Riehl World View

Fox Update: Blood Sample Being Sent To States

UPDATED: Fox also now reports that the blood was sent both to Holland and the US for testing. Also, that a call came in relevant to the testing during an interview but whatever the context of the call, it did not change the authorities story as it stands.

Update2: From reader Potro1952:

About the stain of blood. This does not to be a great amount for the sample to be tested for DNA. You do not need a 1 ml of volume of blood to test for DNA. And for my understanding Aruba does not have the technology for forensic analysis on the island it self, things that require a technology that is not used there are send to Laboratories in Holland ( the Netherlands). So it is possible to divide the sample of blood so this can be tested both in the US and in Holland.

It's conjecture, but it would seem we might not be talking about simply a drop of blood given that samples were available to send offshore to two different destinations.

I'll email a doctor blogger on that but don't expect an answer until later this AM.

Fox Website:

The "Diario," a local daily newspaper, is reporting that a human blood sample found in a car at the residence of one of the teens in custody — the 17-year-old son of a high-ranking island judicuary official — is now being sent to the U.S. and will be tested for a possible match to Natalee, whose mother gave a blood sample to investigators.

Also see Scared Monkeys and Hyscience for additional reports, commentary and comment threads.

Natalee Holloway: A Reader Reports With Photos From Mountain Brook Today

Reader Michele Baucom  was in Mountain Brook, Alabama today. She sent along the pictures and comments below from her visit. Blogging is an open and two way media, after all. Text and images are hers. Click to enlarge.

One interesting thing to note was the appearance of a street preacher from Florida. He is on the street next to the church wearing a sign that quotes a Bible verse. "God is angry with the wicked every day."

He has a megaphone and is preaching to the news media that are staking out the white message board that I mentioned before.

Also, and I regret that I didn't get a photo of this: I met a young marine, last name Howard, age 23 from Florence Alabama. (Home of Helen Keller, I guess it's about 200 miles from B'ham.

He was there just quietly paying his respects. He heard about Natalee on the news and just felt compelled to come by there and say a prayer for her and her family. That white wall has taken on an aura of sorrow and sadness. And something else too, almost reverence.

Mountain Brook Community Church.A light rain, compliments of Tropical Storm Arlene, lends to the gray mood of many in Birmingham today. It was really sad being out there. It was just so gray everywhere you looked.

A Yellow ribbon adorns the mailbox of MB Community Church.
You can't drive 3 feet in this town and not see a yellow ribbon.
The constant drizzle has made them all look forlorn and sad rather than hopeful.

Even Starbucks has a ribbon out for Natalee

This close up is a message from the kids who made and donated the wall.

People are still coming to the wall of prayer and hope. These ladies came by this afternoon to sign and pray for Natalee and her family.

Local media has been in attendance 27/7. It's starting to show on their faces, they are taking this story very much to heart. One news reporter from Huntsville, Alabama wiped away tears and we spoke of Natalee's probable fate. She had to turn away from the large photo of Natalee that adorns the wall. "I'm only 27 myself she said, and this really hits home."

Bro. Matt, a preacher and missionary to college campus all over the South came to Birmingham  Alabama with his King James Bible to offer solace and the Gospel to people visiting the wall of Hope and Prayer.

News trucks have been in constant attendance (at the wall of hope and prayer.)

Candles left for Natalee at the wall.

A large portrait of Natalee adorns a portion of the wall.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Ace Is Having A Bad Hair Day

When Ace and Fausta independently invited me to guest blog for them as part of a team they picked, I had no idea this week would break as it has. I don’t have a minute to deal with the alternate mode of posting required by both blogs. Needless to say I am incredibly flattered by both offers. Temporary new readers here unfamiliar with blogs need to check out these two sites.

Fausta at the Bad Hair Blog is an incredibly intelligent woman and hosts an exceptionally consistent and well-written blog. I would recommend it to all of Ace’s readers, too. Okay, maybe not all … I did say she is highly intelligent, after all. Heh! Please check out her blog here.

