Arends In For Questioning

Fox News is reporting that Joran Van der Sloot friend Max Arends was brought in for questioning on Friday night. If I'm not mistaken, this is a second visit for Arends.

Meanwhile, police brought in yet another man for questioning Friday night, FOX News has learned. The man, Max Arends, who is also a friend of van der Sloot, is not a suspect in the case and has not been arrested.

Comments

[Ari]

I agree that Joran and his parents look very sinister. One thing I don't understand: if Joran was involved in murder why would his father get involved in it. He has a life too, and a family to care for. Why destroy it. Hire an attorney, spend a fortune to defend his son, yes by all means. The same applies to other people disposing of a body. Unless Joran had immediate contacts with the local "mafia" and paid them handsomely for it, I cannot see how he could get rid of a body. There is speculation that this guy SC helped him. Why? What was in for him? He has a life to live. Why destroy it for the sake of Joran?

[Mt. Brook Mom]

Ari,

The father is "his son's father". Children learn by imitating behavior. Its a game to these people.
Let's play the game. If we don't get caught, we win, we get caught, we lose, that simple.

Thats why they gamble too! And of course they always want to be winners!

Its a game!

[willo]

Dan, I think Friday night was the only time that Arends was questioned. Apparently there was still another person.....of Dutch background....questioned Thursday night. I believe I've heard the name Lorenzo van Rijn in connection with that. Correct me if I'm mistaken.

This story from Friday has more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,159862,00.html

[mary j.]

This is long, but I hope it might be worthwhile to consider the following.

I think if the Aruban gov't wants to try to re-instill some faith in Americans that they are not totally incompetent, or in bed with the people responsible for Natalee’s disappearance, they should allow the police chief or officer that gave the press the info back on June 12th that there had been a confession and that the authorities would be led to Natalee's body to take a lie detector test administered by the FBI to back up the subsequent retraction.

In that way, we could breathe a bit easier that there hasn't been a botch or deliberate cover-up etc. by the Aruban authorities.

I think the whole date rape with drug administered and an accidental overdose scenario the most likely as Dan has already said. The question is who disposed of the body and how. Since it seems that the Steve Croes who commented on the medical book is a different one from the one being held, the last part of Dan's speculation seems less likely. (regarding the medical advice). Which goes back to what I said back on Friday, and was criticized for, that if it was Croes that gave/sold Joran a date rape drug it would be likely that Joran would have called him in panic if Natalee could not be revived for answers as to what to do. I also recall seeing on SGC’s tickle sight that his favorite activity is being on his yacht. He could have been Bull-S----ing about having a yacht or he could have meant the Tattoo boat that he worked on. In either case he had access to a boat, even if only the air boat that was used to take passengers out to the Tattoo. Would he have disposed of Natalee when she couldn’t be revived? Certainly, if he indeed was the person who supplied the deadly drug to Joran.

As for the comments from those that felt that sharks wouldn’t be a likely way of disposing of the body, that doesn't mesh with me based on my reading of Hemingway's “Old Man and the Sea”. If you read the book you’d know that the simple gash in the fish’s mouth was enough to attract many killer sharks. So, stick a knife in a fresh body and produce some blood and I would think that the vultures would show up in no time. Don't quite understand why people would think the sharks wouldn't touch a fresh body and would love a clearer explanation from those that think it’s improbable that sharks would have feasted on a body dumped from Maco Bahos or a boat off the northern tip.

Also, for the nay-sayers on slavery and human trafficking: below is a quote from an article at the following website:

http://southasia.oneworld.net/external/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ipsnews.net%2Finterna.asp%3Fidnews%3D28748

Read the article about Argentina, then click the link on the right that refers to Venezuela for add'l info and the following quote.

”As time goes by without anything being done, prostitution rings that facilitate trafficking in persons continue to operate and expand. Venezuela is a 'bridge' through which women from other Andean countries, the Caribbean or Brazil are sent to Europe and North America to be sexually exploited,” according to Pernía. (END/2005)

Although it seems unlikely that a 17 year-old would be involved in slavery, if Hernaldo Rivera's info about him making a gang bang video and then selling it on the island is correct, then this kid isn't past doing anything.

Incidentally, I didn't actually see Rivera's report but it's been posted a couple times in other blogs that there was something to that extent on his show recently. But it’s still hearsay to me.

I hope there is closure to this soon. It’s painful to think there won’t be answers in the end.

By the way, why is the MSM not reporting anything about the decapitated man and the other missing person? Seems rather odd, in view of the fact they could all be connected if in fact Natalee was sold.

[Mel]

I have seen Van Rijn's name in earlier post regarding a Geraldo interview but I don't recognize who he is and how he fits into all of this. Can any of you connect the dots for me on van Rijn? thanks

[Eric-bham]

I think that the questioning of Joran's father (who according to CNN is on his second straight day of questioning) is not only about his son's whereabout or his personal knowledge of the case, but also about what, if, and how he protected/influenced the rules of investigation afterwards.

