Natalee Holloway - Case Discussion Extended Thread 16

These days, I only travel to the western part of the Caribbean and Central America. I have learned that they find it offensive if you call yourself "American". You are North American as they are Central American. Point is, they think of themselves as " Americans ". There is a bond there that I never found in the Eastern Caribbean. Their lineage is more African and European. They do not like Americans and you feel it the minute you step through customs.

Rape is never about sex. The rape and murder of Natalee Holloway was not about sex.It was a direct assault on American culture;just listen to Deepaks' words. These feelings of hostility toward America have existed in the Eastern Caribbean for many years and now 3 dipshits in Aruba have have made their island the focal point of this conflict and it's a hard rain that's gonna fall on Aruba.

Something I read recently:

"If you know a thing," he said, "it is always a great temptation to show that you know it; to talk about it, in other words. It is not that you want to give information. It is not that you have been offered payment to give information. It is that you want to show how important you are. Yes, it's just as simple as that."

Talk away, Urine and K-2 dog-droppings.

bump

(Sorry I missed pinging you to the above comments, tried to get the most recent posters, and you are one. My oversight.)

Can't disagree with anything you said.

I was thinking about what I posted above, and then thought that that sort of attitude towards women -- they deserve it because of the way they look or dress -- is what some defense lawyers even here in the US, even today, will try to get away with, in defending their clients.

"Look how she was dressed, she was asking for it."

I know not all defense attorneys try to attack the victim, but old attitudes die hard.

http://getagripmonkey.blogspot.com/

Aruba Getagrip
A compilation of translated Aruban media articles regarding the Natalee Holloway investigation.
Friday, October 14, 2005

Murder Victim’s family is angry with how investigation is going – Case reconstruction took place last Thursday night in Sabana Basora
DIARIO Aruba
10/14/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): In the month of June, a cruel case took place in Sabana Basora that shocked not only those who live in the neighborhood but also the whole community.

A man who showed no signs of life was discovered in the surroundings of Santana Central in Sabana Basora.

It deals with the body of a man with multiple cuts on his body. His throat was almost exposed.

At once, suspicion arose that this was a serious case, murder with criminal hands involved. Various suspicions arose, which dealt with a possible hit, reprisal, and a number of other versions circulated. At the moment when the authorities discovered the body, they checked the house where the victim lived, and there discovered a lot more blood.

In this end, it is illustrated why the case was that authorities concentrated here, because in their point of view this was the place where the crime took place.

The victim was living in this house with a woman, and she is one of the first ones to have noticed. In the first instance, the suspicion didn’t point towards the woman. Due to her acting in such a way that the suspicion was not aimed in her direction.

However, slowly, on the basis of the investigation and also compiled reports, the finger was pointed in her direction.

Investigators in charge of the case found sufficient indication that the woman was involved in the murder, for which it decided with the support of the Public Ministry [prosecutor’s office] to detain her.

In this way, the interrogation started and the woman came head down that she committed the cruel act. She showed that she used a machete with which she held the man in such a way that he could not resist and by consequence he died from the multiple serious wounds he received.

Apparently, the woman committed the act as a reprisal. What the reprisal consisted of is not clear. It’s the Court of Justice that will tend to this cruel case.
One point that still no one can believe and cannot comprehend is that the woman alone committed the act. Possibly there is one or more persons involved.

The question has arisen, if it’s true that the woman has such strength to launch this attack, hoist the man in a pickup and transport him from the house to the Santana area, where the lifeless body of Rene van Heinegin was discovered. The woman, Yesenia Castillo, is in KIA at this moment.

On the evening hours of Thursday, authorities conducted a reconstruction of the case where the female suspect was transported to the location to give details of what happened.

DIARIO found, that the investigator prepared this event along with TOD and the prosecutor for the reconstruction to take place.

Victim’s family is none too happy

“While they can’t even resolve the case of Natalee Holloway…what is of a poor dark skinned San Nicolas born Arubian?” This is the reaction of the family of the deceased, Rene van Heinegin, which they indicated to DIARIO in a telephone interview from St. Maarten.

