Posted on 06/02/2005 8:02:49 AM PDT by SamFromLivingston
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — FBI and Aruban officials said Wednesday that they had flew clues to the whereabouts of a Mountain Brook High School graduate who disappeared during a senior trip to the island.
FBI officials in the Caribbean were coordinating with Aruban police and Dutch authorities, who oversee Aruba, to search for Natalee Holloway, 18, The Birmingham News reported.
Holloway joined about 125 graduating seniors and adults on the five-day trip, which is an annual tradition not sponsored by the school. Other students said she never showed up for the group's return flight Monday.
"We went to check in for our airplane, and she wasn't there, and she's been missing since then," said Jay Weinacker, a member of Holloway's graduating class.
Holloway's parents, David Holloway, of Meridian, Miss., and Beth Holloway Twitty of Mountain Brook, and several family members traveled to Aruba to aid the search, said Robin Holloway, the girl's stepmother.
"It is torture," Robin Holloway said. "It is just agony."
Aruban police said Wednesday that they had questioned and released three local men who said they dropped the teenager off at her hotel late Sunday night. Officials said the girl's parents were unable to spot her on a hotel surveillance tape.
Officials said there were few leads on Natalee's whereabouts.
After hearing of her disappearance, Robin Holloway said her husband felt compelled to search for his daughter.
"We can't just sit here and do nothing," she said. "We don't know if she is still in Aruba ... or she's been kidnapped. We just don't know anything."
Officials at Mountain Brook Community Church said more than 150 people participated Tuesday in a prayer service for Holloway.
"Word just kind of got out, and parents and students just really wanted to get together and have a little prayer service for the whole situation," said Troy Gambrell, an associate in the youth ministry.
I don't know of a similiar story and didn't come up with anything in a quick search. Sorry.
Still praying for her safe return.
>>I stand by that. The comment didn't say "under certain circumstances" or "with proper planning".<<
You can stand by it all you want. It doesn't make it less incorrect.
There is no correlation between "living in fear" and denying international travel ability to a teenager. I don't think most people would call that being overprotective, but at least that description isn't unreasonable. But describing this view as living "in fear" is. I don't "live in fear" and I wouldn't even consider allowing my teenager to travel under circumstances different from what I described earlier.
You need to cut this loose. This is silly of you to argue.
For my part, I don't have to experience a car wreck to know how horrible a car wreck is and to be thankful that I've never been in one...
I was correct. You need to cut this loose. This is silly of you to argue.
Natalee's aunt in Birmingham is convinced that she has been sold. They have posted a large reward for her safe return or information leading to her return.
I responded to this, not to you, not to your "conditions", not to anything else. I am not incorrect. I am correct.
Your problem is a mystery to anyone who has been reading this in it's entirety.
Statistically speaking, this event is truly exception and rare. Its' horrific nature is no reason to turn turtle and go isolationistic. Get outta here.
It doesn't matter what you responded to. You made a statement comparing a parental restriction with living in fear. THAT is what is absurd.
If I said I would restrict my kid from having a coke, one could state reasonably that that was an overly strict view. However, that restriction doesn't necessarily equate with "living in fear." If you want to argue the restriction, argue it. But don't assume it is fear based.
There is a HUGE difference between being careful and being fearful. I often carry a handgun. Is that out of fear? No, because I'm not afraid of much of anyone. I can physically handle virtually any confrontation that might arise, but I choose to be prepared in case I'm put in a situation where my physical abilities will do me little good (like dodging bullets!). I refuse to let emotions (i.e. fear) dictate my personal habits consistently, but I'll be damned if I'm not going to use my good sense to know when more than normal care should be taken.
For Pete's sake, Hildy, do you not see anything different in a Jewish girl, as yourself, hiking thru the Jewish homeland and an American girl in Aruba?? Geesh, sometimes I think you TRY to be thick.
You think MISSION trips with your CHURCH Group is the same thing, also??? It must be me that doesn't see the trip to Aruba ad a CHURCH MISSION trip as the same thing!!!
You also can't see the difference between SOLDIER GIRLS leavng the country to fight in Iraq and this trip?? I need a vacation.
I guess many felt I I misspoke. People were implying , as I read their comments, that 18 y.o. girls were children..They aren't..is that so wrong?
THANK YOU for knowing the diffence in these type of trips!! I am shocked that freepers put this trip on an equal par as MISSION and WAR!!
No but I had great parents who TOOK us on trips...not sent us on trips.
You're right Ann, it is different. I was alone, and this girl wasn't. Here's a big difference between you and me...I'll refrain from calling you names.
Mountain Brook is an upscale city located proximal to Birmingham, Al.
A class trip to Aruba for some students in Mountain Brook is analagous to lower to middle income kids going to Panama City, Fla. on a class trip.
It's just a matter of zeros.
I pray for her safe return.
Hey, I've pounded down a few dozen oysters on the half shell and an adult beverage or two at Highlands.
Oh dear. She is worm food now.
I called her worm food in another post. You pointed out my error. She is fish food. How sad.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.