Natalee Holloway Case Parallels Yet Another Disappearance

While many have brought the Amy Bradley disappearance up through the course of the Natalee Holloway investigation, the 2000 disappearance of NJ resident and travel writer Claudia Kirschhoch may have even more in common with the case of the young Alabama high school student, now missing for several weeks.

Kirschhoch was reportedly last seen walking along a Jamaican beach in broad daylight in 2000 and hasn't been seen or heard from since. Her parents had her declared dead in 2002, so as to enable legal action against a wealthy resort owner in hopes of gaining additional information on what might have happened to their daughter.

Charges of a botched investigation and a possible cover up came up during and after the investigation - with fingers being pointed at both Jamaican authorities, as well as a large resort.

The FBI was brought into the investigation, but ultimately closed the case with no one being charged.

Links to sources showing the striking similarities of the two incidents are included in the quotes below.

More on the Natalee Holloway disappearance can also be found here on the RWV web log.

No one has suggested "that the police hadn't used all the resources at their disposal". What we have said based on info reported in Jamaican newspapers and known to Jamaican citizens, is that the Jamaican police lack the resources and training to properly investigate a disappearance or a crime.

Also, the FBI was only permitted to actively assist after 30 days and, after more than two months, the search and rescue dog was allowed in. In any investigation, time is of the essence. Again, this certainly was not the fault of the police but the fault of Jamaican bureaucracy, and this at a time when information and resources are readily shared among nations throughout the world.

The last major movement in Kirschhoch's case was in 2000, when the FBI sent agents to Jamaica from a Miami-based squad to help Jamaican police investigate Kirschhoch's disappearance.

Now, it's just one of those cases that everyone remembers, but it remains unsolvable, said Judy Orihuela, the FBI spokeswoman in Miami. ''It was such a big deal back then,'' Orihuela said.

``I haven't forgotten it, it still sticks.''

AMERICAN TRAVEL writer Claudia Kirschhoch's ill-fated visit to Jamaica last May was supposed to have been for only eight days, but twelve months later her mysterious disappearance is baffling even to local law en forcement officers.

On her third day at the resort, May 27, 29-year old Claudia Kirschhoch, a New York City editor for Frommer's Travel Guides, disappeared virtually into thin air and without a trace. She has since been the subject of an intensive search, which had, included agents from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Also, a search and rescue dog handler from Oregon, U.S.A., was brought in to assist with the search. But even with all the enhanced resources, major forensic testing and also the use of a FBI polygraph machine; law enforcement officials are no where closer to solving the case than a year ago when Ms. Kirschhoch disappeared.

Help Find Claudia site

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Comments

[MoonShadow]

Wow....look at the dates....hmmmmm.

[Concerned]

Hmmm. Very interesting. If these cases are somehow connected, that would be huge.
If we need to be more vigilant when traveling, we then need to narrow our travel in the world, or travel in pairs plus.

[MoonShadow]

Double Wow -the similarities are amazing...bungled initially, last known person to see her alive apparently a liar...similar search efforts..she just vandished.

[Concerned]

MS~
Regarding new witness-- Do you recall mention of a gardner/witness early on in the investigation? I vaguely recall something about it.

[MoonShadow]

I am thinking "gardener" is in the back of my mind for some reason...but I can't remember why..

[Concerned]

With so much time passed, I do not know where or when I heard about the gardner. I wish we had a little more info. to work with...

[DennisAOK]

A key point: Were there suspects? People seen with her right before she vanished?

[MoonShadow]

I remember the word sticking with me, because whatever context I heard it in...didn't seem to fit. Maybe a discussion about the lighthouse or North Coast...and I was thinking, "what would a gardener be doing there? No real landscaping..more like moonscaping...if a gardener witnessed something, it would be in the Hotel area."

I don't think I heard about the gardener being a "drive-by" witness

[concerned]

DennisAOK~
Nothing new re: right before she vanished.

[((((MrsJimiHendrix))))]

dennis

they three men from the cruise ship is what i figured?

[MoonShadow]

key point: Were there suspects? People seen with her right before she vanished?

Posted by: DennisAOK | July 25, 2005 01:04 AM

A Bartender...flunked a polygraph too...but not charged...no evidence

[annie]

I don't remember anything about a gardner as a witness before this, but you may be right about that.

