Duct Tape Found

As reported at Scared Monkeys, Fox has reported that a piece of duct tape containing some number of shoulder length blond hairs was found by a Park Ranger in the area of Boca Tortuga. The area is on the eastern part of the island near where a recently unearthed shallow grave was recently found.

It appears the tape washed up from the sea after an unknown period of time in the water. It is not thought that will hinder DNA testing. It should take from one to two weeks for DNA results to be returned from Holland.

Developing.

Comments

[Skeeter]

Dan

Can you be more specific as to where Boca Tortuga is on this map? This is the Aruba map from SM.

http://www.arubavacationhouse.com/images/arubamap.gif

[SouthernBELLE]

Dan-
I have heard that surfers use Duct Tape to tape body parts... and surfer types I have seen usually have long blonde hair... what do you think?

[Anna]

Could they windsurf in that small enclosed amount of water? Looks like they would not have enough room and might hit the rocks on all sides.

[Skeeter]

OK if Dan's not here can somebody else help me out?

[york gal]

i'm curious as to why we haven't seen anymore results from your cliffhangers, dan. i was away from my comp all day, and just itching to come back here to see what you've posted. i do enjoy everything i read on here, but i'm disappointed that we're all hangin on for what could amount to nothing more than a waste of precious time. i am a fan of your wit and sarcasm and knowledge, but am willing to find these traits elsewhere, for i am not a fan of someone playing tricks on me.

stop playing games dan. we all know about this duct tape. i'm sure you know that if we're looking for your updates, we're checking out sm too...if you have time to be redundant, where's the time to alleviate the suspense?

[loco]

Southern,

Surfers use duct tape to quick repair the board. Windsurfers tape their fingers with cloth tape ( like medicinal) for blisters.

Nobody use duct tape over the body by themselves, only when other people use over them !!!

[loco]

One thing that was obvious from the very beginning: they are LYING. If they say Marriot , go to Sonesta, if they say South, go North; if they say west, go east. They are always lying, how in the hell this police is so NAIVE to go look where they said they did things????

[Skeeter]

hellooooooooo

map help please

[PatriciaLJ]

Dan-
I have heard that surfers use Duct Tape to tape body parts... and surfer types I have seen usually have long blonde hair... what do you think?

Posted by: SouthernBELLE | July 18, 2005 12:23 AM

We don't tape our body parts here in La Jolla, we just let everything and anything flap in the breeze. However, maybe they're more prudish in other parts of the country.

[Not a Hand Wringer.]

Windsurfers regularly keep a roll or rolls of duct-tape handy. Not the cheapo stuff that people have noticed isn't very sticky, but the really good sticky kind.

I've always brought a roll of duct-tape along on my windsurfing vacations.

Duct Tape is used to help with blisters on hands and feet, but also used frequently to temporarily patch small rips in sails or dings in fibre-glass boards.

That said, most windsurfing in Aruba is done on the leeward side near Fishermans Huts, quite a ways away from where I believe the duct-tape was found. Of course, things can float around quite a bit on or in the water. As I had posted last week, I saw a lot of things floating in the water when I sailed in Aruba. Hats, plastic bags etc.

I will say this. Really good quality duct-tape is incredibly sticky. Who knows, what might be stuck to this tape besides a few long strands of blond hair if this duct-tape is indeed connected to the case.

I think it's a real long shot with a very slim chance that the tape is significant. But that said, of all the things I've read on this forum related to 'clues and theories' ( wells, barrels, etc ) this one 'actually' does hold a slim chance of bearing some forensic evidence in my opinion.

But, when I say slim chance...I mean very slim. Only because duct-tape ( even though this is the far side of the island ) is always very common around water-sports, water-craft, and especially windsurfing.

Hence the greater chance that the tape isn't connected to the case.

I guess we'll know in a week or two.

