Dan Young and Kelly Castillo never solved a case in the U.S.
DIARIO Aruba
01/23/2008

ORANJESTAD(AAN): The two Americans, Dan Young and Kelly Castillo do not count with any sort of credibility in Aruba and even less in the U.S.

American authorities were in contact with the investigative team some time ago and in the end it was concluded that these two persons do not have any sort of credibility.

In the U.S., according to American authorities, they were never able to contribute to solving any case.

In Aruba, they want to come and take people in, with the support of minister Rudy Croes, but the Public Ministry threw them off the table some time ago.

DIARIO was certainly not supporting their story and it was the Ministry of Justice who was propagandizing the two spiritual mediums.

Even sadder is that of the information that the two mediums gave in Aruba, none of it was true because at the moment that they made certain statements, the investigative team worked on it again. When they saw that nothing came of it, they contacted American authorities who confirmed that these two people speak a lot but say nothing.

This was also the reason that according to chief prosecutor Hans Mos, the Public Ministry didn’t pay much attention to the arrival of these two people again in Aruba.

[translated by Getagrip]

Theater of the Absurd (not a translation)

American journalist who works in Aruba helped cover up the truth in the case of Natalee Holloway
According to Kelly Castillo and Dan Young of Guided Light
DIARIO Aruba
01/18/2008

ORANJESTAD(AAN): During a meeting with two people who work in the spiritual world, who were close to the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, who gave information related the truth in this case which was not known, they said that there was a person who knew more of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway who was assassinated.

They did not want to give more details, thinking about their safety. Dan Young and Kelly Castillo continued to say that they want the truth in this case comes out.

They said that they were offered much money for the material they have related to what they have brought forward, but they did not take this [offer].

They stopped their business temporarily, just to bring more clarity to this case so that the truth can at last come out.

Young and Castillo said that an American journalist who works in Aruba knows more of the truth that Beth and Jug Twitty tried to hide.

This journalist also took some articles of Young and Castillo’s, according to Young and she has not given them back. This proves that she is trying to hide something.

There were names in this information and this woman lied relating to this. She even lied to Minister Briesen.

[translated by Getagrip]

Beth Twitty knew that Natalee was alive in the weeks after May 30
Sexual abuse at home made her not want to go back
DIARIO Aruba
01/17/2008

ORANJESTAD(AAN): A press conference related to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway took place on Wednesday morning.

The conference was given by two Americans, Dan Young and Kelly Castillo, people who work in the spiritual world [mediums]. However, they did not mention if the information they brought, they obtained via their talents. Dan Young started to say that some years have passed since they approached Beth Twitty. This is the 4^th time they come to Aruba.

According to Young, the truth has to come out now and what Beth Twitty has said from the beginning was not true. He said that they have all the evidence to prove this. According to Young, Beth knows that they are in Aruba to divulge the truth.

The so-called “timeline” that Beth spoke about is very important in what regards Joran and the other suspects. This, according to Young, who continued to say that Beth knew that Natalee did not want to go back home. Beth also knew that Natalee was alive weeks after she supposedly died [according to Young].

In her book and on various programs, Beth lied that she arrived in Aruba at 11:00 at night on May 30. She arrived at 7:45 at night, because she got a tip that Natalee was thinking of never returning home. According to Young, he spent his own money to help Aruba and the 3 young men accused in this case.

Knowing that Natalee was alive, Beth thought that Joran had hidden Natalee because Natalee was running away from the sexual abuse that was happening at home. Mrs. Twitty at the time asked Joran and his family to take a “lie detector test”. This is according to Young, who continues to say: “Beth, it hurts us to do this, but you and Jug Twitty have to take a lie detector test, because you knew that this was not the first time Natalee ran away from home”.

“You have to be honest with everyone and pay back Holland and Aruba all the money that they spent on this case. You are on Oprah today and the timeline in your book does not fit with reality.” This is according to Young, who said that he has Beth recorded on tape when he confronted her with the fact that she arrived in Aruba at 7:45 pm, while she had said that it was at 11:00 pm.

When Beth was confronted with this, she said: “I am not worried because it was a year and a half ago.” Beth also told him: “It’s not important who Natalee was with, I just want her body to be found because I know she is dead.” According to Young, when he told Beth that he recorded the conversation, Beth got scared. He continued saying that Julie Renfro, Karen Janssen and other people heard this recording and when he got to the U.S. he found out the the poster that Beth speaks of in her book, which was the first posted that was published, was not the first poster.

The first poster did not mention kidnapping or something to the effect. “You knew and were sitting pretty, while everyone in the U.S. was feeling sorry for you” [said Young].

The important thing is to clear the names of Joran, Satish and Deepak. DIARIO asked Young if Natalee is alive or dead and he said that Beth herself said a year and a half ago that her daughter was dead and that she wants her body.

DIARIO asked Young how the 3 original suspects are not the guilty ones. According to Young, Beth spoke with Natalee via cell phone on the private jet flight [to Aruba].Beth Twitty’s best friend, Carol Standefur admitted that she knew of the sexual abuse that took place at the Twitty home.

Young continued to say that Natalee did not want to go back home and that her friends knew that she was pregnant. There were people in Aruba who helped hide Natalee so that her parents wouldn’t find her. How is it that if your child disappears, you yourself ask for her classmates be sent back to the U.S.? How do you not leave them here [in Aruba] to see if you can get more information. Dan Young’s partner, Kelly Castillo, said that in her book, Beth said that when she found Natalee’s passport, she knew that she was on the island. She continued to say that Beth knew that Natalee ran away and that Beth and Jug spoke with Natalee after something supposedly happened to her.

DIARIO asked Young and Castillo how Beth knew that Natalee was dead and Young explained that maternal instinct, according to Beth, led her to know that she was no longer alive. The original poster, which said “Natalee call Big Hooty, I am here on the island, we have to talk”, showed that the mother knew that Natalee ran away.

