Thank you Froufrou.
There's still a lot of TV coverage on Natalee, and it's serving a good purpose by keeping the story alive, regardless of Natalee's fate. But there's just no forward movement on the case, as we've all seen each promising lead go nowhere. So again, I turn to HarryTho - mystery writer, for a cable news summary (for those who haven't got cable or have missed the updates), and some commentary. You get to decide what belongs in a mystery story, and what is on target. HarryTho so far has worked through the various scenarios we've all seen on Fox News and other MSM, and is focusing now on the possibility of a 'slave trade' scenario.
HarryTho Update (via 8:41 PM EDT email):
Santa Ana de Coro (Coro) is the major city at the base of the Peninsula de Paraguara in the Venezuelan state of Falcon. The city's port of La Vela, in the Gulf of Coro, acts as the major contraband trafficking center from Venezuela to the Caribbean with specific destinations to Curacao and Bonaire. Dutch and Spanish influence remain in this area. Coro was the first city in the Americas!
Punto de Fijo is the main port area on the Peninsula de Paraguara; however, it lies at the base of the western side of the peninsula. Traveling by boat from Aruba would be much easier and quicker to east side of the peninsula into the Gulf of Coro.
Main trafficking areas along the northern coast of Venezuela are Caracas, the country's capital and the infamous pleasure area: Isla de Magarita to the east of Caracas. Off the coast of Isla de Magarita is another hideout at Isla Blanquilla with white sand beaches.
If Natalee was trafficked out of Aruba, she would most likely have been brought into La Vela in Coro.
HarryTho Update 10:38 PM EDT email):
Fox News (Brett) interviewed Beth Twitty. Beth remains optimistic and claims that Joran van der Sloot now has 15 lawyers and is talking to Dutch interrogators. Reality is that Joran has three lawyers and is not talking to the Dutch interrogators.
Fox News revealed that a New York Jets fan discovered some silver masking tape with red and blonde hairs stuck to it. Police have the find and will have their lab look into it. Fox News (Brett) interviewed Dr. Baden and Dr. Hunter, both forensic scientists, concerning the masking tape find. Dr. Baden believes the hair would contain DNA for analysis. Dr. Hunter discounts that DNA would be available in the hairs unless portions of the hair near the roots were attached to the masking tape.
Fox News interviewed Art Wood. Art described the landfill saga. They have dug down some 18 feet into the landfill area. He estimates that two months of landfill activity would amount to some 10 feet of refuse. Although Art mentions that there have been some dog alerts in the area that they are exploring, the dogs have returned to Texas. Tomorrow, they will be digging without their cadaver dogs. I guess they will employ their methane-detection device or, as a last resort, sniff the landfill themselves. Art reveals that all personnel that have worked at the landfill are sick, including him. He looked sick during the interview.
Fox News did bring Josie Mansur on for a quick interview, and Josie was cautious to express any form speculation over the new hair and duct tape find.
HarryTho Update 10:58 PM EDT email):
Fox News interviews Beth Twitty and Mark Fuhrman (LAPD Detective). Beth calls for an independent investigation as a result of her perceived irregularities in the initial declarations. Mark Fuhrman criticizes the announcement of the Dutch body language experts. He believes the FBI should take over the case completely. He promotes boycotting Aruba.
Greta of Fox News reviews the interview with landfill scavenger Junior. Greta discounts Junior's eyewitness testimony, pointing to the time of day and the increase of the number of culprits present, as Junior relates his story.
Greta of Fox News reviews the interview with landfill scavenger Junior. Greta discounts Junior's eyewitness testimony, pointing to the time of day and the increase of the number of culprits present, as Junior relates his story. I suppose if you spend your workday scavenging through a landfill in order to make ends meet each day, the fumes alone would affect your perceptions.