Joran Van der Sloot Emails

As first posted here, I believe that suspect Joran Van der Sloot did email me just hours prior to his arrest. The subject was his request that I take down a picture of him I had on my web log. I've never posted those emails before.

While I did trace the IP address to Aruba - obviously I cannot state with absolute certainly that they were from Joran, as opposed to a family, friend, or simply a loyalist. Clearly they were from someone interested in protecting him from, as it states in one of the emails: "having his face all over CNN."

In any event, the emails and my return emails are in sequence below and each was saved in full file format. I responded to his first email twice, there is nothing imissing from the chain. Are they real? Perhaps. I thought so at the time and still do. But I imagine now, only the FBI knows for sure.

From: "er dsf" <jjjjjjjjjj362@hotmail.com>
To: "Its Just Dan" deleted

Subject: request to delete picture (Joran v.d Sloot)
Date: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 11:29 PM

I kindly request that you please remove my picture from your website, please
respect my privacy..

                                         joran

__________________________

From: "Its Just Dan" deleted
To: "er dsf" <jjjjjjjjjj362@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: request to delete picture (Joran v.d Sloot)
Date: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 11:35 PM

Is it all all possible for you to communicate with me?

I would honor your request if I knew this was you. I am only trying to get
to the bottom of a difficult mystery and if you are a decent person with no
culpability, you would be deserving of my honoring your request.

Dan

_______________________

From: "Its Just Dan" deleted
To: "er dsf" <jjjjjjjjjj362@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: request to delete picture (Joran v.d Sloot)
Date: Thursday, June 09, 2005 12:01 AM

I've taken the image down as an example of my good faith. I would like to
hear from you, though - to the extent that you can communicate without
jeopardizing any potential legal issues. I do not have any conclusions about
you and am not a self-righteous or judgemental individual. I was young once,
too.
And this could be a terrible tragedy for you, as well.

However, at this point, I don't even know if it you that made the request.
Certainly you realize the nature of Internet communication.

Regards,

Dan

______________________________

From: "er dsf" <jjjjjjjjjj362@hotmail.com>
To: "Its Just Dan" deleted
Subject: Re: request to delete picture (Joran v.d Sloot)
Date: Thursday, June 09, 2005 2:24 AM

yes it is me.. and i just made up this email account to communicate with
you..

thank you very much for removing my picture i apreaciate it greatly and so
do my family and friends... I wish i could talk to you and other press but i
do not think it would be in my best intrests because i dont want a media
frenzy surrounding my house which has allready happend. I deleted my tickle
account to i did not know i could be that vunurable because of a website
like that and your website was the only one posting a picture of me.. you have
to understand that im only 17 and I also have a life in front of me and I am
also looking forward to studying in the states.

I do hope to god that they find natalee alive, but i have to worry about myself to. I hope you understand and if you have any questions you can ask however i cant promise that i will answer them or all of them I would have to ask my dad if its okay first.

But thank you for removing my picture it means a lot because before you
know it my face is all over cnn and that is somthing i dont want. thanks
again

_________________________

From: "Its Just Dan" deleted
To: "er dsf" <jjjjjjjjjj362@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: request to delete picture (Joran v.d Sloot)
Date: Thursday, June 09, 2005 3:08 AM

You're welcome, Joran,

You would like the states. From looking at your website I had a slight sense
of you, I believe. You look like a happy sort, at least, perhaps before all
this. The US really is a good place, a fun place. We've been a fortunate
nation for many reasons and our economic good fortune has allowed us to
enjoy a lot of freedom while affording many the ability to partake in a
reasonably good lifestyle.

I am educated and a business professional. While not a lawyer, I realize
there is much you should not say to anyone. I would like to ask you some
questions, will try to make them not threatening for you, or ask questions
which could come back to plague you in the future. How you respond is up to
you. How detailed your answer, if any come, is up to you, of course.

I am an honorable man and if there is anything I share openly resulting from
this, I will not name you, provide anyone your email address, or share a raw
copy of anything. I have written for publication in newspapers and graduated
with a minor in journalism and also edited my college newspaper. Of course,
you cannot trust that, I know. But I do give you my word and will live up to
it as I always do. My interest is only in truth, not the persecution of
anyone, especially anyone innocent. I have no reason to believe you did
anything and stated you seemed like a nice person and solid student based
upon my research. This can be confirmed by re-reading my post on the issue.

