Interview With Van der Sloot Friend

Since my earlier post I have conducted another level of verification which could not possibly be manufactured to fool someone and pass off an imposter in this regard. I am certain what follows is an honest representation of an interview I conducted earlier tonight with a friend of Joran Van der Sloot and her family.

As I have maintained all along, I don't report here just to entertain with some preconceived notion of guilt or truth. I don't know everything about this young woman ... what I do know from speaking with her is that this is her truth.

She's obviously bright, articulate, attractive and concerned for a friend and a family. She remembers the family from days at the beach and the boy from there, too - as well as the nights they went "partying." Apparently many of the young people she knew went to Carlos and Charlies, because they thought "it was one of the most stable, or safest" clubs to attend in Aruba.

Me: How long did you know him?

Her: I don't know, 7, maybe 10 years. I knew the family. His Mother taught me in Art Class. I feel so bad for her, she is such a sweet lady.

Me: So, you knew her from school?

Her: And the beach, most I knew her and Joran, we would go to the beach together on Saturdays. They were a good family. People think they are rich. They are not rich. They work for everything they have.

Me: So, you knew his Father, too? What was he like?

Her: I knew him some. He was a very loving man. He loved his kids, always hugging and kissing them. That really bothers me about this because I know how much they love their children. She must be crazy over this, she's a nice woman and he really is a special man. He was one of the most giving men I've met when it comes to his family. But he usually didn't go to the beach with us. He was working.

Me: What did he do for a living, I've heard he's a judge.

Her: Yes, he judges, sometimes. But not always. I'm not sure what he did before. He traveled a lot, on business, I think.

Me: Well, this is hard to ask, but, your relationship with Joran, was it romantic? At all? Were you intimate?

Her: No. (laugh) No, it wasn't like that. We were friends. I was a few years older than him. And we were only friends, good friends.

Me: You went partying? I laughed. I wasn't an angel when I was a kid, I know how it is. I don't judge it. But what did you mean by "partying."

Her: Going out .. to clubs. Just ... partying.

Me: I understand. What kind of drugs did you guys do?

Her: No drugs. I didn't use drugs.

Me: I saw Joran's web site. There were a lot of pictures ... a lot of drinking. (laughing) What about Joran, what kind of drugs did he like?

Her: I never saw Joran use drugs. Ony drinking. If he did, I never saw it. I never saw him drunk.

Me: You never saw him drunk? I have a picture of him passed out, it looks like maybe from drinking.

Her: That could be, but I never saw that. He was very tall, a big boy. I saw him drink, maybe tipsy. Alcohol didn't seem to affect him too much.

Me: Well, there has been talk, reports. Supposedly he threw someone through a plate glass window.

Her: I never heard that. Not Joran, it couldn't be.

Me: But, it's said he has a temper ... that he needed anger management, or something.

Her: Anger management? (She nearly laughed.) He played tennis, he was a top player on the island and traveled off the island to play. Now, tennis ... (she is also a top tennis player) I'll tell you, competitve tennis, what can happen on the court, you lose, a bad call. I saw Joran play and he never lost his composure, always he was in control.

Me: What was he like when he lost?

Her: Down, mostly. He'd go off alone, off to the side, sit and pull his hat down over his head. He always blamed himself. "Why did I do that" "I could have done better" That was what he was like when he lost, he never got angry that I saw.

Me: Did he have a girlfriend?

Her: I know he had a girl friend in Ninth grade, now, I don't know. He liked girls, yes, I know. He liked to make out. He was good with the girls.

Me: Did you know the other boys, the brothers?

Her: No, not really. I might have seen them, out, sometimes with Joran, at the clubs. But I was never with them when they were together. I didn't really know them, no.

Me: So, tell me about his girlfriend.

Her: She was blond, blue eyes. The girl every one wanted in high school. But Joran got her. I remember that.

Me: Did it last long? The one in ninth grade?

Her: A while, Not too long, they broke up.

Me: They broke up? What happen?