[loco]

The DNA analyisis in Holland ?????? :=)

This is where the US should formally ask for ONE hair at least

[SouthernBELLE]

Thanks Winger... at least I am not a total idiot. I know that I have seen surfers tape themselves.. as well in other sports. Duct tape you say? Yes, because it's the strongest.

[Lardles]

That duct tape with blonde hair is so likely a dead end, it is sad. In the very, very ,very unlikely event it belonged to Natalee it would prove nothing. Wouldn't prove she was dead. Wouldn't prove that Joran did it.

What scares me is, even if they do find a body with evidence of foul play, what evidence do they have to prove Joran (or whomever) did it? Unfortunately, everyone will walk from this UNLESS someone breaks and tells a story that can be corroborated by evidence.

Also, it is B.S. that surfers duct tape their hair or over their skin. Why would they do that?

[Skeeter]

It's a shame these people don't immediately call BHT's investigator. Then he could at least try to get one hair for an independent DNA analysis. Or would this be tampering with evidence?

[calista]

there was a shallopw grave found there? and when did this happen and why wasn't that looked into? every day it is something new some new lead or confession or whatever and then poof! the next day it is gone like it never happened.............it seems like one big treasure hunt - I picture the aruba le with their little maps looking for clues............this is all so ridiculous...as much as I wish natalee could be found and hope she is and care about this case ans am interested in it I am starting to feel like this is all just one big mess that will never be answered with the truth........I read today that nobody could really get tot hat spot where the tape was found by car or it is not reccomended....you have to use a atv or something or a off road vehicle so????????? could steve croes have gotten there with the ferry boat he has acess to for bringging people aboard the tatoo party boat?

[SouthernBELLE]

Lardles-

How I wish I had asked those guys at the surfing competition in St Augustine 3 weeks ago.... otherwise I was only reporting what I saw.

And you are right, IF its NH, it wont say that she is dead, or if JVDS killed her, but there is a possibility it would show drugs in her body.. etc. which is more than they have now.

[Not a Hand Wringer.]

SouthernBelle...

I usually windsurf bare-footed, but in some windsurfing spots ( because of rock, coral, or sharp clam shells for example ) I'll wear small thin rubber type shoes, similar to the kinds of water shoes that you can find in sports stores. But, they would fall off in big wave conditions, so I would secure them to my feet by wrapping a few wraps of duct-tape over the shoe and around my ankles...

so, no you're not nuts...lol.

[loco]

Wringer,

If you've ever windsurfed , how many times did you tape your fingers with duct tape. Duct tape is water proof, you want the blisters to breath ...

[calista]

my husband surfs and I have never heard him say anythign about duct tape....maybe to repair a board but I shudder tot hink of anyone wrapping it around a body part with hair on it....ouch! as far as wrappping their bodies in it I htought that is what wetsuits were for

[calista]

if there truly is duct tape with hair from natalees head in it it most likely means her mouth was taped

[lee]

boy, you people are negative...

look...its long blonde hair....it may be nothing but geesh, how many other long blonde hair strands with duct tape have they found in 6 long and intensive weeks of searching?

none that I know of....

this find may be nothing to do with Nat but its the first blonde hair sample that has shown up like this.....

keep up the good work , Dan....

[Not a Hand Wringer.]

Loco, I never did tape my fingers because of blisters. Why? I never got blisters on my hands. Using a harness in conjunction with harness lines on the boom, there's very little actual strain on your hands. Most of the weight is loaded to your hips via the harness lines and seat harness.

But, I've seen others use duct tape on hands, fingers and feet. Sometimes the blister just occurs, and the duct tape is used just to add a layer of protection 'during' the activity.

I have used duct tape on the achilles tendon portion of my feet, when wearing booties while sailing has begun to chafe my heel area.

I'm certainly not suggesting 'duct-tape' as the medicinal solution to blisters. It is though, most definitly used for many short-term solutions for sailing issues from blisters, to sail rips, to you name it.

