Natalee Holloway Update

The lack of information available as regards the Natalee Holloway disappearance continues to trouble many Americans. Numerous rumors and viewpoints abound and often conflict in the vacuum imposed by a less than transparent judicial system some suggest is more in line with an old world monarchist-based philosophy.

An increasingly more Democratic world, most particularly the United States, unaccustomed and uncomfortable with almost any cloak of of secrecy in public affairs watches and hopes that some secretive form of justice might emerge from behind the curtain of a still on going investigation. Yet, as each day passes, both casual and legal observers continue to grow more doubtful.

Some of the first Internet-based reports of the disappearance emerged here on an Aruban-based message board through postings attributed but unconfirmed as originating from Mountain Brook, Alabama.

My best friend is at a prayer service for her right now. She hasn't heard anything yet. Thanks for everyone's concern. We have all made stupid decisions, maybe not so drastic, but she is supposedly a great girl who doesn't drink much. She just had too much to drink, and that, mixed with her age is not a good combination.

The investigation has focused on Joran Van der Sloot, son of a failed judge to be as a result of reports that the boy was the last one seen with Natalee Holloway. But even that report can be called into question - perhaps first by the unconfirmed Internet-based report below.

My husband and I were in Aruba last week and spent time with the girls on The DePalm tours snorkel/booze cruise. We saw Natalie later that night at Carlos and Charlies and we commented that she was up to partyubg(sic) that night because of the exhaustive day we had on the boat. When we saw her leave she left by herself. No one was with her but we did notice some local guys talking to her while she was in there. I do not know if this will help but my heart goes out to the family and I can not believe this has happened.I live 4000 miles away outside of Detroit, Michigan and I feel like it happened to somone(sic) I know having spent tome(sic) with them on the boat. I even have pictures of them.I will pray for her and her family. Sincerly(sic) John and Michele Gumm

I've since spoken with multiple reliable sources with direct knowledge of events of the night Natalee Holloway disappeared. One Internet-based, un-related and as yet unconfirmed report did begin to paint a troubling picture of events at Carlos and Charlies that night as far back as June 8. It's a picture many Americans and American parents may find troubling.

"Thursday we rented Harley's from Larry at Big twin HD. We did a 5 hour tour of the island went to Charlies and what a cool place that is. The gang of high school seniors from Alabama arrive YIKES the quiet has ceased!!! I dont want to go into the going ons with these kids because we all know what has happened and I really dont think its appropriate to ruin my trip report with details but there are A LOT of details to be told".

Internet-based reports like the above are being provided for context, but are not being relied upon in any manner to confirm this report. The information I am posting has resulted from actual conversations with real people with confirmed identities from Aruba to Alabama who are directly aware of events of that evening. However, even that will likely leave an air of mystery.

I've learned that one of the FBI's concerns early on in this investigation went to how many of the graduates in attendance on the trip remembered things clearly as a result of the heavy partying that went on during portions of the trip, particularly it's concluding and now seemingly tragic final night.

As one Mountain Brook Mother told me, "I feel that it is time for the parents, students, and members of the Mountain Brook community to step back and look at this scenario realistically. We need to stop playing the blame game - we are pointing fingers at everyone; the Arubans, the Dutch, the media, etc. We are a community in denial ... The bottom line is that our kids got caught up in the culture at Carlos and Charlies and were behaving wildly that night - dancing provocatively, doing body shots - I shudder to think what we might have seen had we been flies on the wall that night ... The dangerous part of the whole deal was that they were out of their element - they are young and inexperienced and were with people from all over the world ... the world is full of kooks and our kids were not behaving like ladies or gentlemen."

None of the individuals I spoke with for this report expressed anything but sincere compassion and understanding for the family of Natalee Holloway. As reported here, the trip was seen almost as a Rite of passage for the group of teens from Mountain Brook. Also, graduating seniors from across America regularly undertake such trips without tragic result.

