UPDATED: Fox also now reports that the blood was sent both to Holland and the US for testing. Also, that a call came in relevant to the testing during an interview but whatever the context of the call, it did not change the authorities story as it stands.
Update2: From reader Potro1952:
About the stain of blood. This does not to be a great amount for the sample to be tested for DNA. You do not need a 1 ml of volume of blood to test for DNA. And for my understanding Aruba does not have the technology for forensic analysis on the island it self, things that require a technology that is not used there are send to Laboratories in Holland ( the Netherlands). So it is possible to divide the sample of blood so this can be tested both in the US and in Holland.
It's conjecture, but it would seem we might not be talking about simply a drop of blood given that samples were available to send offshore to two different destinations.
I'll email a doctor blogger on that but don't expect an answer until later this AM.
The "Diario," a local daily newspaper, is reporting that a human blood sample found in a car at the residence of one of the teens in custody — the 17-year-old son of a high-ranking island judicuary official — is now being sent to the U.S. and will be tested for a possible match to Natalee, whose mother gave a blood sample to investigators.
Also see Scared Monkeys and Hyscience for additional reports, commentary and comment threads.
Why is he being sent to the United States..
Can't he give a blood sample in Aruba?
Posted by: T | Saturday, June 11, 2005 at 11:28 PM
Not "he" just the sample for analysis according to the report.
Posted by: Dan Riehl | Saturday, June 11, 2005 at 11:30 PM
Keep up the good work......the MSM is somehow IMO being snookered and to get these little insights is very important....
do you think as I do that there is a cover-up going on right now, maybe to prevent a big hullabaloo when the body is brought in, but also maybe to alter the "crime"......thx
Posted by: lee | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 12:01 AM
I think there is a cover up by the government. Look at all the statements that were being retracted..there was a confession, a body was found, there was no confession and no body found..ridiculous. The reason I think there is a cover up is because a murder could be very costly to there economy in my opinion.
Posted by: Mark | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 01:05 AM
I agree with Mark. There is definitely a cover up going on. Her parents have been in Aruba for 2 weeks now, and Aruban officials are doing a poor job of keeping them up to date on the investigation. Her parents are learning about things (like blood being found in the car) from US reporters. Aruba ought to be plenty worried about their tourist industry. If this is how they are going to treat guests in their country, particularly Americans, their economy is going to collapse... I give it 6 months max.
Posted by: Lou | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 01:30 AM
dan, what is going on, what do you think about this back and forth b.s. why wont they just tell it? the mother is obviously upset, out of the loop.
Posted by: TONIA | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 01:30 AM
I agree with the idea of there being a cover up. I believe the Aruba gov and the kids are developing a story that will make this sad event turn into an accident. I hope we are wrong, but it just seems to fishy.
Posted by: Tom | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 01:32 AM
I agree 100% about the Aruba government and the kids developing a story to make it look like an accident but I think its going to backfire. Nobody's going to buy it..they would have been better off being up front. I strongly feel that they believe they have to avoid having a murder conviction. I wonder if there is anything our FBI can do about this(as far as getting the truth)
Posted by: Mark | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 01:52 AM
have a little more faith in the aruban investigation. The PM has already said no one is above the law and e happears to want to solve the case, regardless of the end result. it seems more likely to me that what appears strange to you is occurring because the case is particularly difficult to solve, and not because there is an elaborate cover up being staged.
Posted by: Jones | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 02:05 AM
Jones, in the US, there is a separation of power.....an elected official would never comment on a case or evidence or offer opinions about something unless he was the prosecuting attorney.......you would never go to a governor or congressman or Senator and ask specifics about a case...
IOWS......the political scene and the justice system are not supposed to overlap.....that way, politics stays out of the justice system, so there is no undo pressure one way or another.( althought, that probably happens somewhat )
the Prime Minister should not even be commenting on this case except in a very general way...
IF he is getting himself involved, it tells me that this whole case is now a political football where justice may never be done....
Posted by: lee | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 02:21 AM
Finally he posted the story about he blood...this is already old news.. But I got to hand it to you..your doing a good job on reporting
Posted by: JPIMP | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 02:29 AM
From what I read here you guys know nothing about Aruba. Aruba is not the US, it's to much a small island for there to be things like 'cover ups'. Everybody knows about everybody here and lots of people like to leak out stuff. The rumors are confusing sure, that's why it's called 'rumors'. Right now the police has been keeping mum because of those leaks about a body. Imagine the family feelings each time a 'rumor' appears on national television.
Secondly our judicial system is just like the Dutch one. It's not the same as the US, nor better or worse, just different. And such we are to small to have congressman's and governors to go to for info. So understand that laws here are different.
Check out: http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/06/10/simon/index.html for more information on Dutch law.
Posted by: Regina | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 06:16 AM
Today's frontpage biggest dutch newspaper:
http://telegraaf-i.telegraaf.nl/daily/2005/6/12/TE/TE_2S_20050612_1/pagina.php
Headline says: "more evidence against Joran"
Maarten
Posted by: Maarten Mannee | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 06:17 AM
What a great job you have done in spreading your info on this case. Many of us news junkies appreciate your dedication and immediacy. Some other conceited blog noses are out of joint, it is clear.
It is very much to your credit that you offer your information with a minimum of invective and flaming opinion, that you have the integrity to admit your sources may not be perfect and that you do all this without even asking for 'tips'. Bravo Riehl!
Posted by: LornaD | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 06:25 AM
About the stain of blood.
This does not to be a great amount for the sample to be tested for DNA. You do not need a 1 ml of volume of blood to test for DNA.
And for my understanding Aruba does not have the technology for forensic analysis on the island it self, things that require a technology that is not used there are send to Laboratories in Holland ( the Netherlands).
So it is possible to divide the sample of blood so this can be tested both in the US and in Holland.
Posted by: AUA | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 11:04 AM
Great reporting here. Haven't been exposed to your blog before, but will now use it as an excellent source. Agree with above posts that a cover up is in progress. The officials, when interviewed by the news, are saying that they are keeping the parents informed. When I saw the mother on Fox last night "live" she knew nothing about the blood sample. Strange indeed. They are either trying to come up with a story to make it look like an accident or pin it on the two black guys.
Posted by: Orange | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 12:16 PM
I think those shady guys sold her to some kind of sex slaves if you ask me.
Posted by: uab | Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 01:04 PM