Family Of Natalee Holloway Hires Private Investigator

Earlier reports of voice analysis being done may have been false, but rooted to this investigator's previous visit on his own dimje to the island. It has been my understanding all along that, assuming the fund raising permitted it - the family would employ a private investigator if needed.

Contrary to some reports, the Twitty family is not wealthy, they are said to be a working class family.

Jug Twitty works for a metals company in Alabama and Beth works as a speech therapist.

Twitty grew up in Pine Bluff, Ark., and met her first husband, Dave Holloway, after college, family members said. The couple had two children, Natalee and Matt, 16. They eventually divorced and Twitty lived in Mississippi for several years.

In the late 1990s she married George "Jug" Twitty, who works for a metals company in the Birmingham area. She moved to Mountain Brook, a Birmingham suburb, and continued her career working with young children as a speech pathologist in the public schools, where she was hired by Standifer.

"I knew she was strong and smart," Standifer said. "That's why I hired her. But I've been surprised at how determined and strong she is." Twitty and her daughter were extremely close – "buddies" – in Standifer's words.

Natalee was sometimes called "Hootie" by friends, and Twitty at times took the moniker, "Big Hootie." "Beth took the summer off to help Natalee get ready to go to college," Standifer said. "She was an honors student and got a full scholarship to the University of Alabama."

As for the investigator, read below.

The parents of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama teenager missing in Aruba, have hired an Alpharetta firm to begin a private investigation.

The teen, who was in Aruba to celebrate her high school graduation, was last seen in Aruba six weeks ago.

“I was watching this case just completely start falling apart, and I felt bad for the family,” said T.J. Ward, a private investigator with the firm Investigative Consultants International.

Comments

[Kay]

AkekoaHoAlethia thanks but that is just the way I feel about this story!

[AkekoaHoAlethia]

OK Dan I got it now..

Thanks

[AkekoaHoAlethia]

Thanks Kay

[RstJ]

How does a "working class family" have a private jet taking them to Aruba less than 12hrs after their daughter is missing? Just who are the Twitty's friends and why were they so interested in helping out?

As for this PI...pfft. He'll go down the same road Tim Miller did.

RstJ

[Kay]

The Twitty's got a jet from the McWain's and they are the salt of the earth people and have done lots of good things for the City of Birmingham. Including a museaum for children with hands on experiences and learning situations and evidently they are one of their friends know them and got them to let them use their jet to go down on.

[AkekoaHoAlethia]

RstJ

They are helpful friends!

[Kay]

your quite welcome AkekoaHoAlethia!

[AkekoaHoAlethia]

A Private investigator or ANY KIND OF SERIOUS investigator is certainly what has been missing here.

He could still do some good work. I really was impressed by the step Dave H. took to go to visit J in KIA prison, then watching him extend a hand and a smile to Paulus was a class act.

I've been praying that God would do something special here.

To me that seemed like something very special. Anita VdS seemed to be impressed. She said J was reading the bible.

That's the best we can hope for now b/c God can break through all that "hardened" exterior and cut to the heart a bring J and P to their knees!

I keep praying that J and all VDS folks ARE really reading that Bible.

May God bless and guide them all to SPEAK THE TRUTH!!

[Kay]

Very well said AkekoaHoAlethia!

[AkekoaHoAlethia]

Thanks

may God bless YOU TOO!

[legalbeagle]

The Twitty's got a jet from the McWain's and they are the salt of the earth people and have done lots of good things for the City of Birmingham. Including a museaum for children with hands on experiences and learning situations and evidently they are one of their friends know them and got them to let them use their jet to go down on.

Posted by: Kay | July 20, 2005 02:25 AM

Was it the McWains who lent the jet? Has that been confirmed? For some reason I was under the impression that it was the Byrd family who lent one of the jets - though I could be completely wrong. That's just what I had heard, unconfirmed. Thanks!

[proudredneck]

I do not know who the Byrds are but it was the McWain family who lent them the jet.

[(((( MrsJimiHendrix ))))]

Dan

Thanks so much for posting about this family. My heart breaks as a mother with daughters and a son as well for this woman all the more.