Additionally, also as reported here, no parent I spoke with suggested any wrong doing on the part of chaperone's, some pointing out that along with a common knowledge of what the trip might entail, waivers were signed and chaperone's appear to have honored their obligations under that understanding.

One witness did have knowledge that, along with many of the graduates from Mountain Brook, Natalee Holloway, from all accounts a decent and self-respecting young woman was an active participant in the partying, as per the above.

No one should interpret the above as a statement of opinion by me that Natalee Holloway or Beth Twitty are in anyway to blame in what is likely a terrible tragedy. In my opinion they represent only two of many individual Americans who could have fallen victim to events of a celebratory night in a foreign and now possibly fatal foreign land.

This report is the first in a three and possibly four part series, depending on weekend developments covering events in and around the disappearance of Natalee Holloway to be completed this weekend. That's not a ploy to make this web log attract viewers. Given my wrok schedule, were I to complete the entire report tonight, it would not get the treatment it deserves.

I'll get them up as quickly as I can - perhaps even completed by tomorrow.

Comments

[Observer]

Well offcourse they were partying...Im sure no one thinks natalee was reading a book and sitting in the corner by herself..Witnesses stated joran twice approached her and hit on her.(As per fox tv)Sounds like a normal evening at the club...

[Kay]

Dan no one should hate you for any of this as a parent of a teenager this isn't anything anyone should be shocked by. It's just probably the facts of the night. And as you said it's just a terrible event that could have happened and didn't many other times on these trips for Senior kids. That's another reason we as parents should be real careful about sending our kids abroad to a country that has different rules and laws. Not, that it couldn't happen in the United States also but at least we know what the rules and laws are like here. I neither blaime anyone or hate anyone for this information but, hope it opens some eyes about these types of trips. Hey, we have all been young and done foolish things from time to time.

My prayers and best wishes are with the Natalee Holloway / Twitty family and I hope they get the answers they deserve. Cause they do at least deserve the answers in this case.

[Linda]

Dan,
All you can do is post what you learn - that is your mission- you are right - you can't make the news. Wish you could cause Beth would have Natalee back in that case.

[Anna]

Interesting. Think it has been established that the MB kids were being rowdy at C&C and don't know anybody who is in denial about that fact. Odd about the couple who saw her leaving alone. Can't wait to see where this is going. Hope something new for all is at stalemate. This entire case has changed the dynamic of these young tourist abroad for they have been encouraged to behave badly for years and now that has become deadly. It is just such a tragedy that whatever happened had to so final to this young woman. Knowing what we do now, of course things would have been done differently. The world is a rapidly changing place and not for the better. Sad times.

[Terri]

Thank you, Dan, for your honest, forthright and clear reporting. I am not shocked by this info that Natalee and the other MBHS teens were "partying hard". They are typical teenagers who were celebrating a milestone in their life in a foreign "paradise". I respect and admire your courage and tenacity. Please keep the "real" view coming.

Take care,
Terri

[SouthernBELLE]

Dan, thanks for at least showing the other side of the coin. This for me portrays the more normal high school trip than anything I have heard before. As for the MB kids, as I said in the forum it seems the saying holds true
What happens in Aruba, stays in Aruba.

[Concerned]

How are we to learn if we do not know the TRUTH? Our kids are kids. We were kids. Why the surprise? I accompanied my daughter to Cancun on her "right of passage" trip to celebrate HS graduation. I was privy to the behaviors. We teach our kids; we do our best. No one is perfect. But by the grace of God we go... always trying to improve.
Thanks, Dan. When all is said and done, you have provided a valuable vehicle for brainstorming, sharing ideas, expressing sentiments, and learning about other points of view. It has remarkable implications for the future.

[Dan]

Well, thanks ... I am really not trying to string this out. I feel guilty as I always over commit on timeframes. I just wanted to go to sleep after work tonight. LOL

I will address the calls to the limited extent I can, some new light if not enough - my report will contradict the Joran was rebuffed statements and address more fully Natalee's leaving C and C alone, what happened next that I haven't seen reported.

