CBS 42 News Birmingham Remembers Natalee
Natalee ~ Missing in Aruba Four Years
No New Charges in Holloway-Case
26 Mei, 2009, 10:05 (GMT -04:00)
ORANJESTAD – The public prosecutor continues to lead the investigation for the missing American teenager Natalee Holloway. After the departure of head officer Hans Mos, the Attorney General, Rob Pietersz will be the spokesperson.
Contrary to the allegations in the Dutch media, the new head officer will not lead the investigation. From now on, the Attorney General will be spokesperson as he is of the opinion that the Public Prosecutor provided the press with ‘detailed insights’, also on other current cases. “I have another view on press matters. I do not deny the bond between the Public Prosecutor and the press, and that’s the way it should be, but we must mark time to realize that you cannot divulge all details of an investigation at any desired moment. A careful watch must be kept in view of everyone’s right to privacy.”
Pietersz was also of the opinion, that too many details of the investigation in the Holloway case were given, amongst others by the head officer Hans Mos. “Yes, the Public Prosecutor and/or the police may have certain suspicions, but the question is whether these suspicions should be shared with the entire community”. Pietersz declines the circulating rumors that Mos is leaving due to him not getting along with the new Attorney General. “It is not correct to state that I am the reason he is leaving. I guarantee that there was no sanction against him whatsoever. “According to him, Mos is leaving because the court general asked him to become quartermaster and possibly first head officer of the new Public Prosecutor on St. Martin. Meanwhile a new head officer (and Solicitor General) has been recruited in the Netherlands, and will be soon introduced.
For that matter, the Attorney General addressed the departing head officer several times, also concerning certain remarks, and on admitting foreign agencies, whilst Pietersz was of the opinion that this required reticence. It concerns huge criminal prosecuting institutions as the FBI, but also agencies as recently employed by Dave Holloway, Natalee’s father, who had the island search by a bloodhound.
“They have no authority here whatsoever. One must be extremely cautious, not to set the local people aside. “The Attorney General recently spoke with the American consul and previously forwarded him a letter so that he could inform his authorities in the United States. The message is, that no foreign, and thus no American tracing service can operate without a prior request to the Attorney General. “This is also stated in the treaty on mutual legal assistance between the United States and the Netherlands. We must respect this otherwise we will end up with scenes where all institutes will hamper their own people.”
This coming Saturday, May 30th, it will be four years ago that Natalee disappeared on Aruba. The criminal investigation continues.
Travel Safety in Aruba
Reported by: Kimberly Rankin
Reported by: Cynthia Gould
Last Update: 5/19 4:40 pm
Its graduation season, a time when teenagers and young adults head off for fun and sometimes wild vacations… And whether they are staying here in the states or heading overseas, the safety rules are pretty much the same.
Long gone are the missing person posters and the yellow ribbons, but everywhere locals and tourists know her name and her story.
“A lot people ask about Natalee Holloway. Everybody comes here and you can’t get away from that…it’s terrible.”
Terrible, yet something everyone we talked with in Aruba this week had learned from.
“You want to talk to your kids more about it and prepare them for this type of thing.”
Preparing them, according to police, has to begin with a good long talk. What’s acceptable, what are the limits, and simple rules…
“The most important thing when you leave to go back to the hotel go back with the ones you came don’t go with nobody you don’t know,” said Edwin Comenencia with the Aruba Police.
Comenencia says never ever get into a car with someone you just met. And just like anywhere else, hide your valuables, don’t carry a lot of cash and stay in busy, well-lit areas.
“When you stay in a tourist area there is a lot of security and police walking the streets.”
He also advises you to keep any spare keys at the hotel and program all police and hotel numbers into your cell phone. And above all, “Don’t drink too much. When you drink you are not the same person.”
And if you are drinking, make sure you take your drink from a bartender or servers. And have someone from your party watch your drink if you go to the bathroom to make sure no one puts anything in it.
And if there are adult chaperones be sure there is a clear understanding what their role will be and when you as a parent will be called. One adult group from New York says they take no chances at home or overseas.
“All activities, we stay together. Nobody is by themselves. You can’t even go to the restroom by yourself. It’s something we always did; now we make it a common practice. We make sure no one goes off by themselves.”
And while Aruba caught the international spotlight we could only find one other kidnapping here. Daniel Ferrara’s brother was taken by a Venezuelan gang in 1998 and held for ransom until his rescue. Ferrara still calls his country safe.