In this Jamaican case, I wonder if this woman was seen with anyone before she vanished. In Natalee's case there were eyewitnesses that saw her with Joran and the Kalpoe brothers. At least in this case we have some starting point, but if the other woman in Jamaica wasn't seen with anyone, they have a much harder case to begin with.

[Concerned]

I was thinking gardener was at VDS or Kalpoes' property and questioned early on.. I could be hallucinating.

[Concerned]

Hi Annie~
There's so much information to sift through, some accurate, most inaccurate.
Now the duct tape may have been a hoax. We go up and down. Poor Beth and families.

[MoonShadow]

The crime chief also confirmed that Anthony Grant, the former Beaches Negril bartender was not a suspect in the case, saying that there has never been enough evidence to treat him as such. "Yes, he interacted with her but there was nothing to upgrade his status from being a witness to a suspect," Mr. Frater said. "There is presently no investigation of Mr. Grant taking place."

This suggestion is certain to irk relatives and friends of Ms. Kirschhoch, particularly her parents, who have always maintained that Grant knew more than he was letting on and could be the key to the unravelling of the mystery which surrounds their daughter's disappearance.

And, in a telephone interview with The Gleaner only several days ago, Fred Kirschhoch said that contrary to reports that the FBI had vindicated Grant, he was made to believe otherwise. "The FBI asked Anthony Grant if he knew about Claudia's disappearance and the polygraph result, according to what they told me, indicated that he was lying when he said he didn't. They also asked him if he was involved in her disappearance and again he flunked. We know he is capable of lying which is why he has to be a main suspect."

Mr. Kirschhoch said that in conversations with people versed in the legal profession in the United States it was felt that there is enough evidence as there is to warrant an indictment. He also added that there was another worker employed to the Beaches Negril grilled further. "It is my understanding that this person is no longer working at the hotel and has since migrated to England," he noted.

Grant's attorney, Michael Erskine is adamant that is client is only a victim of circumstances and had been unfairly maligned. "The only crime that he is guilty of is that he went out with the young lady," he said. "He has done nothing wrong and if they had anything on him it would have come out already. In fairness, I think they owe my client an apology."

[annie]

So was this gardner the VDS gardner or was he the gardner of one of the Aurban LE or persons in jail? It wasn't clear to me the way the story was reported as to who he worked for. But it was someone Deepak, while in detainment, was playing dominoes with, who made the remark that the gardner saw them. Any clue?

[MoonShadow]

Annie, this current "new" witness is the gardener of another prisoner one of the bros. was playing dominoes with.

[Gary]

I want to believe that goodness and justice prevails, but I'm afraid that isn't always so. This case continues to chip away at the part of me that was once so optimistic and idealistic. Joran, his father, Deepak, Janssen, these are all clearly people without ethics and consciences. If my son committed a murder, accidental or not, it would break my heart and soul but I would never cover for him. Each of us must face the consequences of our actions. In this case truth probably won't prevail, but the worst side of what is possible in man will. I just pray that there is a hell and a God and that these four are one day sent to hell and may it be hotter, more miserable, and more torturous than anything we could ever imagine. Joran's son has encouraged his son to break the law rather than come clean. The VanderSloots are the scum of the eart

[annie]

Moonshadow - that is how I had interpreted it, but wasn't sure I heard it correctly. Thanks for the clarification.

[MoonShadow]

No problem :) I actually find myself leaning closer to the TV when Jossy talks...like that's going to help me understand what he says any better....lol

And the Geraldo interrupted....grrrrr

[michele in bham]

Man, this kind of stuff ought to be a huge warning to people.

Don't hang out at bars and don't leave bars with people you do not know.

Especially in foriegn countries, because the chances are high that you are not going to be protected or looked for in those circumstances.

We have nice beaches right here at home.

[P in S.E.Asia]

michele,

then u might as well not call it a vacation. those things happen everywhere, not "especially in foreign countries". gosh some of u think up some really intruigin advice.

As is so often said in the 'good book' he who is without sin, cast the first stone.

[michele in bham]

It's not about sin.

It's about not being foolish and staying safe.

Maybe YOU think it's a good idea to get drunk and go swimming nude with the locals, but later events in Claudia's case show us that IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.

And the passage in the "good book" that you tried to quote ends with Jesus saying...