[Mt. Brook Mom]

Truth is that is case is going to play out as it is written by Arubian law. The prosecutors office has already made this clear. Whats acceptable according to Arubian law is all that the Arubians will consider. No exceptions. They don't allow lie detector tests in Aruba.

We can come up with all of the scenario's we can possibly think of to resolve this case. The key is knowing Arubian law or IMPOSING tarrifs from the US...or going over the heads of the Arubians
say to the the Netherlands...and to demand justice.

[Lurker]

Van Rijn is the bastard offspring of an affair between his mother and Paul Van der Slut, prior to Van der Slut marrying his current wife (Joran's mother). IOW Van Rijn is Joran Van der Slut's halfbrother. Reportely he and Joran are very close.

[tideroller]

Lurker et al, Say, I've seen it posted about Van Rijn being an illegitimate half-brother of Joran's several times now on the blogs. Where is this info coming from? Can it be substantiated? (Not that it's hard to believe, BTW.) But, please, refresh my memory, how does he fit into this picture? That island is sure starting to sound like a Carribean Peyton Place.

[Getagrip]

The rumour that Van Rijn is PVDS's son is nothing more than a rumour at this point. It has been circulated in the Scared Monkeys message board, but has not been substantiated. What has been, is that he was brought in for questioning and released. He's the son of a VW dealership owner who committed suicide a few years ago.

mary j., that was a very good overview with the exception of the slave trade scenario. I do not deny that it exists, I come from an island in the Caribbean where this happens - what I have been saying (and others with the same background have backed me up) - is that people who engage in this type of activity target girls (and sometimes boys) who will not be missed. People travelling alone or from lower socio-economic classes - cetainly not an American girl travelling in a group of 130 + students. And the perpretators are not usually sons of judicial officials, or families in good standing. All that to say is that the sex slave scenario is highly unlikely...it just seems to have captured a lot of people's imaginations.

[Sarah]

THis is the first I've heard about Van Rijn being Joran's half brother. Other posts said his father had comitted suicide.. was this not his real father? Can someone please verify this info?

[JustMe]

Mt. Brook Mom, can you give us some insight into what the people from Mountain Brook who know and are close to Natalee are saying and thinking? I know that the suburb has to be an incubator for rumors and speculation but you guys are "closer" to the situation than the rest of we Americans. Thanks.

[Mt. Brook Mom]

We are getting our news here from the media also.
I can tell you this however...we are really burned out on Natalee's disappearance and the "can not give out any information" that
Arubian authorites are speaking.

I do also promise you this...our hearts are
broken over Natalee's diappearance. No one is
sleeping in Mt. Brook...the porch light remains on until she comes home. Thanks for asking.

[GutFeeling]

Sarah
The story about VanRijn was posted at Scared Monkeys by Aruba Girl last night. The original thread is gone but she basically said that PVS had an affair with Van Rijn and van Rijn is PVS illegit son. She prefaced it with this is a rumor I heard.

[GutFeeling]

Sarah
That should read an affair with van Rijn's mother.

[Ace_TX]

did the aruban authorities get anything off computers and whatnot?

[Mt. Brook Mom]

Natalee's mom believes that there are many other people involved in the disappearance of Natalee.
I did remember this to share with you.

[Mt. Brook Mom]

Arends won't be the last one.

[JustMe]

Thanks for your response Mt. Brook Mom. My wife is from Mobile and we have a daughter just a bit younger than Natalee. This has captivated my attention since I first heard the news. I have been praying for Natalee and her family and will continue to do so.

[Nan]

Check it out this is a message left from joran's friend to joran on myspace.com:
"jur du guy that have natalee how gud you am proud of mijn aruba now everybody thinking that is bad"

[Mary J]

Getagrip,

Re: Your comment.

I agree with you.

The only way however that the slavery thing would make sense in regard to an affluent high profile type American girl would be if it was done deliberately because she would be the perfect daughter of a typically well off capitalist American. Somewhere I thought I had read that her father is actually connected to the gov't somehow, but it was just a blog I read and nothing that I can verify. I do know that Condelezza Rice and Bush have been very outspoken in their condemnation of Chavez regarding the human trafficking trade in Venezuela as of very lately. I think there have even been sanctions of some sort imposed or threatened. In that case, a corrupt Chavez would love to get his hands on someone like Natalee in retribution to the US gov't. I believe Rice and Bush have spoken out against him just around the time that Natalee was gone missing but I'm getting too tired to go googling.

And I agree that it wouldn't make sense for Joran to be involved in something like that unless he was way over his head in gambling debts or something.