Do you believe the authorities have the right individuals in custody and how
certain are you?

Do you think this all came about from an accident which got out of hand and
is being covered up by some involved, or was this all intentional on the
part of some?

Do you really believe Natalee might be found alive?

Do you feel you will be required to testify some day as a result of what you
do know?

Is this all a result of an organized endeavor that may cross international
borders, or independent local actors perpetuating a crime, or making a
mistake?

Was Natalee in control of herself when you saw her last, or perhaps she had
too much to drink?

That is probably more than enough for now. I look forward to hearing from
you should you decide to answer. If you are a minor, by all means, speak
with your Father on this.

Lastly, assuming I can come to know the truth in this and that truth is that
you are an innocent - which I think quite possible - I would do everything
to say so, including efforts to see that that story gets told in the
apporpiate way and at the appropriate time. If I wish to post anything
resulting from our communication, while not naming you, I will allow you and
your Father and your attorney, if need be, to review it first. On that I
again give you my word.

If you are 17 you are a young man for this experience. Life is long and
growing up is not always easy. You may be being tested in a manner most will
never know because of one unfortunate night, where you were, who you partied
with, etc. If innocent, stay your course, seek good council, legal and
otherwise, and if you err, do it on the side of caution. Lastly, stay close
to your family, they are your most important resource. Always trust them
above your friends, though that might be hard for one so young.

I look forward to hearing from you if you opt to respond.

Be well,

Dan

___________________

I never did get a response to that last email and I have no problem in posting them now. As they don't reveal anything harmful to his possible prosecution, it's an ethical decision with which I'm comfortable.

Approximately four hours after the time stamp on the last email received as per the above chain, The Dutch suspect, Joran Andreas Petrus Van Der Sloot, a student at Aruba International School, came out of his home in the upper-class neighbourhood of Oranjestad on Thursday with his head covered in a blue-and-green towel.

If nothing else, clearly we know he was concerned as regards having his face all over CNN.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Comments

[MoonShadow]

I remeber when you first posted about the possibility of Joran sending an e-mail requesting his pic taken down. Reading the actual text is....I dunno...

This whole thing is just so sad...

[annie]

I guess we know why he never replied back. Unfortunately bad timing. You might have actually gotten a tidbit that was worth something had he been able to reply. Wow, Dan you are pretty amazing. I am very impressed!

[AkekoaHoAlethia]

That was good Dan, especially the last line that tied in the request to hide his face from all!

LOL!!!!!!!!!

What great irony!

We couldn't make this up as you once said.

And the Aruban investigative dept., if not ALL of Aruba, interestingly tried the same sort of "cover up" in the sense that they did not want ARUBA all over CNN in any kind of negative context either!

So now both J and Aruba are all over the WORLD WIDE WEB of EVERYTHING! "before you know it!"
WOW....

Something else that struck me about the beginning is that J said, "i just made up this email account to communicate with you.."

Imagine the stature you had in his eyes!!!
Your own special email account.

And what's with the "er dsf"? It appears as though he just typed some letters that were next to each other on the keyboard! He is trying to be secretive and clever and has a need and a plan for hiding even at this point. Imagine what accounts he made up to write to Kalpoes et. al. This guy is thinking ahead, although he's just a little behind on parts!

[oneyka]

Dan, I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS JERK SENT THAT E-MAIL. DOES HE HAVE ALSO A COMPUTER IN JAIL? AND I CERTAINLY, AS AN AMERICAN, WOULD NOT WELCOME HIM TO THE STATES, NO WAY! UNBELIAVABLE!

[Sunny]

Thanks for posting the emails, Dan. So early in the case your Blog was quite well-known! Kudos to you and the great job you are doing, and so very appreciated, too.

[Yolande]

"I am an honorable man and if there is anything I share openly resulting from
this, I will not name you, provide anyone your email address, or share a raw
copy of anything."

I can see why you never had an answer from that last email. Joran was arrested and couldnt answer.

But do I see a name and emailaddress there in this post?

