Natalee Holloway: 4 Years On
American High School student Natalee Holloway disappeared 4 years ago to the day on Aruba in the Dutch Antilles. Joran van der Sloot soon became a prime suspect.
For those who somehow lost track a bit, here the names of some of the players in the Natalee case:
Natalee Ann Holloway (18) (picture): was at Aruba for a schooltrip, together with classmates, all from Mountain Brook (Birminham) Alabama.
Joran Van der Sloot: Prime suspect in the disappearance. Publically trashed after a TV program from Peter de Vries, 3 februari 2008.
Deepak Kalpoe, (21): Originally from Suriname, lives in Aruba. Worked at a Cybercafe in the period of Natalee’s disappearance, became a suspect.
Satish Kalpoe (18): Originally from Suriname, brother of Deepak. Also a suspect.
Paulus Van der Sloot: Lawyer. In training to become a judge, father of the prime suspect Joran. Suspect for a while as well.
Dave Holloway (48): Natalee’s father.
Beth Twitty (45): Natalees mother. Divorced from Dave and now also divorced from Jug Twitty. Said to have a relationship with John Ramsey, father of murdered JonBenét Ramsey (6).
Jug Twitty (49): Natalee’s stephfather (was) married to Beth Twitty.
Robin Holloway (40): Natalee’s stephmother, married to Dave Holloway.
Linda Allison: Natalee’s aunt and sister of Dave Holloway. Occasional spokeswoman of the family and involved in the search by Equusearch.
Marcia (Allan) Twitty: Natalee’s aunt. Beth’s sister in law. Often a TV guest in interviews regarding the case.
Thomas & Hunter Twitty: (23-april-87): Twins, Natalee’s cousins, sons of Marcia en Tom Twitty. Attend Mountain Brooke High School as well and were togher with Natalee on Aruba. In some theories they were named as the first target of an Aruba kidnap in relation to alledged money-laundering if the Twitty family for Nicaraguan crime lords.
Art Wood: Former secret agent. Member of the Jossy Mansoers investigative team on Aruba. Accused the Dutch authorities of a cover-up.
Harold Copus, Former-FBI special agent, pursued Deepak Kalpoe aan.
T. J. Ward, Former FBI agent en private investigator, hired by the Holloway family.
Jan van der Straaten: Former head of police on Aruba. Then head of the investigative team. Friend of Paulus van der Sloot. Supposedly would have answered the door when the police came to search the van der Sloot estate and limited the terms of the search.
Karin P.J. Janssen: Public prosecutor in the Natalee Holloway case. Collided with Justice Minister Croes and was made to leave. Janssen was elected ‘Woman of the year’ on Aruba in 2005. Famous quotes: “You know, you keep acting like this, Mr. Twitty, we’re going to quit.” 28-8-05 “We can’t book people when we want… (like) a bunch of cowboys.” 3-6-05.
Hans Mos: Aruban Public prosecutor, successor of Janssen. By now also on the way out.
Vivian van der Biezen: head of legal and policy assistance for the Aruba prosecutor’s office
Anita Van der Sloot: art/drama teacher at AIS. Mother of Joran van der Sloot.
Dr. Phil: Forged a tape with the Kalpoe brothers statements. Was convinced Natalee was sold into slavery to Mexico. The Kalpoe brothers sued Phil McGraw, CBS and Jamie Skeeters (a P.I. who died in January), alleging the clandestinely recorded jailhouse conversation was doctored heavily to change the elder Kalpoe’s response from “No, she didn’t” to “She did.” Versions of the original and aired tapes available on YouTube and other websites appear to back Kalpoe’s contention that his words were altered.
Nadira Rameriz: Mother of the Kalpoe bros.
Steve Croes: Former DJ on the boat ‘Tatoo’, now employed at Carlos’n Charlies.
Steve supported the fake alibi’s of the 3 prime suspects.
Ruben Tappenberg: Aruban government spokesman. Accused by Wood as part of the cover-up. Criticised Bob Riley’s call for a boycott of Aruba.
Rudy Croes, Justice minister on Aruba.