"GO AND SIN NO MORE."

[annemarie]

So if this guy Anthony Grant is innocent, why did he initially lie about having any contact with Claudia when he had at least one date with her? There's something very sinister there, and it was covered over.
Natalee's family is at least lucky (or maybe it's more than just luck) that they have gotten an incredible amount of publicity. Claudia's mother was on Geraldo about a month ago and she said she would have been grateful for one tenth of that publicity--felt like she couldn't get anyone to listen about her daughter's disappearance.
The lesson here is that if you're a young, attractive female, be very careful when you're in a foreign country, especially the Caribbean. There's an active sex slave trade in that area, and all it takes to be kidnapped is a moment of letting down your guard.
Also, as michele said, the chances are higher in a foreign country that no one will follow through if something happens to you. And it's much harder for families to get things done long distance.

[((((MrsJimiHendrix))))]

P

When did you get back in town?

[proudredneck]

It's not about sin.

It's about not being foolish and staying safe.

Maybe YOU think it's a good idea to get drunk and go swimming nude with the locals, but later events in Claudia's case show us that IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.

And the passage in the "good book" that you tried to quote ends with Jesus saying...

"GO AND SIN NO MORE."

Posted by: michele in bham | July 25, 2005 02:36 AM

Did I hear that "watch as well as pray..."

[Roy]

Yes, maybe everybody should just stay put in their own country.

[calista]

it has alot osf similarities to natalee....it is so sad......there has to be some way to come up with a law that when americans go missing in other countries the fbi has to ba automatically involved if they do not turn up within the 1st 24 hours.....it is sad how much evidence is lost by the amount of time these people wait to investigate important suspects....as was done in this case and with natalee I agreew ith a travel ban of aruba and not just until natalee gets justice but the whole sysytem is made over as with other countries

[calista]

It's not about sin.

It's about not being foolish and staying safe.

Maybe YOU think it's a good idea to get drunk and go swimming nude with the locals, but later events in Claudia's case show us that IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.

And the passage in the "good book" that you tried to quote ends with Jesus saying...

"GO AND SIN NO MORE."

Posted by: michele in bham | July 25, 2005 02:36 AM

look......ALL of us have done dumb things I know I have where I could have gotten hurt - I odn't know nata;ee and I odn't know caludia or what they did but my guess as far as natalee is it was not her normal behavior to get into a strangers car or be drunk out of her mind and so it leaves open the question about if she was drugged or forced......whatever the case usually none of us especially younger never think anything like this will happen to us - yes we need to be careful and no I would not travel outside U.S. right now knowing what I know about their justice systems but bad things do happene everywhere.....there are tons of rapes and murders here in america it is just that usually thy get investigated properly and are not full of all these questions about corruption and crappy police work.......look at Londodn for an example - those police shot that man dead - shot him 4 times - overkill...and he had no weapon he did not threaten them all they had to go on was he looked "suspicious" because he had on a coat and backpack - and the police who just started running after him were not in uniform so how was this guy to know who they were? In America those police most likely would be out of a job for shooting unprovoked but then again that is not America

[calista]

we can say hey don't go home with a guy in a bar you just met or leave alone with him - that is true but then lately itisn't just a bar that isn't safe it is anywhere - the guy next door you think is nice and normal ends up being a rapist or your own husband (laci peterson) turns out to be a murderer and sociopath after seeming "perfect"

always trust your instinct - I am sure there were a few times Laci felt something was not right with scott but she went on trying to make it owrk and I am sure natalee maybe (if she was not drugged or didn't get forced or fooled intot he car) thought for a second she should not go with joran or deepak or whoever but then she prob dismissed it thinking he is a student just like her and would never hurt her - in fact he lied and said he was an exchange student from holland..............we never think these things can happen to us.......like all the child killings and kidnappings lately....my husband calls me "parranoid" but I odn't care - I worry about our 7 month old little girl and I make sure all our windows are locked etc so nothing ever happens to her and we live in supposedly "safe" military housing............

[ohmygod]

THE GARDNER WAS THE GARDNER OF ONE OF TGHE GUYS IN PRISON
and he was driving by the record club and he was going home... just listen please to what the video says... and the guys in prison were playing domino's and the kalpoe brothere threw the stones on the table when the prisoner told him the gardner saw them that night

[P in S.E.Asia]

((((MrsJimiHendrix))))

I'm around... jsut waiting for the day when those guys are vindicated. They have been villified over n over again. i have tried my utmost to ask persons to respect their status of 'innocent until proven guilty' but to no avail.

