Searching the Island

Natalee Holloway Missing

Aruba has had a serious interest from day one in finding out exactly what happened to Natalee Holloway. They were focused immediately on conducting as professional and extensive as possible of an investigation, based on their ability to do so. They sought and utilized all the help they could from other experts beyond their own country to find this missing person, including the FBI. Searches were conducted all over the island. Was Natalee kidnapped or just missing? Posters on island said both "kidnapped," and "missing." Initially there were three persons of interest, Joran van der Sloot and Deepak and Satish Kalpoe. They said they left Natalee at the Holiday Inn but would later change their story to the Fisherman Hut area of the beach, right down from the Marriott Beach. Two security guards would be arrested then released. With the absence of any DNA evidence and no body, there seemed to be little to go on. From the very beginning this investigation seemed to offer nothing in the way of solid clues. Or as some will say, did the leads just disappear, or were not properly investigated?

The people in Aruba began with a true spirit of wanting to cooperate with this family in helping to find the missing girl. There was a sincere desire to find out if a crime had been committed. There are numerous examples of how the many people in Aruba, and the many different interest groups in Aruba showed extensive ways of cooperation with Natalee's family during the summer of 2005 while they were still on the island. The history between the country of Aruba and the United States has always been one of mutual respect and it was always the hope and desire of Aruba to maintain that relationship no matter the effects of this case.

Missing Alabama Teen

Within hours after Natalee Holloway's missed flight home, her mother Beth Twitty and stepfather Jug Twitty were on their way to Aruba on a friend's private jet. They arrived in Aruba around 11 P.M. and were met by Alberto Groeneveld and Claudio Eldridge. Immediately they began to investigate by going to the Holiday Inn where they are met by chaperon Paul Lilly and Eric Williams, an ex-DEA agent and friend of the family.

Guide for Chapter 2

June 6, 2005 Two security guards charged

June 9, 2005 Three more arrested, become Prime Suspects
 

June 11, 2005 The "something bad happened," report of Confession

June 13, 2005 Guards released

June 15, 2005 Home of Dutch teen searched.

June 22, 2005 Beth & Greta visits the Van der Sloots

How quickly was Joran their focus?

Rather quickly after a trip to Carlos 'N Charlies and then back to the Holiday Inn they were able to view Joran van der Sloot on the casino tape and ascertain that he was the last person to be seen with Natalee. Beth and company rendezvous with Charles Croes at the Noord police station. Two policeman accompany this group to the home of Joran van der Sloot. This encounter is often referred to as the "Posse Visit," and will be covered in detail later in another chapter.

On June 1st Dave Holloway, Natalee's father arrives in Aruba. He will first visit two police stations that apparently are unaware of Natalee being missing. When he arrives at the Noord station he will meet up with Detective Dennis Jacobs who suggests that he go to Carlos 'N Charlies, relax and have a beer. He feels that Natalee will show up that night, as it is Ladies Night. This comment came after he suggested to Dave that Natalee had probably met someone and "fallen in love." This happens all the time and then the girls come back.

Dennis Jacobs did not want Dave to follow the same path as Jug Twitty had followed the previous night, in visiting local drug houses. On a suggestion from police that many visiting teens often like to experiment with drugs, Jug and friends supposedly had been busting up the drug houses. So, Jacobs apparently sends Dave in a different direction, back to Carlos 'N Charlies.

Reward offered

Quickly Natalee's family would ask the radio and television stations to broadcast reward offers. The amount was not stipulated. They would gather contributions from the Aruban government, local tourism organizations, Carlos 'N Charlies and also from the family. Eventually the first reward offer would climb to over $55,00. The family would promise the reward to anyone who brought the missing teen safely to a police station or hospital.

More Links

June 25, 2005 Tim Miller with Texas Equusearch brought in to search.

June 26, 2005 Paul van der Sloot & Steve Croes freed

June 30, 2005 Karin Janssen upset with Paul van der Sloot for possibly saying "No Body, No Case"

July 3, 2005 Dutch F-16's will be coming to Aruba

July 4, 2005 Kalpoes released

July 5, 2005 Arubans begin reacting against Natalee's family

All the Links to special features in Chapter 2