[hardyandtiny]

Well if he wanted her found alive then he shouldn't have lied about the damn Holiday Inn!

[Dan]

"But do I see a name and emailaddress there in this post?"

That was addressed - to my satisfaction. Good grief. an email addy created just for that communication and worthless - and a name all over every news channel. Do some of you have anything to do other than look for fault, or the worst in everything? That strikes me as a pitiful way top live. But, your choice, I suppose. Good luck.

[josh]

A lot of people have created e-mail accounts for "temporary" purposes. We can't necessarily imply anything from that. But kudos to Dan for being able to elicit that response from Joran! I get the impression from Joran's words that he expected, at that early point, to remain facially anonymous. That is why he had the towel over his face when he left his house while being arrested.

[newsjunkie]

"er dsf" -translates "it dsf" ...who knows??

[newsjunkie]

I think this is him, because if it wasn't really him, then it probably would of been more far fetched in what was typed, and also they probably would of responded to last email, just to stir things up...

[Kay]

Dan,

That was some wonderful advice you gave Joran and maybe he will think of that and remember it in the future. I do hope he got to read the last one before they arrested him because it could have given him some good sound advise that he may have needed to think about. As a parent of two teenagers, well actually one is fixing to be 21 but, I still think of her as a teen, I guess it really impressed me how you tried to explain that the road is long in life and that we have all made mistakes and to realize that but be truthful and that if he is innocent to state just that. I don't personnal believe there is much chance that he doesn't know something and we all know he has lied over and over but who really knows? Only Joran in the end knows the real truth!!!

[*SouthernBELLE*]

Thank you Dan.... because honestly, it broke my heart.

[FloridaPatty]

Thanks for the stream of good information Dan. Informative and at times disturbing whether we like it or not. 17 years old and 18. Two lives that have had a ripple effect on their own families and even their own countries.

Do I understand that Joran had a full ride to Central? University of Central Florida?

[cannotquitreadingthis]

Well, it does seem like it is him.... But for one who said he didn't want his face all over CNN, he sure loves to smile big for the camera when it focuses on him and appears to enjoy it.... That part I don't get....

[veme]

I find it very improbable that those e-mail communications were written by a 17 year old. Sounds more like a mature & well educated adult with a very personal interest in Joran.

[kaupuole]

Dan,

I wish you had not posted these emails or other pictures of him, only because you told him you would not. I would think that you are a man of your word. He has not been found guilt yet, and for all we know, someone else may have actually committed the crime of ending Natalee's life (theory that he left her at a party, etc.), and that is why you should have respected his privacy. I suppose that only time will tell. Your communication with him was respectful from both sides until this post and the posting of other photos. I believe in our American value of being innocent until proven guilty, even if he is in another juresdiction. You say you are comfortable with the ethical decision to post this info, but are you really? I am dissapointed in you, Dan.

But that said, I still love your blog, Dan! :)

[kaupuole]

Veme, I agree with you. It does sound like a mature adult with Joran's best interest in mind.

[annab]

We need to remember that Joran is innocent until proven guilty. He may have done something to hurt/kill Natalee or he may have been set up (of you believe Shango which I'm not sure I do). I'm trying to be open and just hope and pray they get to the honest bottom of this.

[musicgirlms]

"We need to remember that Joran is innocent until proven guilty."

Well, we all know he is guilty of something - telling multiple lies to the police and not showing much compassion for Natalee's family. If he had nothing to hide and were a reasonable and compassionate person, he would have told what he knew of that night and helped in the search.

If this email is from Joran, which I personally doubt, it looks like he has more interest in HIMSELF and his FUTURE. Now, that is typical of a psychopath after they have committed a crime, so maybe the emails are from Joran after all.

[Terri]

I believe this is from Joran. When I emailed Valentijn Van der Sloot he was very nice, but he said he was being very leery and careful on his tickle site. I'm one of his friends on there. I asked him why he didn't have a pic on his profile and he said he had a whole bunch of pics of him and his friends but took them down because he didn't want them all over the news, etc. He said he (I'm paraphrasing) had had a lot of sick people emailing him, etc. I told him I only wished the best for him and his family.