So these day im jsut watchin n waitin for my time to celebrate for the boys. These guys may not be caribbean nationals, but i knwo what it's like growin up in th caribbean, and i understand how easy one can inadvertently get into the situation the boys now find themselves in.

It is also just mindboggling when some persons like michele above give such 'interesting' advice.

I see u still posting strong. keep it up

[michele in bham]

P in S.E.Asia said "It is also just mindboggling when some persons like michele above give such 'interesting' advice."

Let that be a lesson to you PE.

Never try and post something from the Bible to someone who knows more about it than you do.

The fact remains, whether you object for moral reasons or for reasons of just plain commin sense, DON'T LEAVE WITH STRANGERS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.

Don't give them information.

Don't go swimming naked with them.

Don't leave bars with them.

It's not anything except COMING BACK ALIVE.

As evidenced by both of these very sad cases, those countries actively worked to cover up what happened rather than solve these crimes.

Stay in the USA.

[DennisAOK]

P in S.E.Asia,

You and I exchanged notes the last time you were on. I'll repeat what I said then. You would have to be a fool to look at the facts here and not say there is a high degree of probability that one or more of these boys are complicit in a crime against her. If the Aruban police have anything like your mindset, it's is no wonder we have made so little progress in this case.

[michele in bham]

Hey PE, you said "i have tried my utmost to ask persons to respect their status of 'innocent until proven guilty' but to no avail."

No one, except a court in the USA, has to presume innocence.

They have no status of "innocent" in the court of public opinion and by the same token, the court of public opinion has no ability to hand down a sentence.

Sheesh, where do you people get your crazy ideas???

And why would you claim that those 3 men are innocent especially knowing that they tried to frame 2 innocent black men?

[race juda cata]

I would imagine that b/c of Ms. Kirschhoch's connection to Frommer's, that her previous employer could use some of its publications to raise further awarness of Claudia's plight as well as that of Natalee Holloway and Amy Bradley. If I were her parents and if she was such a valued employee, I would not hesitate to lobby Frommers to include information (eg: the dissappearance posters of these ladies) about NH, CK, and AB (as well as others)in their publications. I can apprecicate Frommers objection b/c of its business relationships, however, it appears that the only way any progress is going to be made in these dissappearances is by effecting the tourist money coming into countries such as Jamaica and Aruba. Money rules all in this world and without the precious tourist dollar coming into these countries, their governments will be forced into action. I fear that Natalee's case will follow that of Amy Bradley and Claudia Kirschhoch based on the current trend of (in)action/events. So, I believe the only way to get answers is to effect the one thing these countries care most about, and that is money in the form of tourist dollars...

[Claque]

Katie Holmes Sold into Slavery?
Been readin' online "Aruba Today" from time to time since NH disappeared. Noticed alluring photo for out call massage parlor on island looks too much like Miss Katie. Anyone else? Does she need the extra cash with the high cost of Scientology classes? Or will Tom have to teach her how to sue foriegn publications?

[Claque]

Katie Holmes Sold into Slavery?
Been readin' online "Aruba Today" from time to time since NH disappeared. Noticed alluring photo for out call massage parlor on island looks too much like Miss Katie. Anyone else? Does she need the extra cash with the high cost of Scientology classes? Or will Tom have to teach her how to sue foriegn publications?

[pamy]

didn't they find blood in the trunk of the bartender? that was the most obvious clue that he killed claudia.

[DennisAOK]

race juda cata,

Good name and good idea. I don't see why Frommer's would object. It would be the perfect "pro bono" project for them.

[Trenton]

To Michelle in Bahm:

God how I wish you and George Bush & Co. would form your own sick country and leave the rest of us alone. Tell me, you good Christian, why you are so busy trying to force others not to have abortions, how many children have you personally adopted? How many hours do you spend a week volunteering to help our nation's most sick and needy? Jesus would be utterly ashamed how you abuse his good name for your own sick ideology. Jesus was about non-violence, not about bombing Iraqis into oblivion, stealing their oil fields for your own rich pals. Get off the computer if you're such a good Christian and go help at a domestic abuse shelter. Make yourself of some real use.