Who cares how she is getting there. Rich or poor, it just goes to show how kind people can be when others need them.

Thanks again Dan for all you do!!

HEY THERE PROUD RED AND AKE!!

[Kay]

I heard it on Fox 6 the local Alabama station.

[annie]

Yes it was the McWayne family and not Byrds.

I am so pleased to hear that they hired private investigators. This needs a lot of detailed investigation and footwork. I don't get the impression that some of the LE is as skilled in investigative procedures so this will be good.

AkekoaHoAlethia - very well said and I could not agree more!

I was extremely impressed that Dave took the Bible, Purpose Driven Life and the other Christian devotional book to Joran and gave them to his father to give to him. On top of that telling Paulus that he was a forgiving man spoke volumes. It is great seeing Beth handing out prayer cards, holding prayer vigils, Dave giving out the Bible and really trusting God will reveal all and bring them back Natalee. Instead of sitting back and falling apart, they are instead taking the opportunity to do good and spread the Word. Praise the Lord for using this situation for good as well. It can't help but have some impact on P & J.

[(((( MrsJimiHendrix ))))]

WHO CARES???

dan's point here was to portray the HUMAN SIDE of the holloway twitty family

WHY DOES EVERYTHING HAVE TO BECOME A GOD FORSAKING ARGUMENT AROUND HERE?????

[(((( MrsJimiHendrix ))))]

ANNIE

that was not directed at you

we were posting at the same time

[AkekoaHoAlethia]

Thanks Annie

"telling Paulus that he was a forgiving man spoke volumes" Right on!

Nite MrsJ Good question...
Nite Annie
Nite All
So then I'm off too... ZZZZZZZzzzzzz......______

[TJ]

The Twitty's are certainly no working class, come on. Have you seen the house with the enormous garden. Come on. Let stick to facts....

[Kay]

What does what they have or not have anything to do with what this family and Natalee are going through?

This is crazy! All that matters is where Natalee is and what happened to her!

[proudredneck]

TJ, that house in Mountainbrook which is almost identical to the one my children just sold when they bought a new one, is not a gargantuous house. It is a 1960s house that has been updated and maintained. This house is on the lowest end of the houses in Mountainbrook.

Why do you have to infer they are very wealthy people when they are not. Do you have class envy?

[Moggy]

TJ - the fact you call their 'yard' a 'garden' makes me think you are from the UK. Their house looks like any other suburban house in the USA.

[Moggy]

And about the jet - it was a CORPORATE jet...one of their friends company jets wasnt it? Not a massive jet just lying around in someone's massive back 'garden'.

[Berry]

What difference does it make whose jet got them there? The important thing was to get there. One good thing about the efforts of Beth Twitty is that public awareness has been heightened and that might mean volunteers make offers. The reward has been increased, the TX searchers arrived and maybe the PI will give them some much needed case insights at a reduced rate or even pro bono.

[patrick]

After hearing so much about Mountain Brook, and how rich it is, I was suprised to see a very average looking house owned by the Twitty's. Funny how TJ can have such an entirely different perception. In my opinion, the home is at least 20+ years old, and would surely not be considered anything above average middle class. They are working class people, and not in jobs that pay large salaries. I know this as factual because I'm familiar with Jug's place of employment as well as BHT. Without the help of good friends in better financial positions and the donations of many peoples around the world, the family would not be able to hire a PI, attorney and offer a reward. Just my opinion.

[sol rosenberg]

Too much mental masturbation here. I sent a donation to the cause about (3) weeks ago. It's great that others are doing the same. If you were in BHT's situation, you would certainly appreciate it.

[patrick]

Sol, you are right. I'm out of work (laid off) right now, but I also sent a check for a few dollars that I could give at this time. I wish I could have given more.

[patrick]

Sol, you are right. I'm out of work (laid off) right now, but I also sent a check for a few dollars that I could give at this time. I wish I could have given more.

[Big Pappy]

News this morning on Scared Monkeys...

Mountain brook teens changing stories and Joran and Kalpoes brought into hospital for saliva testing. Beth seemed very sure that the Kalpoes were still under surveillance.

