New Arrests In Missing Girl Case That’s Riveted The World
Posted November 22, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s a case that has drawn the attention of the world, hyped up by often non-stop coverage on U.S. all news channels. And now it’s back in the forefront. It concerns a college student named Natalee Holloway, who went away on a vacation to Aruba in 2005 and never came home.
Now, more than two years after her mysterious disappearance on the resort and hundreds of man hours spent searching and investigating her case, authorities have finally arrested three young adults in connection with the apparent crime. And they’re the same suspects police have been eyeing for years.
Dutch student Joran van der Sloot and two Surinamese brothers, Satish and Deepak Kalpoe, were arrested on Wednesday, after prosecutors on the island indicated they finally had enough evidence to charge them with voluntary manslaughter and causing serious bodily harm that resulted in the girl’s death. The action comes despite the fact the body of the 18-year-old American tourist has never been found.
The Alabama girl disappeared May 30, 2005, after she was seen leaving a bar with three men. She was just hours away from heading home with her friends, who were celebrating their high school graduations. When she didn’t come back, an all out search began, one that didn’t really end for months as her distraught parents camped out on the island employing divers, jets, trained dogs, army officials and private investigators to find any trace of their missing daughter. All their efforts came up empty.
The three suspects, who admit having been in contact with Natalee, were previously detained, but denied any involvement and were released because of a lack of evidence. The case seemed to have remained at a virtual standstill since then, and van der Sloot went home to attend university in the Netherlands.
But there were signs something was going on. In April, Dutch investigators began digging around the 20-year-old’s home, but wouldn’t say what they were looking for or if they found anything at all. A month later, the Kalpoe brothers – one now 21, the other 24 – were re-interviewed by Aruban authorities at their home on the island.
van der Sloot was taken into custody in Holland and may be extradited. In the meantime, the man’s family insists he’s only being questioned and was not placed under arrest. His mother is outraged by the latest twist in the case. “I think it’s ridiculous after two-and-a-half years to be doing this,” Anita van der Sloot fumes.
The new proof is expected to be unveiled in court on Friday. Until then, authorities are saying little beyond that “further investigation into the disappearance has led to new incriminating evidence.”
It’s just another step in the journey to justice for the Holloway family, which is still trying to get a resolution to questions long left lingering. “It’s just renewed some hopes that the police are going to find answers to this disappearance of our daughter,” anguished dad Dave Holloway admits.
