Dutch Police Search For Natalee Holloway

Officials Dig In Yard Of One-Time Suspect Joran Van Der Sloot

(AP)  Dutch police searched the yard of a one-time suspect in the disappearance of American teenager Natalee Holloway, the Aruban prosecutors' office said.

Using thin metal rods and shovels, police and forensic investigators on Friday churned up the earth outside the home of Joran van der Sloot, the last person known to have seen Holloway alive before she vanished nearly two years ago during a school vacation on the Dutch Caribbean island.

"The investigation has never stopped and the Dutch authorities are completely reviewing the case for new indications," Vivian van der Biezen, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office, told reporters gathered outside the home.

About 20 investigators arrived from the Netherlands on April 16, van der Biezen said. She said they also searched the home, but she could not say why. They left after a couple hours inside the walled property.

A statement from the prosecutors' office said: "The team has indications that justify a more thorough search."

Holloway, an 18-year-old from Mountain Brook, Alabama, vanished in the early hours of May 30, 2005, the last day of a five-day vacation to celebrate her high school graduation with 124 other students.

She was seen leaving a bar with van der Sloot, then 17, and two Surinamese brothers. The brothers, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, were jailed and later released after a judge ruled there was not enough evidence to hold them.

Van der Sloot, a Dutch citizen who has been attending college in the Netherlands, was jailed for about three months. He has said he left Holloway alone on a beach after they kissed and he did not harm her.

Calls made to the law office of Paulus van der Sloot, the suspect's father, were not immediately returned Friday.

At least 10 people have been arrested and released without charges. Hundreds more have been questioned.

The Dutch marines, the local coast guard, the FBI, hundreds of volunteers and others have scoured the island's dunes, beaches and trash dumps for Holloway. Scuba divers and sonar-equipped coast guard ships have also examined the seabed.

[jsh713]

Well, kailumego1, I just "knew" I would flush out your anti-religious, blind-bigotry. And you didn't disappoint me! To you, it is "ALL about color." You should go back to Dr. King's speech, and re-discover that it is NOT about color, but about content of the heart. But your heart is corrupted with hate and reverse-discriminatory bigotry, so you won't see your guilt. You are blinded by your own self-righteous spitting on others who are not "exactly like you."

This is a big world, and their is room for all of us, if bigots like you will forsake your venom and lay aside your hate.

I told you at the outset, that news is a business and as such it prints what SELLS! I don't mean to be insensitive to ladies and gentlemen of color (I am one, myself), I am merely pointing out that whether you or I like it or not, in today's commercial world, money BUYS! And the unfortunate families you cited did not have the capital to fund expensive search parties the way the Holloways did.

But your hate blinds you to these cogent facts. I am ashamed of you for you to represent others like me with your poison. It is only with sane and calm reason that we will win full acceptance. It is NOT with the ranting and whining that you're doing! Shame on you!

And you call me a "religious fanatic." You don't have a clue, you are so bigotted! It would do you some good if you got a "little religion." But in any case I will cheerfully pray for you too!

Sincerely,
A concerned stranger

[kailumego1]

jsh71, you're nothing more than a religious fanatic, personally, I don%u2019t care it the Holloway%u2019s had money to hire private detectives, psychics, etc., that%u2019s their business. However, the issue is not how much money the Holloway%u2019s have to dish out, but how a system of justice has skewed it%u2019s attention to providing over-the-top investigation for a few members of society, while negating the majority, particularly, people of color.

And this goes for the media as well, I %u2018m tired of seeing the same overly-dramatized coverage of this young woman, when you have thousands of missing people, black, Hispanic, etc., which get absolutely no coverage.

In Michigan, there was a black woman reported missing for months, whose story took a back seat to Tara Grant%u2019s story that dominated the media for weeks.

You%u2019re certainly in a delusion of grandeur if you think individual people vocalizing their outrage has done so merely out of jealously, which couldn%u2019t be further from the truth.

This has absolutely nothing to do with any personal envy, but justice, and I%u2019m quite sure those protesting could care less about the Holloway%u2019s %u201Cnet-worth%u201D.