Freddy Arambatzis-Zedan: Friend and neighbour of the Van der Sloot family. Was a guest in the van der Sloot house on the night in question.
Lorenzo Van Rijn: Supposedly a bastard son of Paul van der Sloot and half-brother to Joran. Suspected of drug-trafficking. Named as being the ‘Daury’, that supposedly had helped Joran to dump Natalee’s body.
Daury Rodriguez: Supposedly the Daury that alledgedly helped Joran to alledgedly dump Natalee’s body in the ocean No evidence of any involvement was ever found and he did not own a boat.
Antonio Carlo: Former lawyer of Joran. Had asked for a meeting with DA Karin Janssen in order to ‘relieve his conscience’ In this secret meeting he supposedly had said that Joran was involved but that it was up to the police to find enough evidence.
Tim Miller: Searched the island with specialized equipment.
Valentijn Van der Sloot: Younger brother of Joran. Kept a blog on the case.
Geoffrey van Cromvoirt: (19) Aruban subject. Arrested on April 15, 2006 solely on a rumour that he ‘knew more about it’. Son of Wilhelm van Cromvoirt.
Wilhelm Bernardus Henricus van Cromvoirt: Father of Geoffrey. Owner of VCB securities that hired out security personnel to Hotels. VCB (Video Camera Bewaking) also founded the ‘Visibility team’ a policie affiliated private security team that patrols the beaches. Both Geoffrey van Cromvoirt as well as Michael Dompig were at one time members of the visibility team.
Joe Tacopina: American lawyer handling the interests of Joran and Paul van der Sloot.
Rosemary Arnold: Joe Tacopina’s right hand ‘man’.
Arjan Debie: Lawyer to Joran.
Richie Koch: Lawyer to Joran.
Ruud Offringa: Lawyer to Deepak
Rudy Oomen: Lawyer to Deepak.
Arly Swaen: Lawyer to Paul van der Sloot
Guido Wever: Male model. Arrested May 2006 (then 19) in Utrecht the Netherlands on suspicion of battering, kidnapping and murder on request of the Aruban authorities who requested his extradiction. Wever was an apprentice croupier at the casino of Natalee’s hotel. He was working at the casino on May 29 2005, the night before NAtalee’s disappearance. After Natalee’s disappearance he was questioned 5 times. His arrest followed incriminating statements made by various former collegues at the casino. Supposedly he had appeared at work, the day after Natalee’s disappearance ‘looking worried’ and stopped working shortly thereafter ‘sooner than was planned’. Witnesses suddenly also remembered 8 months after the facts that he had had some deep scratches. Aided by lawyer Gerard Spong Wever was released 3 days later and though he ‘remained a suspect’, the police never showed any interest in him anymore. Spong mentioned Wever’s homoseksueal orientation as a factor that would make his involvement with an alledged rape turned murder of Natalee as highly unlikely. Rumours say that Natalee is burned in the Crematorium dat Guido’s moeder Yolanda supposedly has on Aruba.
Gerald Dompig: Former head of police on Aruba. Openly stated that Joran could be innocent and that Natalee could have suffered an overdose. He was accused of incompetence. Supposedly Dompig is the brother in law of Boeti Naar and again supposedly the uncle of the Kalpoe brothers. In an interview with filmmaker Gielen he said to have been intimidated and hamperd in his investigation. He was not allowed to investigate the close family of Natalee.
Michael Dompig: Son of Gerald Dompig. Was interrogated as a witness twice in 2006 following the arrest of Van Cromvoirt. Supposedly he was the one implicating Van Cromvoirt. Stated in an interview with Fox News that the Holloway family tried to smear his father. Knew Geoffrey van Cromvoirt through the ‘visibility team’
Xavier ‘Boeti’ Naar: Beach bum, ex-convict, drug dealer? Supposed brother in law of Gerald Dompig. Alledgedly he and narcotics cop Dennis Jacobs helped DA Karin Janssen to implicate two security guards -Abraham Jones (28) and Mickey John (30) . Boeti supposedly lived in a tent on the beach, close to where Natalee disappeared. In Oktober the seizure of 10 kilo cocaine leads to Boeti Naar.
