Riehl World View

Elder Van der Sloot Questioned

I learned of the Van der Sloot questioning in email right before I left for NYC - in the information I received the words "as a witness" were conveyed. Interetsing - I suppose I have to do some catching up with the news and mail.

The Fox thing went by in all of about 30 seconds, though in the run up I found everyone to be extremely gracious and professional. It was interesting having a long conversation with Gil in the green room - we're going to be touching base on some things and talked at length about the substance of the case. He really was quite serious about talking soon and I'm sure we will. Good guy with a genuine concern for people who've gone missing.

It was a wonderful opportunity but certainly not worth a young girl's life. The frustrating part was sitting in the green room realizing how difficult it is to explore an issue in four minutes, or so. I'd have preferred to talk about something other than the Van der Sloot's website - but then, it wasn't my show. Putting on good TV must have incredible challenges I can't even begin to imagine. But it's good to be back in a forum where things can be addressed with more detail.

As I got up to leave Jamie said something about looking forward to reading the site. My style tends to be a bit tongue in cheek, so when I said, "Oh, you'll want to read it tomorrow, trust me." I think she actually thought I meant I was going to give them a hard time as she said, "Now come on...," in a joking tone. So, I assured her I meant for what I hope will be some interesting content, which I promise I will finish tonight for a read tomorrow.

Barring new developments, I'm going to dig into the mailbag and try to continue the discussion around this troubling case. Many thanks to any who've induged this, or tuned in to the show. Without faulting anyone in large media, I don't think they realize what is actually going on here. And I don't mean because of me, but the information that keeps being discussed and sent in by the readers.

Oh, best part of the whole deal - the limo driver became a reader before we got back home. How you can drive through NYC traffic and scroll a website on your laptop is wayyyyy beyond me. But he did it. We had a blast - "XXX the Jew and arch conservative". I'm not using his name, and trust me he won't mind the appelation, because he obviously can't mix politics with his work. But we had a great discussion all the way in and back.

Nice people all around tonight - now back to work. Thanks for reading. I'll try to get to any questions I can but realize I can't get down to see most comments - not enough hours in the day. I hope you continue to enjoy the lively debate I see going on.

Just FYI

Just received a call from Fox and have a few things to nail down before their car arrives. Sorry, I'm going to have to beg off on that next post until tonight, or tomorrow AM.

First - this incident is a terrible tragedy, and neither I nor anyone else should get so caught up in the facts and the pursuit of them that we forget that most likely a precious human being has met with a tragic fate and been deprived of an entire future she will never know. Also, a family has been damaged by recent events in a manner from which they will never fully recover.

An entire community in Alabama, as well as some particular members have had both Natalee, as well as a certain sense of innocence taken from them through recent events.

And in Aruba, because I have spoken with some, I know they and a great many other people fret and hope, not first for tourism, but for Natalee Holloway and the best possible resolution of this case on behalf of Natalee and her family.

In fact, there are two if not more families in Aruba now suffering from this ordeal, as well. And even if justice does prove this or that family member somehow guilty, that should not condemn the whole, or diminish their right to respect and human kindness.

Aside from answers, which it is the natural human condition to desire, noone should seek anything more or less than the best possible resolution, as stated above.

Fair And Balanced - Updated

Update: This post is updating at bottom - please keep looking. - Dan

I am working on a longer, and likely to be a controversial post. Hopefully up with an hour, though I am waiting to see if one email is returned.

Meantime, a point of clarity regarding this post.

From today's mailbag:

Dan: I live in the Mountain Brook suburb of Birmingham and know some of the parents whose children were on the Aruba trip. Yellow ribbons are everywhere around here. The Holloway case is tragic, and I appreciate your diligent work on this matter.

I thank the reader for their kind thoughts and also wish to clarify that I never intended for that previous post to suggest some, if any direct linkage to the friends and family of Natalee Holloway.

From someone who has strong feelings in the matter, certainly. But it wasn't intended to purport to shed light on any one group or town - or that I have feelings as to from where it came. I thought it showed the unfortunate nature of someone, anyone so trapped into one picture of a thing, that they cannot afford to entertain a conflicting view. Far from dedication to and belief in something, the kind of thinking represented in that earlier post is defined by cowardice and insecurity - the very opposite of what it would propose to convey.

I'm off to finish my work in between phone calls and errands, so why not give this guy a look, they had a baby not long ago. And if you want to see some quality information on medicine, science and a varirty of topics, including links to information on this case, go to Hyscience. And if you are burnt out on Drudge and desire a similar type service that also hosts and indexes blogs - go to Dilby's News Monitor.

I'll keep updates coming to this post as need be:

Thanks to reader Tanya - ORANJESTAD, Aruba - Three suspects being held in Aruba jails will be transferred to prison today, following a judge's ruling that they could be held for another eight days in the case of an Alabama teen who disappeared from the Dutch-occupied island three weeks ago, FOX News has learned.

That should be Joran, Satish and Deepak.