For as long as I've sailed ( since 1979 ) the slogan 'Duct-tape...the sailors best friend' has been around.

[calista]

the fbi needs one of those hairs because with aruba's' track record so far I would think they are sending it "away" and not to Holland for any dna evidence.........and you can't call people negative when every so called lead confession, charge, and suspect in this acse turned out to be absolutely nothing and even if it was something it was botched or the people were let go to run free and destroy evidence so after 6 weeks of all this hoping and specu;ating and waiting I htink everyone has grown quite frustrated and tired of this whole thing and aruba botching it......."we people" are not negative we are TIRED

[Noel B.]

Greta has blonde hair! Maybe she had Geraldo bound her up for some "act" and it ended up in the water.

[Skeeter]

Could a small boat get into this area? If so, is it possible that Natalee was merely held in that area, bound and gagged in the hole until a boat arrived to take her off the island? She couldn't exactly work her way out of the hole/grave if she were bound.

I know I'm grasping but sheesh.....trying to think of all possibilities so maybe someone smarter than me can figure this out.

[Skeeter]

To my knowledge, the cadaver dogs did not lead anyone to the grave, meaning if she were there she could have still been alive.

PS: Does Tim Miller read this site? I hope so.

[Ondine]

when did AVDS come back from Holland? Anyone? Was she home when Beth et al first approached Joran?

Also, I would like to know how often Deepak went to Joran's after hours on a school night, or if at all. (I thought AVDS said Kalpoe's and Joran not that close? Didn't she tell Greta he was closer to his school chums?) Does AVDS even know the Kalpoe's?

Her role in all this is weird to me. Unless she's stupid, an alcoholic, deaf or blind, I have to believe she knows SOMETHING. She seemed awfully teary for someone who "knows this will all blow over" because her Joran is innocent.

And, unless is the custom, one would think she'd wonder why she's mopping the deck under her husband all of a sudden. I mean, I know when my husband's lying, nervous, suprised, anxious, whatever. I would definitely know there's something smelly in Aruba if my husband needed towels just to talk to Greta about our wonderful son.

OT but I really think they need to check the VDS property asap. I think someone should challenge the VDS on this, pointing out it could only help their cause, yada yada yada. How can they refuse, especially if it's part of the "investigation" VDS wants DH to wait to be finished. This will speed things along.

I think all of Aruba should open their gates,closets, trunks, wells, basements, etc until there's no stone left unturned. I'm sure the good people of Aruba would be more than happy to help in any way they can. And that would include the suspects who insisted on night 1 they only wanted to help, or something like that.

[Dutchlady]

Joseph Duncan who kidnapped Shasta has been on the web with his caches. In using this technology the simple placing of objects for persons to find in landscapes seems similar here. It is too many, too soon after the demands to search that well on the Van Der Sloot estate.

I have read all the finds and it seems strange that it takes two weeks to do what we can do here in 48 hours on DNA testing. Untill credible sources investigate that well, it looks like Deepak will be the fall guy and perhaps have a fatal 'accident'.

That will wrap up the case nicely. Natalee's body found near his mothers home and planted evidence from his 'friends'.

[berry]

Maybe - but not real likely. First the "grave"- then the tape. Within a mile of each other and found based on "tips".

AP's Tito Lache says the hair is dyed blonde with a reddish color underlying it. Did Natalee have red or auburn hair she dyed?

[Brian]

If the long blond hair belongs to Natalee it proves only one thing...EVIDENCE OF A CRIME, which the prosecution is lacking. Someone above mentioned a "holding area" until they got her off the island. The duct tape would have been used to tape her mouth shut. Once she was on the boat, or even later on land, the tape could have been cut off and thrown in the water. I don't understand the concrete belief the duct tape proves death. It DOES PROVE ABDUCTION.

[NewYawkGirl]

>>>>Didnt LE find duct tape quite a while back on a beach?? with the lysol... Was it the same area??
thanks!

