Disturbing Developments in Natalee Holloway Disappearance

Update: Arrests made in case.

With the Natalee Holloway investigation focusing on three men, one the son of a judge and all said to be popular on the small island, authorities are speaking with an ominous tone of mystery regarding the Alabama senior and honor student's disappearance.

An additional ten FBI agents are on in Aruba, bringing the total to thirteen. The additional resources were apparently requested as a result of some unknown circumstances in the case.

U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, said Saturday there were circumstances surrounding Holloway's disappearance that warranted the FBI being heavily involved. He declined to give details.

"The circumstances were disturbing," said Bachus, who formally requested the FBI's involvement. "I can't get into it, but it's something the family is aware of. There was an immediate recognition that this was not simply a teen who wandered off."

Authorities are also hinting at a quick resolution of the case, but offering few details.

"I want everybody to hold their breaths for the next 24 hours," Dompig said Saturday. "There will be developments after this weekend."

In what could be a tragic irony, in the Mountain Brook yearbook, Holloway's senior quote came from the old Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Freebird." It says:

"If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me? For I must be traveling on now, there's too many places I haven't seen."

Natalee Holloway pictured here.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Comments

[Ron Jeremy]

Content removed.

[STEVE]

these two security guards are being held when it is obvious that the three men who were with are involved. that is why the fbi is there because otherwise this thing would just go away. put the three white guys in jail free the two brothers. dont know much about aruba but it sounds like theese guys were being questioned in rural alabama. im a white guy from the south a nd i can figure this one out.

[chris]

I'm also from Alabama. I'm not Sherlock Holmes
but it seems quite obvious to me that the 3 men of interest belong in jail. They were the last seen with Natalee. Right? From what I have heard
Natalee did not know that two of them were in the back seat until it was too late. Now they are admitting to having had sexual relations with her. If they did, it was obviously against her will. They need to be interegated by some mercenaries. They could get the truth from these
3 men.

[BD Thompson]

Yeah one of the three guys dad is a judge down there so of course they were question then released. That's why we now have 13 FBI agents handling the case. Cause these guys are trying to slip under the radar. Well too late, your gonna burn...all three of you!

[J Johnson]

It is a shame that american citizens can't go abroad anymore without fear if they are found guilty let Natalee's father alone with him. Then they will know what justice is

[AUA]

The FBI agents can not act on their own on Aruba, Aruba is not property of the US. It is ruled by Dutch Law, So the only thing the FBI can do is assist and help, and CAN NOT ACT ON THEIR OWN! Keep that in mind.
you say because he is the son of a judge, so what about the famous people in the US that get away with plenty.
REMEMBER they are not guilty until proven so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And what I can remeber also since the begining of the disappearance it was always said she had sexual relationship with a guy down there.......You were not there with her so you cannot say it was without her consent

[Mosembi]

It may be Dutch Soil but that doesn't mean we
can't bitch slap a few natives into telling the truth!

[Debra R McGill]

Dear Sirs,
I know you don't know me and what I might have to say may sound sound strange to you, but of course I would like to help, and I am not looking to have my name exploited or even mentioned, I would prefer not. There have been times where sometimes I have some insight into what has happened to missing people and have helped to find them. Natalee Holloway, is still alive but with a lot of publicity, it will become more and more difficult to travel with her, but I see that there are people that are placed in areas looking for perfect young girls, not only from Aruba, but other places, and take them for purposes of Prostitution, in other countries, such as Venezuela, Columbia, and areas closer. These girls are unfamiliar to how to contact authorities even if they were able to escape, because they are taken to countries that want American young women, but have no idea how to speak the language asking for help, or even use the phone to call home, because they are being watched so closely. They are used for money and because they are young and pretty. Please look at this, Aruba is a hard place to hide someone, because it is so small, and everyone knows everyones business there, But a just a boat to another country is so easy, especially if this is thier living, they will know it inside and out. I pray for the safe return, because she still is alive, but be careful, with too much publicity brings her at risk, because they will not be able to travel with her

[Peewee]

Funny how people from America are now the moral vibers of this world.

1 ) they stil have the death panalty
2 ) they are weapen supliers NO 1 in the world
3 ) They stole land from the indians and killed them all
4 ) the are currentley in a illegal war ( IRAK )
5 ) the are violating human rights

And know the wanna be all moral and stuff and talking about how discusting this is !!

[AUA]

Yeah Mosembi,
You guys think you are god, the same you guys are trying to bitch slap the ppeople in irak that nothing has been found and is not were the source of 911 started.... but still they are getting bitch slap back by the inocent life lost of your own people through a sense less war

[tolivr]

"Funny how people from America are now the moral vibers of this world."