I don't get it, a month of quiet from the MB teens, now Frances Ellen Byrd changing stories from original interview? Seems Joran is not the only one changing stories. Did they meet Joran the night she went missing, or days before, seems like a detail that should not be hard to nail down Frances, so whats the deal?

And they ask the Kalpoes to come in voluntarily and they do not, so they get a court order to bring them in. As a regular blogger here says, those with nothing to hide hide nothing. I'm sure the lawyer advised them not to go in, but why? They certainly have something to hide.

And I can't believe Van Der Straaten is leaving, he's up to his neck in corruption maybe and they are pulling him out prior to the $hit hitting the fan.

Dunno, this whole thing is so frustrating.

[nicolle]

It doesn't matter how much money Natalee's family has. It is irrelevant. Even if they are well off, the fact that Jug has had to be in Aruba for so long because the authories there cannot handle an investigation, means that he is not able to work. So I feel that all that can help should do so, even if it is only sending 20 dollars. Every little bit helps. They may be in a better financial situation than alot of others, which enables them to stay in Aruba, but as time goes on, I am sure it will get harder and harder financially. I hope that they are staying free of charge at the HOliday Inn, which would be a big help. I am planning on sending a donation this week, and while I don't have a whole lot to send, I hope it helps. They need to find Natalee, and I for one wish I could give alot more.

[NewYawkGirl]

I am from NYC and call my yard, my garden.. whats the point? Is garden foo foo word??

[NewYawkGirl]

I am from NYC.. and we call it a garden.. is that a foofoo word now?

[nicolle]

No, I didn't see anything about blood on the duct tape, although I didn't get to see all of Greta so it may be that I missed it. I sure hope we hear some info some on that tape. I am so glad that BHT now has a private investigator working for them. They need someone to find out the truth.

[Seer]

Beth seemed very sure that the Kalpoes were still under surveillance.

And they ask the Kalpoes to come in voluntarily and they do not, so they get a court order to bring them in...I'm sure the lawyer advised them not to go in, but why?

Van Der Straaten is leaving.

Posted by: Big Pappy | July 20, 2005 08:46 AM

These are important factors. VDS leaving is not a bad thing. He must go and sooner is better than later.

[gemebwai]

Van der Straten is leaving because he reached his pension. He agreed to stay on the case until 15th of august or until resolved, whichever comes first. Basically this man is giving up his hollydays for this case. After the 15th of august he'll no longer can be in active police duty due to the laws. If he would have liked to withdraw from the case he could have done so a lot sooner! Also, if anyone in the justice dep. has any doubts about him he would been of the case long time already. Don't talk bad about someone you don't know. I know this person being as dedicated to this job as they get. His fault being friends with PVDS? Don't be rediculous, this guy would send his own son to prison if he did something wrong.

[Cindi in PA]

That's the best we can hope for now b/c God can break through all that "hardened" exterior and cut to the heart a bring J and P to their knees!

Posted by: AkekoaHoAlethia

Ake,

I agree with you 100% here.
Thanks for posting this

[smurf]

Is Van der Straten Joran's godfather?

[DennisAOK]

Something like 90% of Americans consider themselves to be "working class" (they have to work for a living) but also consider themselves to be "middle class" (few people consider themselves "rich" or "poor", probably because there are always those better off and those worse off.) I lived in Britain for a year, where everyone is mindful of a working class/middle class dichotomy. I prefer a society that does not see itself in class terms. In any event, this Aruba disaster is an expensive undertaking that would drain the resources of all but the most well off families, which the Twittys and Holloways are not. Accordingly, I helped them out with a contribution, and will likely do so again.

[Kap]

gemebwai - Give me a break. This Van der Stratten guy is so corrupt he can't hide it. Did you see the interview with Greta a couple of weeks ago? This guy is best friends with Paulus and he was quoted as saying when all of this starting unfolding, "How can I do this to my best friend's son?"

The reason he's "acting" so involved now is because the glare of the world appeared on Aruba after his incrediously let the last 3 known people seen with Natalee go for 10 days, buying some crocked up story about two security guards. There is the reason this case hasn't been solved yet, because during those 10 days, crucial crucial forensic evidence was cleaned up...Hello, can you hear me now?