“You can walk around 3am. Doesn’t matter what day…”
True, but we must all remember Natalee must have felt very safe on her vacation, surrounded by friends and locals who appeared to be safe.
“It was a very sad story…could happen to anybody anywhere.”
Tourism in Aruba Since Holloway’s Disappearance
Reported by: Kimberly Rankin
Reported by: Cynthia Gould
Last Update: 4:38 pm
It’s been four years since Natalee Holloway disappeared in Aruba. The negative attention from that tragedy put a serious dent in the island nation’s prime industry: Tourism.
“Don’t worry, be happy…” It’s kind of the theme song for island paradise get-aways. But with the Natalee Holloway tragedy looming over Aruba like a black cloud, are vacationers feeling the care-free vibe?
Tourist Evelyn Nedeau said, “Not worried about a thing. First impression, it is beautiful, it is safe, the weather is gorgeous. The beach is phenomenal.”
“We have a certain affinity for the island. We know there are decent people here…hardworking and industrious,” said Ron Conway.
And tourism has begun to re-build in Aruba, the Natalee Holloway affect has weakened and cruise ships and planes have begun to dock and descend on this destination.
“We come here every year, last year we came here twice. We bring our kids here,” said Donna Nedeau.
“It was very unfortunate and our hearts go out to her family, but it didn’t stop us from coming out and having some fun,” said Joe Boccuti.
Tourists say they feel safe on the island of Aruba. In fact they feel so safe they have no problem walking down the street at two or three in the morning as long as they are with a good group of friends.
“We stay together, we walk together and that’s how we do it,” said Evelyn Viera.
70% of Aruba’s tourism comes from the U.S. And while many pray for the conclusion of Natalee Holloway’s case, they understand her death was an island aberration.
“Anywhere you go something can happen. Bad things happen in all different places, but you can’t let it stop you from going to wonderful places, and this is really a great place,” said Boccuti.
According to a Caribbean travel Web site, tourism dipped more than 9% after Beth Holloway’s plea for an island boycott. Since then those numbers have rebounded, returning U.S. dollars to the pockets of Aruba locals who rely on tourism to feed their families.
Where is the Natalee Holloway Investigation Today?
Reported by: Kimberly Rankin
Reported by: Cynthia Gould
Last Update: 4:17 pm
May marks the four year anniversary of the disappearance of Natallee Holloway. CBS 42 was in Aruba recently to find out what’s happening with the investigation. We uncovered some new allegations and more claims of a botched investigation.
Beautiful beaches, clear blue water and plenty of sunshine. But this island still lives under a cloud.
“It’s still hurting us.”
Both police and prosecutors refused to talk about the Holloway case, only saying it’s open and they are following leads.
“Officially it is still open, but I don’t think they are doing anything with it.”
Jossy Mansuer, who’s lived on the island all his life, owns Diario, the local newspaper. Diario’s stories often directed police to witnesses and leads.
“We know more or less what happened. She was done away with. Murder? Yes,” said Mansuer.
“Classic case of money, power and never getting caught?”
“Exactly, influence, political, specifically from Holland,” said Mansuer.
Mansuer says the investigation was clouded by the fact that the father of suspect Joran van der Sloot was a judge who worked with the same authorities handling the Holloway case.
“He was working with all these people. Judges developed close friendships or understandings. I have documents that have never been published in which Joran makes statements, which were corrected in his father’s handwriting saying things that call attention not to foul play but favoritism,” said Mansuer.
Mansuer questions why the three suspects were not arrested within the first 24 hours, and claims many leads were not followed. He’s also trying to confirm whether Joran confessed early on.
“The only super secret information we are after, we heard there was a confession…the papers have disappeared.”
He discounts theories Natalee was sold into sex slavery. No similar cases have ever come up. And as for an accidental overdose, not likely according to Mansuer, since the laws are so lenient in those cases, someone would have come forward to tell what happened.
Mansuer says the release of secret recordings made of Joran turned the island against him and brought renewed sympathy for the family, despite hard feelings over earlier calls for a tourist boycott.
We were unable to talk with anyone at the van der Sloot home in Aruba. Joran has proclaimed his innocence in interviews, but there are still many doubters on the island.
“After all the stories, it looks like he had something to do with it,” said Evert jan van Versendaal.
Those who knew Joran from school were surprised by the accusations.
“At the school he seemed fine his mother art teacher two brothers all of them regular,” said Daniel Ferrara.
But Mansuer paints a much different, darker picture…a young man with a troubled past whose parents always came to the rescue.