So what sinless, perfect country are you from?

"You guys think you are god, the same you guys are trying to bitch slap the ppeople in irak..."

What this has to do with the kidnapping and murder of an innocent American girl is beyond my ken. But tell you what, we Americans might as well be GOD in Aruba; that country receives 75% of its tourist dollars from the US. How about we just enact a travel embargo against Aruba? Want to know what Aruba would be like without American toursit money? Visit Cuba, take a ride around Havana in a '57 Ford and find out.

[Jojo]

I wonder who this Natalee Holloway really is and why she has made national news. And why is the FBI involved? WHAT? WHY? When was the last time the us government took any interest in Americans in trouble in a foreign land? And when has the FBI EVER been dispatched to investigate? Only 2 things come to mind for me: Natalee is yet another pretty blonde haired and blue-eyed american girl in trouble. Why is it when a white person goes missing, or murdered, it becomes national news? Yet anyone else goes un-noticed? Like my own father who went missing in South America. The American authorities said it's a foreign matter. If the FBI investigated all cases of missing americans, regardless of color, we'd have no FBI here at home since they'd all be searching overseas. Lets not forget the bush administration does have 'plants' in news agencies to focus and exploit cases like these (with some moral message) to deter national attention from what's really going on in Iraq! In Example: Saudi Arabia is refusing to allow inspectors in to their nuclear facilities, or the fact that a growing numbers of 'insurgents' in Iraq are Saudi's? But with regard to Natalee, maybe her family is 'connected' politically and some politician owes her family a favor?? Someone may have known that and waited then made their move. If she chose to not go back to america (she is 18), more power to her. My dreadful theory is that she's been kidnapped and sold over and over again until she ultimately ends up on Al-Jazeera TV getting her head sawed off! Way to go George Bush! You brought this mess to america! Hope you're happy in your position as dictator!

[anonymous]

JoJo, quit your bitching. Why are you trying to turn this into a racial issue? Why can't you just focus on praying for this girl and her family. You claim that the U.S. gov't is racist for only helping whites, but that simply isnt true. You are the racist because while this girl is still missing you are trying to turn the attention away from finding her because you want to bring attention to the "injustices" suffered by minorities. Give me a break, quit whining and get a job! Oh and one more thing, if you dont love this country, then get the hell out. Your bitching doesnt help to solve anything. So everyone please ignore the uneducated idiot continue supporting the search.

[JAMIE]

I Agree jojo you're an IDIOT!!!
I cant stand people who bring RACE into this issue. Quit being so damn ignorant. Sorry about your father and his lack of attention but who the hell cares. Right now, the focus is on natalee so shut the hell up.

[Jessica from Florida]

The point, people, which most of you seem to be missing, is that there is a girl in danger somewhere in the world. It doesn't matter what race, religion, color, she is. It's too bad not every missing person gets this kind of attention; we might have better luck finding them.

[Anonymous]

Please reread this previous person's post.. I really think this could be what happened to her. I really hope the FBI looks this route -->
"I know you don't know me and what I might have to say may sound sound strange to you, but of course I would like to help, and I am not looking to have my name exploited or even mentioned, I would prefer not. There have been times where sometimes I have some insight into what has happened to missing people and have helped to find them. Natalee Holloway, is still alive but with a lot of publicity, it will become more and more difficult to travel with her, but I see that there are people that are placed in areas looking for perfect young girls, not only from Aruba, but other places, and take them for purposes of Prostitution, in other countries, such as Venezuela, Columbia, and areas closer. These girls are unfamiliar to how to contact authorities even if they were able to escape, because they are taken to countries that want American young women, but have no idea how to speak the language asking for help, or even use the phone to call home, because they are being watched so closely. They are used for money and because they are young and pretty. Please look at this, Aruba is a hard place to hide someone, because it is so small, and everyone knows everyones business there, But a just a boat to another country is so easy, especially if this is thier living, they will know it inside and out. I pray for the safe return, because she still is alive, but be careful, with too much publicity brings her at risk, because they will not be able to travel with her"

[Rodan]

What does everybody not understand about letting the three "well to do" person of interest who were last seen with her go, only to be arrested later. Don't you understand police interrogation and tactics? Does everything have to be the American style: "Police..open the door or we'll kick it in...don't mess with us..we're overweight, badass, bitchin', American, and NASCAR rules..!" What the ARUBAN authorities did is interview these kids, observe their demeanor, gain their confidence, observe them knowing that they would let their guard down. According to sources with the Aruban police department, after they were released they wiretapped their cell phones, did surveillance on them, recorded emails between them, and BINGO. Somebody opened their mouth and now the authorities have their case. That's what you do in life: keep you friends close but keep your enemies closer!!! If you scream at someone during an interrogation they're only more apt to become defensive and withdrawn. You all need to learn to think outside of the box and begin to use your right brain creative skills instead of the "this is how we do it in our neck of the woods" brain dead method.