If anything else pops up this weekend I'll post that as well. Thanks to all for your patience. - Dan

[!]

As always Dan , thanks for all you do...!!

I think I can speak for most all. We appreciate you keeping us up on the facts as you find them out..

THANKS AGAIN...

and....Thanks for think about me! :O)

[Concerned]

I found this on tripadvisor:
Posted on: 1:13 pm, Jun 01, 2005
Brownknee guided me here after replying to my posts on visitaruba.com. My daughter was on the trip with Natalee and was one of the last to see her before she disappeared.
I am FLABBERGASTED that anyone on this board would suggest that the original poster was lying about the story!!! Or suggest that it is an urban legend! We are out of our minds with grief over this monstrous event -- trying to get information, and to warn others -- and some posters would rather believe we're making it up?!
The news was slow in getting to the media here in Birmingham. I think perhaps the family did not want the details shared until we know something for sure.
But I am curious about the lack of media coverage in Aruba. I wonder if they are suppressing it so as not to hurt tourism. I have searched for online info sources and everything to do with Aruba is so sugar-coated... And I believed every word of it until Natalee disappeared.
I did wonder if the Aruba media might have suppressed information in an effort to help Natalee. There is a chance she is still alive as a captive. With a suspect already in custody, I worry that if his cohorts learn exactly what the police suspect, that they might kill her. I do hope that the media's actions are noble and not a commercially motivated effort to preserve the island's image.
I did read of the rescue of the abducted sisters. That happened May 21. It was posted on a military web site, not on a Aruba news source. True, they were not tourists so the original circumstances are not the same. However, this makes three young women abducted in the same month! It is thought Natalee may have been smuggled into to Venezuela by a trafficking ring -- for the same reason that the sisters were abducted.
Now I ask you... With confirmation from several sources that young women are preyed on in Aruba, and that there ARE organized trafficking rings in place, shouldn't tourists be warned?!
Yes, Aruba is safer than many places, and most people who go there have nothing but the best experiences. But it would be a whole lot safer if tourists were told the truth about very real dangers. The problem is that these kids (and we parents) were given a false impression as to the degree of safety that could be enjoyed there. Had they been apprised of situations to look out for, precautions to be taken, this tragedy could have been avoided.
I am utterly amazed that not only is information suppressed (as in the story of Natalee's abduction) but actually REFUTED on these boards.
If you doubt the veracity of this report, check out the news links already provided here.
The continued suggestion that "this couldn't/didn't happen here" only makes it easier for it to happen again.
arbeej

[Linda]

Concerned,
wow - what is with the May 21st story on the sisters? Wonder what military site this was posted on?

[JustMe]

OK, folks, I am tired of this "don't blame me I did nothing wrong mindset."

Let me state firmly that Natalee did not go to Aruba expecting to meet with misfortune. No amount of stupidity on her part or her parents' can ameliorate the guilt of those who mistreated her.

But please, people, no responsible parent would send an 18 year-old girl, or boy, to a foreign country to drink, gamble and do anything else that they cannot legally do in the United States.

I had a conversation about this tonight with my 16 year-old daughter. I told her that if she disappeared under such circumstances that I believe I would literally go mad. Guess what? It ain't going to happen, because my children are not going to be so indulged.

My heart breaks for the Holloway/Twitty families. But I am damn tired of people trying to portray them as paragons of parental responsibility. That, they demonstrably, are not.

[Concerned]

Judge lest you be judged-- Humility is a lesson in life. No matter how tight or loose the reigns are, bad things happen to good people. If everyone did things the way we believe is the right and proper way, will those people be as perfectly happy as we are???

[Gale]

As always thanks Dan. You do a damn good job reporting the facts. I look forward to the rest of your post.