Her: I don't know. I think she may have dropped him, for another boy.

Me: That must have hurt.

Her: Yes, he was very sad. I think he tried to get her back. But he accepted it, was sad for awhile and then moved on.

Me: He didn't get upset? Really?

Her: No. Not that I can recall. It was like the tennis. He seemed to blame himself. He kept to himself for a while, but he came out of it, then he was fine.

Me: You mean he didn't pursue her, the girl everyone wanted?

Her: Not really, I don't thnk so. Like I said, he tried to get her back, but he couldn't. So he moved on.

Me: So, what happened? Do you think Joran did this?

Her: Impossible. I mean, I wasn't there. To say impossible, I mean, could someone have a hidden side? I suppose. But, no, Joran couldn't do this. Joran couldn't hurt anything. He wasn't like that. These are good people, always polite and nice, very very nice people. People you like to be with.#

Coming away from speaking with her tonight I was left with the distinct impression that I had spoken with a person who seemed genuine and honest, as well as candid. She's well-educated, accomplished and I was able to verify those facts independant of any means she could control. I doubt she was even aware I would conduct certain research to validate her identity (h/t to a friend). While the only eyes of hers I have looked into are in a picture, one I found, not one she provided, I cannot think of a single reason why such a nice young woman would lie.

Lastly, when I read her the two late night emails I received just hours before Joran Van der Sloot's arrest, she said, "That's Joran."

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Comments

[michele]

good interview-- but we don't always know those that are close to us--even those that are really close.
she sounds sincere; yet... a lot still doesn't add up

this whole scene is just so odd.... i really feel for the family, natalie and all that is involved in this.

you can really see how with every action there is a reaction... we are all effected one way or another no matter how close or far away.
m

[Brent Waugh]

Good interview...I have a question...I have heard a lot about Natalie, but has anyone heard any statements about her friends. I want to know what her personality was like (more than just she was smart, going to Bama on a full ride). Was this night out of character for her? How many brothers and sisters did she have? What was her personality like? Does anyone know?

[Mel]

Thanks Dan! Nice job on the interview. It sounds as though she is sincere and she apparently has no reason to lie. I am not convinced Joran is guilty and have not seen anything that PROVES he is the monster some are making him out to be... I look at the pictures and web pages and see a typical immature 17 year old having a good time never dreaming his photo's would become fodder for the mass.

Thanks for giving another unbiased opinion and posting.

[Ari]

Very good interview! I wish you had asked her if the other two were close friends of his and how long did he know them.

[tideroller]

Dan - Sorry, sounds like a whitewash job to me. These "scoops" of yours seem to be like that. We have other testimony and pictures, don't forget, to the contrary, plus we know he's a big liar (Natalee's not on the hotel tapes.) I think this interview is hogwash, she may have been set up by the VDS. I think you should remove it. I can't believe I stayed up half the night to read this drivel.

[Ari]

Reader: Her interview was voluntary. If she didn't feel she could be truthful she would have declined.

[lee]

thx Dan for that......well conducted interview, and like you said, it didn't reveal any info about the case other than a little insight into Joran.....probably needed.....

DAn.....I always trust your work.....

[Kit]

Well if she is sincere and yet Joran is guilty then maybe the picture she paints of Joran helps us understand why Natalee may have gotten into a car with him and his friends (if she in fact did so willingly). He seemed nice and harmless.

Joran's already lied to police once about dropping Natalee at the Holiday Inn. If he and his friends aren't guilty, then he at least knows something. Saying a person is nice, etc, doesn't outweigh facts which are pointing the case in a particular direction.

[SL]

There are two sides to every story and we've mostly been hearing a lopsided one through the media. This was an opportunity to hear from the other side.

[Getagrip]

*perks up* I heard my name! I have to agree with Reader. She may not have been completely untruthful, but there is no denying that a friend of Joran's and especially his family, would be motivated to put a positive spin on all the negativity pointed towards him at this present time.