There will be an investigation into the Aruban police force and those who ran it after this case is either solved and especially if isn't solved. The Holloway-Twitty's have information that they can not speak about AT THIS TIME that will show this, I believe.

The guy is dirty as it gets.

[AVA]

did anyone see on greta last night they said there was BLOOD on the tape also besides hair ??

Posted by: mrp | July 20, 2005 08:49 AM

NO...This is EXACTLY how rumours start!! I watched this show and no one said anything about blood. Another thing is that I am getting really tired of these shows bringing on MB teens that WERE NOT around when Natalee left C & C, nor socialized with Natalee that night. Also, Ms Bryd (sp) changed what she said last night from the first time I saw her on TV several weeks ago. Where are the MB grads that WERE with Natalee that last night of vaction in C & C?

AVA

[Sarah]

Mountain brook teens changing stories and Joran and Kalpoes brought into hospital for saliva testing. Beth seemed very sure that the Kalpoes were still under surveillance.

I don't get it, a month of quiet from the MB teens, now Frances Ellen Byrd changing stories from original interview? Seems Joran is not the only one changing stories. Did they meet Joran the night she went missing, or days before, seems like a detail that should not be hard to nail down Frances, so whats the deal?
Posted by: Big Pappy | July 20, 2005 08:46 AM

I will be very interested in hearing what her new story is. I thought from the beginning these girls were not telling the truth. It was like they had their stories memorized. I am sure she was scared they would all get in trouble if they told the truth but my gosh, this is not a game.. this is real life Frances, Grow up!

[\\\\CroSSBronXXPress////]

Could someone supply that timeline link??

-Thanks!!

[maria]

Van de straten has a very good reputation on Aruba as been a honest policemen. His reputation is so good he even got an offer to work in bonaire as police comisionar

[stacy]

ava- they were with her that night just left before her and mrp wasnt trying to start a rumor was just asking ...mellow out.

[Bibby]

The Mountain Brook teens are still hiding a lot. Frances Ellen Byrd changed her story as well from the original one. It looks like she is trying to hide something.

[gemebwai]

IF J vd Straten was corrupt, he wouldn't risk getting/staying into this. Arresting people, search warrants etc. are ordered by the DA, not by the police chief. That he told he couldn't do something to his best friends son, is because at that point in time he had no reason to believe JVDS was guilty of any crime. More likely is that if there is corruption, he stays on to avoid that the investigation get corrupted any further. This man does not work alone, do you really think he could control all investigators into a curruption deal and get away with it? Get real!

[harold]

The Mt Brook friends are acting like little goody goodies. What is so wrong with the fact that the Mt Brook students cut loose and had fun, and yes, even drank and maybe even became drunk on the Aruba trip; afterall they were of legal drinking age in Aruba. Just because they had fun and drank on their trip, does not make them bad or addicts. I wish they would quit trying to hide the fact that they drank, and probably even got drunk. Getting drunk in Aruba does not tarnish Natalees or the other students reputation, the students need to quit acting like angels, they are teenagers, act like it, quit the fake acts, and that is not to say they are bad, but they are teenagers. I wish whomever told the students to basically say nothing during the interviews would remove the restriction, because at this point of this whole mess, I would let them say whatever they new, no matter whether it might tarnish the students image or not. It needs to be understood that people would feel the same pain and sorrow over this case, even if it was told that Natalee was drunk, it would not matter, because being drunk does not justify whatever has happened to Natalee. Just quit playing the prim and proper game and be honest, it is to late in this whole deal to protect peoples reputations, tell the truth, no matter what.

[Brainybabe]

Read on SM--Natalee's aunt says to keep pressuring Dutch government to intervene.

[rogue730]

Harold,

I completely agree with you.

[Kap]

There is a cover-up. The police chief made sure he gave Joran 10 days to clean up his mess. You can't convince me otherwise. The whole world knows there's something fishy about the fact he let those three go without first checking the alibi of the two security guards they arrested....