[DEB]

IF THIS WAS A PERSON OF ANOTHER RACE, THERE WOULD BE NO INVESTIGATING GOING ON. SHE WOULD JUST BE ADDED TO THE LIST AS ANOTHER MISSING PERSON. I AM FROM THE SOUTH AND I HAVE SEEN SO MANY OF THESE INSTANCES WHERE YOUR SKIN COLOR MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. AND I BELIEVE THIS IS 1 OF THOSE CASES.

[Anonymous]

I am from Birmingham, AL...where Natalee is from... and there are two African American residents missing, and they are getting just as much news coverage here on B'ham TV as is Natalee. However, the national attention to Natalee is due to the international aspect and strange dissapearance... why does everything have to be about race? I don't understand why people always moan about "that's racist that's racist". It wouldn't exist if you wouldn't try so hard to look for it.... It's people like you that take something this sad and have to twist it around to draw attention to something else that creates resentment. Regardless of this poor girl's race, ethniticity, etc., she is a missing teen who has a distraught family, and everyone should keep her and her family in their prayers...

[Addison Ellis]

The below is a copy of an email I sent to The Today Show, Larry King, CNN, WSMV, etc.
I hope you are well.
I just saw your segment this evening on Natalee Holloway.
I had a gut thought the other day and as there has been no mention of "my thought" I feel perhaps I might mention it to you, someone who may be able to mention it to her family. I found a phone number on the internet but as I read that the Aruba resort may have their reputation at stake, etc. I would rather not go that route.
Anyway, my thought is that someone needs to check boat/ship/port traffic and airport (private and public) traffic records, in and out. As people feared the "slave trade" of children, post-Tsunami, it could apply in her case.
Thank you for your time.
Best regards,

Addison Ellis

[fatbob]

i hope natalee is still alive and that she comes back to her family. signed: a southern black man who has a job.

[Formosa]

Slave trade because of the post tsunami legacy. Please!!! Educate yourself a little on geography and geo-political relationships.
1. The tsunami was in the Indian ocean affecting the Andaman/Nicobar islands, Thailand, Banda Ace, Mianmar, Sri Lanka. Aruba is anout 12,000 miles away.
2. Only one airport on Aruba; Reina Beatrix Airport
3.Aruba has an 24/7 active radar system for dedecting small vessels around the island(at night) to combat the drug trade and illegal immigration.
4. Aruba's per capita income is higher than the United States(free healthcare)and there's no slave trade. This is an urban legend and myth propagated by the same type of people who believe that you'll catch a cold if you go out in the rain or out in the cold without a jacket; instead of blaming the common rhino(cold) virus.
5. People just love to exagerate and embellish. educate yourself and don't rely on hearsay, rumor, conjecture, or gossip.

[victorlo]

i hope that when the body is recovered it will not be compromised, and checks can be made as to chemical contents of her body and blood, physical aspects.

[Man Fraid]

Message to young white females "don't be so horny when you're on vacation". Getting a little action gets you in TROUBLE. What's so urgent about going down to the beach to bust a grind with some kid you met 2 days. Silly. This young fella was hungry to tap a piece of American pussy. She flirtted, then resisted and got killed. Shame.

[Formosa]

That's my theory all along. She willingly went with these guys; one of them had expressed interest in her one day earlier at a casino. She was drunk and he thought that he was going to have his way with her. A heated verbal exchange and fierce struggle ensued and something was said that really upset this guy or must have insulted his manhood, resulting in him losing his temper and strangling her.

[blueeyedblonde]

Hello? Natalee was a graduate of high school, full scholarship to UA, SMART, I have a feeling that she did not go off with the perps on her own. I feel that something was either put in her drink or she was somehow forced to go with these men. And to "man fraid", I'm sorry that all you know of women is them being horny and having to shack up. You must not know any classy women. What a shame. Go dig yourself a hole.

[Angela Lewis]

I hope they find Natalee Holloway soon for her family can be at rest.If something bad has happened to this beautyful girl i hope they get the person who did this..