[Concerned]

Linda~
I got the info. from Dan's post above that links to trpadvisor from 5/31 and blogs on from there.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147247-i144-k158081-o120-Aruba.html
I hope it helps.

[weet weet]

justme, sending your child on a trip out of the country is not irresponsible. school kids go to europe all the time, language classes go to spain, mexico, etc. all of the time, its part of helping your children round themselves out, educate themselves about other places, and its a great opportunity if you can manage it. doesn't mean that drugs, drinking, etc, doesn't happen there. it does. it also happens when your kids go away to college for the first time (if it hasn't already happened yet.) would you not allow your child to become educated at school?

furthermore, natalee was an adult. technically she didn't need parents' permission to go on the trip. they probably funded her, but regardless, she could have done as she pleased.

[MrsJimiHendrix]

DAN

thanks for the hints

i know you are doing the best you can to tell us what you can

god bless you for all the work you do

[elan]

does any parent really think that students go on these trips to the islands to do anything other than party? if they want to do some soul searching, fine. they might want to have their children live at home and attend a local college too. someone needs to let them know that it's a four year beer fest. how naive can these parents be? they sound like anita.

[Concerned]

Good night all good and caring bloggers. Thanks Dan. Great job, sir :-)

[Concerned]

P.s. Do not believe any troll that poses as me. FlyingDee said someone used my name with a lower case "c". Do not buy it. "If you don't know me by now..."
Good night.

[k.jeanne]

Thanks, Dan...hope you do get some much needed rest. As always, your updates have a way of bring the forum back to focus. Thanks for all your hard work.

[ExGman]

Thanks Dan for all your efforts. This thing reads like a "Murder She Wrote". One thing we all know now is that she is dead; sad but true. I believe her body to be in the water. Done that night. I dont think they would have chanced it otherwise. I have to believe that if she were on the island that Miller and Co would have found her. God Bless Natalee and her family..........

[JustMe]

Weet Weet:

I apologize for my previous post. Until you corrected me I did not realize that Natalee went to Aruba for the purpose of learnig Papiamento.

As for an education I'd say that the kids on that trip got one that none of them would have ever received at Auburn or Bama.

And please lay off this lame "she was an 18 year-old adult" bullshit. She is a child - a little girl.

If our society had considered her to be an adult then should could have consumed liquor and gambled in the United States.

[sleuth]

Good for you, JustMe! I agree. As long as my children are under my roof, I would never condone a trip for the purpose of partying till they are sh** faced. And I despise the mentality that says, 'they are going to do it anyway' so why not make sure they are safe by letting them party at your house...underagers included.

Once they go off to college, I can and do continue to pray that they will display some of the common sense I tried to instill in them, and maybe I am lucky that I am not able to indulge them with whatever they want. Mine have to hold down jobs to get through college.

Natalee did not deserve to have anything bad to happen to her just because she was indulged by her parents with a trip to party hardy. But if I was her parent, I would be feeling at least partly responsible for the kind of indulgence that allows stupidity to take over the minds of our children.

And I thank God every day that my children are not as bad as I was!

[JustMe]

Sleuth:

Thank you for your comments.

I am very, very far from being a perfect father. But I think I have taught my children a thing or two about responsibility and restraint.

At least I hope like hell I have.

[weet weet]

justme- our society is far from flawless. Drinking age does not an adult make. plenty of 'little girls' are old enough to go to war.

Regardless, i was talking about LAW. she is LEGALLY an ADULT and could LEGALLY go to aruba if she wished without her parents' consent.

are you that naieve that you think that learning and education only happen by being schooled? independence is a source of learning. Being in a different place is a source of learning. Being around different lifestyles and different people is learning. Its similar to the kind of education you get in college. you learn about decision making.