I think now since Joran's pic has been plastered all over the news, magazines, newspapers and the internet that it is the right time for Dan to show those emails. KUDOS DAN!

Thanks Dan for your "real", honest reporting.

Take care all,
Terri

[Brian]

I'm stuck on the word "frenzy". I don't know too many teens that use the word "frenzy" especially in email communication. Also, they don't normally space that well. I see my teenager on IM and email and it's not nearly this well written. Perhaps it's an adult friend of Joran's. He apparently has quite a few....

[newsjunkiegirl]

it could've been writen by Joran's daddy!!!

[Sam]

Great reporting Dan. Thanks for keeping us in the loop. And yes all innocent until proven guilty.
Sam

[JL]

i doubt this is him for several reasons...

1...just doesn't seem like it was written by a 17 year old due to some of the phrasing.

2. "I hope you understand and if you have any questions you can ask however i cant promise that i will answer them or all of them I would have to ask my dad if its okay first."

at this stage...his father has advised him of what to do or not to do and there is no way he is getting on the internet

could this be from someone important to the case...absolutely

[chance]

Some interesting info regarding Steve Croes from a post I found on another board. The post is from June 26. I had never heard about the arguing on the beach before. Of course, I'm not sure it is true. didn't Croes say that he did not know any of the boys?

------------------------------------------------
Alec, as you can see now, I was telling truth about contact in Aruba. My contact had contacted Croes grandma (who he lives with), and I knew the story that Croes had told his grandma. If you are following the news, this story is same reason he is going free tomorrow....

Here's the story he told his grandma: He was on boat cleaning it, he heard arguing on beach, he then decided to go and check it out. He went out and check and recgonized Deepak and then decided it was nothing, so he went back in boat. He told that the 4 people arguing were the brothers, Joran, and a girl. He went to cops with this info, next day, cops arrest him.

Back on the day I posted this, this was the story I knew cuz it was from his grandma. Today upon his release, we learn that he made up a story to back up his friend story and went to cops with it, then cops find out it not a truthful acct since the perps had changed their story.

But as you see now Alec, I do have sources in Aruba, and that they very much connected to key players in this story

http://www.majorwager.com/fusetalk/messageview.cfm?catid=22&threadid=133972&FTVAR_MSGDBTABLE=&STARTPAGE=4

[andy]

And the man with his throat slashed was a warning to the others, if factual I would not talk either. The island must be run by corrupt polis department. I see the Polis Chief is heading out to due to a heart condition, good excuse to escape alive.

[cocomo]

If not Joran...Someone in his camp wanted the pic removed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sleuth]

I don't buy it. Those emails supposedly from Joran are bogus. Way too wordly for a 17 year old guy, and the phraseology is just not right, for a person who speaks so many languages. Nope, not from Joran. The tone does not sound like a kid to me. I work in a school and am around kids that age all the time, and have two of my own, sorry, no kid wrote that.

[AVA]

'Innocent until proven guilty.'

Yes...I agree. This is the law we in American have been taught to believe in. Although many have been quick to give a guilty verdict without any facts.

Thank you Dan for showing us that there is another human on the other side of this tragedy too.

AVA

[bey]

Hi Dan,
Thanks for sharing the letters. I can understand why Joran or someone close to him would write to you about deleting his picture. From what I been seeing online and reading, it appears Joran and the Kalpoes are computer junkies like the rest of us. I have no reason to believe those were not actually from Joran or a family member or friend. Very understandable considering the mess he was in at the time. Very nice of you to communicate with him with concern and care.
Thanks for sharing those with all of us, I'm sure it was somthing you didn't feel comfortable about sharing at the time. I'm glad he felt he could trust you.
*beethoven*

[DennisAOK]

AVA,

"Innocent until proven guilty" refers to the legal burden a prosecutor faces. We seldom have 100% proof in any crime. Sometimes the truly guilty escape conviction (are they then "proven" innocent?) , and sometimes, but rarely, an innocent person is convicted, or "proven" guilty. It is a matter of probabilities, based on the evidence. Here, we do have facts. A girl rides off with three local boys and is never seen again. They give conflicting and changing stories about what happened. At least one version, that Joran left Natalee on the beach alone and walked home, is not convincing. All this suggests a strong probability of guilt of serious crime. 100% proof? No. But a high probability.