They explain that the majority of the siblings live in St. Maarten and Holland. Only the parents are still in Aruba, but the great anger comes from the family not getting any sort of ‘feedback’ from the criminal investigation that’s under way.

The case of their brother isn’t finding attention like that of Natalee’s? Because their brother is a dark skinned Arubian? “If the investigator can’t resolve Natalee’s case, how can they solve the crime of their own people?”; said the sister to DIARIO.

The look at the case this way: A dark skinned Arubian from San Nicolas is cruelly killed in a new district. But everything is going quite slow and no sort of information is reaching them.

To top it all off, a sibling was told that police in Aruba was going to conduct the reconstruction of events this coming Sunday. Now he calls, they tell him that suddenly the reconstruction took place last Thursday evening. And the parents in Aruba are without a vehicle and could not find a way to get to the place. In the end, they couldn’t get there.

Simply said, the families are none too happy with the investigations that are currently taking place in Aruba.

[translated by Getagrip]
posted by Getagrip at 11:05 PM

Rene van Heinegin worked at the Valero refinery.

Look again at this political cartoon:

There are the words "Santana Politico" in the cartoon, with the quote "Deadman don't talk!!", and the body of Rene van Heinegin was found at Santana Central in Sabana Basora.

Aruba is some happy island. /sarc

Not to worry; I check in here almost everyday, as soon as I get on the internet.

http://www.scaredmonkeys.com/?p=1744#more-1744

Steve Croes; “He feels that his reputation has been damaged in this case by Natalee’s mother”, Beth Twitty.

From what would appear the truth is stranger from fiction category in Aruba, former suspect Steve Croes, ex-Tattoo NJ, is rumored to have plans to sue Beth Twitty. Steven Croes apparently says that “Beth Holloway Twitty has damaged his reputation and he might be taking her to court”. According to Jossy Mansur in an interview on Rita Cosby Live & Direct, Jossy Mansur stated the following:

We heard it and it has been confirmed by people very close to him. He feels that his reputation has been damaged in this case by Natalee’s mother. He has consulted with some legal advisors as to how to proceed with a case against her.

As Jossy further went on to say,

I don’t know, that is very hard to say from a man who just voluntarily went to the police to offer an alibi to save his friends.You can expect anything, whether he goes through with it or not.

Steve Croes goes into police to present an alibi to protect his friends and lies to authorities in the process. Because of this lie he is arrested as authorities knew at that time that Joran admitted to never leaving Natalee off at the Holiday Inn. Now Steve Croes wants to sue Beth Twitty because “his reputation has been damaged in this case”? Steve Croes lies and brings all this upon himself and now wants to sue because his reputation has somehow been damaged? I guess lying to the police does not qualify as damaging one’s reputation.

The rest of the interview from Rita Cosby , ‘Live & Direct’, Oct 13th (Hat Tip: Sun Moon Stars)

Now to Aruba, a former suspect in the NH disappearance is reportedly thinking about suing the teenagers mom. Steve Croes was arrested early in the investigation. The party boat DJ was released just days after his arrest. But now, he apparently says that Beth Holloway Twitty has damaged his reputation and he might be taking her to court.

Rita: Jossy, what do you know about Steve Croes going after Beth Twitty?

Jossy: We heard it and it has been confirmed by people very close to him. He feels that his reputation has been damaged in this case by Natalee’s mother. He has consulted with some legal advisors as to how to proceed with a case against her.

Rita: Does he sound like he is going to go forward, or is he just blustering?

Jossy: I don’t know, that is very hard to say from a man who just voluntarily went to the police to offer an alibi to save his friends.You can expect anything, whether he goes through with it or not.

Rita: Jossy, you hit it on the head because that is the reason this guy came in. He made it up this story to begin with. When I was down there a few weeks ago they were strongly suggesting to me some people on the island that maybe he knows Joran, maybe Deepak better that he has alleged. Maybe he knows more about the case than he has alleged.

Jossy:I am convinced he does know the three suspects very well. Much better than he has admitted so far or anyone has inquired into. Whether he knows more about the case, whether he is more involved in the case or not, I don’t know. You would have to consult with the prosecution or the police to find the real facts about that.

Rita: You have some new details on the status of Jorans family and what is father can and can’t do in court.

