TWITTY: I certainly hope the fight for justice for Natalee has not ended in Aruba, because it‘s just beginning for our home front in the United States.
WITT: Fast forward to February, 2006. Aruban investigators quietly visit the U.S. to reinterview Natalee‘s friends, looking for any clues.
B. TWITTY: I think what they‘re trying to do is just close some holes in some of the statements that they said that some of the students gave.
WITT: February 16, Natalee‘s parents slap Joran van der Sloot with a civil lawsuit in New York. The suspect was traveling to the Big Apple to tape a TV interview.
One week later, the van der Sloot special airs. The teen once again professes his innocence.
JOE TACOPINA, JORAN VAN DER SLOOT‘S ATTORNEY: When he came here after nine months of being called everything from a murder to a rapist to a predator and he came to defend himself.
WITT: Aruban deputy police chief, Gerald Dompig, takes to the airwaves. He say he believes Natalee may have died of a combination of alcohol and drugs.
HOLLOWAY: Natalee did not have any history of using drugs. Not did she use drugs. And none of her friends admitted that.
WITT: Days later, a new investigator officially takes over the Holloway case. Gerald Dompig goes back to his old job.
April 11 a Dutch TV show airs a special re-enactment about Natalee‘s disappearance. It airs in both the Netherlands and Aruba. The program reports getting new tips.
B. TWITTY: The toughest thing for me during this nightmare is when I saw the surveillance tape of Deepak‘s gray Honda. You know, I know that she‘s in there.
WITT: In that same week, yet another arrest. Geoffrey Van Cromvoirt is behind bars for his alleged connection to the Holloway case. He‘s also facing drug charges. He stays locked up for nine days before being released, but police say he remains a suspect.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did your client know Natalee Holloway? Did they ever meet? Do you know?
ELINE LOTTER-HOMAN, GEOFFREY VAN CROMVOIRT‘S ATTORNEY: No, they never met.
WITT: May 17 Natalee‘s parents go to court to tell a judge why their civil case against Joran van der Sloot should remain in New York.
B. TWITTY: It would be the best chance at Natalee getting justice that we will ever have. And that‘s why we want it here.
WITT: That same guy, 19-year-old Guido Wever is locked up in the Netherlands. The friend of Joran van der Sloot faces a return to Aruba for more questioning.
But six days later he‘s also out of jail, leaving the case in limbo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSBY: And there‘s been no shortage of theories about what happened to Natalee and for her family. They are not ready to give up. We‘ll hear from them right after the break.
And also how “America‘s Most Wanted” is now helping in the case even more. And speaking of most wanted, polygamous cult leader Warren Jeffs. We‘ve got a big update. That‘s coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSBY: And there‘s a lot more coming up here on MSNBC tonight. Let‘s check in with Tucker Carlson now with a preview. Tucker, what do you have in half an hour?
TUCKER CARLSON, HOST, “ON THE RECORD”: Rita, we‘ll tell you about the very latest about the Marines who may be charged with killing civilians in Iraq.
We‘ll tell you about a feud Oprah Winfrey is embroiled in.
And we‘ll also tell you about the old wives tale eating certain foods can improve your sex life. Well, it turns out science has proved it accurate. We‘re going to get very specific on what foods you need to eat to increase your libido. G-rated but still useful.
COSBY: And Tucker, are you rushing to the grocery store based on that?
CARLSON: I have my larder packed with them already. I‘ve already seen the research.
COSBY: I knew you were on top of all that. All right, Tucker. Thank you very much.
CARLSON: Thank you, Rita.
COSBY: We‘ll tune you in just a minute from now.
And more now on the first anniversary of the disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway. It was one year ago today that the high school senior went out to a bar with friends during a trip to Aruba and then suddenly vanished. Even though no one has been held responsible, “America‘s Most Wanted” is stepping up their effort this weekend, by featuring the Holloway investigation.
Live and direct right now is Natalee‘s father, Dave. And also joining us is reporter Rick Segall with “America‘s Most Wanted”.
You know, Dave—you know, it‘s been a year. Do you have any faith that this is going to be solved still?
HOLLOWAY: Yes, I‘m just about to give up on the Aruban judicial system. But you know, you always think that just right around the corner we‘re going to get the answer. And we‘ve been thinking that for a year now, and I just hope that, you know, if we keep our faith and keep on plugging away that we‘ll get the answers one of these days.
COSBY: How frustrating to you has it been? You and I have talked so many times. Here it is a year later and still no one held responsible.
HOLLOWAY: You know, yesterday I was looking back on the case. And you know, it was Memorial Day weekend. And in fact she disappeared on a Monday, and you know, it‘s kind of deja vu all over again. And we received the call and then made arrangements to go to Aruba.
But one of the things that really stands out in my mind is how the lead investigator initially handled the case. Basically when I met him, he steered us off: “Go to Carlos ‘n‘ Charlie‘s and she‘ll show up, you know, one of these days.” And that never happened, you know, he kind of steered us away from, really, the real meat of the investigation. That was these three suspects, and you know, they had all the time in the world to cover their tracks.
COLMES: You bet. And, you know, that‘s one of the things, Rick, that you‘ve been looking at on “America‘s Most Wanted”. Why did you think it was important to profile it this weekend? Are you hoping maybe you‘ll get some tips, maybe some calls might come in?
RICK SEGALL, “AMERICA‘S MOST WANTED”: You know, watching your time line here, a great time line, over the course of the past year, emotionally exhausting. And we weren‘t even the ones who lived through this. It was Dave and Beth and their families.
We‘re taking a little bit of a different approach this Saturday. Dave and Beth have done an amazing job keeping Natalee‘s case in the spotlight. And I think they would both admit that Beth has sort of been the face for the family here a little bit more than Dave has.
So after talking to both Beth and Dave, we decided that we were going to focus on what it‘s been like as a parent to go through this past year, to do it from Dave‘s perspective, as well as talking about to a classmate who‘s never done any interviews with the media before. She‘s coming forward.
COSBY: Rick—what did—what did that classmate say and why is she finally talking now after all this time, Rick?
SEGALL: She had an awful lot of anxiety and said that the thought of doing it in the past has sort of put her in tears. And she‘s finally at that point, I think, after hearing rumor and speculation, helping us to put some rumors to bed, to set the record straight on exactly when Natalee met Joran, things of that sort to sort of set, as I said, some speculation to rest as well as hoping that by coming out, telling her story perhaps it‘s going to help jog somebody‘s memory and to help the Holloway family.
COSBY: You know, Rick, you guys have covered so many cases, I think better than anybody. And if you look at it today how bungled do you think the cops—you know, that investigated this case in Aruba, how much do you think they messed up the investigation? Is it repairable at this point?
SEGALL: At this point, at the one-year point, you have to look back at all of the missed opportunities, the things that could have been done in the first hours, the first days, the first weeks. And you know, it makes your head reel. But unfortunately, there‘s nothing that can be done about that right now. You have to focus on, as of today, what can be done.
So we‘ve always said at “America‘s Most Wanted” it only takes one tip and getting information out to the right person to provide the tip. In Saturday‘s show we‘re going to be directing people to “Opsvering Versadt” (ph), the Dutch version of “America‘s Most Wanted”. We‘ve got transcripts from their show. We‘ve got clues. We‘ve got information from them we want our viewers to see and take a look at as well. And we‘re still hopeful. Perhaps in a month or so a deep water search can yield more information.
COSBY: In fact, we‘re putting u p—I want to show to our viewers. This is a sketch of one of the guys who exposed himself on the beach to somebody else soon before Natalee disappeared.
You know, Dave, as you hear all this—and let‘s just pray, because “America‘s Most Wanted” gets all these tips that come in. Are you still hopeful that maybe somebody might come forward? Or do you think they would have by now?
And this is also—this is the surveillance video as she left Carlos ‘n‘ Charlie‘s.
Did you hope that someone‘s going to still come forward, or do you think it‘s behind that point?
HOLLOWAY: Well, there‘s always a possibility that someone will come forward. You know, these three guys were the last ones seen with Natalee, and there are still witnesses out there I believe could help us out.
COSBY: Dave, what do you say to people that say it‘s been a year, maybe it‘s time to move on? How do you feel when you hear that?
HOLLOWAY: Well, if you have children you‘ll understand a lot more, that you don‘t give up on your kids. And you‘ll go and keep swinging the bat even if you‘re down and out. You‘ll get back up and look at the picture on the wall or whatever it may be and then go back again after them.
COSBY: You bet. If it was someone I loved, I‘d be fighting the same fight. Dave, thank you very much.
HOLLOWAY: Thank you.
COSBY: And Rick we hope that you get some good results. Please come back and let us know what you‘re getting. Thank you very much.