[bey]

Well I don't know about the rest of you but it breaks my heart that a young boy's life will just be thrown away. Of course I care about Natalee but I also can't help but to love all involved. It's a very sad situation for all families, parties, and parents involved. Is simply a tragedy. May God be with each and everyone of them. Is a good example how one mistake or stupid judgement can effect ones life and others permanently. A sad day for all involved.

[michele in bham]

To anyone who doubts Dan about those emails, they are real and not just something he made up at this late date.

He told me about Joran writing him the ***night it happened.*** (In an email exchange.)

I had sent him some photos I found of Joran (although I don't recall if that one was the one he used) and he had posted photos of Joran.

So to all of you naysayers out there, Dan is telling the truth.

[DennisAOK]

Tide,

No obstruction of justice charges in Dutch system but there is perjury. When Gteta asked why these are not being pursued, e.g., against Steve Croes as a starter, the prosecutor's office said that may happen later.

Anna,

Yes! "Innocent until proven guilty" refers to the legal burden of proof. We seldom have 100% certainty in any crime. Sometimes the truly guilty escape conviction (are they then "proven" innocent?) , and sometimes, but rarely, an innocent person is convicted, or "proven" guilty. It is a matter of probabilities, based on the evidence. Here, thus far we have only a few facts. A girl rides off with three local boys and is never seen again. They give conflicting and changing stories about what happened. At least one version, that Joran left Natalee on the beach alone and walked home, is not credible. All this suggests a strong probability of guilt of serious crime. 100% proof? No. But a high probability.

Others,

That Joran walked home is questionable. Cell phone records show him returning to his house at 4am, and no cameras along the route show him walking.

[tennessean]

Sleuth -- I have a 17-year-old who writes that well and could have easily written (and has) an email that polite and respectful to an adult. I think it is Joran, and he was working hard to cover his tracks on the internet at that time.

I find the Steve Croes story above extremely interesting! This is the first thing I've heard that makes his weird story make any kind of sense. What if this is what really went down:

Croes is working on the Tattoo anchored just off the Holiday Inn/Marriott Beach, and he does hear raised voices. He really does step on deck, recognize Deepak, see the others, and then return to work. After he hears about Natalee's disappearance, he sees an opportunity to make some money from a couple of the island's wealthier kids and approaches Deepak and/or Joran with an offer to back up their story about dropping Natalee off in front of the Holiday Inn -- for a price, of course. They accept the offer, then change their stories hoping that Croes will take the fall instead of them...

This is the most likely explanation for Steve Croes weird behavior, don't you think? For me, that little snippet Chance posted above has just cast a new light on some of the things that happened in this case.

[frustrated]

There is a good possibilty these were from Joran. I keep being drawn to the phrase about "asking his dad." For me, this seems to be the most genuine part of the email. *If* PVDS had written the emails, I don't think he would "implicate" himself as a participant. I'm sure he had hoped to distance himself as much as possible from all of this in the beginning. (Although *if* the emails are not written by Joran himself, this could be something a dad's pride may have prompted him to say.) I don't think a friend of Jorans would make their friend seem like a boy who consulted "daddy" all the time even if this is the case. It seems a bit "pussy-ish." :) Just my opinion. Guys, you tell me if you would make your friend seem like a daddy's boy in the middle of all this? I could see my sons doing it, but they are ornrier than most. LOL

I'm also surprised many have said the emails seem to have been written by someone older. I have raised 4 kids, work in a school and thought they sounded immature. I at first thought someone was trying to sound like a kid. *shrugs* Joran is a high school student and headed for college. His father is an educated man. I can't remember much from PVDS's interview except the sweat :) but if dad has good vocabulary, most likey the son would too. Especially if they have a very close relationship. And it appears they do.

[bey]

lol@pussy-ish
Alot of that kind of writing comes with having classes in colledge. Just comes natural to write "wordy" if you've had to write descriptive essays in high school or colledge. I think Joran was a good student in college? He's most likely learnt different types of writing in high school to prepare him for colledge.
I don't see anything in the letters to think otherwise that it's not really him writing those emails.