Noriana Pietersz: Mickey John’s lawyer
Patrick van der Eem: Former drug dealer. Carries a scar called a ‘boca grande’-supposedly given to him by criminal allies because he was a snitch. Won Joran’s trust. Contacted Peter de Vries in order to tape Joran’s confession. Wrote a book about the case. Was not allowed into the US because of his drug history. Later convicted for aggravated assault on his girlfriend.
Poentje Castro: Aruban journalist of Un dia den bida. Taped a conversation with Patrick van der Eem in which van der Eem supposedly had said to know who threw Natalee in the ocean. As he result he was threathened by van der Eem (which was taped again).
Jossy Mehsen Mansur, (75): Aruban businessman, Libanese by origine. Editor of Diario in Aruba. Acused of smuggle and money laundering. Developped his own vision on the Natalee disappearance and formed his own research team. Often interviewed on Fox News en CNN Headline News. His motive for this supposedly is a grudge against the Aruban government.
Bob Riley: Governor of Alabama. Called for an Aruba boycott.
Elgin Zeppenfeldt: Lawyer of the Deepak brothers in their civil suit against Beth Holloway, Dr. Phil and Harpo productions.
Arlene Ellis Schipper: Spokeswoman for the Justice department in Aruba. According to rumours a cousin of Guido Wever.
Arjan Wezel: On line poker buddy of Joran who truthfully to his name (‘Weasel’) set up a trap for Joran together with Peter de Vries regarding the alledged supplying of Thaise prostitutes in 2008. It remained unclear if Joran really committed a fellony here or that it was Weasel who did the entrapment which surely was a fellony.
‘Celes’: Self-decared girlfriend of Joran who in November 2008 after the ‘Joran in Thai women trafficking’program of de Vries ‘suddenly’ remembered that Joran had made incriminating statements to her.
Murphy Jenkins: The alias used by Joran van der Sloot in his dealings with Arjan ‘what’s in a name’ Wezel.
Joe Mammana: Philedelphia businessman who promised a 100.000 USD reward in the Natalee Holloway case. According to some a philantropist, according to others a criminal who served time for fraude, aggravated assault, narcotics trafficking, grand theft auto and identity theft.
Peter de Vries: (“Peeter Air de Freez”) Crime reporter, claimed to have ‘solved’ the case but it resulted in public outcry against Joran, not in a conviction. De Vries left too many loose ends. He e.g. did not check the phonerecords of the phonebooth neer the hotel and did not go into the many questions surrounding the arrival of Beth on Aruba.
Renée Gielen: Filmmaker on Curaçao (Dutch Antilles) who in the documentary ‘Natalee, the unrevealed Time Lines’ sheds light on other aspects of the case.
Julia Renfro, a Los Angeles native who is editor in chief of Aruba Today News Magazine and photographer for Dutch based Bon Dia, initially took the side of Holloway’s parents when they sought publicity on the disappearance and lambasted Aruban police for following Dutch investigative procedures rather than those in the United States. Later changed her opinion because she found Beth Twitty’s behavior ‘odd from the get-go’.
CBS 42 News Birmingham Remembers Natalee
Natalee ~ Missing in Aruba Four Years
No New Charges in Holloway-Case
26 Mei, 2009, 10:05 (GMT -04:00)
ORANJESTAD – The public prosecutor continues to lead the investigation for the missing American teenager Natalee Holloway. After the departure of head officer Hans Mos, the Attorney General, Rob Pietersz will be the spokesperson.
Contrary to the allegations in the Dutch media, the new head officer will not lead the investigation. From now on, the Attorney General will be spokesperson as he is of the opinion that the Public Prosecutor provided the press with ‘detailed insights’, also on other current cases. “I have another view on press matters. I do not deny the bond between the Public Prosecutor and the press, and that’s the way it should be, but we must mark time to realize that you cannot divulge all details of an investigation at any desired moment. A careful watch must be kept in view of everyone’s right to privacy.”