[Man Fraid]

Miss blueeyedblonde smart, classy, sophisticated folks can have their weakness. If my comments hurts, then, 'are you in that camp?' The phrasing of my comments was deliberate, because it was meant to sting. Point is, our young girls have to be astute on where their sexuality can get then. Going overseas 5-days and needing to get laid is dumb!!! What's the class in that?

[Arubian]

He people, these young men are NOT arubians. I want to state this because I think it makes a different. The main suspect is a Dutchman (17 years, and in my opinion a spoiled child) living a couple of years on Aruba. And the 2 other men are Suriman. Please keep that in mind. I do believe Arubans's are aware what the consequence can be of harming a tourist.

[Rodan]

I'm usually not mean spirited but whichever punk commited this horrible crime needs to get locked up and share a cell with someone who is bigger than he, abusive, short tempered, and prone to torturing young guys. It's crimes like this that make make me lose faith in humanity. "Hasten to our call and snatch us from ruination and the clutches of the Noon-Day Devil now laying waste your vineyard."

[harry]

You know lets just give these three a chance, maybe Natalee fell off the rocks and they couldn't find her. They all are well educated and know the punishment for murder, why would they risk everything.

[Multi racial High School]

We The 139 students of Taft High school, have been stolen from Carlos & Charlies, all in one night, we just wish one of us were Blue-eyed blondes, because no one even knows were gone! We were captured by a drug smuggling boat that rode a tsunami to the Indian Ocean, where we were forced into prostitution, had our kidneys sold in the black market. We also found a million dollar stash of the druglord's money, and if you help us get it back into the US we will give you a 10% finders fee, which equates to 3 million dollars! Just remember, Iraq is not spelteded with a K and George Bush is the cause of all our troubles, including Killer Mold & Toxic Shock Syndrome. Oh.....and don't forget, it's a racial thang......RUN OJ RUN!!!! we know you was framed man....White man can't stand seein' you actin' in movies with Leslie Nielson & runnin' thru airpots. If I'm havin' a fit you must aquit.... Peace out M-FRS!!!

[Joe From Indy]

It perplexes me that none of this girl's friends knew where she was or who she was with. How can she just leave a bar without anybody going with her. She must have been drugged. This incident should be a message to all parents who let their kids go off to someplace where the dirinking age in under 21. And where the hell were the adults on this trip?

[Tassafaronga]

The adults????They were getting high as a kite on rum-punch cocktails; gambling in the casinos playing quarter slot machines for hours on end trying to figure out which machine was a "winner"; hitting on Armando the local Cabana boy at the hotel..."Armando, more suntan lotion on by buttocks pleeezz"; overindulging in the complimentary breakfast and dinner buffets to see who could add the largest amount of sub-coetaneous fat to their bodies, creating that quintessential American tourist Lard-A$$ look; four hour shopping spree haggling local vendors for $10 cheap bracelets, yelling at the top of their lungs "Hey, Suzanne..these are really cute"; getting two hour massages and mango facials at the spa much to the dismay of the local massage therapist who had to touch these morbidly obese Shamu-esque middle aged attention starved blabber mouths; attempting to para-sail but subsequently breaking the wire contraption/ harness because of excess weight and then threathening the local watersport operator with legal action; ..I mean.. common Just use your imagination...what else would these adults have done. My amazing powers of deduction tell me somehow that supervison was not part of their action plan.

[Mike]

Unbelievable how these arubans twist and turn just for their tourist dollars.
You would forget their is a girl missing.
The only thing these guys care about is blaming , Dutch or surinamese for the actions.
Lets not forget, we Dutch, have been one of the few partners for the US in afghanistan and Iraq were our soldiers are fighting and dying.
And I also think that cutting back on our 300! Million dollars a year aid for Aruba would be a wise thing.

The Arubans disrespect us Dutch obviousliy so mutch that they want to be freed of us AND OUR MONEY!

And godspeed en support to Nathalies parents.

[jamaicanice@aol.com]

Somewhere a woman is being killed right now, only she is not pretty of white. Do you care?
I'm actually glad this happened, maybe you americans will not be such assholes when you travel in the future.

[CaneZMD]

Wow, way to show the jamaican spirit. "I'm actually glad this happened" -- you're so cold as to be glad that an 18 year old girl is missing and probably dead. You're glad someone was murdered. Say that to yourself on your bed at night and then consider the state of your depraved, wretched soul. You can't be much more of an "asshole" than to take joy in the murder of a young girl. ......by the way, if you think americans are assholes, then stop kissing our asses and don't let us on your island. Simple as that.......what...your economy would collapse....well, then put up with us and shut up. Don't take our dollars and then bitch about what terrible people we are. You're free to not allow us on your island.

[e.]