Young said that on the immigration documents, the mother filled out the reason for her visit to Aruba as “vacation”. According to Young, Aruba did everything possible to try to find the young woman. According to Young and Castillo, Beth’s book is a joke.

They also said that they have everything, including recorded conversations and certain documents to show that Beth was constantly lying.

Given everything that has been brought forward in this case, where DIARIO itself published different conversations between the 3 prime suspects, DIARIO remains certain that it is Joran, Satish and Deepak who know what happened to Natalee Holloway.

[translated by Getagrip]

Dan Young insists: Jug Twitty is the father of the baby that Natalee was carrying
DIARIO Aruba
01/17/2008

ORANJESTAD(AAN): A press conference took place Wednesday morning related to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The press conference was given by two Americans, Dan Young and Kelly Castillo, who work in the spiritual world [mediums].

During an encounter of the press with the two people who work in the spiritual world, which surrounded the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, the press asked Dan Young and Kelly Castillo what really happened to the American youngster.

According to Young, the week of her disappearance, Natalee worked out a plan because she knew that her mom and dad were coming to Aruba.

Young continued to say that at a certain time in 2006, they brought police to a place without using a map. When police observed something remarkable, their mouths dropped and one of the police agents D.J. said that he would send agents with special dogs early the following morning, but this never happened.

Young also said that he has the names of various people who were with Natalee and the names of the different streets where she was.

He said that Natalee suffered an overdose in the hands of other people who are not Joran, Satish or Deepak.

According to Young, if this was not true, he would not know all the names and details.

Young explained that he understands everything about this case, because when he was younger, he also ran away from home.

According to Young, it’s true that Joran left Natalee at the beach, but afterwards other people came across Natalee and befriended her. They helped her hide in the San Nicolas area.

According to Young, it is practically impossible to think that a 17 year old boy such as Joran could be so good to cause an international mystery, after which he passed his exams easily.

Young said that when by coincidence he met Paul and Anita van der Sloot, he put his hand on Paul’s chest and said: “I know that your son didn’t do anything” and Paul and Anita started to cry.

Press asks Young of how Beth lied.

According to Young, she lied to hide what really was happening in their family back home. It was not the first time Natalee ran away from home [according to Young].

Joran himself said that Natalee said that her mom was like “Hitler”.

Young asked himself of how no one interrogated adequately the kids who were with Natalee in Aruba, nor the pilot of the private jet that brought Beth to Aruba.

Beth wants to put the attention on Joran and on an island that supposedly didn’t do enough, to distract the attention from herself and the situation in her home.

Beth believed that Anita and Paul van der Sloot at first also were helping to hide Natalee. Young continued to say that there’s a female person of high position who is no longer in Aruba who has much more information on this matter.

She is in the U.S. and knew for sure that Natalee was alive. This case became a big “cover up”.

Young also said that Beth and Jug were very afraid of the truth coming out. Young dared Jug and Beth to prove him wrong.

According to Young, he is willing to put his reputation and career on the like. Young said that Beth and especially Jug are in fear that the truth comes out because he [Jug] is the father of the baby that Natalee was carrying.

DIARIO asked Young the names of any of the people who knew the truth of Natalee’s disappearance and he mentioned Marian Ann Smith and someone name Minard.

Young also showed to the press the immigration document that clearly showed that Beth arrived in Aruba at 7:45 at night and not 11:00 as Beth has said.

DIARIO asked Young and Castillo some of the names of the local people who know about this case and Young said that one of them is locked up in KIA and that he spoke with Dolphi Richardson about this and also other authorities.

DIARIO asked Young how he believed that those who were with Natalee did not come forward with her to claim the reward money.

Young explained that because people had seen what happened to Joran, Deepak and Satish and the fact that the young woman died of an overdose at a certain point, was sufficient reason for them not to come forward.

Despite everything that was brought up by Young and Castillo, DIARIO’s point of view remains unchanged, which is that Joran, Satish and Deepak are those who really know what happened to Natalee Holloway.

[translated by Getagrip]

Natalee abused by stepfather Jug
Amigoe.com
01/17/2008

This time, the local media has paid plenty of attention to the story of Dan Young and Kelly Castillo.

ORANJESTAD — Minister Rudy Croes (MEP) of Justice is of the opinion that the findings of the two American investigators Daniel Young and Kelly Castillo in the disappearance case of Natalee Holloway, must be seriously considered. The two assert that Natalee’s stepfather Jug Twitty has abused and impregnated her and that her mother Beth knew about it. The two also say that Natalee had died from an overdose two weeks after the night on the beach with Joran van der Sloot when she disappeared. “Joran is innocent”, said the investigators.

It appears from this computer printout that Beth Twitty has lied about her arrival time in Aruba.

The two private detectors could be elaborately heard and seen on radio and TV in local current affairs programs yesterday. TeleAruba spent half of her daily news program on an interview with Castillo and Young, who also call themselves ‘mediums’. They were also in Aruba last year, but there was hardly any attention paid to their stories. Not even Minister Croes, who at that time, two years ago, called them ‘Indian stories’. It was Tourism-minister Edison Briesen that introduced them to Croes, because he thought that the information was important enough to be included in the judicial investigation. Croes is of the opinion that now that the case against the suspects Joran and the brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe has brought no results, the Public Prosecution must also consider other scenarios. Castillo and Young’s findings must therefore be seriously investigated, said the minister. “After Beth has been in Oprah’s program, it will be good to tell the other side of the story.” Oprah Winfrey has spent some time on the Holiday-matter in her show yesterday.

PREGNANT

The real relationship between Natalee and her parents must be investigated. The American investigators say that they have proof that Natalee was sexually abused by her stepfather Jug and was even pregnant from him. “Beth and Jug (in the meantime divorced, red.) are doing everything possible to keep this family-secret hidden. Fact is that Natalee didn’t want to go home after her vacation in Aruba. And Beth knew that", said Young. Beth’s best friend, Carol Standifer had told the two investigators that she knew about the sexual abuse. “We have that conversation on tape. We also have proof that Beth didn’t arrive in Aruba at 23:00, but at 20:15 by air. She already knew that her daughter didn’t want to return home.”