Pietersz was also of the opinion, that too many details of the investigation in the Holloway case were given, amongst others by the head officer Hans Mos. “Yes, the Public Prosecutor and/or the police may have certain suspicions, but the question is whether these suspicions should be shared with the entire community”. Pietersz declines the circulating rumors that Mos is leaving due to him not getting along with the new Attorney General. “It is not correct to state that I am the reason he is leaving. I guarantee that there was no sanction against him whatsoever. “According to him, Mos is leaving because the court general asked him to become quartermaster and possibly first head officer of the new Public Prosecutor on St. Martin. Meanwhile a new head officer (and Solicitor General) has been recruited in the Netherlands, and will be soon introduced.
For that matter, the Attorney General addressed the departing head officer several times, also concerning certain remarks, and on admitting foreign agencies, whilst Pietersz was of the opinion that this required reticence. It concerns huge criminal prosecuting institutions as the FBI, but also agencies as recently employed by Dave Holloway, Natalee’s father, who had the island search by a bloodhound.
“They have no authority here whatsoever. One must be extremely cautious, not to set the local people aside. “The Attorney General recently spoke with the American consul and previously forwarded him a letter so that he could inform his authorities in the United States. The message is, that no foreign, and thus no American tracing service can operate without a prior request to the Attorney General. “This is also stated in the treaty on mutual legal assistance between the United States and the Netherlands. We must respect this otherwise we will end up with scenes where all institutes will hamper their own people.”
This coming Saturday, May 30th, it will be four years ago that Natalee disappeared on Aruba. The criminal investigation continues.
Travel Safety in Aruba
Reported by: Kimberly Rankin
Reported by: Cynthia Gould
Last Update: 5/19 4:40 pm
Its graduation season, a time when teenagers and young adults head off for fun and sometimes wild vacations… And whether they are staying here in the states or heading overseas, the safety rules are pretty much the same.
Long gone are the missing person posters and the yellow ribbons, but everywhere locals and tourists know her name and her story.
“A lot people ask about Natalee Holloway. Everybody comes here and you can’t get away from that…it’s terrible.”
Terrible, yet something everyone we talked with in Aruba this week had learned from.
“You want to talk to your kids more about it and prepare them for this type of thing.”
Preparing them, according to police, has to begin with a good long talk. What’s acceptable, what are the limits, and simple rules…
“The most important thing when you leave to go back to the hotel go back with the ones you came don’t go with nobody you don’t know,” said Edwin Comenencia with the Aruba Police.
Comenencia says never ever get into a car with someone you just met. And just like anywhere else, hide your valuables, don’t carry a lot of cash and stay in busy, well-lit areas.
“When you stay in a tourist area there is a lot of security and police walking the streets.”
He also advises you to keep any spare keys at the hotel and program all police and hotel numbers into your cell phone. And above all, “Don’t drink too much. When you drink you are not the same person.”
And if you are drinking, make sure you take your drink from a bartender or servers. And have someone from your party watch your drink if you go to the bathroom to make sure no one puts anything in it.
And if there are adult chaperones be sure there is a clear understanding what their role will be and when you as a parent will be called. One adult group from New York says they take no chances at home or overseas.
“All activities, we stay together. Nobody is by themselves. You can’t even go to the restroom by yourself. It’s something we always did; now we make it a common practice. We make sure no one goes off by themselves.”
And while Aruba caught the international spotlight we could only find one other kidnapping here. Daniel Ferrara’s brother was taken by a Venezuelan gang in 1998 and held for ransom until his rescue. Ferrara still calls his country safe.
“You can walk around 3am. Doesn’t matter what day…”
True, but we must all remember Natalee must have felt very safe on her vacation, surrounded by friends and locals who appeared to be safe.
“It was a very sad story…could happen to anybody anywhere.”
Tourism in Aruba Since Holloway’s Disappearance
Reported by: Kimberly Rankin
Reported by: Cynthia Gould
Last Update: 4:38 pm
It’s been four years since Natalee Holloway disappeared in Aruba. The negative attention from that tragedy put a serious dent in the island nation’s prime industry: Tourism.
“Don’t worry, be happy…” It’s kind of the theme song for island paradise get-aways. But with the Natalee Holloway tragedy looming over Aruba like a black cloud, are vacationers feeling the care-free vibe?
