If the worst came to pass and no body is found and they let Joran go, could tha Halloways go after the van der Sloots or the Kalpoes in a civil trial the way Nicole Brown's family went after OJ Simpson?
Consider: The Kalpoe's were driving the SUV that they were taking Natalee back to the hotel in (or whereever) and drivers are supposed to be responsible for their passengers. If they they say Natalee was drunk or not feeling well or whatever, wasn't it the driver's responisbility to see to it that she was turned over to the hotel staff or her chaperones? I guess it might depend on Natallee's age and whether she is considered to be a "responible adult or not."
The charges I'm thinking of might be along the lines of reckless endangerment for the driver and kidnapping or unlawful restraint/imprisonment for van der Sloot since he can't produce Natalee and everyone seems to agree that he was the last person to be seen with her.
Natalee is/was 18 and a responsible adult.
I also think that it would be unfair to hold a 'driver' to a higher care/protection standard than the 'chaperones'. jmo