This same exact situation, minus police bungling and perhaps coverups could have happened to her going away to anytown university, USA. it could have happened to me when i was a student, it could have happened to anyone. Sadly, its pretty much a guarantee that your daughter, when she goes to college, will know several girls who were raped at college, who were drugged at college, and most of the people she will know, perhaps including herself, will admit to making bad decisions regarding alcohol, drugs, and personal/sexual safety. sometimes you roll the dice and nothing happens, sometimes you roll the dice and you get a learning experience, and you never think it will happen, but once in a blue moon something happens like we are speculating happened in aruba. its no fault of the victim, its circumstance and that's the truth.

[weet weet]

sleuth and justme:

I'm sure Beth Holloway "thought she had taught her children a thing or two about responsibility and restraint" and "prayed that [natalee would] display some of the common sense I tried to instill in her" on this particular trip. she didn't send her daughter to aruba to party, you're not sending your kids to school to party.

The naievety that you are condemning in the parents is the same naievety that you are showing. i'm not faulting you as a parent for it; i think its inherent in parenting. i'm just pointing out the paradox.

[JustMe]

Yes, Weet Weet, plenty of little girls do go to war which is a sad commentary on our society. And the last time I checked 100% of those little girls who went to war and were taken prisoner by an opposing army were raped.

No, I do not think that education is obtained only in classrooms. I got a lot of education by traveling abroad.

I do not agree that the exact same situation could have happened to her anywhere in the United States. I'd say that the chances of her disappearing without a trace in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, would at the highest be somewhere in the neighborhood of zero percent.

[lee]

what I find amazing are parents acting like they didn't know a thing about Aruba until after this tragedy.......really.....

they are supposed to be rich and educated people living the good life, and they didn't have a clue about Aruba?....

hogwash....

I think they suspected, but thought that there little darlings were above it all, too smart, too cool....too rich to take part in the drugs, the sex, the gambling, the "party life"...

It's not good to criticize but it has been over 6 weeks and I think we can talk honestly now....

the kids were drunk in a meat market of a bar.....

even Nat, most likely...

nothing should have happened...Nat didn't deserve this...

but let's please stop the santimony about how holy these kids were and "responsible" drinkers...

I never was....neither were any of my friends...my parents would have been crazy to send me there, even if they had the money.....

let's hope that this changes everything for the better...

and yes, while many here and in America have all their children back and safe from such excursions, I hope people at least now know what the realities are...

[JustMe]

Weet Weet:

You gave me the perfect opportunity to exit from this discussion and go to bed when you stated that Beth Holloway Twitty did not send Natalee to Aruba to party.

That has to be the most numbingly stupid post that I have ever read in my life.

Good night and take care.

[annie]

lee, if you were to read up, prior to this, about the island, it was presented as a basically "crime-free" or extremely "low crime" place. Unless you were specifically looking at DEA pages, you probably would have never seen all the underworld associations and illicit activities going on.

To most parents, it looks like a wonderful fun-in-the-sun location based off of travel sites and brochures.

Should she had done a more thorough investigation, perhaps yes. But Beth seems like she was a fairly trusting person before all of this. I am certain she never even thought about the fact there would be such underworld activity. I know I would never have suspected such a thing. Yes, I am naive and getting a big education fast from this incident. I am sure Beth is as well.

The only thing that still makes me question her judgment was her stepson's comments to her about Carlos & Charlies. But perhaps Beth warned Natalee about the place but Natalee just chose to ignore her mother's advice. Who knows? But
she may have thought most of the island was okay because of the press given about how crime-free it is. I think we all know why it is so crime-free. They just turn their heads the other way it appears.