That also appears from the original poster that Beth had already made in the United States, says Young. “This poster didn’t mention the word ‘kidnapping’ at all, like it was the case with later posters. It stated: ‘Natalee call, big hooty is on the island; call big hooty, we have to talk’.” The two investigators say that they have received the poster from the then leader of investigation, Karin Janssen. “Beth writes in her book that the kidnapping posters are the first ones that she has circulated in Aruba. But we know that that’s not true, and so does a huge number of Aruban people that have seen the first poster hung everywhere. Only in the United States, nobody knows this.”

Beth had lied, because she was afraid that the authorities would not have worked so hard on the disappearance case if they knew that the relationship between her and her daughter was bad. She also wanted to avoid that the investigation would concentrate on the family relations.

Natalee was still alive when her parents arrived in Aruba. “Joran has indeed left her on the beach, but she then made friends with some other people that had helped her go into hiding. She definitely didn’t want to go back and she remained a few weeks in San Nicolas. There’s where she had finally died from an overdose, as Dompig (police commissioner Gerold Dompig that led the police investigation, red.) had already said.”

Together with journalists of Aruba Today, they went to the location where Natalee’s body was supposedly buried. “The police didn’t believe us, but when we showed them the location, they immediately realized that something was not right. They were going to come back with dogs the next day to explore the place, but they never did”, said Young.

DOMPIG

Dompig indicated that he has never talked to the two Americans during the investigation, but that he does know who they are. “Wild cowboys, that’s what I thought of them. They spent a lot of time with Angela and Julia (Angela Munzenhofer and Julia Renfro; journalists of Aruba Today, red.) and every day had the wildest indications.” Dompig received so many information at that time that he saw no reason to further investigate Castillo and Young’s findings. Looking back now he says that he regrets that ‘the two have made their entry in a wrong manner’. “The story about sexual abuse explains in any case Jug’s conduct. He was very aggressive and threatened me and other police officers.”

The police have also indications like the first poster that Beth circulated and from stories of her friends about the relation between mother and daughter being disturbed, says Dompig. Whether Beth had lied about her arrival time in Aruba, he doesn’t know. “We have investigated the timeline and based on telephone conversations, flight information and flight movements, we know that these must match in theory and that Beth had arrived at the time she said she did.”

Dompig doesn’t dare say whether the two are integer, but from his former FBI-contact he knows that Castillo and Young have never had cases that can be considered serious. “In America, everybody can call himself private investigator, and I know that they do not represent much and are probably looking for their 15 minutes of fame.” But I still think that they may have found some things. “You never know. Besides, people say that children and fools cannot lie.”

DISTURBED

Julia Renfro told the Amigoe that the two Americans are ‘disturbed’ and that she doesn’t want to have anything to do with them. “They have also accused me of complicity in the death of Natalee.”

Castillo and Young have publicly accused Renfro on television yesterday that she has withheld information from them. ”We are aware of your problems and one day you will have to tell the truth. This is not healthy and people that do this, become alcoholic or drug addicts. Julia, give us back our tape”, said Young on TeleAruba yesterday.

Oprah

The American presenter didn’t spend an entire programme on Beth Twitty and her book Loving Natalee that according to several sources, is not selling well. Twitty had 15 minutes broadcasting time, and also Natalee’s brother the 18-year old Matt Holloway had the opportunity to say something. He has knowingly remained behind the scenes all this time and he said that his friends have supported him during this ‘terrible period’.

Also Natalee’s friends mentioned their loss and said how cheerful and special Natalee was. The broadcasting was for the rest a repetition of events. Beth said though that she had wanted to talk to Joran if he had consented to a lie-detector test. The recent wine incident in the Pauw & Witteman programme was no surprise for her. “What he did confirms how I think of him.”

She didn’t comment on whether she still considers Joran and the brothers Kalpoe as suspects. “I would like to look outside the existing circle of suspects, but everything continues to point at these three boys.”

DIARIO exclusive interview with Peter de Vries: Joran’s actions say a lot
DIARIO Aruba
01/14/2008

ORANJESTAD(AAN): After the incident that took place in a TV studio in Holland, where Joran van der Sloot threw a glass of red wine in the face of Peter R. de Vries on the Dutch program known as “Pauw en Witteman”, DIARIO decided to contact de Vries and was able to establish contact with him via his cell phone.

De Vries told DIARIO that everyone could see on the program how he was asking tough questions of Joran, but he didn’t expect something like this to happen, when Joran threw wine in his face. He said that although it wasn’t something serious, the fact that Joran could do something like this says a lot about his character.

In the past it has been said that Joran has an “anger management” problem and his behaviour after the program could confirm that this could indeed be the case.

In regards to the photo of Joran and Natalee in Natalee’s home in Alabama, de Vries explained that he obtained it from a person who knew that Joran paid someone to fake the photo.

De Vries said that he still doesn’t know how Joran let that photo be faked, but he finds that it was a bad joke, given that Joran himself said that it was as a joke that the photo was faked.

In the meantime, DIARIO took note of how many Dutch people reacted with surprise about Joran’s attitude. It seems that Dutch public opinion was completely anti-Joran. They can now observe how Joran has problems in controlling himself and his anger. Dutch people’s doubts have begun to grow more.

Even American web sites took note of what happened in Holland with Joran and they too have begun to show once more the problem he has controlling himself.

[translated by Getagrip]

Anita van der Sloot at the beginning believed that Joran had something to do with what happened to Natalee
DIARIO Aruba
01/14/2008

ORANJESTAD(AAN): Recently, Joran van der Sloot along with his mother and father Paulus appeared on a program in Holland called “Pauw en Witteman”. During the program, various questions were asked of Joran and his father related to the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

Peter R. de Vries of the program “Peter R. de Vries Misdaad versalggever” was also present on the program and asked Joran various questions in a very firm manner.

