ORANJESTAD, Aruba - Three young men were charged with murder in the disappearance of an Alabama teenager at the time they were arrested, more than three weeks ago, Aruba's chief prosecutor told The Associated Press on Friday.
It was not announced at the time to protect the family of 18-year-old honors student Natalee Holloway, said Attorney General Karin Janssen.
"The three have been charged with the murder of Natalee Holloway from the beginning" of their arrest 10 days after the young woman went missing May 30, she said in an interview.
"At the time, we didn't want to upset the (Holloway) family talking about murder while they searched," she explained.
Janssen said the information was kept quiet in order not to compromise the investigation. Authorities have said they have no physical evidence suggesting Holloway is dead.