[bey]

I think Joran was a good student in college? He's most likely learnt different types of writing in high school to prepare him for colledge.
I don't see anything in the letters to think otherwise that it's not really him writing those emails.

Posted by: bey | July 24, 2005 03:14 PM

--------------------
I meant he was a good student in high school not college.

[Schalk van der Westhuizen]

no,I agree with brian "media frenzy" for a 17 year old non english speaker is a bit to cute also he gets some big words spelled right like

*account to communicate
*before you know it my face is

and fails on

*apreaciate
*vunurable
*allready

it starts out in good, too good english, then the author reminds himself to break the english in the main paragraph to appear as a non english speaker, and it concludes with even better and clever sentence structure at the end "before you know it...." -- what we have here is a the brain of a turd pulling a fast one, make every effort to spell "account to communicate" (probably 50% of Americans would fail these two), and comletely basterdise appreciate or vulnerable.

Whole thing is a hoax sorry :(

[MrsJimiHendrix]

i believe you dan

why would you lie

maybe someone is jerking your chain but i can't imagine you lying, for what?

thank you very much for your honesty

[Not a Hand Wringer.]

What's the point of posting emails that you can't 100% document as true?

[Anonymous]

Those emails could have been written by a 17-year-old. I'm 18, and I have friends who write like that. Some of my friends are foreign (although none of them are Dutch or Aruban), and the word choice in the alleged Joran emails seems consistent with someone who speaks English as a second or third language. The diction in the emails is also very close to Anita van der Sloot's. I don't think she wrote them, but she and her son may speak the same way.

And didn't Joran's mother tell Greta that he took AP English? I did a lot of writing in my AP English classes, and I tend to be really wordy. However, I also capitalize letters that need to be capitalized, and I use commas effectively, so the lack of proper punctuation bothers me a lot and leads me to believe these emails may have been written by someone younger or less educated. But I have also spoken English since I was nine months old, and if I tried to write an email in another language I doubt it would be very good.

My take on the alleged emails is that they're probably authentic, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[Schalk van der Westhuizen]

weeee...look how the fishettes get so upset,

* they're not typos brawny brunnette, try to replicate it on your keyoard, omit or add a letter next to the one you think or intend to type
* funny I can spell appreciate and English is my 8th language. Pray tell what is wroghng with basterdise??

[Pearl]

Waaaaaaaaw, thanks Dan it broke my heart. I think its Joran.

[Anonymous]

The correct spelling, I believe, is "bastardize." And I am not trying to be critical. If you really speak eight languages, that's quite an accomplishment.

As for the "too good" English in the first email: a lot of people learn "the Queen's English" in school. Or maybe he was trying to show off. Maybe he didn't have time to run email #2 through a spell check.

[Schalk van der Westhuizen]

no zeds in basterdise according to the queen. 7 of the languagues, none of you would understand :) beeeying from africa.

You don't start your communique (or communikay) in perfect English, lapse into broken English (with constructed odd spellings) and end in perfect English and clever sayings. It requires calculation to be an idiot when you are not.

Let's do this, get the IP of the message, we'll cross reference it with the service providers in Aruba, think there are 2. Check with the internet cafe that the Kalpoe brothers work for or at, email the owner and ask her where her pipes come from. Then try to determine Joran's cell and or family ISP, then and only then will you have your answer. Little leg work please.

[JVDS]

Oh yes these are my emails. What difference does it make 1 way or another ? Some of you people need to get a life. OBSESSION, you are addicted to this situation, what does that make you ?

JVDS

[gemebwai]

Dan, since you traced the IP address, if it translates back to any name at seratnet with the word adsl in it, it's surely from a home account and not from a cybercafe.
Something about the story that SC was cleaning the boat, this must be BS. This guy works as a DJ on the Tatoo and was off on sunday, why would he be cleaning the boat while the company running it has other people employed to do just that, and it's always done immediately after a a trip (for obvious reasons).

[Sarah #1]

Sorry Dan I just don't believe this was from Joran.. Why did he say, I hope they find her alive, then he turned around and confessed. Of course his emails stopped after he was arrested. The fake Joran had to make it look like it was really him.