Two things jumped out at me:
"Me: Did you know the other boys, the brothers?

Her: No, not really. I might have seen them, out, sometimes with Joran, at the clubs. But I was never with them when they were together. I didn't really know them, no."

Afaik, Joran's the eldest. The younger borther closest in age to him is what? 15 years old? Out in clubs. Drinking coca cola, I'm sure? Did Joran start 'partying' in his early to mid teens as well? Not trying to be judgemental, just pointing out the permissive culture on the island (as in many of the other islands in the Caribbean).

Second thing is this girl he 'dated'...blonde, blue eyes...dumped him. Natalee is a blue-eyed blonde. Surely there are other blue-eyed blondes in Aruba, but this coincidence makes me uncomfortable.

[Vance]

Something doesn't add up with this guy being a monster. The pictures of him and his friends having fun look eerily like the pictures of myself and my friends at that age. I went to a prep school probably like the school he went to. Some people don't understand that you get into nightclubs at that age if you want to, you party just like they did. Nothing I see in any of the pictures, even with the buster gang signs look any different than many people do. He and his friends had a little "gang" and they probably hung out together and thats about it. He is a guy that is tall good looking, and he probably hung out at the tourist spots every weekend to find girls looking to have a wild vacation time. We did the same thing here in Orlando, we went to where the out of town girls were because they are ready to party and hook up, plus they leave soon so you don't have to worry about them calling you all the time. Something doesn't add up with there stories, but who knows what is really being said? Don't hate the guy because he is from a good family, he is tall and good looking, some people are just blessed.

[Vance]

PS I really hope they find her soon, and find the person that did this, I feel really badly for the family

[Getagrip]

"Don't hate the guy because he is from a good family, he is tall and good looking, some people are just blessed."
I don't think 'we' hate him. Personally, I'm concerned that he 1) was one of the ones who was last seen with Natalee; 2) has lied to investigators; 3) has a father who is a judge-in-training, possibly aiding him in avoiding prosecution if indeed he is guilty of something.

[Vance]

The last person to be seen with her is definetly a strike against him.

I just find it hard to believe that these two brothers would sit there and lie for him at this point, the information being released is questionable at best. So as far as him lying and changing stories is what is being said by the polis. They also said that they would have it solved in 24 hours a week ago.

The father thing is touchy. I am not sure if you guys have kids, but I think the father would go to pretty extreme lengths to help him. I don't think he would have helped him move the body or anything, but I can definetly not think that is beyond the realm of possibility.

[Vance]

I just don't understand how this guy could not be broken down at this point by the polis. I feel that maybe they are twisting their words in the media, I knew the two security guards didn't do it, and now I am starting to have my doubts about him. The brothers may be a different story. I think they may be the ones that need to be looked at, it is just a gut feeling

[Christa]

Dan,

Thanks for the interview.....well done!

I think his "friend" was sincere in her responses as much as she could be. However, I don't know if she knows Van der Sloot as well as she thinks....or leads on. One, she mentioned he had a girlfriend in 9th grade. Either he hasn't had any other girlfriends in the past 3 years (hard to believe)....or she doesn't know him well enough to know. As they were such "good" friends, you'd think she'd know about his girls. Also, she didn't "really know" the "brothers".....maybe saw them out sometimes. Obviously, Van der Sloot knew the brothers quite well.....plenty of photos to attest to that. If she was such a "good friend", why didn't she know his other good friends?

As for him "never" being drunk...never doing any drugs, I find that a little hard to believe. There is a photo circulating of him passed out with a bottle of liquor on his chest. He seems to spend a great deal of time in bars...doubtful that he never got drunk. His anger problem has been mentioned quite often, even up to the night Nat disappeared. How well does this "friend" really know him?????

Even if they are good friends, or even great friends, or best friends....sometimes people have a dark side that is well hidden from loved ones. The family/friends of many a serial killer are often stunned when the truth comes out!