Jossy: Yes mam,I understand from talking to Diario today that the family of Joran came back from Holland. They are all in Aruba now. I understand that the father cannot enter or set foot in the building where the court functions while his son is a suspect. He will be a suspect for the next two years.

Rita: Do you get a sense that there is a stepped up effort because there has been so much talk of a potential boycott?

Jossy: Perhaps there is and perhaps there isn’t because it is hard to really correlate the possible boycott and the things happening now in the case. The case is going forward, the police are investigating, the prosecution is preparing it’s case. It is going forward regardless of what anyone else thinks. It is going forward.

Rita: That is good to hear Jossy and you keep us posted as always.
Let’s get the Holloway family attorney in here if we could. Live from Aruba Vinda de Sousa. Vinda, let me ask about Steve Croes. The audacity that this guy lied to the police and is now thinking about going after Beth.

Vinda: Well, that is what I have heard like Jossy just said. I haven’t had any confirmation of that. If he is thinking of doing that, it is an audacity. He voluntarily provided a so called alibi for the three suspects. Nobody asked him to unless it was the three suspects. So, it is an audacity on his part.

Rita: One of the things we are hearing is that they are requesting a lot of the characters. Even going so far as to question a bus driver, almost anybody involved in the case. Are you getting a sense they are taking things seriously or is this just all show for us?

Vinda: Rita, you know they have taken this seriously from the beginning.
Contrary to all the reports we hear to the contrary but this has been taken very seriously from the beginning. If you remember a while back I informed you they were going to go back to basics and review the whole case. They are interviewing people who were already interviewed, old witnesses and old persons of interest new witnesses and new persons of interest as well. This is something that has been going on and the investigation never stopped. It was never the case that this was completely closed and nothing was being done. The investigation is ongoing.
There are several searches taking place and dives as well. So, what can I tell you? It is ongoing and is being taken very seriously. It will continue to be taken very seriously.

Rita: I have been very impressed with some of the comments that deputy chief Dompig has said. Are you getting the sense there is momentum now. If these tapes are verified, he said they will all be brought in for questioning.

Vinda:When these tapes are verified if they are the real thing, if they are the raw tapes. When it is clearly established that Deepak stated what he stated, then of course he will be brought back in for questioning. That was said right from the beginning when the Dr. Phil show aired. That is what the authorities informed me.

Rita: Thank you, we are hearing a lot of things could come down as early as next week.

This entry was posted on Friday, October 14th, 2005 at 10:43 am and is filed under Natalee Holloway, Missing Persons, Aruba, boycott, Joran Van der Sloot, Beth Twitty

"i truly pray the path of Rita didn't cause this absence"

It hasn't...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1471591/posts?page=1947#1947

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/user-posts?id=63526

Hey, MAWG...love your tagline!!

bookmark

That's right. The 'she's just a slut' is used by many criminals no matter their religion. It was used by BJ Clinton...'nuts and sluts' defense, as it was known.

PS: I've heard kalpoes are Hindu.

You know what Mawg, with the way THIS new police chief is behaving I see it as just an extension of the way the case has been treated from the beginning. It's going to take a real miracle for justice in this case I'm afraid. Beth needs to take Joe Mammana and get over there. They should barge their way into this police chiefs office with video running and challenge him. Then it ALL should be taken back to the United States and a campaign for total BOYCOTT should be run. These CORRUPT people have virtually stolen Beth's daughter off the face of the earth and they need to pay the price. The boycott should also extend to Holland and anything Dutch. Kick the Dutch Ambassador to the United States out. Otherwise they can probably forget getting an answer unless "they" themselves get a miraculous break. It's terrible. That Island, as I've said before, should be sunk into the sea. The Aruban people aren't exactly "rising up" against this government and law enforcement system.

If it's just a handful it won't work. It has to a HUGE number of citizens. JMO

thanks for the heads up on tex kat...the hurricanes have us flinching

Any news? Did they arrest Deepak yet?