De Vries also said that he finds that Joran must know more of the case and that he remains the principal suspect. According to de Vries, it is incomprehensible that a person would remain silent in such an important case.

He referred to the fact that the last time that Joran and the Kalpoe brothers were detained again in November, they also decided not to make any statements.

Paul van der Sloot admitted during the program that he told Joran not to say anything. According to Paul, his son had already stated what he had to say and had nothing to gain by making more statements.

Joran’s mother, Anita van der Sloot, also spoke a lot during the program that was broadcast on channel 11, BVN.

She said that it was it was regrettable that almost no investigation took place into Natalee’s family and friends.

Mrs. Van der Sloot said that at the beginning of the case she believed that perhaps an accident took place with Natalee and that Joran could have something to do with this.

Both of Joran’s parents said that if Joran indicated that he had something to do with the disappearance of the young American girl, they would go to the justice [department] again.

The mother continued to say that she still hopes that the investigation continues, especially in the direction of the U.S. She also said that she wishes to bring an investigation into the investigation that took place.

During the Dutch program, the hosts asked Joran and his father if they believe that the young woman was alive or dead.

Paulus said that he very much believes that the young woman is alive.

Joran said that he has doubts, but he said that if the young woman is alive, she is being held against her will because if she has remained in hiding then she is a very bad person, remaining hidden knowing what great harm she is causing.

[translated by Getagrip]

Fake photo of Joran with Natalee a joke
DIARIO Aruba
01/14/2008

ORANJESTAD(AAN): Saturday night on cable channel 11 on BVN, the program “Pauw en Witteman” was broadcast, on which Joran van der Sloot appeared along with his mom Anita and his father Paul.

During the program, different questions where asked of them by Jeroen Pauw and Paul Witteman, and also by Peter R. de Vries, of the program “Misdaad Verslaggever”.

De Vries was very aggressive towards Joran, indicating that he believes that Joran is still the principal suspect in this case.

At a given moment, to everyone’s surprise, de Vries took out a photo from his jacket on which where portrayed Natalee with Joran at Natalee’s house in Alabama.

It was obvious that it was a fake photo, because Joran never went to Natalee’s house. Joran said that a friend of his faked this photo as a joke.

The program’s hosts then asked him how he could make a joke in such a serious case of the disappearance of a young woman.

During the whole show, Joran’s mom and dad tried to paint their son as a well raised child, while de Vries continued to remark with doubts that Joran does not know anything of the disappearance.

De Vries continued forward with the fact that Joran lied many times shows that he could know something more.

[translated by Getagrip]

Joran van der Sloot loses his head after a Dutch program

DIARIO Aruba
01/14/2008

ORANJESTAD(AAN): During the well known Dutch program “Pauw en Witteman”, the renowned Peter R. de Vries of the program “Misdaad verslaggever” demonstrated that he was very convinced that Joran van der Sloot must know more about the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

He said that Joran should still be considered a principal suspect in the case of the young American’s disappearance.

This especially given the fact that many times Joran lied during his statements [to police]. At a given moment, Joran asked Peter de Vries if in the future he would apologize to him if it comes out that he is innocent. De Vries did not respond.

At the end of the show, Joran asked de Vries the same question again and de Vries said that if it came out that he is innocent, he would apologize.

At that point Joran said to de Vries that he does not think that he is man enough to apologize. Joran then started to show the anger that he had towards de Vries.

After the program, Joran suddenly grabbed a glass of red wine and threw it in de Vries’ face. He then exited the studio with his father.

His mother, Anita, apologized for what her son did.

Afterwards, Joran himself apologized a few times and de Vries accepted this [apology]. After the program, de Vries said that the fact that Joran threw the wine in his face hurt Joran himself.

According to de Vries, Joran’s parents were trying to portray him as a very well mannered young man, but with this action Joran demonstrated that he has problems controlling his emotions and who knows if something like this could have happened when he was with Natalee.

[translated by Getagrip]

Persistance continues wit expedition to Holloway

The Persistance searching the seabed for the remains of Natalee Holloway.

Amigoe.com
12/24/2007

ORANJESTAD – The decision of the Public Prosecutor to dismiss the Holloway-case has no effect on the investigation of the special ship Persistance, emphasized the crew that started to scan the seabed around Aruba on Tuesday. With the best equipment in the world, they are trying to find Holloway. Dave Holloway, Natalee’s father announced the arrival of the ship one month ago. However, the ship’s arrival was delayed by the tropical storm Olga.

The ship has modern sonological-equipment that can scan up to 4000 meters deep.

The ship can scan very deep seabeds. The ship will first determine the topographical situation of the sea around Aruba till the sea border with Venezuela. The speed of the sound under water is measured with a sound velocity profile (SVP). This is needed for the calculation of data during the scan. Strange abnormal forms on the seabed can be captured with that.

Maritime geologist Kyle Kingman, who maintains a blog about the expedition on www.nholloway.blogspot.com compares the seabed with an ‘old living creature from the end of the cretaceous period, full of stories’. “We know that this creature is making sure that he does not abandon his secrets”, writes Kingman. He expects though that when the side scan sonar is activated, the contents of each split is going to be revealed and can be seen on a monitor in the computer room. He says though that it remains difficult, like a shopping cart in an area as big as Manhattan.

The search is of course going to cost a lot. There are 18 people working with the most modern and expensive instruments on board of the ship. Project manager Tim Miller doesn’t want to confirm that millions of dollars in donations are paying for this search. “We don’t want media-attention; we only want to do our job.” He only wanted to talk to Diario. Also the office of the organization Texas Equusearch (TES), of which Miller is the founder, doesn’t want to say anything. This abundantly sponsored American organization is specialized in search actions for mainly missing fellow country persons. TES has already searched for Natalee two years ago, but only to a depth of 100 meters at that time.