[Penelope J]

I'm with Trent.
Michele, instead of judging Natalee who was there to celebrate her accomplishments, why don't you put your bible down and start living the words? Get off what I'm sure is your obese ass and volunteer somewhere, help find Natalee, visit the sick and elderly at the hospital, anything but bore us with your hypocritical religious diatribe.

[calista]

Katie Holmes Sold into Slavery?
Been readin' online "Aruba Today" from time to time since NH disappeared. Noticed alluring photo for out call massage parlor on island looks too much like Miss Katie. Anyone else? Does she need the extra cash with the high cost of Scientology classes? Or will Tom have to teach her how to sue foriegn publications?

Posted by: Claque | July 25, 2005 10:06 AM

quite funny......I used to like tom cruise and katie holmes but now they both are acting like crazies---especially tom - he is like some cult recruiter for scientology who brainwashes all his girlfriends.......and he has been flipping his wig lately in public.....poor katie....run girl!!!

[calista]

michelle in bham -

I odn't think you are doing anyone any favors by judging the victims - no matter what they did or what choices they made nobody had the right to hurt them....we have all made mistakes luckily for us we weren't hurt........stop being so judgemental because one day it could be your child missing and you would not want anyone to fault her.....NONE of us are without sin NONE

[samie]

To Michelle in Bham

People should not leave with strangers anywhere. period, not just in foreigh countries. It sounds like you are saying that it is okay to leave with strangers in your own country when it is not. In fact it is dangerous in any case.

[Helen]

Michele,

You are a heartless wench. Period. Horrible things happen even in the safest of places.

[Artis]

Interesting discussion, So I wonder how many young women go missing in California each year or Michigan. Maybe we should boycott those states. What about New Jersey? Didn't Nancy Grace have on law enforcement people in the Tamika Huston case and when she asked them about the case she was told that even though they have blood evidence a suspect whom has lied and other evidence, they were taking their time to gather more evidence? Sounds like Aruban police work to me.

[pamy]

claudia was LAST seen taking a walk on the beach during the day. she did not leave with anyone.

[michele in bham]

Hey Trenton and Peneploe, you are both weird and crazy as loons, so offense of course.

I personally do not support GW Bush. I am a Constitutionalist, he is not.

I didn't bring up morality and the Bible, PE in Asia did.

The facts remain, if you are a woman in a foriegn country DO NOT leave a bar with locals.

Don't give them the wrong ideas about you by swimming naked with them like Claudia did with Anthony Grant.

It's not really about morality as much as it is COMMON SENSE.

It's about COMING HOME ALIVE.

Following a few basic safety rules will help you in that endeavor.

No one deserves to die and never be heard from again. Let's be smart and not give the creeps out there any extra ammo.

And Calista, I am judging no one in the sense of moral issues.

I don't know the state of either girls heart. But if you think that discussing a few basic safety rules is "judging" those girls and you are the one applying SIN to their actions (not me) then it would seem like the problem with judging is yours and others like you.

I have been posting and corresponding with Dan since the beginning. I am fully supportive of the H/T's efforts in bringing Natalee home.

But I am also not going to pretend like certain safeguards taken in advance couldn't of saved her life.

[DennisAOK]

Well said, michele in bham.

Modern liberals use the word "judgmental" in a pejorative way, yet they themselves do plenty of judging. We are not supposed to have any opinions on anything unless we are working the soup lines and paying most of what we earn to the government in taxes to support their idea of the "good" society. Maybe you should suggest to your friends Kerry and Kennedy that they do a little time at the homeless shelters as well. By the way, I am not a practicing Christian and voted Libertarian in the last election, so you can discard the usual left wing stereotypes.

As for the "crime occurs here, too" argument, yes, it does. But it is not unreasonable that we Americans expect that a foreign country, particularly one that absorbs a lot of our tourist dollars, will be extremely meticulous about pursuing any crime committed against us when we are visitors there. We need not simply accept a botched investigation, possibly a cover up, as part of another country’s legal system that we have no right to criticize. And we should not accept this at home, either.

As for religion, the subject was introduced by P in SE Asia, who seems to think that it is un-Christian to have any suspicions of guilt by anyone. Another absurd notion.