Maybe Beth should hire Dog. OTOH, he's kind of high profilr lately. I don't think he could sneak up on Joran the Goon.

i haven't heard of an arrest as of yet, but two weeks ago in birmingham i did hear of his eminent demise...let's hope there is an arrest early this coming week (the aruban rumor is monday or tuesday)

Thank You.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9695532/

'Scarborough Country' for October 13
Read the transcript to the Thursday show
Updated: 10:34 a.m. ET Oct. 14, 2005

Guest: Stephen Doyle, Bill Stanton, Debbie Boyd, Pat Boyd, Pat Brown, Linda Allison

Snip...Then the bombshell from Aruba. Could the three suspects in the Natalee Holloway case be rearrested because of what one of them said on tape? We are going to have that and more of our MSNBC exclusive with the new investigator who says he would like to see Natalee's killer finally behind bars.

Snip...
MOLINARI: And when SCARBOROUGH COUNTRY continues, we are going to take you inside the hunt for Natalee Holloway. The new lead investigator says that, in his hunt, all roads lead to Joran, Deepak, and Satish. We are going to hear that and get reaction from Natalee's family.

Then, have you seen this woman? Christie Wilson was last seen on October 5. Now her family needs our help in bringing their girl home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MOLINARI: Could there finally be justice for Natalee Holloway? We will go inside the investigation and hear from the deputy police chief. You are not going to believe what he says about the suspects.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MOLINARI: The three young men at the center of the Natalee Holloway case could be headed back to jail soon, in part due to what Deepak Kalpoe told an investigator on “Dr. Phil.”

Welcome back. I'm Susan Molinari, in for Joe tonight.

The case of Natalee Holloway is being blown wide open. And it all starts with this. Let's take a listen to the part of the tape that has reignited this longstanding investigation. We are going to listen to Deepak Kalpoe talking to a polygraph expert.

Listen.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

JAMIE SKEETERS, POLYGRAPHER: I'm sure she had sex with all of you.

DEEPAK KALPOE, SUSPECT: She did. To tell you quite frankly, dressed like a slut, talked like one. Would go in a car with three strange guys and her mother claiming her to be the Goody Two-shoes. Enough of the B.S. already. If I knew where the body is I would tell them a long time ago. Let them start a trial and get this over with. I don't care.

SKEETERS: Sometimes, your closest friends, if they're worried, and this thing is that big, they'll burn you.

KALPOE: I don't have any close friends anymore. They're all gone.

SKEETERS: Really? Because of this?

KALPOE: Everything is empty.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

MOLINARI: Now, it seems that that interview has Aruban authorities very interested. They are currently trying to get their hands on the complete, unedited version and interview.

Now, last night, MSNBC's Dan Abrams spoke exclusively with the deputy chief of police. They spoke about the tapes and what he thinks about the suspects. Let's watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, “THE ABRAMS REPORT”)

DAN ABRAMS, HOST: Do you believe that Joran, Deepak, and Satish were involved in Natalee's disappearance?

GERALD DOMPIG, ARUBAN DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE: Well, at this time, I think that all three persons know something that they are not telling, at least not telling us.

ABRAMS: Something about her disappearance?

DOMPIG: Exactly. And I go by the rule of thumb that the first 40 days—I said in a different program, the first 40 days, law enforcement has probably also already spoken to the perpetrators.

So we feel strongly that we have already spoken to them and there's no one else outside this group that could be involved or responsible, so sometimes people ask us that, are you not tunnel-visioned? Maybe you should look at other possibilities. Of course. We did that, but we still feel that every time you go on a path, a different path, that path leads back, comes back to these three boys.

ABRAMS: So you, again, have no other even possible suspects in connection with this case?

DOMPIG: At this time, no.

ABRAMS: And you don't expect to find any more, do you?

DOMPIG: To tell you the truth, that's just from—sometimes it's a gut feeling, as an investigator. I do not think so.

ABRAMS: Do you expect that, at some point in the relatively near future that the three of them will be under arrest again?

DOMPIG: Well, it's very difficult to answer, but let me tell you this. If these boys are guilty of harming this girl, I need them to be behind bars as soon as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MOLINARI: Yes. I think the whole nation here agrees with you on that.

So, what does Natalee's family think about these new developments?

For that, let's bring in Natalee's aunt, Linda Allison, who joins us on the phone.