The organization receives a lot of monetary- as well as emotional support on the weblog. This support is mainly from people that give the Lord’s blessing and that ask everybody to pray for the crew on the ship and the Holloway family. Criticism is not really tolerated on the website. These are not even added to the log. An anonymous informant is wondering whether the authorities are on board of the ship for if they find evidence. The lawyers of the former suspects are afraid that evidence can be planted by the crew. “They may just drop or add a purse for example.”

The OM does not cooperate with the search action, but wants to be kept informed of whatever is discovered that can be of interest. It is not known whether the crew has applied for a work permit for the search with the government.

OM’s explanation of evidence do not tally

Amigoe.com
12/22/2007

In a press conference, lawyers Hose Figaroa, Ronald Wix, and Elgin Zeppenfeldt explained the media that according to them, none of justice’s evidence tally.

ORANJESTAD – The lawyers of the three former suspects, Hose Figaroa, Ronald Wix, Elgin Zeppenfeldt, and David Kock said in a press conference, that the ‘new’ evidence that the Public Prosecutor (OM) provided after the dismissal do not tally. Their office has been swamped lately with hatred mails and threats, including death.

A girl from Surinam told the Dutch detectives in June of this year that right after the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in 2005, she had a conversation with Satish. “That can never be convincing after two years, is the opinion of Wix. “”She might have said that something was wrong, but for as far as I am aware of, she only said that Satish was sad.” Wix also has problems with the other testimony taken out of an old chat-session of Deepak’s computer. “That chat session was about two subjects: the disappearance of Natalee and the death of a tennis instructor that drowned near Conchi. The word ‘su’ that can mean ‘his’ or ‘her’ in Papiamento, was interpreted wrong in the transcript. Instead of ‘su morto’, his death, it became her death. Also the court realized the misinterpretation; Deepak would have otherwise been behind bars. Nobody has ever said that Natalee is dead, but the OM assumes that with this testimony.”

The lawyers consider the fact that Justice hinted that the former suspects of manslaughter on Natalee Holloway haven’t seen the last of them, even worse. The OM said in a press conference this week that the case has only entered a new phase, and is not closed. As soon as there are more clues, these will be investigated, and the former suspects, including Joran van der Sloot, will be arrested again. Wix says that what the OM said is indeed possible, but the evidence must be ‘very weighty and new’. “The OM keeps the delusion that the three are still suspects. Legally, they must be left alone, and due to the dismissal, Aruba has nothing to say about their innocence. Let them find the girl first and only then can they annoy our clients. They cannot even proof that there was a crime.”

Justice’s other reason for arresting the three former suspects was based on their declarations to the media that they would tell what exactly has happened in the night Holloway disappeared. They didn’t say anything though. According to Wix, everything has already been said. “They said that they won’t talk, but in the meantime they have already given at least 20 declarations. They were arrested because there was new evidence, but then it turned out that there was no new evidence, so they had nothing to say.”

Wix, together with his brother councils, will probably demand damages. They are currently considering via the court whether they can recover the costs for among others hiring a lawyer in the US. Wix won’t say what the amount is.

The firm David Kock & Wix was swamped with threats during the ‘reopening’ of the Holloway-case. They received many hatred mails and also death threats. “I received two more of such e-mails on Thursday. One of them wishes the death for me and my family. The other one said, ‘you must wish that I do not come to Aruba. Maybe, I ought to report that”, said Wix.

Public Ministry gave erroneous information
According to attorney Wix
Deepak, Satish and Joran can no longer be investigated
Diario Aruba
12/22/2007

ORANJESTAD(AAN): Friday morning, at the offices of attorneys Ronny Wix, David Kock and Elgin Zeppenveld, a press conference was held in which the attorneys for Satish and Deepak Kalpoe reacted to what was brought forward during the last press conference by the Public Ministry related to the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

Atorney Wix brought up that there are various matters that were raised by the Public Ministry that are not totally correct. The lawyers continued saying that the Public Ministry, in an unusual manner, went into the details of the case on Thursday, when they mentioned among other things two facts that they considered to be new evidence in this case, which led them to the detention of the 3 suspects.

Wix said that according to the O.M., Deepak Kalpoe said that Natalee Holloway was dead, but at no time did Deepak say this. According to the lawyer, in the same period of time there was a conversation between Deepak and a friend of his in which they spoke of the Natalee case, but they also spoke about a tennis instructor that Deepak knows who died in Conchi.

In this conversation, Deepak spoke of the death of this person and not of Natalee. The conversation was in Papiamento and in the translation into Dutch, for “su morto” [his/her death], they put “haar dood” [her death], while clearly Deepak was speaking of the death of the male tennis instructor.

The Hof also realized that the O.M. took this out of context. Another of the two parts of the supposed new evidence was a conversation between Satish and a female friend of his from Suriname, where the O.M. said that the girl stated that during the conversation Satish sounded sad.

According to Wix, between the 5th of May and 6th of June 2005, which is two and a half years ago, there were 24 conversations between this girl and Satish, which were long.

This makes it difficult to remember which day this supposed conversation took place. This conversation could have also taken place before Natalee disappeared.

They interviewed the girl in June 2007 and this surely makes it difficult to remember exactly what day this conversation took place.

How could it be that if the O.M. says that the conversation was exactly on May 30? According to Wix, last month the prosecutor said that they had new evidence and that they would arrest and now he says that he doesn’t have enough evidence and that they will no longer consider them suspects.

This means that the O.M. lied a month ago or is lying now. The lawyer also said that it is not completely true what prosecutor Mos said Thursday, since at the same time that the case ends, the 3 former suspects remain suspects.

According to Wix, nothing is further from the truth. Now that the 3 boys are no longer suspects, the Public Ministry is no longer free to question the innocence of these persons.

This means that authorities cannot conduct an investigation on them. The lawyer also said that what he is unhappy with is that the chief prosecutor Mos and P.G. Jorg basically said that they will stop the case, among other things because the boys made use of their right to remain silent and that because of this the O.M. could not solve the case.

This implies that the kids know something and are not talking. This, according to Wix, is because his clients have given more than 20 statements; therefore the O.M. cannot say that they have not talked.

