Natalee Stepdad: Mom's Plea Worked

Says Just-Released Suspects Would Have Fled Aruba Without It

(CBS)  An emotional plea from the mother of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama teen missing in Aruba for more than five weeks, seems to be a factor in keeping two newly-released suspects on the island, according to Natalee's stepfather.

Natalee's mother, Beth Holloway Twitty, asked countries Tuesday not to provide asylum to Surinamese brothers Deepak Kalpoe, 21, and Satish Kalpoe, 18, if they flee Aruba. The brothers were freed Monday by a judge who said there wasn't enough evidence to hold them anymore in Natalee's disappearance.

Still in custody is 17-year-old Joran van der Sloot, son of a top justice official on the island, who authorities say admitted to being with Natalee alone the night she disappeared. The judge ordered that van der Sloot be held another 60 days.

Beth's husband, George "Jug" Twitty, told The Early Show co-anchor Rene Syler Wednesday, "I truly believe, after seeing their lawyer on TV last night here, that (the Kalpoe brothers) did plan to go out of the country. And until Beth made her plea (Tuesday), that they've decided to change their plans and stick around."

Holloway Twitty said, "There's definitely been a crime committed against Natalee. We all know that. When I say (the Kalpoes were 'involved'), I don't know to what degree. That is not up to me to have that investigatory power to decide. But I do have information, and I know this. Those individuals have information. And you know, I don't think until we find Natalee, we won't know the full extent of their involvement in that crime."

She said she can't disclose the nature of that "information" but adds, "I do know that they have involvement."

Asked about protests by some 200 Arubans who were upset over some of her comments in her news conference Tuesday, Holloway Twitty said, "Well, I hope it is limited to a small group and I hope that this dissipates quickly. Jug and I have tried to remain so respectful and, you know, the citizens here have been nothing but respectful and courteous to Jug and I since we've been on the island. And I hope that that is not something that is growing. And we never meant for this to happen."