Linda, thank you for being with us this evening.

LINDA ALLISON, AUNT OF NATALEE HOLLOWAY: Thank you, Susan, for having me.

MOLINARI: Well, listen, we all want to see this resolved as quickly as possible, for all of your sakes. What do you make of that tape that, though—that we just heard with Deepak on it?

ALLISON: Well, I did hear that when it was aired on Dr. Phil's show, and was just so very shocked to hear that news, that Deepak had admitted that the three of them had a sexual encounter with Natalee.

And I am just so very thankful that the prosecuting attorney and the police are asking for that tape. They want to review that tape and make sure it is legitimate. And, you know, of course, we have been saying all along these three suspects were last to have been seen with Natalee, and they do know something, and we just want them to tell the truth. We want that information to get out, so we can find out where Natalee is or what has happened to her.

MOLINARI: So your family has been given indications that this is now a process that's going to speed up and that the authorities are finally going to try and get these three guys to sit down and tell their version of the truth, because, right now, all we have heard, all you have heard is several different stories?

ALLISON: Right.

And, again, the last I had heard is that the prosecuting attorney was requesting this tape, and that they are going to be reviewing it, and with guarded optimism. We just hope that they are going to bring them back in for questioning, and hopefully get to the—get to the bottom of this soon.

MOLINARI: Are you encouraged by the renewed attention that's going on right now?

ALLISON: Yes. And any time that there is new information that is being brought forward, and with these being very contradictory statements, with Deepak saying that they were with her that night, that they did have sex with her, and then you hear the interview that Joran gave from Holland, and, you know, in the beginning, he was saying that that was none of anyone's business.

And then later, he does—he even contradicts himself in his conversation that he had during his interview, so many different times, and, you know, there's only one way to tell the truth, and they have been so inconsistent with their statements that you don't ever know what's the truth and what's not anymore.

MOLINARI: Well, that certainly has become obvious to anybody who has been following these developments, but it's got to be encouraging when the deputy chief of police states for the record that the path keeps coming back to these three boys.

ALLISON: Absolutely, and I think that one of the things that I have seen different this week than what we have seen in the past several months is that communication coming from the police investigator, so it's very good and very reassuring to hear these positive things coming from the police investigator's office, that they are looking at this, and they are looking at questioning them again.

MOLINARI: Well, is it possible that this Dr. Phil tape and all the boys' conflicting stories could finally close this case?

For that, we are going to go to MSNBC analyst and former FBI agent Clint Van Zandt and profiler Pat Brown.

Thank you guys for being with us.

CLINT VAN ZANDT, MSNBC ANALYST: Hi, Susan.

MOLINARI: Let's start with you, Clint.

You have spent some time in Aruba.

VAN ZANDT: I have.

MOLINARI: You have talked to these guys, you have talked to Deepak at great length.

VAN ZANDT: Yes.

MOLINARI: Are you surprised that officials are now suddenly—I mean, it seemed like this case went away for a while. We all thought, these guys are really going to get away with this. Are you surprised now that there's this renewed interest, and what is it on the tape that he really said that caused this stir?

VAN ZANDT: You know, I—it's kind of the “I'm from Missouri” type of Syndrome, OK? I mean, I have got to see it before I believe it.

What I—my gut reaction says that what's going on down there is that, in this Dr. Phil tape—and, in fact, I was down there when the polygrapher was there. He and I talked. After I talked to him, I took a run at Deepak. I said, Deepak, would you be willing to take a polygraph exam? He said, well, if my attorney says I can.

I said, good, we will go about arranging that for you. And so, I was trying to set him up for the polygrapher, you know, boom, boom, boom. But when I hear what's going on and see what's going on, you know what I think is driving this, Susan? As much as you and I and everybody want this case solved, and, you know, I sat there and held hands with Beth, and I cried with Beth, and I am empathetic.

I have got children and grandchildren.

MOLINARI: Sure.

VAN ZANDT: As much as this looks like a new cold case review, I think it's the Arubans responding to America, responding to the threat of a boycott.

(CROSSTALK)

VAN ZANDT: I think they are saying, let's tell America we will do whatever they think we should do.

MOLINARI: We are still working on it.