They have said everything that they had to say. During the last detention the former suspects told authorities that they have said everything they know and that if there was something new, they were willing to give a comment on this. Given that there wasn’t anything new, they didn’t say anything.

[translated by Getagrip]

OM gives up core evidence Holloway-case

Chief district attorney Hans Mos explains why the case against the three suspects in the Natalee Holloway-case was dropped.

Amigoe.com
12/22/2007

ORANJESTAD – A chat-session, computer disks, and two new testimonies were among others, the reason for the OM to detain Joran van der Sloot and the brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe in November, indicated chief district attorney Hans Mos yesterday in a press conference, where he explained the case that has been dropped.

With the newest digital technologies from the Netherlands, the investigation team this time recovered what was impossible earlier. On the hard drive of a confiscated computer was a chat-session, in which one of the suspects said that the missing teenager Natalee Holloway is dead. The OM didn’t say which of the suspects said that, but the information is substantial and especially ‘new’ evidence, and sufficient for the OM to arrest the three. Obtaining information from new technology is also considered new evidence, explained Mos. He compared it with a DNA-investigation that after years, can still give evidence.

The new investigation team with Dutch detectives could also use technologies to make a timeline of all the declarations. It appears that the last version of the three suspects on the day that Natalee disappeared is also not correct. Other new, indirect evidence are two testimonies. A woman told the team in June of 2005 that five hours after Natalee was seen alive for the last time, she received a telephone call from one of the three former suspects. From his voice she noticed that something was wrong. When she asked him what was wrong, he said that he doesn’t want to compromise her. “I cannot tell you what has happened over the phone”, was his answer.

In a declaration in November of 2006, a witness described the deviant behavior of one of the three one day after the disappearance of Holloway. That was also indirect evidence. The new evidence was for the judge too indirect and not enough to keep the three in custody. But Justice was confident that the three would start talking.

“Information they gave the media gives the impression that they had more things to say than they had told us until now”, said Mos, who said that the conversations the three former suspects had with Dutch journalists were also filed as evidence in the dossier.

With all this evidence that the OM obtained after the three were released at the end of summer in 2005, the judge give them permission to arrest the three. The OM was also in a hurry, due to the European treaty on the suspects’ rights to be tried within a reasonable period of time. The OM has set a deadline for December 31. Mos says that Van der Sloot and Deepak and Satish Kalpoe are still the three most important persons in the investigation, and possible new evidence will be investigated till the term of investigation is over. The police corps in Aruba keeps therefore four detectives available for new information and implication. Term of limitation for culpable homicide is six years and manslaughter is 12 years.

The case will be reopened if necessary. According to Aruban law, it is possible to close the criminal case without bringing it before the court. A definite acquittal can be avoided with this. The former suspects are also protected against ‘repeated troubling for the same facts based on the same evidence’. But the protection is less powerful than acquittal. After an acquittal by a judge in last instance, it won’t be possible to bring the same facts before the court again.

Public Ministry reveals what the new evidence was in the Holloway case
Diario Aruba
12/21/2007

ORANJESTAD(AAN): Midday Thursday, the Public Ministry held a press conference related to their decision to declare that Joran van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers are no longer suspects in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

Chief prosecutor Hans Mos started by saying that the Public Ministry no longer holds the trio as suspects.

He said that this decision was not taken lightly, and that the Public Ministry evaluated every aspect along with jurists are their disposal and jointly the conclusion was reached that finally the investigation did not produce enough legal evidence to be able to bring the case successfully before a judge.

Mos continued to say that if the case had been brought forth, he is sure that the suspects would have been acquitted of all accusations. Given that the Public Ministry arrived at this conclusion, it was against the O.M.’s professional code to bring this case to court.

After explaining how the investigation proceeded, among other things under the guidance of a new team, prosecutor Mos continued to say that they made use of all available tools to be able to bring the suspects in front of a judge, but unsuccessfully.

He said that given that the new evidence was brought up and that he truly felt that the Public Ministry could have achieved something with this, he preferred to make an attempt to be able to find more material to bring the case forward, rather than not try.

As to the new evidence, Mos explained that when the Public Ministry spoke of the new evidence, it referred to all evidence that had been found after the three suspects were set free after July 2005.

Given that the evidence was found after that they were released, they could consider it as new evidence, for which once again the suspects could be re-detained and the judge was in agreement that there was sufficient reason to do this.

Mos brought up that an important clue that the O.M. found was a female witness who came forward in June 2007. This witness told the O.M. about a telephone conversation that she had with one of the suspects, exactly 5 hours and 13 minutes after Natalee Holloway was last seen alive for the last time, according to the O.M.

The witness said that during the conversation, she could hear that something wasn’t right with the person. She asked the boy what happened and as an answer he told the girl that he didn’t want to get her in trouble and that what happened could not be told over the phone.

Aside from this, there was a declaration from a witness relating to the bahaviour of one of the other suspects on the day of the disappearance of Natalee. Furthermore, a digital search was conducted on the hard drives of the 3 suspects’ computers and on the computers of others as well.

These hard drives contained chat conversations among the suspects and among the suspects and others which demonstrated that they knew more about this case as well. These conversations contained important information.

One of these chats referred to the fact that Natalee was dead. This search was better able to determine a so-called ‘time line’ in regards to the disappearance of Natalee. The technicians in the digital search are technicians who did not have access to these earlier in the investigation.

The reconstructed time line, combined with facts found earlier and the information given by the suspects in their declarations, made the O.M. conclude that the last version given by the suspects could not fit with the truth.

Because of this there were big questions about the 3 suspects’ alibis. Another new evidence was a recording made in the Kalpoe brothers’ home.

Prosecutor Mos brought up that additionally, with the different interviews that Joran and his father gave to different Dutch media, it gave the impression that they had more information than they had given.

The problem was that there was little direct evidence to be able to bring the case in front of a judge. The fact that the three suspects made use of their right to remain silent also made it very difficult to make the case.