[Getagrip]

Ah! completely misread the 'brothers' question. I thought it was in reference to J's brothers. That'll teach me to stay up so late :}

[Vance]

I think it meant his girlfriend was in the 9th grade, while he was a junior

[Florida Girl]

Just in case anyone is interested, here are links to the Kalpoe brothers tickle websites. I find it curious that their sites are still up and running (although they haven't been visited in over a week) but Van Der Sloot's sites have been taken down by his father (evidence tampering???) hhhmmm, who has something to hide?

http://profile.tickle.com/hEqEDSyGpObOUTZU
http://profile.tickle.com/3p655DyWSbnUFoco

[Vance]

His dad is just trying to protect what is left of his son's TARNISHED image. He is in spin control right now. The pictures show he has a good time in a tourist destination and knows how to take advantage of the system to get in and get all the college girls. Didn't anyone have fake IDs

[Dan]

I see there are already many questions about the interview. Fair enough, i'm glad. You deserve answers to reasonable questions. I'm bushed, averaging 2-3 hours a night these days. I will gather them up and address in a single post, perhaps tomorrow night - depends on developments. Having done interviews before as a writer. I'm comfortable with how it was done - and even went to a "pro" for soe advice and help in making sure I was making good choices.
IN closing, just because you didn't see a question asked, doesn't mean it wasn't. She has not seen or heard from him since this began. When I read that interview it tells me her truth is that he is innocent. That doesn't mean that I do, or that her truth is mine. Only a jury can determine that for any of these suspects. I just pray that we get to that point. What I was convinced of is that she believed what she said. It doesn't make it so. Notice, she did acknowledge a "hidden" side in possibly anyone. For all her support of Joran, in point of fact stripped of emotion, the young woman was honest. But she wasn't on the island that night. G'night.
I didn't plan or plot this thing happening - the whole attention thing I mean. Just FYI.

[MARY]

PLEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZ DAN. IF YOU BELEIVE THAT THEN I HAVE BEACH FRONT PROPERTY I WILL SELL YOU IN NORTH DAKOTA. PLEEZZZZ...YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. !!!!

[AkekoaHoAlethia]

I believe The Reader is correct in saying, "I think he's a monster because he absolutely knows what happened that night and is essentially torturing the Holloway family and friends by playing dumb and switching alibis."

We know by his own statements that he was with her last. Natalee's classmates and JVDS' two friends in the car with him also stated that.

Now the two Kalpoe brothers with him have stated that the "drop off at Holiday Inn" story was a lie --which is admission of need to cover up the truth. Since Depak now says Natalee was last with JVDS, Depak is now trying to save his own soul by telling the truth. (good idea)

JVDS wanted to be ALONE wath Natalee for a while. That's why he was dropped off with her separately! That's when something went wrong.

JVDS probably didn't even tell all the truth to the two Kalpoe brothers. He didnt need to. Just told them to say she was dropped at Holiday Inn. If Depak really knew where Natalie was I think he would just say that and put an end to what JVDS caused Kalpoes, Aruba, Holloways and all of us by being an underaged -- teenaged -- drinker, driver, gambler and over indulged spoiled privileged kid.

If the parents of JVDS had any sense of humanity they would absolutely compel Joran to tell where NH is -- even if he doesn't tell the whole story. But now his parents are helping him play the Scott Petterson role of feigned but flawed innocence. But didn't they enable their son to become this person in the first place?

[Ari]

Reader:

"... during this murder investigation ..."

It is not a murder investigation. Of course I can not convince you now, but I believe it will become clear sooner or later.

[Kyle in MS]

Yeah, good job Dan. You are losing credibility faster than any other website I have seen posted on the internet. The friend of Joran's family is going to say something negative in any way towards the case? That wouldn't make sense. Basically, your whole interview of a person close to the Joran family doesn't make sense. I used to regular your site...at least 2-3 times a day. After this interview, I will gladly go to the Scared Monkeys blog (only saw that site when another poster identified it earlier). It's not very hard to identify that you are very unprofessional. Posting a criticizer's email address and the email he sent you started it all. Second, bragging about media sources contacting you and getting pissed when they try to use you to get to other people is another example. Trying to get "popular" or well known throughout the media shouldn't be at someone else's expense. The girl is missing, her family has no closure. Good job, you go from hero to zero. I sure hope this reply doesn't offend you, you might track down my IP address and tell the few readers you should receive attention from where to contact me. Be good..here's hoping that people understand how you really are. Initially, I thought different.

