Blogs for Natalee Forum
My apologies for getting this message up so late.
The Blogs for Natalee forum is currently down. However, we are hoping to get it up by tonight (Wednesday, March 28).
This issue is costing me time and money — something I don’t have at the moment, so please bare with me as we get threw this issue.
Thanks,
The Blogs for Natalee Team
The Line Up – Fox News – 03/24/07
Click Here To Watch Video of Program
Boston Globe Travel Show
Members of our BFN family traveled to Boston for the Boston Globe Travel Show. They were there to remind everyone that we are still waiting for Justice for Natalee.
To see more pictures and to participate in Forum Discussion Click Here
Here is what OBSERVER has to say about today’s experience:
Well Heres my experience today:
First off I am soo proud to be in Boston Today!! Dave and Beth..You two are a huge inspiration for me!! Please keep up the fight!! We are here for you and we will never give up hope.
I think just being there we had a big effect. I could tell by the looks on peoples faces as they approached me. Kind of like seeing a old friend…Not all of course but enough Alot were there for the freebees. Some wanted to know what they could do to help and be involved..Some just said they will never go to Aruba they know the story.. Other’s had questions some had horror stories. Even had some food service guy at one time telling Natlees story to some canadian. Some lady in this mercedez stopped in traffic was jabbin her husband, goin nuts, pointing and obviously stunned. She was blocking traffic so I spent about 5 seconds with her giving her the handouts. I could see the tears in her eyes as she said justice for natalee and drove off. It seemed like the women were most Interested but a few men said Im here for ya my brother 100%.
I wish we had a thousand bumberstickers and more news coverage as I didnt want to leave at all. I know we made a diffrence but the potential is completely untapped..If we can get some news coverage from local boston stations that would be enormous!!! I cant tell you guys what a huge market the Northeast is for Aruba. The ATA went all out for this one!!
Alot of people of course asked if I was related to the family. I had to explain that I was just a volunteer. Wasnt like me to be standing out in the cold in Boston protesting. But I am outraged and if you saw what this family went through you would be too. I told them to look into Natalee’s story and they will be shocked at the injustice.
We were all real gentle today in how we talked and why we were protesting today. Most everyone knows Natalee but not everyone knows the true injustice. Alot were stunned that they havent found Natalee. I think everyone realizes that it was Paulus and his connections, the Govt and not the good people of aruba. Even some of the ATA told us that. All in all a good day.
BTW: I did go to the aruba booth. I didnt talk to them in great detail about Natalee as two of the bloggers had a chat yesterday. But what they said pretty much was a bit surprising. I will let the other blogger tell ya as I dont want to get words mixed up. All in all they were nice people. Although only one person argued with me today and made a outrageous comment comparing what happened with Natalee is comparison to Our president. She happened to be some blonde working for ATA. Funny too cause I had a Aruba brochure and a guy came up to me and complained about her..lol
Holloway Investigator Discusses Safety
By CAROLYN QUINN
Staff Writer
Arthur Wood discussed travel safety and his involvement in the Natalee Holloway missing persons case in Punta Gorda
PUNTA GORDA — Arthur Wood protected five presidents as a Secret Service agent and dealt with possibly corrupt Aruban police as the main investigator in the missing persons case of Natalee Holloway, a teenager from Alabama who disappeared during a post-graduation trip to Aruba.
He had one piece of wisdom to share with international travelers at the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association on Friday afternoon.
“It’s so important that you understand, as soon as you step off American soil, you’ll be at the mercy of the personalities, politics and laws of the country you’re in,” he said. “You have to be prepared to be treated differently than you would be here.”
In the case of Natalee Holloway, who vanished on May 30, 2005, Wood believed that meant an investigation that police ensured would never end because a principal suspect was the 17-year-old son of a wealthy judge.
Wood told the more than 50 people who attended the Merrill Lynch-sponsored presentation about his experience in Aruba, where he believed three young men — Joran van der Sloot, Deepak Kalpoe and Satish Kalpoe — attempted to rape Holloway. In the process, he believed they accidentally killed her, then sought the advice of van der Sloot’s prominent father to dispose of the body in the open ocean. Wood believed van der Sloot’s father also used his connections to control the investigation. The case remains unsolved.
“The daddy said, ‘no body, no case,’ and he meant it,” said David Holloway, Natalee’s father, who was at the event. He signed and sold copies of his book, “Aruba,” with proceeds going to the Natalee Holloway Foundation to aid American families with missing relatives overseas.