VAN ZANDT: So we can keep the tourist dollars rolling in.

MOLINARI: Thinking that, at some point, this is all going to go away?

VAN ZANDT: I think they think—I think the Aruban government is—you know, I have talked to people on the street in Aruba. I said, what do you think happened? They said, oh, we know what happened. Natalee wanted to run away. Her and her mother didn't have a good relationship. Joran van der Sloot simply helped her go to another island.

I said, you can't believe that. They said, oh, yes, absolutely, we do. Well, if that's what they believe, if we hear that the police don't write down all the statements...

MOLINARI: Right.

VAN ZANDT: ... don't take down the confessions, and even if on this Dr. Phil tape, we have got Deepak saying, yes, we had sex, he doesn't say it was anything other than consensual sex. In a worst-case scenario, you know, you can't indict someone on what another person says. I read a statement from Joran van der Sloot, where he says, Deepak assaulted her, murdered her, and buried her body. You know, we have heard 25 different statements from these kids. Nobody knows what the truth is.

(CROSSTALK)

MOLINARI: Well, no, but that's right.

And, Pat, you have profiled these kind of individuals. Is there any one of them that stands out more in the profile of a killer, and that these young kids could sort of sustain this lie for so long? Isn't that kind of frightening in and of itself?

PAT BROWN, CRIMINAL PROFILER: Well, yes, but they are a group in themselves, and we don't understand how their thinking works. We have a bit of psychopathology going on with the entire group.

I listened to Joran. He gave a nice interview for 30 minutes in Holland, and he said—in the beginning of his interview, he said, I am not going to give an interview. I don't want to talk to you. And then I gave a 30-minute interview.

MOLINARI: Right.

BROWN: So, he starts out by lying. He lies through the entire interview. And what is really fascinating is that he says, I didn't have sex with Natalee, and I didn't do anything with her but kiss her on the beach and sit with her. And her mother knows the whole truth. But there's a lot of truth I haven't told you and I am not ready to tell it.

MOLINARI: Well, right.

BROWN: Well, OK. What more truth could there possibly be?

(CROSSTALK)

MOLINARI: And when there's a missing body out there, and the America media is covering this every night.

BROWN: Exactly. Exactly.

MOLINARI: Don't you think you better start spitting it out?

(CROSSTALK)

BROWN: Exactly.

And what is really interesting about this is that Joran has a lot of support from his father, and that leads me to believe that he is the center of this whole thing. He is the one that Natalee was interested in. He is the one that she went with. I just don't believe—he said, I wouldn't cover for my friends.

Now, I think he is right. He wouldn't cover for his friends.

MOLINARI: He'll cover for himself.

BROWN: But I think good friends help friends, and good friends help friends hide bodies.

And my belief has always been these good friends did, indeed, help in a certain way, and they have to cover up now because they are involved, but Joran, I don't believe. If he wasn't involved in something very, very serious, more so than moving a body with Natalee, he would cover for his friends. He would run to daddy and say, daddy, help me; my friends pushed me into this. So, Joran is at the center of this. He knows it. He lies through his 30-minute interview over and over and over again.

(CROSSTALK)

MOLINARI: Right. Good point.

(CROSSTALK)

MOLINARI: Well, we are going to keep our eye on this one for the family and for all of us.

(CROSSTALK)

MOLINARI: Linda Allison, we want to thank you so much for being with us. Our prayers are continuing with our family. And, Pat and Clint, you are going to be staying with us.

BROWN: All right.

VAN ZANDT: OK.

www.riehlworldview.com/

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Natalee Holloway: Fox Update And More

Beth Twitty and her aruban attorney, Helen Lejeux were on with Greta Van Sustern this evening.

Beth stated that she would be returning to Aruba shortly, though no date was given. Helen Lejeux stated the prosecutors office is telling her that they are continuing the investigation and working hard. That includes reviewing all documents and basically looking at everything new under conditions of less pressure as there isn't currently the level of press attention as before.

When questioned as to her thoughts if the investigation needed more time, Beth responded typically, saying she didn't know, but couldn't understand why the three boys haven't been arrested as a result of Deepak's confession and Joran's statements.