“This guy is way beyond control with his anger and that he is capable of doing anything,” said Mansuer.
Natallee was last seen alive at a night club called Carlos and Charlies, which is now closed, getting into the car with Joran van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers.
Mansuer says many in Aruba theorize she was drugged, sexually assaulted then killed…her body likely dumped in the ocean. Natalee’s father organizes periodic searches on the island.
“With time I think may be solved with time. Don’t think in the short term unless a miracle and we find Natalee’s remains,” said Mansuer.
In the long term, it’s a story that is still very much alive.
“It’s definitely something going to be in our hearts and our minds forever.”
Joran van der Sloot we’re told is still in Holland. The Kalpoe brothers live quietly on the island, refusing interviews and staying out of the limelight.
Aruba Four Years Later: Financial Impact
Reported by: Kimberly Rankin
Reported by: Cynthia Gould
Last Update: 3:55 pm
Four years after the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, the story is still very much on the minds of the people of Aruba.
Evert jan van Versendaal has lived on the island of Aruba for more than a decade. He came here to run a restaurant, but ever since the Natalee Holloway disappearance, he’s seen the country he loves turn into the black eye of the Caribbean.
“There is still a little cloud over Aruba, and still people are going to doubt like I am not going to go there.”
And it infuriates him.
“How many people are missing in Alabama? Is there every day a big show in Alabama? Is the whole world watching Alabama? But now the whole world was watching Aruba.”
And then to add insult to injury, Beth Holloway’s plea for a tourist boycott…Evert says only affected the innocent mom and pop shops.
“They were the first ones that were hurt. The big companies, there were a lot of money behind the big hotels, they will survive. But if tourism is down like 25%, that’s a lot with a small business.”
But it’s been four years, and Evert says the tourists have returned. While many businesses say they are recovering from the Natalee Holloway situation, others say they are still affected, especially in this bad economy just like everyone else.
“Right now the business is going down. We are in high season, but we don’t have the high season in two years already.”
Tony Matilda runs a small business on the beaches of Aruba, showing tourists there is more to do than lay by the water.
“I do the jet skiing, the water sporting, the para sailing, the jet skiing, skuba diving, snorkeling.”
But it seems like in past few months he’s done a lot less rentals and a lot more sitting around, just like many restaurant servers.
“They see that the place is so calm, no not that much business, and why it so calm. I start to tell them about the economy and they jump at the Natalee thing. I personally think its part of the economy and it has something to do with Natalee too,” said Elston Peterson.
Peterson says when the tourists are here he makes $130 a day in tips. When they aren’t, a measly $20… That’s why Aruba locals hope that people learn from this tragic situation, and next time punish those responsible for the crime and not the entire country.
Spotlight Back on Holloway Disappearance
Updated: Monday, 11 May 2009, 10:36 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 11 May 2009, 10:36 PM EDT
Will Thomas
WASHINGTON, D.C. – It is a case that sparked a media sensation around the world. High school student Natalee Holloway vanished May 30, 2005 in Aruba during a graduation trip. Four years later there are no new leads in the case.
The National Museum of Crime and Punishment is helping to put the case back in the spotlight. Natalee’s case is the newest addition to the Unsolved Crimes exhibit, replacing the now solved Anthrax Murders.
Beth Holloway attended the unveiling Monday afternoon in Northwest Washington to honor her daughter.
“In some way I hope Natalee’s case can represent a lot of these young adults that are missing and are most likely murdered,” Holloway told Fox 5.
John Walsh, the host of Fox’s America’s Most Wanted, stood by her side at the museum. Police determined a deceased drifter decapitated Walsh’s 6-year-old son. The announcement last December, brought to close a case that has haunted the Walsh family for more than two decades.
“Finding him murdered so horribly was unbearable but at least that ended that chapter of our lives. Beth Holloway doesn’t have that closure,” Walsh said.
Natalee’s mother and John Walsh are also working to bring attention to a missing component in the search for victims.
The Center for Missing and Exploited Children works to find children under the age of 18-years-old. There is no specialized center for missing adults like Natalee, who was 18-years-old at the time of her disappearance.
Natalee Holloway Cold Case Exhibit at the National Museum of Crime and Punishment
Beth Holloway, mother of Natalee Holloway, and America’s Most Wanted Host John Walsh unveiled the Natalee Holloway Cold Case exhibit at the National Museum of Crime and Punishment in Washington D.C. (May 11)