[Mystery]

This is not going to be a popular comment. But I appreciate hearing about the "accused" side. Ok, this wasn't a mind boggling interview of info, but still a point of view from the other side. While the facts of this case look very suspicious, he hasn't been convicted yet.

The fact is, we are only getting one side of the story from the MSN. It would be of interest to not only know more about the Joren boy, but also the two brothers who are in custody. We know zilch about them.

The problem with this story is that there speculation upon speculation......yet we aren't getting many facts. It remains to be seen what the real facts will be. Maybe we will get some news in the next days about all that stuff that was dragged out of his house. Meantime, lets spend less time "guessing" about what we don't know and spend more time in prayer for this girl's safe return.

[Pacific]

This sounds so totally bullshit to me Dan, you call this an interview? I'd like some evidence of this interview. Enough of your secret resources. I would hope you would start providing some evidence to back up your claims and interviews. Sad, very sad. I'll eat my words if you start providing sources.

[SgtSally]

This IS pretty much a whitewash of Joran.
He drank responsibly, didn't use drugs. Was a nice, sweet guy but..
It not much different than the practical deification of Natalie Holloway. Nobody is THAT innocent and sweet.
Her fiends on Fox's O'Really recently painted a picture at CnC's that night that was wildly unplausable. Like nobody was drunk.
More like two sides to the same coin...kids trying to support their friends.

[Mike]

First, Dan, I think you've been doing an excellent, if not superhuman, job.

Second, I'm beginning to question the intelligence of a few of your readership (emphasis on "a few"). Complaints like "the interview had no informational value."

What do they expect her to reveal, that JVDS told her what he did that night?

As for informational value, it tells me that the guy was capable of coming across as a "nice guy." Hmmm, perhaps that's why NH waved her friends off, telling them not to worry, and got in the car with him and his friends. It can possibly suggest that perhaps he has fooled a lot of people regarding what type of person he really is.

It tells me maybe he had deep seated resentment for the blonde haired blue-eyed girlfriend who blew him off a year earlier. Maybe he later took that resentment out on someone else when that person rebuffed his advances.

It reconfirms that he was a partier who fashioned himself as a ladies man ("he liked to make out a lot").

It reconfirms that the family is NOT well off financially (they seem to be rather middle class).

But, the bottom line is, Dan never promoted this interview as some earth shattering expose on JVDS. He said up front that it is what it is, an interview with someone who knew him... a friend.

[Checkme]

Dan,

Thank you for shedding some thruth on the vdS family. I know this information is right on the money. The world reflects the soul so we have a lot of monsters blogging... We have to wait for the Aruba authorities to provide us with the truth. Probability is high that truth of NH is to be found in the kalpoe's corner or some party outside the 3 currently detained.

[cita]

Being half arubian (went to the island many times) and living in Holland now i feel like i have to respond to certain accusations. About Joran drinking.. You know.. In holland (and the rest of Europe) we start going to clubs at the age of 16, and yes, they provide alcohol in clubs (most clubs are 18+ though).. Not being allowed to drink till the age of 21 sounds as crazy to us as it might upset you that joran drinks while going out. Aruba is a small island and going to clubs to have fun with friends, drinking and laughing is totally normal.. there isnt much else to do there. I dont know what happened that night, but lets not talk about all the crimes that are being committed in the states (with or without alcohol). It's just a difference in CULTURE, allmighty America. Btw, i appreciated that interview. I know from my relatives that van der sloot family is a respected and friendly family on the island (one of the many). And about Joran being 'cold'. That kid is 17. We dont even know if he committed any crime. The whole world (so it must feel to him) is looking at him, pointing at him and judging him. Maybe it is his way of dealing with what is happening instead of breaking down in front of everybody. One last thing.. Don't blame the kid for having a judge as dad, thats just too ridiculous. Ofcourse his father is going to defend him, no matter what, that's the natural paternal instinct. Im sure his dad wasn't planning on becoming a judge to use the advantages to free his future children from crimes when he decided to go to law school. .