Tourist Evelyn Nedeau said, “Not worried about a thing. First impression, it is beautiful, it is safe, the weather is gorgeous. The beach is phenomenal.”
“We have a certain affinity for the island. We know there are decent people here…hardworking and industrious,” said Ron Conway.
And tourism has begun to re-build in Aruba, the Natalee Holloway affect has weakened and cruise ships and planes have begun to dock and descend on this destination.
“We come here every year, last year we came here twice. We bring our kids here,” said Donna Nedeau.
“It was very unfortunate and our hearts go out to her family, but it didn’t stop us from coming out and having some fun,” said Joe Boccuti.
Tourists say they feel safe on the island of Aruba. In fact they feel so safe they have no problem walking down the street at two or three in the morning as long as they are with a good group of friends.
“We stay together, we walk together and that’s how we do it,” said Evelyn Viera.
70% of Aruba’s tourism comes from the U.S. And while many pray for the conclusion of Natalee Holloway’s case, they understand her death was an island aberration.
“Anywhere you go something can happen. Bad things happen in all different places, but you can’t let it stop you from going to wonderful places, and this is really a great place,” said Boccuti.
According to a Caribbean travel Web site, tourism dipped more than 9% after Beth Holloway’s plea for an island boycott. Since then those numbers have rebounded, returning U.S. dollars to the pockets of Aruba locals who rely on tourism to feed their families.
Where is the Natalee Holloway Investigation Today?
Reported by: Kimberly Rankin
Reported by: Cynthia Gould
Last Update: 4:17 pm
May marks the four year anniversary of the disappearance of Natallee Holloway. CBS 42 was in Aruba recently to find out what’s happening with the investigation. We uncovered some new allegations and more claims of a botched investigation.
Beautiful beaches, clear blue water and plenty of sunshine. But this island still lives under a cloud.
“It’s still hurting us.”
Both police and prosecutors refused to talk about the Holloway case, only saying it’s open and they are following leads.
“Officially it is still open, but I don’t think they are doing anything with it.”
Jossy Mansuer, who’s lived on the island all his life, owns Diario, the local newspaper. Diario’s stories often directed police to witnesses and leads.
“We know more or less what happened. She was done away with. Murder? Yes,” said Mansuer.
“Classic case of money, power and never getting caught?”
“Exactly, influence, political, specifically from Holland,” said Mansuer.
Mansuer says the investigation was clouded by the fact that the father of suspect Joran van der Sloot was a judge who worked with the same authorities handling the Holloway case.
“He was working with all these people. Judges developed close friendships or understandings. I have documents that have never been published in which Joran makes statements, which were corrected in his father’s handwriting saying things that call attention not to foul play but favoritism,” said Mansuer.
Mansuer questions why the three suspects were not arrested within the first 24 hours, and claims many leads were not followed. He’s also trying to confirm whether Joran confessed early on.
“The only super secret information we are after, we heard there was a confession…the papers have disappeared.”
He discounts theories Natalee was sold into sex slavery. No similar cases have ever come up. And as for an accidental overdose, not likely according to Mansuer, since the laws are so lenient in those cases, someone would have come forward to tell what happened.
Mansuer says the release of secret recordings made of Joran turned the island against him and brought renewed sympathy for the family, despite hard feelings over earlier calls for a tourist boycott.
We were unable to talk with anyone at the van der Sloot home in Aruba. Joran has proclaimed his innocence in interviews, but there are still many doubters on the island.
“After all the stories, it looks like he had something to do with it,” said Evert jan van Versendaal.
Those who knew Joran from school were surprised by the accusations.
“At the school he seemed fine his mother art teacher two brothers all of them regular,” said Daniel Ferrara.
But Mansuer paints a much different, darker picture…a young man with a troubled past whose parents always came to the rescue.
“This guy is way beyond control with his anger and that he is capable of doing anything,” said Mansuer.
Natallee was last seen alive at a night club called Carlos and Charlies, which is now closed, getting into the car with Joran van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers.
Mansuer says many in Aruba theorize she was drugged, sexually assaulted then killed…her body likely dumped in the ocean. Natalee’s father organizes periodic searches on the island.