So, take your self-righteous nonsense and go pray for your misguided soul%u2026..

[ralan40]

After this amount of time, any remains would be minimal in a tropical environment. If the guy was guilty, he could have just left her on the beach or dumped her out in the ocean from a boat, not take her home and bury her in the backyard. Who really knows what happened? She could have passed out on the beach and the tide could've taken her away. The only thing that is a sure thing is that she dissappeared and the people responsible for her safety while she was away from the care of her parents are not being punished or held accountable in any way.

[smitti55]

I thought there was a cistern, or maybe, Andalcirete, it was a septic tank in Vander Sloot backyard. I do not know why this yard was not thoroughly searched before. And using rods, what will that turn up? Unless she had been buried in something solid or unless they happen to hit a bone, I would venture to say that by now (if she is buried somewhere on the island) that most of her is gone, you know?

[andalcirete]

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU CHECKED IN MR VAN DER SLOOT SEPTIC TANK. DO YOU REMEMBER READING THAT HE SAID "NO BODY NO CASE"? SO CHECK IN HIS HOME.

[ralan40]

Here we go with the blame game again. These are 18 year-old high school graduates. If they chose to go into bars or participate in risky behavior, no one else should be blamed for their choices. All of us are responsible for our own choices.
Posted by rhs648 at 03:26 AM : Apr 29, 2007

Then why were there even chaperones? OK RHS648, the last time I checked, Natalie was only 17 years old 3 weeks BEFORE she graduated when she dissapeared. This was a SCHOOL SANCTIONED TRIP! The School system was responsible for the safety and well being of underage students in the absence of parental supervision. Yet there has been no fallout on the results of the mos blatent negligence of authority on the schools part. I guess you are one of those that thinks kids can go do whatever. Fine, lets not blame anyone, no one did anything wrong. If your kid dissapears in a foreign country and is never found you can just say "oh well, thats just kids being kids"

[incog-nito]

Shouldn't they have searched the suspect's home and yard at the START of the investigation, instead of near two years later?

[rhs648]

"Whoever the chaperon was should have had all the students under their control instead of letting them loose to do what ever they wanted. I would blame the high school and the chaperons for what happened."

Posted by sclaires

Here we go with the blame game again. These are 18 year-old high school graduates. If they chose to go into bars or participate in risky behavior, no one else should be blamed for their choices. All of us are responsible for our own choices.

[sero5]

"Anyone watching the hit TV show CSI could learn a whole bunch about how to gather data that was not done in this case. All the crime scene evidence areas were contaminated long before any forensic evidence could've been gathered."
Posted by joemg51 at 07:34 PM : Apr 28, 2007

I like the CSI show, but the forensic evidence processing is scripted to be fast to fit into one hour episodes. Real forensic processing takes time (weeks, even months) and there is always a chance the evidence can lead to a dead end and little prospect of finding the victim's body.

[jsh713]

(Part two)

These leaches and parasites on society are jealous of the Holloways successes, and their thinly veiled hypocrisy stinks. Some of them write with so much venom, that it is obvious that they rejoice and delight in a "rich kid gone lost."

Shame on 'em all. No wonder they are all such losers... enjoying someone else's heartache. Eternal judgement will ultimately catch them all.

I continue my prayers for the Holloways, and all of those touched by this tragedy.

How dare these critics blame Mom & Dad... they add insult to injury!

While hindsight is always 20/20, and the allowance of these kids to make such an ambitious (and risky) trip is now, clearly unwise... today's mobile society is doing MANY new things that older generations never did. But today's parents are under incredible pressure when the kids say, "Please... EV-ER-Y-BO-DY is going!"

Dumping on these grieving parents will not bring Natalie back. Nor will it make it easier for future parents to say "No." The lesson for them is in the tragedy... NOT in your acid and vitriolic criticisms.

Let us continue in prayer for the Holloways et-al and let us also hope for a real break in the case and a vigorous prosecution of the perpetrators.