Wood advised people to contact the U.S. Department of State to obtain fact sheets detailing the laws, political situations and U.S. embassy locations in foreign countries before traveling.
“I think it was an excellent presentation,” said Zannie Scheell, who was interested in the Holloway case. “It scares you for all kids traveling.”
Lee Woodliff, residential director of Merrill Lynch, said the company organized the event to provide information to the public.
“The story may have gotten old in the press, but it’s not old to the grandparents who are teaching their grandchildren,” he said.
Beth Speaks to Students in Wetumpka, AL
Mom Shares Tragedy, Travel Safety Advice with Teens
By Robyn Bradley Litchfield
Montgomery Advertiser
Beth Holloway Twitty wants to spare another family from the nightmare she has been living since her daughter, Natalee, disappeared two years ago on a trip to the Caribbean.
Twitty figures she can do that if she reaches just one student with her message of safe travel.
“What happened to Natalee could happen to anyone,” Twitty told the juniors and seniors who filled the gym at Wetumpka High School.
On the wall behind Twitty flashed pictures of her daughter and scenes of the search. Natalee, 18, went missing on the final night of a senior-class trip to Aruba in May 2005.
Last year, Twitty established the International Safe Travels Foundation, a nonprofit group dedicated to educating the 27 million Americans who travel abroad each year. She believes a safety plan could have prevented Natalee’s disappearance.
Even now, Twitty said her family knows little about her daughter’s disappearance. The family’s attorney plans to fly to Aruba within the next couple of weeks to meet with investigators and other officials.
Students Taylor Saint and Jennifer Stubbs took Twitty’s message to heart. Taylor is going on a class trip to Cancun in a couple of months and Jennifer is headed to Europe this summer.
Natalee’s disappearance is making everyone more cautious, Taylor said.
“It was scary, hearing about what happened to Natalee. And because it was a girl from Alabama, reality really set in,” Jennifer said. Twitty’s message to travel safely, but still travel, impresses Elmore County Superintendent Jeff Langham.
“But her devastating experience can be used to help all of us in the future,” he said.
Auburn University is working on a safety study and curriculum that can be used to educate young travelers and that pleases Twitty. Wrapping up her speech, Twitty looked out at her audience and said, “My name is Natalee’s mom. God bless you — and safe travels.”
Fox News – The Line Up – 03/10/07
Kimberly Guilfoyle: It’s a case that’s been in our hearts and our minds for nearly two years now. Eighteen year old Natalee Holloway goes on a trip to Aruba to celebrate her high school graduation with more than a 100 other happy seniors. It was supposed to be a great time with friends and a celebration of new beginnings but Natalee never came home to start her hew life.
Here’s a look back at this heartbreaking case:
Brothers Seek to Dismiss Lawsuit in Holloway Case
Meridian Star – Dave Holloway said the two brothers who were former suspects in the disappearance of his daughter, Natalee, in Aruba are now attempting to “have their cake and eat it too.”
Deepak and Satish Kalpoe are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit brought against them by the teen’s parents because they say the case has no connection to California.
In court papers filed last week, the attorney for the Kalpoes argued the brothers are residents of Aruba and have no ties to California.
Dave Holloway, of Meridian, said it sounds like the brothers want to have everything go their way.
“They are the ones who first filed a lawsuit in California,” Holloway said Wednesday afternoon. “And now they say we can’t. Doesn’t make sense, does it.”
Beth Twitty and Dave Holloway chose the Los Angeles court after the Kalpoes sued the “Dr. Phil” talk show alleging libel and slander in the same venue.
The brother’s lawsuit alleges the show altered portions of a secretly recorded conversation between Deepak Kalpoe and a private investigator to “create false, incriminating, and defamatory statements that the plaintiffs engaged in criminal activity against Natalee Holloway.”
“It was our reasoning that if they can use the California court system to sue the show, then we could use it to sue them,” Dave Holloway said.
A judge ruled Jan. 24 the wrongful death suit was substantially different from the defamation suit and should not be presided by the same judge.
Natalee Holloway, a Mississippi native, was 18 when she disappeared on May 30, 2005, while on a trip to Aruba with fellow graduates of Mountain Brook High School in Alabama. She was last seen getting into a car with the Kalpoes and their friend, Joran van der Sloot.
Police spent months searching for the missing teen but the case did not lead to any criminal trial in Aruba.
“We are just trying to get some answers,” Dave Holloway said.