The Public Ministry had to take a decision to declare the kids no longer suspects in this case because according to the law, this has to be done within a reasonable period of time, in order for the O.M. not to lose its right to prosecute this case.

Now that the decision has been taken, it does not mean that the investigation into this case will not continue, rather that a different phase begins.

All new evidence that surfaces will be added to the evidence they already have, to see if they could still make a criminal case. If there’s enough evidence, they can still begin a criminal case against the 3 suspects.

However, one has to take into account the term [statute of limitations] that the law has for this. According to Mos, the law sets a term of 6 years for voluntary manslaughter, while for murder, the term by which the case against the suspects must be made is 12 years.

If after 12 years any important evidence is found, the suspects could no longer be criminally prosecuted.

Mos explained that there are some special agents available to continue the investigation and this is important, because there are various people who have come forward who have said that they have certain information that could help in the investigation.

Because of this, the chief prosecutor made an appeal for any persons who have information, to come forward with it.

[translated by Getagrip]

Official press release by the Public Ministry indicates
Authorities don't have proof that Natalee died
Documents do not contain proof of what happened
Diario Aruba
12/19/2007

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Via a bulletin issued midday Tuesday, the Public Ministry of Aruba informed the three suspects in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway – Deepak Kalpoe, 24, his brother Satish Kalpoe, 21 and Joran v.d. Sloot, 20 – that they will not be criminally prosecuted. At the same time, the Public Ministry informed the American lawyer of Natalee Holloway’s parents of the decision.

On the basis of an additional long and extensive investigation, conducted by a team of Dutch and Aruban investigators, the three suspects were re-detained at the end of November. Their detentions were based on new and serious evidence that was gathered in the last 8 months.

Although the judge shared the opinion of the Public Ministry that there was sufficient new investigative material to justify their re-detention, these detentions did not bring about a definite break in the investigation. All suspects chose to use their right to not give any statement.

Finally, in an appeal by the Public Ministry against the release of the Kalpoe brothers, the Common Court of Justice was of the opinion that the investigation did not show sufficient evidence to conclude that Natalee Holloway died as a consequence of a violent act. It was exactly this suspicion of which the Public Ministry accused the suspects.

After the three suspects were already released, the Public Ministry carefully reconsidered and evaluated all the evidence. They arrived at the conclusion that the file contained insufficient evidence to prove, in front of the Court of Justice, that a violent act was committed against Natalee Holloway or that her death was caused by an involuntary act by any of the suspects. There was also insufficient proof as to what concerns a sexual crime (zedendelict).

The Public Ministry is convinced that if they proceeded with a criminal prosecution of the suspects for the mentioned acts, this would have resulted with a vrijspraak (acquittal). Given this line of thought, the Public Ministry could not decide to criminally prosecute.

Although the Public Ministry has and is looking at the possibilities to prove that Natalee Holloway has died, the fact that her body was never found presents an important limitation in the possible reconstruction of the facts. The current criminal file, also for this reason, does not give sufficient answers as to the question of what punishable acts took place on the night of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, and it doesn’t have answers as to the question of what exactly were the roles of the suspects.

The Public Ministry and the investigative team are convinced that after the investigation that has been conducted since April of this year, they have sufficiently determined that all other scenarios that have been considered in the last 2½ years and in which the three suspects are not included are improbable or, with the current investigation results, excluded.

With the press release of no more criminal prosecution, the Public Ministry dismisses the cases against the three suspects with regards to the facts related with the preliminary judicial investigation and their detentions. This does not mean that if they are able to find solid evidence in this case, that the criminal prosecution is no longer possible. Criminal prosecution is possible until the punishable acts that have been mentioned become too old. For voluntary manslaughter (homicidio culposo - dood door schuld), the term is 6 years from the date of the punishable offense. For homicide (homicidio - doodslag), the term is 12 years.

The Public Ministry is aware that after losing their child and not being able to find her, the results of this investigation has been difficult for the parents of Natalee Holloway. It is for this important reason, amongst others, the Public Ministry and Police made all efforts in the investigation, which was exceptionally long and intensive, to resolve the disappearance of the youngster and went to the depths of the arsenal of criminal instruments [available to them].

Despite the fact that this work did not bring a solution to this case, the Public Ministry and Police are of the opinion that they did all that was in their power to be able to bring clarity to the case, which was the right decision to take.

The Public Ministry will give more explanations regarding this decision and will give the opportunity to ask questions during a press conference Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 12:00 in the press hall of the Government Building in Oranjestad. Until that moment, it will not answer questions.

[translated by Getagrip]

Press release by the Aruban Public Prosecutor’s Office

Natalee Holloway Case Dismissed

Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007 - 11:33 AM

Source: NBC 13 Staff

From a press release by the Aruban Public Prosecutor’s Office:

The office notified the three suspects in the case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, 24 year old D.S.K., his brother, 21 year old S.S.K., and 20 year old J.v.d. S., that no charges will be brought against them.
At the same time the American lawyer of the parents of Natalee Holloway was informed by telephone and fax about this decision.

Based on a lengthy and extensive supplementary investigation, executed by a mixed team of Dutch and Aruban detectives, the three suspects were re-arrested by the end of November. These arrests were based on new evidence that was gathered during the investigation of the past eight months. Although a judge shared the Public Prosecutor’s decision that sufficient new evidence was produced to justify the re-arrest of the suspects and keep them in custody. The period of custody did not bring the final breakthrough in this investigation. All three suspects claimed their right not to give any statement at all. Finally, in an appeal of the Public Prosecutor against the early release of the two brothers K., the Court of Appeal ruled that the investigation did not show sufficient evidence to conclude that Natalee Holloway had died due to a violent crime. It were exactly these kinds of crimes the Public Prosecutor held against the three suspects.