“With time I think may be solved with time. Don’t think in the short term unless a miracle and we find Natalee’s remains,” said Mansuer.
In the long term, it’s a story that is still very much alive.
“It’s definitely something going to be in our hearts and our minds forever.”
Joran van der Sloot we’re told is still in Holland. The Kalpoe brothers live quietly on the island, refusing interviews and staying out of the limelight.
Aruba Four Years Later: Financial Impact
Reported by: Kimberly Rankin
Reported by: Cynthia Gould
Last Update: 3:55 pm
Four years after the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, the story is still very much on the minds of the people of Aruba.
Evert jan van Versendaal has lived on the island of Aruba for more than a decade. He came here to run a restaurant, but ever since the Natalee Holloway disappearance, he’s seen the country he loves turn into the black eye of the Caribbean.
“There is still a little cloud over Aruba, and still people are going to doubt like I am not going to go there.”
And it infuriates him.
“How many people are missing in Alabama? Is there every day a big show in Alabama? Is the whole world watching Alabama? But now the whole world was watching Aruba.”
And then to add insult to injury, Beth Holloway’s plea for a tourist boycott…Evert says only affected the innocent mom and pop shops.
“They were the first ones that were hurt. The big companies, there were a lot of money behind the big hotels, they will survive. But if tourism is down like 25%, that’s a lot with a small business.”
But it’s been four years, and Evert says the tourists have returned. While many businesses say they are recovering from the Natalee Holloway situation, others say they are still affected, especially in this bad economy just like everyone else.
“Right now the business is going down. We are in high season, but we don’t have the high season in two years already.”
Tony Matilda runs a small business on the beaches of Aruba, showing tourists there is more to do than lay by the water.
“I do the jet skiing, the water sporting, the para sailing, the jet skiing, skuba diving, snorkeling.”
But it seems like in past few months he’s done a lot less rentals and a lot more sitting around, just like many restaurant servers.
“They see that the place is so calm, no not that much business, and why it so calm. I start to tell them about the economy and they jump at the Natalee thing. I personally think its part of the economy and it has something to do with Natalee too,” said Elston Peterson.
Peterson says when the tourists are here he makes $130 a day in tips. When they aren’t, a measly $20… That’s why Aruba locals hope that people learn from this tragic situation, and next time punish those responsible for the crime and not the entire country.
Spotlight Back on Holloway Disappearance
Updated: Monday, 11 May 2009, 10:36 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 11 May 2009, 10:36 PM EDT
Will Thomas
WASHINGTON, D.C. – It is a case that sparked a media sensation around the world. High school student Natalee Holloway vanished May 30, 2005 in Aruba during a graduation trip. Four years later there are no new leads in the case.
The National Museum of Crime and Punishment is helping to put the case back in the spotlight. Natalee’s case is the newest addition to the Unsolved Crimes exhibit, replacing the now solved Anthrax Murders.
Beth Holloway attended the unveiling Monday afternoon in Northwest Washington to honor her daughter.
“In some way I hope Natalee’s case can represent a lot of these young adults that are missing and are most likely murdered,” Holloway told Fox 5.
John Walsh, the host of Fox’s America’s Most Wanted, stood by her side at the museum. Police determined a deceased drifter decapitated Walsh’s 6-year-old son. The announcement last December, brought to close a case that has haunted the Walsh family for more than two decades.
“Finding him murdered so horribly was unbearable but at least that ended that chapter of our lives. Beth Holloway doesn’t have that closure,” Walsh said.
Natalee’s mother and John Walsh are also working to bring attention to a missing component in the search for victims.
The Center for Missing and Exploited Children works to find children under the age of 18-years-old. There is no specialized center for missing adults like Natalee, who was 18-years-old at the time of her disappearance.
Natalee Holloway Cold Case Exhibit at the National Museum of Crime and Punishment
Beth Holloway, mother of Natalee Holloway, and America’s Most Wanted Host John Walsh unveiled the Natalee Holloway Cold Case exhibit at the National Museum of Crime and Punishment in Washington D.C. (May 11)