[JustMe]

MJ, you have been reading too many novels. I am not saying that Natalee was not abducted for the purposes you describe, but I find it highly unlikely. Maybe I will be proven wrong.

The three guys do not possess the sophistication to outwit the Mayberry Police Department and if I can recognize that then so can professional criminals.

Natalee's blended family may be well connected but I have not seen anything to convince me that they are exceedingly wealthy. Her step-father is a manager with a metals company and her mother is a speech pathologist. Rich people have titles more prestigious than "manager" and their wives do not work; not even at home because that have cooks and maids to do that for them. I have also seen pictures of their house on the internet. Save the location I would not trade my house for theirs anytime.

[blacklable]

stop speculating about sex slaves if you can go and wath E!Tv and BET channel, it is those networks that give people wrong ideas.
And btw, what to think of news channels that are larded with advertisements? He. Give me BBC everyday

[DennisAOK]

JustMe,

Where did you see the picture of their house?

[samthebam]

JustMe, some people work because they love what they do, not because they have to in order to make ends meet. Natalee's Mom teaches at my son's elementary school and has an excellent reputation.

[ASB]

Max Arends is a classmate at the International School, class of 2004, he was accepted at "Valencia" per the International School's online newsletter:

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:HqGvd0efqK4J:www.isaruba.com/breeze/documents/BreezeFebruary11.pdf+international+school+aruba+max+arends&hl=en

"ACCEPTANCES The College Center always loves to share good news! Congratulations go to: ­ Joran v.d. Sloot on his acceptance to St. Leo’s College and Florida Atlantic University; ­ Max Arends, who has been accepted to Valencia Community College..."

and also at http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:ddkxsNI1RVIJ:www.isaruba.com/breeze/documents/BreezeMarch242005.pdf+international+school+aruba+max+arends&hl=en

[DennisAOK]

samthebam,

That doesn't surprise me. She has conducted herself with great class under the most trying of circumstances.

[AUA]

YOu people are full....... So keep blaming and pin pointing....
You talk only how things should have been handle different in the case that Americans law is much better,.... NOT TRUE.....
Still nothing on Joan Benette, the little girl found dead in her own house, Nicole Simpson, OJ walk as a free man ... but years has past and no suspect, many people disapeared and they have no clue..... And just recent a pervet set free even that he confessed of being guilty.. that is just because the chain of custody was messed up, so the evidence had to be thrown out of court and can not be used.. they screw up big time.... and just a few days ago a boy of 11 years disapered..... Yes.. The US is safe place, and the US law is PERFECT......... YEAH RIGHT ... and the street is also free from date rape drug.........
Even her own mom story has many gaps, and other things such as her room made just does not add up... to be just perfect ..... THere is just more than an honor role student and being so "perfect", cause up to now there is not such a thing as a perfect person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anne]

I think the site link to Max is the wrong person.

[Christa]

I've been off the site for hours unfortunately! So, forgive me I've missed something...

It appears there has been some talk about Nat being kidnapped as a sex slave. Although we all would like to think Nat is alive, and just being held against her will somewhere...just how realistic is that theory? I guess the thought of drug lords, kidnapping & bizarre plots is better than what we really fear has happened to her.

Maybe I am unrealistic, but this whole abduction to other islands, etc, seems a little farfetched. C'mon, we are taking about some heavy partying rich, or somewhat rich, kids. They really don't need to sell young women to the drug trade to get a buck......Mom & Dad certainly supply them with the bucks....

Also...if these youths happen to be in the market for selling young women.....they are obviously very inexperienced. You have to be pretty stupid to be the last person seen with a missing girl.....these people aren't pros.

My guess is that something "unplanned" to all happened the night Nat disappeared. These idiots didn't plan this....they can't even get their stories to match! To think that these bozos have connections to underground white slavery and are in the business of selling young women is absolutely ludicrous. Really, think about it! Those 3 couldn't find their way out of a wet paper bag if someone cut a whole in it for them.

[it's just me]

Valencia Community College is in Orlando... A number of Aruban students attend UCF, also in Orlando.

[mary j]

Just me:

I also saw the pic of their house and its a nice, but modest split level, so I agree that they're not wealthy. But I never said they were. I simply said they were a typical American capitalist family and that I'd thought I'd heard that Natalee's real father worked in gov't somehow.

I realize the idea is far fetched but Bush has been after Chavez for some time now, imposing sanctions because Chavez got in again and has control of the oil. So it would'nt surprise me if a country with a well-known reputation in human trafficking and with a corrupt president that this administration publicly denounced and imposed sanctions on, would want to get even.

That's all.

[Christa]

Sorry...some typos. It's late and I'm tired!
I meant to say "talking" rather than "taking" in one sentence. And, I meant "hole" instead of "whole" in another sentence. Sorry.