[weet weet]

Justme:

By "exact same situation" that could have happened to her, i meant what (seems to have) happened to her- partying, lowered inhibitions either leading to not being careful about getting her drink spiked, or perhaps putting trust in the wrong people- leading to perhaps rape and ultimately death. the disappearing without a trace really means nothing to you when your dead. i was referring what (seemingly) happened to her.

if she's alive, then clearly my statement means nothing.

i started making a tally- of how many friends (that i knew of) were raped in college after a few too many. 2. i only knew 1 person that was drugged, and it is unclear whether she was raped. but then when i made the part of the list dealing with people (myself included--honor student, full scholarships, 1470 sats, golden child "virginal", volunteer) who got trashed in college and went off with a stranger, i realized that i could probably name most of the people i knew. Some of those encounters led to things that the participants regretted. some didn't. Thankfully, "something bad" didn't happen. But all it takes is the right person.

and by my "little girls at war" comment, i think you're going in a total different direction than me. i feel exactly the same about "little boys" (18 year old adults) going to war too. what i'm saying is 18 is legally an adult, nothing more and nothing less.

[calista]

all these posts are always "my best friendd's cousins brother told me" and then they claim to have knowledge of what happened in aruba......if any of these people have real knowledge of what happened to natalee like she left with a drug dealer or whatever was said why don't they tell the POLICE and not a bunch of strangers on a message board?

[weet weet]

justme: clearly when you cannot back something up you just give up and insult people and call them stupid.

So let me get this straight. according to you, BHT basically said "Natalee, here's some money, go to aruba. i want you to drink, party, and most of all, get laid! go right ahead!"

i highly doubt that.

Or maybe you're saying "oh, come on, like she didn't know that there was going to be partying there, and that natalee was going to partake. No one can be that blind."

you're not telling your kids "Have fun at college! Drink, F, be merry!" but it very most likely will happen to different degrees.

oh come on, like you don't know that there will be partying there, and that your kids will partake. no one can be that blind.

[calista]

I just do not get at all why NOBODY has stepped in and taken this investigation over from the Aruba authorities who have just so clearly screwed up the whole case from total lack of experience and just plain corruptness........that is no stretch...it is plain to see with all the bs that has gone on and people let go free and evidence lost or mishandled or just plain ignored - Aruba's police have to answer to someone - how much longer are they going to let this sham go on? Aruba's people need to bea ngry at their own government and the boys whowon't tell the truth not America...........

[Joanne]

Hello...I found Dan's blog sometime in June when searching for more info on Natalee. I had never read a blog until then. I am so impressed with his dedication, talent, and compassion to make this world a better place. The majority of the participants are intelligent,caring,creative & really good people....It is always uplifting to be reminded how many fine folks there are in this world because it has seemed to me that we probably live in the most pampered, consumerist time since the Roman Empire. Greed, corruption & decadence, many times, define some or parts of the worlds governments. Aruba [gov.] appears to only be concerned about their tourist economy [ their personal wealth] and I, very much, feel they just want to sweep this [non] investigation under their material rug. But I do believe that "what goes around, comes around". I just hope that the innocents don't have to pay....like the good people in Aruba. My heart and soul ache for the Twittys/Holloways for their loss of their child, the not knowing and the pain. Keep up your wonderful support and we will all keep praying for Natalee and her family.
Mother of 3 adult Daughters.

[annie]

calista, I am confused about their entire structure. We keep hearing that the police report into the prosecutors office, but that the prosecutor is hired and not an elected position and that the government has not official capacity over them. So who hires the prosecutor? It is all very confusing. Everytime they try to explain it, it sounds like no one really understands it or just doesn't want it understood. I have to believe that if the Prime Minister wanted, he still could still have a huge influence, but they keep saying he has no say. That seems weird to me and completely frightening. So who is in charge of the hiring of these people if they are not elected? Doesn't sound like the public hires them. And the Attorney General's office keeps saying that they cannot intervene with the prosecutors office because they are part of the government and have no say over the police and prosecutor. So who does? UGH, it is so frustrating!

[calista]

I'm with you Annie....I just do not understand it.....it is just like some free for all government for hire down there......they get leads and evidence and we hear about it on the news and then poof! the next day it disappears and is never talked about again just like confessions and everything else..........I keep saying our president needs to use his influence here and get this case to someone else

[sleuth]

Weetweet...nobody's listening, as JustMe said he was going to bed. And now I am, too.