Please let Natalee and Amy Bradley (missing in Curacao '98) be found. This is so heartbreaking to me -- I cannot imagine being a parent of either of these lovely young ladies. If anyone knows the whereabouts of either of these ladies, please let their families know where they are.

[MIke]

I agree Please lets us all prar and hope for
the safe return for Natalee.

I hope for wisdom for the Arubans who only care for tourist dollars( it is such a safe island)
and start carin for natalee.

[susan]

Americans should think twice before going to Aruba! If you are the victim of a crime, you, too, may be at the mercy of the "Keystone Cops"! I am afraid that "Daddy", the judge may be putting "the squeeze" on the police to go easy on Junior!

[Willem]

Some rumours from The Netherlands (Aruba is a selfruling island under Dutch protection ander Dutch law).
Most important suspect is the 17-year old Joran van der Sloot, a white boy, son of a (Dutch)judge on the island. If you type the name in Google you will find his photo on some (Dutch) sites. He has his own website, but now it's not working.
The rumours are that Natalee and Joran did somehow fall in love and that they had been kissing each other - seen by others - in Joran's car. In that car was also blood found (not said from whom), reason for keeping the three suspects (Joran and two black Surinam mates / Surinam is former Dutch colony on the continent of South America)8 days longer in custody for further investigation. Not ANY strong rumour is going on about the fate of Natalee Holloway.
The leader of the investigation is not from Aruba, just because all Aruban authoroties know the father of the chief suspect on this small island.

[Rodan]

People need to stop misinterpreting the status of Joran's father. He's not a judge, not a influential political figure, just someone who works in the legal/justice arena. Whomever just posted something about "keystone cops" has obviously been misinformed by FOX news and loves to quote other people. Keystone cops??? John Bennet Ramsey...O.J. Simpson Investigation.....I mean come one!!! We can look pretty bad with our investigations in the U.S. and our billions of dollars in resources.

[Lancaster]

Re: the Lynard Skynard quote this article claims has relevance -- the author must be a moron. A quote like that in a HS yearbook isn't a suicide pact or anything strange. She means will people there at that school remember her after she leaves high school - starts new experiences, university and moves on to new travels.

[Patterson]

Am I just old fashion and showing my advanced age in finding it careless, irresponsible, and plain foolish to turn 124 high school seniors loose on a Caribbean island free to roam as they please in the wee hours of the morning? And, I find it incredible that the missing young lady was only accounted for when the group met at the airport to return home. Parents and their kids in this country should recognize that the world is a dangerous place.

[Chiri]

People don't forget that we "humans" are not more than refined monkeys.Stop assuming, let's wait for the facts.

[IsYousWicked]

Any new information from Aruba??? Looks like they're being very quiet all of a sudden. However, their attorney general(Vivian Vd Biezen) mentioned yesterday that hey are neither denying or confirming rumors that were "leaked" to the press, i.e. search for a body or a confession. That speaks volumes to me. I don't appreciate these large media outfits bullying the local authorities for dirt, and then jumping on whatever rumor disseminated by someone, only having to retract their story.

[Willem]

More recent "facts" from the Dutch press, NOT confirmed by authorities. I think they are believable because of the strong connection between the Aruban community and the Dutch.
- Nothing is still really known about the fate of Natalee.
- The two hotelguards that are in custody have been taken in custody, because they seem to have lied about seeing coming back Natalee to her hotel in the night before disappearance. The cameras of the hotel prooved that they did not speak the truth.
- His Surinam mates should have said that Joran had sex in his car with Natalee.
- Blood has been found in the car of Joran, but the result of the analysis is not known (but probably to the authorities).
- Joran is the chief suspect, but seems to have denied until now every involvement in the disappearance of Natalee.
Ofcourse I can't be sure that this is all true.
Let's hope and pray for a somehow happy end, allthough a tragedy seems to be every new day more probable.

[Godzilla]

Hotel guards on camera? Your Dutch press must have been hanging out in Amsterdam smoking some high grade weed or something; the security guards were never caught on camera, they were implicated because someone mentioned having seen them.

[Jim]

What happened to this girl is what's wrong with the world. You can't trust strangers, you have to have your friends watch your back when your partying. Aruba is a nice island but remember, there's loser's and assholes everywhere. She made a big mistake leaving with 3 strangers and has paid for it. The racial issues is ridiculas - I'd feel the same for the family of a white, black, Spanish, whatever. No family wants to go through this.Stop bringing racism into a sad family story.

[rio]

This is not about politics or racial issues; it's about a human being. Let's not turn against each other, just pray that this person comes back to her loved ones.