[FL_Rep]

Sounds like she is defending him, individuals will defend a friend, guilty or not. So unless it was under oath (and that does not mean much either) I would not bet the life of my children as "Total Truth".

[tideroller]

Dan - I'm with Kyle in MS on this one. I used to stay up to read your blog, check it upteen times in the day and look for you first before going anywhere else on the net or major news network. Now, I'm like the fellow who suddenly realizes he's not in love anymore. Released! Free! Once credibility is lost - it's lost. I also agree with the blogger about your ego. Watch it Dan, you could be something big, you just need to learn to manage the suddenly being propelled into the limelight. You're getting "heady" and full of yourself. Take some time to get your feet back on the ground.

[Checkme]

As mentioned before, a local newspaper published that a person from Savaneta was taken away by the police... We need confirmation from authorities whether this person is related to the NH case.

[harley]

As far as facts are concerned, this Blog is a waste of time. It's a sweet place to post your suppositions and guesses about the fate of this poor kid but don't look here for more. Tideroller, reader, Pacific and others have it right. Though well-intentioned, the interview was a complete waste of time.

Some have posted comments that Dan "scooped" the well-known media. False. A "scoop" is a story that no one else has and no one else and printed or aired. I guarantee you that every media outlet in the world has interviewed "friends" of those involved and not run anything about them because they don't develop stories worth running. Some of the more sophisticated posters here, like the ones I named and others, see this. The interview isn't "news" and offers nothing. If someone did an interview with the person who was allegedly thrown thru the plate glass window by this perp, that's a horse of a different color.

This Blog is amusing but as far as news is concerned, useless.

[JPIMP]

There is a girl in Aruba claming that she is his girl friend but now x-girlfriend because he cheated on her with Natalee Holloway. She has sent me picture with him and also she was on his msn space.

[LG]

I have never read a blog before. I came upon this one when Natalie disappeared. I check it several times a day for an update. I am very concerned about some of the comments I am reading here after the interview. Yes, she is a friend of Joran's. Yes, she is going to say positive things. Let me ask one question: Why are you all going after Dan like he is the one befriending Joran? He conducted an interview and reported on that interview. Why should that make him lose any credibility. I believe that it was responsible "journalism" to have interviewed and reported on another opinion other than the most popular one of Joran. Do I think he played a part in all of this? Yes, I do. On the other hand, I find it very useful information to know what a friend thinks of him. Like one person wrote already, it may give insight into why Natalie would have gotten involved with him in the first place. Not that any of that was relevant to why I really wanted to write this. I just wanted to say that I am disappointed in the "Dan bashing" I see going on over one interview. Let's look at the whole picture and see all the information (just as reliable,if not more than, as any other source) that Dan has provided. I have enjoyed reading this and think you have done a great job, Dan. Thank you.

[New Creature]

DAN- Thank you so much for the interview. I have been wondering if any of Joran's friends would step up. It concerned me that no one did. I think so many people are angry because they have these magnificiently evil ideas in their mind (that only they are responsible for building up) and now they are mad because that interview caused a little doubt. So LETS ALL HANG DAN, THE TRAITOR! Dan, that was wisdom. Thanks for taking the heat. You are bigger than most of us. Dare I say "fair and balanced"? He, he, he.