Sincerely,
A concerned stranger

[jsh713]

I'm glad to see periodic updates on this tragic loss. And... no, it is NOT "white bias" as the reverse bigots/persistently pretending victims claim.

The press is a business. They sell "news." Like any business, they sell what the public buys. This is a business law. Always!

When a wealthy mom & stepdad, and a wealthy dad and stepmom combine their devoted interests in their daughter's mysterious disappearance, and they pool their money and hire high profile detectives, search and rescue groups, and enlist the help of psychics, prayer vigils and EVERY conceivable possible helper... THAT IS news!

I get so tired of the whiners throwing stones at others who have been successful in life, profitable in business and prominent in society. They are simply serial losers, who want society to give THEM "something for nothing." They are "professional victims," sucking up to todays Politically Correct views, hoping to get more sympathy & recognition. It's easier, less costly in terms of money, sacrifice and labor... and it is socially acceptable today!?!

(Part One)

Sincerely,
A concerned Stranger

[kailumego1]

I wonder if this much attention to detail has been given to Aruba citizens who have met with foul play????

I agree with Slipster01, I'm tired of the media's over-dramatization of this story, let it rest, there are other families, like the Holloway's, who have missing children, which the media has obviously overlooked.

I was tired of the story when it dominated the airways two years ago, and now, here we go with the same old drama.

And yes the media is racially bias, along with class, social standing, etc., because I'm willing to bet the average citizen in Aruba hasn't gotten a fraction of media or police's attention as this young woman.

[toolmangler-2009]

Hopefully the first target of the lawsuit would be you, yourself, the incompetent parent who allowed your YOUNG DAUGHTER away in a foreign land in the company of STRANGERS
Posted by Agnim at 02:20 PM : Apr 28, 2007

Agnim, every time you make a true observation You screw it up by spraying verbal diarrhea toward everyone in general. Most 18 yeaar old people are already on their own, and no one is happier for them than I.

you must realy hate being Black worse than I thought.

[tibu987]

I, and certainly, the family of Natalie Holloway, would be so very pleased to see this tragedy come to an end with the guilty party(ies) being caught and put away forever, hopefully.

[joemg51]

I'm sure you say that the crime scene was not handled in any professional way that would have yielded any kind of evidence that could have been used in a criminal court case against those that may have been responsible for the disappearance of this woman. Anyone watching the hit TV show CSI could learn a whole bunch about how to gather data that was not done in this case. All the crime scene evidence areas were contaminated long before any forensic evidence could've been gathered.

[agnim]

"I've always wondered if Natalie could be in a chest freezer, bottom of well, or under the crawl space of the Van der Sloot house? Don't laugh, John Wayne Gacy killed & hid about 30 young guys ...
Posted by SweetGal_Deb at 06:54 PM : Apr 28, 2007"

Sorry, gotta laugh. Ha ha ha.
You watch too much TV. LOL

I have one more possibility: Maybe an alien space ship too Natalie for her to just disappear from the face of the earth like that.

[agnim]

""A major lawsuite would be in order."

Is that with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths?
Posted by kalcoh at 04:48 PM : Apr 28, 2007"

LMAO
You are funny; but you know what she meant; so she is communicating successfully. LOL

[uceslady]

She may have been sold to *** slave traders as they can find no trace of her. Last place he saw her was on beach? Somebody has bound to have guilt hanging over their head and in their heart. Her families need closure but may never have it. These high school graduation trips have gotten way out of hand. Wonder if this was a school sponsored or parent sponsored trip? That's immaterial, we have got a missing student. Know this is one trip they wish they had never planned or made.

[sclaires]

I can't see why kids now-a-days need to go on trips such as this when they graduate from high school. When I graduated we went on a school sponsored trip to some place close. But it seems as though now the kids want to leave the country to be able to drink alcohol legally since they can't drink it here in the states until they are 21. And, where was the chaperon?? Whoever the chaperon was should have had all the students under their control instead of letting them loose to do what ever they wanted. I would blame the high school and the chaperons for what happened.

[skalpakian]

"A major lawsuite would be in order."

Is that with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths?

Learn how to spell. It's easy, they teach it in second grade.