[confused]

I've been reading quite some time now and was just wondering and don't recall reading about a Witness Protection Program in Aruba. I guess the island is too small for that. But why couldn't the US offer that to someone; a new country, a fresh start, a new name, a new life. It's quite obvious that no one wants to come forward for fear. Fear of what? Losing their life? Maybe.. Being ostracized? You can't really be anonymous in Aruba but maybe so in the US.

[Justice4All]

I believe that at the beginning they found duct tape, panties and condoms at a beach, where Beth was crying, as stated by the press. Also can someone tell me why someone would slaughter an animal on a mattress? bloody mattress was found on a beach and they (police) said it was animal blood.

[Seer]

Natalee is dead. Her body will not be found for a very long time, if ever. She willingly tried substances that helped lead to her death, but her judgment was impaired by alcohol. Others encouraged her to try things, but she accepts responsibility for her role in the events that caused her death.

She accepts her death. She does not feel any pain from her death. None of it a part of her existence today. She was not afraid in death because loved ones she trusts were there to help her understand what was taking place. She felt a deep sadness for her family, especially for her mother. She knew that her death would change Beth's life even more than her birth changed Beth's life. Her last thoughts were of her mother and that she was so sorry for letting her down. She was so sorry for the pain that they would all feel.

Her greatest sadness is that her family may never find the peace that they want to find. She accepts her role in this and is so very deeply sorry for their pain. She hopes that they will come to realize that they do not have to leave with her body in order to take her home. She is there with them now and will remain there with them. When they leave, she too will leave and she will help them in going on with the rest of their lives.

She hates no one. She forgives everyone. Each person must accept responsibility for their actions, for things they should have done but did not do and for the things they should not have done but instead chose to do, even if their judgment was clouded. No one is above these laws. No one can escape these judgments.

She will be with her parents throughout their lives and when they leave she will be one of those there to help them. She has joy, freedom, and many things to learn. She is so sorry that her parents will not get to see her graduate from college and do the other things that many of her friends will do in the future. This is her greatest burden.

She hopes that she will be able to communicate with them more directly and to help them throughout their lives. All they have to do is pray. She does not want the lives of her siblings, cousins, and friends to be destroyed by her death. She wants them to work hard, to enjoy life, and to succeed in the ways that are important for them. When they think of her, she hopes that they will smile and send their love and prayers for her, just as she will be sending hers for them. She will be there with you, all you have to do is ask.

"Where there is faith, there is a voice calling keep walking, you're not alone in this world." She is with you.

Where there is faith, there is hope.

[confused]

Justice

Animal blood. It just hit me. They came back fairly quickly with that verdict. It takes two to three weeks to verify any other piece of evidence. A little odd..

[gab]

AP's Tito Lache says the hair is dyed blonde with a reddish color underlying it. Did Natalee have red or auburn hair she dyed?

look at mom's hair color-

[kescah]

Witness protection- are you thinking of... van der Sloots? I had thought of offering that to get them to talk, but nowadays anyone in the US would recognize them right away. They are not average lookers and if they disappeared into obscurity, everyone would be looking for them. They will be in fear whereever they go if Joran gets out in an unresolved situation because too many people want him to talk. He can't talk if it is a cartel situation- and they know that if the public doesn't find them the cartel will! Same thing with the Kalpoes.

Or did you have Witness protection in mind for someone else?

[confused]

Yes, witness protection for anyone else. I believe there could be a number of people who have information that would help the investigation. Someone knows something but is too afraid to speak up. Maybe too afraid of all the media attention.

[CJ]

I guess I am most concerned by sending those hairs to Holland and the time frame it will take to get them back. 2 weeks? Maybe even more? If they were sent to Quantico, it wouldn't take that long, rest assured. But then, that's Aruba for ya.