[John Kelley]

Lousy interview with Van der Sloot's friend. Of course a friend who knows the family well is going to say, "he could never do this." The interview was a waste of space. As we have found out in the past in many rape and murder cases, the guilty person many times turns out to be someone like,"never in a million years did I think it would be that person." We never really know a person deep down inside. Dan, your interview was a waste of time. It was pretty obvious how she would answer each of your questions. You might as well have been Joran's defense attorney asking her questions on the stand. Of course, all the answers she gave were just opinion.

[bww esq]

If someone has mentioned this already, forgive me. I simply lack time to read all of the posts on this blog. However, there are a couple of points I would like to bring up in response to some of the things I have read in this blog. I'm an attorney from Ohio, and one of the elective courses I took in law school was International Law.

First off, if anyone close to Natalee is reading this, I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy for you and her in this ordeal. I hope for a happy resolution to this, though I hate to say that I find that highly unlikely at this point. However, I want to assure those close to her that, although the mainstream media appears to be losing interest in this affair, that there are plenty in the United States whose interest is as strong as ever, and will not forget about Natalee until her assailants are brought to justice.

Whoever stated that the United States lacks jurisdiction to try Joran Van der Sloot is mistaken. *ANY* of the following things give a nation's court the power to criminally try a person: 1) the person is a citizen of that nation; 2) the act was committed in that nation; 3) the act was committed outside the nation, but intended to have effects in the nation; and **4) the act was committed against a citizen of that nation.** The United States has clear jurisdiction over JVS based on criterion #4. As far as Aruba not extraditing someone to a country that has the death penalty, the policy is simply not to extradite the person to a situation where capital punishment is a possible sentence. The US could remove this obstacle by promising not to execute JVS, then place him in a prison where he wouldn't survive more than five years. No, the biggest obstacle to Aruba extraditing JVS to the US is an entirely separate (but related) concept known as venue. Although both the US and Aruba have jurisdiction to try JVS, Aruba would be considered the location where venue is most appropriate, because it is where the crime was committed.

However, there is a way to avoid the problem of extradition to the US. There is a doctrine in US law referred to as the "Kerr-McGee" doctrine, for which the US receives enormous heat internationally. Under US law, a criminal defendant is estopped (prevented) from using the fact that he was illegal brought to the US as a defense to the criminal prosecution. In other words, if a bounty hunter kidnaps JVS, takes him to a location in US jurisdiction, the US government may apprehend him and try him for the murder of Natalee Holloway. The Supreme Court has reasoned that the correct way to redress the crime is by punishing the kidnappers, not by allowing the criminal defendant to avoid punishment for his crime. Additionally, even if JVS has already served time or been acquitted in a trial for the murder, double jeopardy would not prevent his prosecution in the US. This doctrine only prevents the same sovereign from prosecuting a person for the same crime twice. This is why a person can legally be prosecuted for the same crime by the state in which he lives and the federal government. The main problems with adopting this strategy are as follows: 1) the US has avoided using the Kerr-McGee doctrine out of strong international pressure to reverse this law, and would again be subjected to strong international scrutiny for exercising it here; 2) the bounty hunters who brought JVS to the US would be punishable for kidnapping in Aruba, so they would have to remain anonymous even to the US government; and 3) it is quite possible that the Supreme Court would reverse itself given another chance to do so, given heavily academic criticism of the Kerr-McGee doctrine at home.

Once again, I would like to express my sympathy for those close to Natalee. I would also like to thank Dan for this active and informative blog.

[Pragmatist]

I noticed a few folks on here insinuating the Kalpoes, not Joran, really "did" it which is entirely baseless. It does reveal a lot about these persons: The white dude just could not have done this, but the brown ones . . . maybe.

[New Creature]

Pragmatist-- I think people are simply frustrated. They are just brain-storming here. Don't make that into something it isn't. We can't be fearful to speaculate simply because someone is a minority.

[New Creature]

...and, might I add... NOT necessarily a minority in Aruba. I've never been there.