Since the release of all three suspects the Public Prosecutor’s Office has diligently considered and weighed all available evidence. It came to the opinion that the investigation did not bring about sufficient evidence to convince a Court of law that a crime of violence against Natalee Holloway has been committed, nor that her death has been caused by involuntary actions by either of the suspects. Neither was sufficient evidence gathered for sexual abuse. The Public Prosecutor’s Office expects that if this case would be tried in court it would lead to an acquittal of all three suspects on these various charges. Given that expectation the Public Prosecutor could no longer press charges against all three. It is contrary to the professional conduct to prosecute someone if the prosecutor himself expects an acquittal.

Although the Public Prosecutor’s Office did see and still sees possibilities to prove that Natalee Holloway is no longer alive, the fact that her body never was found forms an important deficit in a possible reconstruction of the facts. Mainly because of that reason the current police report can not answer the question which crime was committed in the night of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway nor shed light on the exact role of the three suspects in the events.

Yet the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the team of investigators are convinced that after this year’s investigation from April until December, it has become clear that any scenario beyond the one that implicates these three suspects has either been falsified or is proven to be highly unlikely.

By notifying the three suspects that they will not be charged with the crimes that were under investigation by the judge of instruction or for which they have been kept in custody or, two years ago, in pre-trial detention, these crimes now have been dismissed. This does not imply that, if new serious evidence were to be found, this case could never be tried in court again. This is still possible within the statute of limitation. In case of involuntary manslaughter this period is 6 years counting from the day following the crime that was committed. In case of homicide this period ends after 12 years.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office is more than aware of the fact that this result of the investigation is a tough burden to bear for the parents of Natalee Holloway. After losing their daughter they have not been able to bring her back. Because of that important reason, amongst others, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Police have gone the extra mile and have exhausted all their powers and techniques, in order to solve the mystery of the disappearance of the girl. It took a lengthy and very intensive investigation where even help from abroad was asked for and received. Despite the fact that with all this we have not been able to solve the case, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Police share the opinion that by making the choice to try to do everything that is within their possibilities to bring the case to a solution, they made the right decision.

Suspects Holloway not prosecuted

One of the last pictures of Natalee Holloway and the three other ‘central figures’ Satish and Deepak Kalpoe and Joran van der Sloot taken in Aruba.

Amigoe.com
12/18/2007

ORANJESTAD – The Public Prosecutor (OM) decided not to prosecute the three suspects in the Holloway-case. The dossier does not have enough evidence for a violent crime or culpable homicide. Also the burden of proof for possible legal evidence is not sufficient, concluded the OM.

The OM informed the suspects Joran van der Sloot (20) and the brothers Deepak (24) and Satish Kalpoe (21) this morning that they are no longer being prosecuted. Also the American lawyer of the parents of Natalee Holloway was informed. The fact that the body of the missing teenager was never found is for the OM ‘an important shortage’ in the possible reconstruction of what had exactly happened. “Because of that, the current dossier cannot give sufficient answer on the question which punishable facts took place in the night of Holloway’s disappearance, nor can it answer the question what the exact role of the suspects was in this”, said the OM.

That the suspects continued to be silent during the recent interrogations was also a disappointment for the OM, because they have assumed that the suspects would start talking this time. The OM emphasizes though that if they find new important evidence, the prosecution will start again till the offences become barred, which is 6 years for culpable homicide and 12 years for manslaughter.

The bailiff of the OM informed Lawyer Ariean de Bie of this between 11:00 and 12:00 this morning. “That definitely concludes the case", said De Bie. “All's well that ends well. There was just not enough evidence.”

Yet, it could have just turned the other way. “The OM was constantly talking about less serious facts, for which they could have been prosecuted. But that didn’t happen. They never had any evidence, just indications. And could their indications have legalized this exercise? I wonder why they kept saying: we have evidence, we have evidence.”

OM has not warned me on time

Same as last time, a huge amount of media came to Aruba this time to cover the detention of the three suspects.

Amigoe.com
12/14/2007

ORANJESTAD – Justice-minister Rudy Croes (MEP) says that he should have been informed earlier of the detention of the three suspects in the Holloway-case. “Now that everything is back on the table, the reputation of Aruba is harmed again internationally.”

The case could have been dealt with more carefully if he was informed on time, suggested the minister. “Was it well-considered to make the arrests? If there were plenty of evident, they would not have been released.” He considers the contact between him and the Public Prosecutor (OM) about the recent developments in the Holloway-case an abnormal working situation. “As a matter of fact, I am ultimately responsible for this matter; the OM falls under my policy. Doesn’t that mean that I should have been informed in advance? There is no need for me to do anything any longer and we must save what can be saved. Let’s drop the case as soon as possible.”

According to chief district attorney Hans Mos, the justice-minister, who as opposed to Parliament is politically responsible for the actions of the OM, was one of the first persons that were informed after the arrests. “He was immediately informed together with the prime minister. Our scheme clearly mentions that.” He says that it is however unusual to inform the minister in advance of an arrest. “That only happened in very special cases that affect the public order and safety of a country, like with terrorist crimes. In individual criminal cases like this one, the OM makes decisions and the minister must not work against it. Some people are more worried about the reputation of the country than they are about solving criminal cases. These seem to be subordinated to economic interests; you can then do away with the police and justice.” Mos emphasized that the government and the justice-minister could have always contacted him about the case. “But the minister has not once asked for an explanation on the arrests. I would have done this with pleasure.”

Besides, the OM doesn’t want to continue dragging the case and has decided to set the deadline on December 31 of this year. The prosecution is currently thinking over continuing or dismissing the case. That all three suspects appealed to their right to remain silent after their arrest was an obstacle for justice. That was also the reason why the judge has decided to release them from custody, because it didn’t serve any purpose.

RESEARCH SHIP DELAYED DUE TO OLGA

The unusual December storm in the Caribbean, Olga, has delayed the arrival of the research ship that Dave Holloway wants to bring to Aruba to search the seabed for the body of his daughter. The management of Texas Equusearch ‘Mounted Search and Recovery Team’ cannot say when the search can start. “Keep praying”, said the relief organization on the website. The tropical storm Olga has already caused the death of 8 persons in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.