I still don't think she is even in Aruba. They need to search Curracao or Venezuela. Maybe they will find Amy Bradley while they are at it. This case is so far beyond FUBAR, it's ridiculous.

[TexasMom]

Seer,
If you're in contact with Natalee, and she's given you all the information indicated, why no definitive information on what exactly happened, who did it, and where the final disposal of her body was made?

Just seems to be a lot of fluff and no real substance.
*****

On another point, since the FBI still has agents down there, I would find it frankly amazing if they didn't acquire at least one hair for testing, presuming more than one had the folicular tag required to identify the donor.

[AVA]

>>>>Didnt LE find duct tape quite a while back on a beach?? with the lysol... Was it the same area??
thanks!

Posted by: NewYawkGirl | July 18, 2005 09:25 AM

Yes NewYawkGirl...LE found duct tape around the area of the wetlands/pond near the Marriott, and it did turn out to be used tape from surfing (that was what was reported). It is not in the same area, however I cannot find Boca Tortuga on the map. Also, I thought it was reported on Fox last night that the tape was reportly found near the entrance or side of a cave near the water. The footage they were showing was full of rocky cliffs down into and by the surf. Also reported was that there were 4 strands of hair measuring 30 cm or approx. 12 inches. I only heard that it was blond, but I did not watch the rest of the it.

Can anyone say where Boca Tortuga is near for a reference point?

Thanks

AVA

[Shyne235]

Seer- that is freaky and quite disturbing. Quite in depth also- maybe the investigation should turn towards interrogating you and your assumed plethora of information?

Americans are quick to judge others. fact. But so are hundreds of thousands of others in every other country in the world. The divide needs to stop. Aruba messed up evidence? America messes up evidene too. JonBennett Ramsey..?? Who the hell killed her?! Family members lying to protect one another? Corrupt police and investigate teams. It happens in this country too folks.

Back to the fact of the matter, I may have to say to trust a mother's instincts on this one. As a person who trusts and depends on my intuition, i believe that NH's mother probably could depict the case as good as anyone.

The selling to slavery theory seems less likely to me lately, and i go back to my original feeling that nothing was really pre-meditated. I visited Aruba as an 18 year old girl a few years back, and can spell out a likely scenario, judging by the actions of friends who came with me on the trip.
I feel that Natalee may have been acting more 'wild' than normal during her time in Aruba, and she had met and flirted with Joran before that nite. (** curious i am about whether or not she had called or emailed Joran those days before she vanished. did she mean to meet up with him that night? Keep in mind, US cell phones generally do not work from Aruba though. Maybe they emailed back and forth from the internet cafe in town?)
Anyway, Aruba feels safe enough that she leaves with Joran and finds it romantic to be on the beach alone with him.
case in point- something went wrong. Either her drunkenness was wearing off and she realized what she was doing, felt violated ,and threatened Joran.. OR while they were having sex or whatever they were doing, something again goes wrong, making it obvoius about what happened on the beach that nite. (she hits her head, she goes unconscious, etc)

Joran obviously panicks and does something irrational... he most definitely uses his father as a resource on what to do-- PVDS is most certainly involved. I originally believed that Crowes was involved in the body disposal, but who can tell anymore.

This may seem vague, but it was my original theory and though i am not sure of details, i, from the point of view of a once 18 year old girl in aruba, see it as completely probable.

Reputations are trying to be protected here. And as always, people are lying to protect their kind.

anybody have any solid details that would help in my theory?

[TexasMom]

AVA,
The location is actually called Cura di Tortuga, and in located in Arikok National Park, near the northwest end of the park. It is said to be accessible by four-wheel drive, or horseback. Look for the name "Natural Pool" on the maps for Arikok, that's how it's listed for the tourists.