As for Ace, what can I say – you are … well, Ace. I’ve admired your talent, adaptability buoyed by a certain consistency, and Herculean effort to maintain and grow a large blog for some time.

More important you’ve been a friend and have never forgotten a friend with a smaller blog when you could help him out with a link, or whatever. Though there’s a few things you passed on for which Hoke should kick yer a$$. But, I digress.

Fausta readers meet Ace, Ace readers, meet Fausta. They both in their own way define different aspects of the best of blogging – please check ‘em out.

John at Wuzzadem, an intelligent, funny and accomplished blogger in his own right is helping me out at Ace's place. And a little humor might be a good thing right now, check out his archives. And another fine blogger, Ken from SmadaNek is helping at Fausta's place. Don't buy what the MSM might say about blogs. Check out these linked sites and you'll get a good feel for what the breadth and depth of blogging can provide.

Natalee Holloway Update: More FBI Resources Arrive

Live from Aruba: Joran Van der Sloot's attorney says his client maintains his innocence and refused to comment as regards a potential alibi for Joran. He did not answer any substantial questions.

Attorneys for the three suspects are leaving court house now - boys will be held over for additional eight days as investigation continues. The attorneys are not permitted to comment on facts of the case to the press.

A report from an airport source states an additional nine FBI agents have recently arrived on the island of Aruba at 3PM today.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Natalee Holloway: Update 4:30 PM EST

While Fox News is reporting that the focus of the search seems to have turned back to the lighthouse area, another source has confirmed that Noraima Peters, lawyer for one of the security guards arrested earlier has confirmed that Joran Van der Sloot, one of the three boys also arrested has confessed to something "big" but the attorney would not elaborate.

Back to Fox, they claim that behind the scenes reports suggest one of the boys, most likely Van der Sloot is talking to authorities now and providing details as to what happened to Natalee Holloway.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Natalee Holloway Update: 4:06 PM EST

Government officials in Aruba are on the radio condemming Fox News for their reporting and requesting all journalists to cooperate with authorities and not report rumors. The Justice Minister is denying having told any American reporter that Natalee Holloway is dead.

They also insist that they do not know of a body being recovered at this time.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Natalee Holloway: Update 3:20 PM EST

Lawyers Lejuez and Pieters, retained by the two security guards first arrested in the Natalee Holloway, case are emphasizing the fact that hotel security has confirmed that there is no indication Natalee Holloway returned to her hotel the night of her disappearance and they are demanding the release of their clients.

This report suggests the case will end with the two security guards set free as authorities pursue a case against the other three suspects.

Also, I've been in touch with members of more than one MSM outlet and realize there is confusion as to the announcement regarding Natalee Holloway's death.

I am standing behind my previous announcement based upon my sources, though, certainly, I do not have as much to lose as a MSM outlet if I am wrong. I do not believe the report to be wrong.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Aruba Preparing For Worse In Holloway Case

Aruban radio station Top95 is reportedly preparing Arubans for the worst possible announcement in the Natalee Holloway case.

Sources say the three boys are now before a judge to extend their detention and the location of the body is as yet unconfirmed.

Natalee Holloway Is Dead

A reliable source from Aruba throughout my reporting has informed me that Natalee Holloway has now been confirmed as deceased, her Father is traveling to the location of the body. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Natalee Holloway: Latest

Fox latest, previously posted by commenter:

Aruban authorities are bringing in a judge from neighboring Curacao to preserve a sense of fairness given that the individual who appears to be the prime suspect, Joran Van der Sloot, is the son of Paul Van der Sloot, reportedy studying to become a judge on the island of Aruba.

Judicial authorities familiar with the court system later told the AP on condition of anonymity that only one official on the island, whom they identified as Paul Van Der Sloot, is studying to be a judge. Friends of the family said Van Der Sloot has only one son, by the name of Joran Andreas Petrus Van Der Sloot, 17, a student at a private international school in Aruba.