The ever objective journalist, Greta interjected she was unpersuaded any progress was being made. Apparently ALE are still waiting for the tapes from Skeeters. Greta inquired of Lejeux if Natalee could be declared dead so that Beth could file a civil suit against the boys. Lejeux stated that there is a method to have Natalee declared legally dead without a body, however, the prosecutors have not shown her all or any evidence and are telling her that they do not as yet have any proof of the boy's guilt.

Beth expressed concern as to whether ALE had records of statements from the first night in Aruba, particularly as regards specific statements of Joran Van Der Sloot. This, Beth said, should include a statement from a DEA agent present - Erik something, perhaps? I missed the name.

I do have at least something to add here as regards those statements, though I am sure it is hearsay. If you go back and see this post, it is the story of that first night as it was relayed to me in early June. I was contacted by an individual associated with the Alabama side of this equation to set the record straight as regards certain aspects of the trip and the early investigation.

Among other topics, we specifically but very imprecisely discussed Joran Van Der Sloot's statements that evening as relayed from an individual there. During that conversation it was clear to me that Joran made statements indicating some type of sexual activity between he and Natalee. I know that because the individual stated that Joran talked about certain aspects of his time that my source preferred not to go into as there was no need and they were not the type of issue which needed to be discussed in public.

I agreed. However, it is important that I also state for the record that I absolutely believe that while those statements of Joran's may have been of a sexual nature, never was I given any indication, or reason to believe that they suggested any illegal activity. In fact, the statement have been termed "unbelievable" to me precisely because they were alleged to address some form of consensual sex.

In additional conversations with another individual in a position to know, I was also told that Joran claimed, in effect, that Natalee wanted to partake in whatever sexual activity might have been said to have taken place with Joran.

On Fox tonight it appeared as though statements from Americans present that night have been put into the form of affidavits and are being provided to ALE. If those statements claim some form of rape, or sexual assault, it will certainly be news to me and also a big surprise as a result of multiple previous discussions on this very topic with highly credible sources back in June and July.

To be a bit more specific as it now seems this topic is in the news:

The police set about questioning the two boys. They are said to have claimed at that time that the now missing Natalee Holloway did indeed leave Carlos And Charlies with them and the entire group went to the lighthouse area together prior to dropping Natalee back at her hotel. The boys also made additional claims consistent with other earlier reports.

With Natalee's Mother said to have remained in the car, possibly out of the emotion involved in meeting two of the now three boys alleged to have been the last to see her daughter alive, others in the group including the Stepfather were present as the questioning continued for approximately an hour. Certain aspects of the discussion, some said to have involved Joran Van der Sloot's Father, led to the discussion becoming heated and police officers requested that the group disperse. More than one individual among the group of Americans present at the Joran home that night report a belief that the boys were lying and did indeed do something to harm Natalee Holloway.

The first bold section above is the full extent to which I felt it necessary to address the sexual nature of that night's discussion. When I said it was consistent with earlier reports, I believe those reports claimed some type of consensual sexual activity with Natalee. The second part in bold dealt with information I was given as regards an altercation which started between Jug Twitty and Paulus Van Der Sloot when Jug is said to have made a comment as to Paulus being an unfit parent as a result of allowing his son to be out late at night and at a casino. It was only much later that Joran claimed to have sneaked out of the house.

Again, you can read the post mentioned above here.

Posted by Dan in Natalee Holloway

Brown:
"If he wasn't involved in something very, very serious, more so than moving a body with Natalee, he would cover for his friends. He would run to daddy and say, daddy, help me; my friends pushed me into this. So, Joran is at the center of this."
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This makes perfect sense. If Joran was not the most guilty party, he would have squealed like a pig by now to save his sorry soul.

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VAN ZANDT: "As much as this looks like a new cold case review, I think it's the Arubans responding to America, responding to the threat of a boycott."
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The indicators are surfacing that, at the least, the Arubans are worried about what Americans think, due to tourism, of course. They may not be feeling a pinch yet, but they are worried.

BOYCOTT ARUBA!

We've got a jewel of an island right here in south Texas. Come on down to South Padre Island, Texas...were the city says 'No Ties Allowed.'