Just because everyone else is doing it...blah blah blah.

[calista]

what is this so called "troubling report" dan was talking about...all I saw was a girl's blog about her trip to aruba and she said she didn't want to go into details about the "alabama teens" so......how did she even know they were from alabama??? I mean so many people claim to have knowledge of natalee and what happened but I see nobody at the POLICE staition WHERE THEY NEED TO BE IF THEY KNOW ANYTHING....i JUST THINK ALOT OF PEOPLE WANT PEOPLE TO THINKT HEY KNOW SOMETHING

[weet weet]

sleuth: i'm not saying "just because everyone else is doing it." but apparently all you guys are reading is blah blah blah. so, fine. all parents who send their kids to other countries are doing so because they want their kids to drink and screw, and all parents who don't, are smarter and superior and have children who wouldn't dare do anything like that EVER anyway.

See, i agree with you both now.

[annie]

calista, I agree. A lot of people are talking but none of the stories are truly matching up. I hope Dan can shed some light on it because it is all terribly confusing. I think another reason people need to have some rhyme or reason from this is because we are all using this as a learning experience for our own families as well as praying for Natalee and her family.

[calista]

clearly natalee was in the car with joran and deepak and satish - we know that because they admitted it - they admitted her leaving with them....what happened after is what we don't know so anyone saying natalee left alone or with a drug dealer or whatever is bull to me or people saying they saw the alabama group and there are "alot of details" righhhhhtttttt....you have so much info but NOBODY will go tot he police.......give me a break.........these people just want to gossip and make others think they know

[calista]

I mean like this "confirmed" report joran had a black eye the morning after natalee vanished....ok so if he did why didn't the police see that? why didn't they find that interesting? how come beth holloway never said she saw that and she saw joran immediately the next day.......I mean come on.......nothing against dan who is just trying to get info for us but these people can't be confirmed and i they are telling the truth they have only added to the hold up in finding natalee by withholding info from the fbi and police that could help

[annie]

I want to know why the Aruban police have had the bones found by the tourists for several days now and done NOTHING with them. And why they never contacted The Equusearch team so that they could have had the forensic divers (which were there when the bones were found) search the area where the bones had been found. The Equusearch found out about the bones long after the divers left back to the states. How annoying! And then they wonder why the US is upset claiming they smell a cover-up! Geesh!

[calista]

those bones are probably in the trash by now and we will never hear of them again just like the confession and natalees burial site and everythign else aruba just hies away if it doen't suit them

[harry]

Annie:

I believe Fox News reported today that the bones were from a donkey.

[annie]

Greta actually asked Beth about the black-eye claim tonight. Beth said that when she saw him, it was in a dark area, it was early in the morning, she was tired and focused on trying to find her daughter. She said he could have had a black eye and because of the poor lighting she didn't see it. But she cannot claim he definitely had one. However, there supposedly are several other kids at his school who all claim to have seen the black eye. The other thing is, if it were "fresh" at the time of Beth's arrival, it may not have been discolored yet. So who knows? Sometimes a black eye can take a couple of days to show up from the time the injury occurred.

We just don't have details from either side because the Holloway/Twitty's are given nothing from the Aruban LE and the FBI probably has recommended they keep quite about some details, in case they need to bring this case to fruition (should it go cold there), with this new legal injunction they had where they can appeal should it go cold and have all evidence handed over to them. Maybe they have more than we know. But not enough to tell them the full story or where she is at.

Did you see the Kalpoe mother interview tonight?

[annie]

harry - No it was on Fox that they actually had Equusearch on air and talked about it. The bones have not been touched yet and have not even had an initial statement as to whether they were human or animal. Fox was still incensed that they have sat there for some time without anyone (even just letting a normal doctor or vet) look at them and report something that simple.

[annie]

It was both on Fox today and on Larry King.