Suspect In Holloway Case Released

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, who CBS News has reported is Guido Wever, 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."

"He is in good health and he is willing to cooperate with judicial authorities of Aruba in finding the truth of the disappearance of Natalee Holoway," Spong said.

Spong previously told CBS News that his client is "completely innocent" and has never seen Holloway.

Weaver'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."

They also said in a 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."

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 FBI 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.

Holloway's mother, Beth Twitty, commented Monday in Alabama on reports of Weaver's detention and questioning by police.

"It doesn't look like to me it's excluding the original three suspects, but only widening the circle of the suspects involved in Natalee's disappearance," said Twitty.