Chief Suspect Van der Sloot's Dad Dies: Did Holloway Secrets Go to the Grave?

Friday, February 12, 2010

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: There's news tonight on Aruba involving the Natalee Holloway case. As you know, the Alabama teenager vanished on May 30th, 2005 while in Aruba on a high school trip.
 
The chief suspect in the case is Joran van der Sloot. Yesterday Joran's father Paulus van der Sloot suddenly and unexpectedly died. Paulus was a huge part of this case. Joining us by phone in Aruba is Julia Renfro, editor and chief of "Aruba Today." Good evening, Julia, and tell me what happened with Paulus?

JULIA RENFRO, EDITOR, "ARUBA TODAY" (Via Telephone): Good evening, Greta. It was very shocking for the van der Sloot family and the entire community of Aruba. Paul was playing tennis yesterday and he collapsed. And the ambulance was unfortunately unable to resuscitate him.

VAN SUSTEREN: What has been going on for the family? Is everything sort of "back to normal," of is the family shunned at all? What has been the relationship of the van der Sloots on the island?

RENFRO: You have to understand that the island of Aruba, the people of Aruba respect the judicial system here. And to this very date, there have been no charges in this case. And Paul has been completely exonerated.
 
He, according to the authorities, has no participation in the event at all, and, sorry to say that, but in this case. It has just been devastating for everybody.

VAN SUSTEREN: Where is Joran van der Sloot?

RENFRO: According to my sources he's in school and he's very devastated by what has happened.

VAN SUSTEREN: School outside of Aruba?

RENFRO: Yes, of course.

VAN SUSTEREN: Is the investigation officially closed or are they still investigating?

RENFRO: No. The investigation is still open. They've continue to look in every aspect and every direction, including into investigating the investigation. And to date, Joran is still a main suspect, but at this point there have been no charges brought forth.

VAN SUSTEREN: Where are the Kalpoe brothers? Are they still in Aruba?

RENFRO: They are still in Aruba.

VAN SUSTEREN: Do you see them?

RENFRO: Not often at all. They have been also exonerated. They are no longer suspects in this case. They were released in December, 2007.

VAN SUSTEREN: Does the prosecutor say that he expects that someday this case will be solved?

RENFRO: Absolutely. Everybody in Aruba hopes that. And of course the prosecutor's office wants the case solved. But in this particular moment they've researched every single thing they could possibly do, and at this point there is not enough evidence to bring this to trial.

VAN SUSTEREN: Julia, thank you, nice to talk to you.

RENFRO: Thank you.