[Heathcliff]

The sex slave theory doesn't make sense to me. Assuming that Natalee is alive, they could easily ransom her for $100,000. How long would it take to make that kind of money in a Venezuelan brothel? C'mon.

[Leah]

I thought the sex slave theory was far-fetched too but what about the beheading and the drive-by? It seems that someones sending a message to people not to talk or they will be killed

[JustMe]

DennisAOK, I cannot remember. And I stated incorrectly when I said "pictures." What I should have said is "a picture." My best guess is that I saw it at www.al.com.

Samthebam, I never stated anything to question Beth Twitty's ability or dedication. If they are rich then I am happy for them, but I have not seen any evidence to convince me that they are. Just what, exactly, is your point?

[cindi]

Heathcliff, if you do a web search on Amy Bradley who disappeared in 98 on an island close to aruba, you will find a similar story. An American WOMAN vanishes. No help from the DUTCH authorites.

[Christa]

Perhaps the supposed beheading & mutilation has nothing to do with Natalee...

Maybe...just maybe...crimes in Aruba like that occur, but are never reported....or they just don't make headline news......
Since we are all focused on Aruba now, any crime there is being reported.

Given Aruba's dependancy on tourism.....I doubt they push the news stations to broadcast their crimes. Although Aruba boasts about how "safe" the island is........ I doubt that is the case.
Anyone with half a brain knows that ANY island is not safe. Any island with a transient tourist crowd is a playground for foul play...just my opinion.

I am not saying the USA is safe by any means, as we have loads & loads of missing people here, BUT, the laws in the USA are a little more stringent than those of these islands. So, if you happen to be a suspect in an abduction/murder here....there won't be as much d*cking around as there is in Aruba.

As far as I know...in Aruba........you need a "body" to convict someone of murder. You can have blood, hair, evidence of an obvious murder, but if no body is found.......you go free.

Perhaps you can even confess to a murder there and go free if there is no body.....who knows.

I think the girls will be safer visiting Florida for Spring Break from now on. If they happen to be abducted in the US, at least we won't waste time while precious evidence deteriorates.

[AUA]

YEAH, i thin k that all u should just stay in the US to do all ur stupidity, of drinking, doin drugs, and getting naked when doin wet tshirt contest, or even just because u just so stupid drunk to take controll of your action, and leave the other culture out of your stupidity action, LIKE U PEOPLE ARE SO PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH RIGHT

[Coralee]

Hmmm maybe the girls would not have been safer in Orlando..if indeed that is where the school is located that accepted VDS and that he was supposed to leave this week to attend.

On why the FBI there and other resources..almost from the beginning I considered how and why this case had the clout to bring so much pressure on to investigate.

I did consider that it was an opportunity to explore some troubling reports from that area of the world.

Americans do not flock to Argentina..they do flock to Aruba. Aruba is just minutes away from Argentina..accessible from Columbia.

there are rumors that its a money laundering island and a route for drug traffic to US.

But then to be fair..Highway 59 through Texas is known to be a drug traffic route and though the troopers confiscate lots of drugs along this highway they have not stopped the flow along it.

So, tho they might take the opportunity to get a closer look and publicize all this about Aruba..I do not think that considering the failure to stem drug traffic along our highways the FBI or anyone else from US would be successful in stemming it from Aruba.

Other then this might cause fewer US to visit the Island or at least make them aware of the conditions they might find if they do visit there.

So far as this guy van der sloot being a prominent judical figure..well an intern (and that's about what he is) is not usually considered prominent.

Must be something else in his lifethat puts him into that class.

Its an interesting classification that started from day one. Here in US I think of our judges (and we have them at so many levels) as sitting on this bench or that bench or which type of court, or maybe he outstanding in that his cases are never overturned on appeal..things like that, but don't recall that "prominent" as in influencial being the description would use.

Actually the judges I know of are careful NOT to be influnencial in the cases.

Kind of makes me appreciate that we do elect some of our judges.

[john goettge]

has anyone thought about the fact that she was probably taken out to sea and thrown overboard...they should check all the boats at aruba and have them give account for them..that would be the safest way to get rid of a body...

[Gary]

spend your vacations in the US. not because its safer but because it gives jobs to other amercians. Why make these clowns in Aruba rich ? Stay here and help other americans in the tourist trades. We have a beautiful country worth seeing. Put money back into our ecomomy.

[Sean Lavin]

I'm a student at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, and I'm also a writer for the Central Florida Future Newspaper. I saw on Fox News Joran was wearing a UCF T-shirt while his friend was holding a belt that appeared to look like another belt found potentially connected to natalee's dissapearance. I was wondering if UCF shirts are popular there in Aruba, or if Joran planned to attend our university? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[iquitos]

not quite minutes

Americans do not flock to Argentina..they do flock to Aruba. Aruba is just minutes away from Argentina..accessible from Columbia.