On 5-30 CNNHN reported:



NANCY GRACE, HOST: And very quickly, to tonight`s "Case Alert." Today marks the
one-year anniversary in the case of a missing Alabama teen, Natalee Holloway, the entire
time Aruban authorities playing catch-and-release, taking 10 people into custody, then
releasing them, still no closer to finding out where is Natalee, Natalee last seen leaving a
local nightspot with three local men, including a judge`s son, vanished without a trace.




5-31-06

(revealing what type of persons some of the DUTCH are)

On 5-31 the ST. MAARTEN “Daily Herald” reported:



Dutch pedophiles to launch political party

AMSTERDAM, Holland--Dutch pedophiles are launching a political party to push for a cut in the legal age for sexual relations from 16 to 12 and the legalization of child pornography and sex with animals, sparking widespread outrage.

The Charity, Freedom and Diversity (NVD) party said on its Website that it would be officially registered on Wednesday, proclaiming: “We are going to shake The Hague awake!”

The party said it wanted to cut the legal age for sexual relations to 12 and eventually scrap the limit altogether.

“A ban just makes children curious,” Ad van den Berg, one of the party’s founders, told the daily Algemeen Dagblad newspaper.

“We want to make pedophilia the subject of discussion,” he said, adding that the subject had been taboo since the 1996 Marc Dutroux child abuse scandal in neighbouring Belgium.

“We want to get into Parliament so we have a voice. Other politicians only talk about us in a negative sense, as if we were criminals,” van den Berg told Reuters. The Netherlands, which already has liberal policies on soft drugs, prostitution and gay marriage, was shocked by the plan.

An opinion poll published on Tuesday showed that 82 per cent wanted the government to do something to stop the new party, while 67 per cent said promoting pedophilia should be illegal.

“They make out as if they want more rights for children. But their position that children should be allowed sexual contact from age 12 is, of course, just in their own interest,” anti-pedophile campaigner Ireen van Engelen told Algemeen Dagblad.

Right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders said he had asked the government to investigate whether a party with such “sick ideas” could really be established, ANP news agency reported.

Kees van deer Staaij, a member of the Christian SGP party, also demanded action: “Pedophilia and child pornography should be taboo in every constitutional state. Breaking that will just create more victims and more serious ones.”

The party wants private possession of child pornography to be allowed, although it supports the ban on the trade of such materials. It also supports allowing pornography to be broadcast on daytime television, with only violent pornography limited to the late evening.

Toddlers should be given sex education and youths ages 16 and up should be allowed to appear in pornographic films and prostitute themselves. Sex with animals should be allowed, although abuse of animals should remain illegal, NVD said. The party also said everybody should be allowed to go naked in public and promotes legalizing all soft and hard drugs and free train travel for all.