[THolloway]

I liked this enough to repost it:

" the fbi needs one of those hairs because with aruba's' track record so far I would think they are sending it "away" and not to Holland for any dna evidence.........and you can't call people negative when every so called lead confession, charge, and suspect in this acse turned out to be absolutely nothing and even if it was something it was botched or the people were let go to run free and destroy evidence so after 6 weeks of all this hoping and specu;ating and waiting I htink everyone has grown quite frustrated and tired of this whole thing and aruba botching it......."we people" are not negative we are TIRED"

Posted by: calista | July 18, 2005 01:03 AM

on SM.com front page Arubagirl has links, maps and even photos. Notice the sign says "NAT POOL"

Interesting.

[mom2]

One of psychics said, long ago, that Natalee was in that Park, near water, correct?

(I apologize for no email addres, but have been virtually "burned" in the past.I usually just read, but find this info about the location incredible)

[TexasMom]

Mom2,
You'd probably have to go back towards the end of June to find that post, but you're correct. There was a psychic there on the island, who posted that Natalee was buried about 20 feet or so from a parking area in Arikok Nat'l Park. That post indicated, I believe that it was closer to the old plantation in the park, but I'm not positive.

This link is to a map that might be a little better than the one on "SM". http://www.arubatravelinfo.com/attractionsmap.html

[Mom2]

I "think" it as near a cave in the park, actually. I remember something about the area being damp, water spashing up. (I didn't realize that psychic was *from* Aruba. Total speculation, but what if the psychic wasn't a psychic, what if it was someone who knew where Natalee was at that time, but was too afraid to come forward with information?)

[TexasMom]

Found the post from the psychic. It was June 16th, and was also posted on SM, and I think they used the same ID. Here it is:

"I am giving the location of where Natalie maybe located. As a psychic trying to help. I believe the she is located in Arikok National park in the area surrounding the 1. Prins Plantation 2. 200 feet from the road 400 feet from a trail. Her head is facing South/West. 3 There are 3 scrub like bushes next to her She is buried under three feet in depth. 4. People that were looking for her passed by and missed where she was buried by 50 feet The area is smooth hump and can not be noticed as being a grave site.. 5. the 17 year old hurt her but the others where there She died at the hands of the 17 year old white male. She died at a turn off road parking lot for a trail head. The two brothers where there and had their way with her. 6. The two black males had nothing to do with the crime and should be let go. I will pray for the family and friends of Natalie. I have a detailed map of the area with an X of the location that needs to be checked. I hope that this information will help in the investigation and you pass it on.to people that can investigate this location in more detail.

Gerster"

Would love to see if this person can "see" where they relocated the body to when it was moved from the shallow grave Texas Equusearch found!

[Brian]

Folks, don't let present information shade what we heard in the past. The truth is more likely close to the earlier statements than the later ones. Don't follow the wrong pathways. Remember the very first story the boys told was designed to cover drugs/alcohol (she stumbled), an injury (and fell), and an abduction (two black guys known for hitting on tourist women). I truly think everyone expected Nat to show up (including the Kalpoe mom, Anita van der Sloot, and probably the suspects) in the next day or two at some crack house. Don't forget the DJ admitted he thought that would happen too. His story was also designed to cover the lie. Everything got "messed up" when the Twittys arrived too early on the island and approached the van der Sloot home. Nat was probably in the house when they arrived. How would they explain that? So, they had to get her off the island until things cooled down. But, it didn't. I don't believe she's been sold into slavery (at least not yet); but, I do think she's been kidnapped. Paulus van der Sloot was only nervous talking about a possible kidnapping scenario (according to the voice analysis guys from Atlanta). He had no problem with the murder scenario. Be wary of surprising evidence "just in the nick of time", even if it is from Natalee. The key will be how to find a way to have her "return" to island without a complete media circus.

[MTS]

I can't believe it's going to take 1-2 weeks to get the DNA evidence back from the duct tape and blond hair found! The US FBI should be taking this evidence and analyzing it and the turnaround time would be this week. The Aruban government has no sympathy, give the Holloway family some closure, get the results NOW!