[Angela]

I think you are doing a wonderful job Dan and I am a faithful reader!! About Joran, Innocent until proven guilty~~~~~ Why are we so quick to prosecute someone in the media? This guy has absolutely 0 evidence against him other than the fact that he seen Natalee the night that she vansihed!!! Give him a break, he is not in a court of law and we are certainly not the chosen jury, he has family and friends just like you and I. I pray for Natalee everyday but I also pary for Joran, he has not been proven guilty of anything but knowing Natalee Holloway!!!

[RCL ESQ]

Bww Esq-

Thanks for your brief on the possible extradition of JVDS to the US should he be found to have committed a crime against NH. I have one word for you - Forgetaboutit. While I don't doubt your posisition concerning the "jurisdiction", the question is one of enforcement and public policy. Clearly, the instances you describe would be applied to individuals lik Bin Laden etc., but I don't see how the US would even consider exercising jurisdiction over someone who (a) probably never stepped on US soil or (b) never committed or consipired to commit a crime on US soil. From a public policy standpoint, the US is not going to be in a position to tell the Aruba government to give up JVDS or else. That is only likely to be the case when the failure of another government to turn over someone threatens our national security.

[Kelly]

Maybe Joran is innocent.We'll find out soon hopefully.Funny thing is,this new person arrested is being called"Jorans friend"..Hmmmm..Connect the dots here or what? Seems Joran had something to do with it somehow.Maybe the Atrubans will suprise us and eventually come out and say"case solved"...I for one am hoping this to be the case...

[Anj]

Well..I am very disappointed and troubled at what you said as a comment after the interview. . and I quote" While the only eyes of hers I have looked into are in a picture, one I found, not one she provided, I cannot think of a single reason why such a nice young woman would lie.
That remark shouldnt be comning from a grown, mature man (or anyone!). How can you say such a thing as to not think of a single reason why such a nice young woman would lie. Are you living on this planet? There are stories galore, about the "nice" man or woman who "lied" or murdered or raped or tortured , etc almost on a daily basis. The first thing out of someones mouth is, "OMG I CANT BELIEVE HE DID THAT. HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT. HE WOULDNT HURT A FLY. blah blah.....these are stories you and I and everyone has heard of. These are stories that made national and international headlines. So my point is WHAT DID YOU THINK that a family friend etc would say? YES he did commit the crime?.. Yes he was a junkie!...blah blah...COME ON......YOURE NOT A CHILD DAN!!!
To me the interview sounded so immature..not someone who professed to be a few years older than Joran. Maybe coming from someone who was a few years younger, because they repled like someone who was 14. Secondly, I dont like the fact of that being a person with NO NAME. So that means we have to rely on you being 100% honest with your checking out the resources and knowing for sure you were talking to her. Not that it matters because her interview didnt give any insight into anything more than the whole world already knows. At first when I accidently came upon this site, I was more believing alot of things you wrote her...I understand its blog, but like one reader said, maybe youre doing more damage to this...and not taking too much respect for Natalees family who are also trying to get more outside info. Some reader made a comment that maybe youre trying to get more hits and dont care too much of the quality of the reports as far as being more accurate. Now Im starting to have doubts about this site. I appreciate the correct info you gave. Am not crucifying you for incorrect as that is bound to happen. Just maybe give it a touch of respect due to a family with intolerable pain. Thanks

[Pee in S.E.Asia]

So where does that leave his mom's statement that he is already accepted into 5 US Schools?

wonder if his acceptance is still VALID

[Anj]

SEND SOMEONE LIKE JACK BAUER OF 24. THEY WOULD GET THE CONFESSION OUT OF THEM. Seems like ARUBA doesnt have the expertise or whatever you want to call it, to carry this out. Over 2 weeks and not even a confession out of these punks? Not an ounce of truth either. I think the problem lies with ARUBA. Look, they nver found AMY who was missing in 1998 off the cruise ship docked in town. Arubans, Americans and people all over the world need to relentlessly pressure this government to find Natalee and whoever is responsible for taking her away from her family.

[Ron]

woah, that girl is full of **** ... I know Joran from a couple of years ago, he was always angry and wanted to beat people up..!! he IS violent!