On a side note, from another reader - Sloot is pronounced as with a long O - think "Slote" and Joran is pronounced (YORan) - thanks Suzanne - (would love to get an email back on that last item I mentioned.)

Another Update: A reader who clais to know and sounds reasonable states that a group of students from Mountain Brook did go on a cruis on the Tattoo while in Aruba - no information to indicate Natalee went along. Marcus Wiggins, Croes former employer who vouched for him runs three boats - links embedded in boat images here.

The Political Teen has some relevant video of a boat and a prison here.

Croes Update

Some in Aruba are speculating that the recently arrested Croes, see previous posts below and here, may be released. That is totally unconfimed. Apparently Croes is divorced and his ex-wife has gone on the record as describing him as a gentle man.

As an aside, meant to convey no disrespect for Natalee's disappearance and this tragedy, I'm compelled to pass along the following from a reliable source in Aruba.

The former Ms. Croes is reported to have relayed a story to reporters meant to shed some light on the disc jockey's character, saying something paraphrased as "Once he stepped on a lizard and felt so badly, he just cried."

It's my understanding that the lizard is no longer available for comment.

Croes Picture

Take a look at these two images, one identified as suspect Croes. Could these be the same individual? The ears seem very similar - but I am not sure. If so, it could have tremendous ramifications for this case.

Update: Get a grip folks - posting two images people have placed on the Internet is not smearing anyone. I asked a simple question. I could have done it just as easily by linking to two different places. Stop over-reacting to every thing. Another comparison of two images.

Update

E mail and a mention in the Birmingham News - which has been an excellent source of coverage on this story, particualrly from a local perspective. I'm glad to see them recognize Hasibokos, a Dutch blog who has worked hard and contributed much to this story. Of course ScaredMonkeys was featured, as they should be. I wish I could have linked them both more, but I have been too swamped to do many thinks I would have liked to do during this seemingly tragic story.

With comments and emails, I am receiving over a thousand emails a day. For commenters, there is no way I can read everyone just now, though I would like to. If you need to communicate with me - email with a subject header is the best means. I try to read all emails and pay special attention to the subject heading to prioritize the mail.

Last night and this AM I am still marshalling together some information, old and new and hope to be updating the blog soon.

Update: On the other hand, I have the headlines all to myself here.

Heh! <- Note use of snarky blogger insider term likely to one day be listed in a compilation of blog terminology. Now if we could just stop calling them "blogs." Sounds like an ugly pair of women's shoes to me.

Fox News Update

I received an email from the Fox Producer indicating they were looking forward to having me on tomorrow night and the reason I wasn't on the guest list is that it was taken from an earlier draft. How can I not like a guy who read an earlier post?

What I did not mention earlier here is that when I do watch news on TV, there's only one channel I turn to - and that's Fox. Having followed Brit Hume's career over several years, when he joined Fox, I knew they were for real. I've also come to develop a lot of respect for Chris Wallace, though he irked me today on the radio at WABC because he was on the whole "All Natalee all the time" thing.

Frankly, I find that an elitist position from news makers more aligned with an old mainstay anchor model, as opposed to a vibrant medium that meets people where they live.

When people bash Fox it always amazes me. There are shows and journalists on Fox that it's fair for people to question; but, by and large they are more of an entertainment variety, than news programming, in my opinion. When it comes to a basic news report, particularly on issues of national political scope, there isn't a network going which can hold a candle to Fox's reasonable and careful coverage of relevant events.

When this confusing and tragic incident is over, I'll likely make a post on some of my behind the scenes interactions with members of the main stream media. I encountered little if any "us versus them" when it cam to blogs and the MSM. They have nothing to fear from bloggers and everything to gain, in my opinion. And a blogger wishing to do anything relevant when it comes to major events and political happenings, couldn't exist without big media. Hopefully one day there will be a broader and more productive partnership than there is today.

Both good reporters and good bloggers are each pursuing the same goal - truth supported by the facts. That's a very good reason to find a way to co-operate more.

Croes Update

From Aruba - It's been suggested that recently arrested Steven Gregory Croes was in Carlos and Charlies the night of Natalee Holloway's disappearance, and some think he joined the group in the car later that night.

As yet, I have no confirmation of that report.

The AP is saying that the ruling as to whether or not Paul Van der Sloot can see his son has been made, but not yet disclosed. I was told by a reader that he would not be allowed to visit, however, another reader informs me that Fox is reporting he will be able to visit with Joran. Likely we'll have to see if other media outlets confirm the Fox report, or refute it.

I've had my head down looking into some interesting things from different readers and took the initial reader report as a simple report, as I did know that court was over and figured the ruling on visitation was simply released.

Additionally, from first link above -

the court barred van der Sloot's lawyer, Antonio Carlo, from visiting the teen, effectively removing him from the case, said Attorney General spokeswoman Mariaine Croes.

The court granted prosecutors' request to remove Carlo because he had visited one of two former security guards who had been detained and released in the case, authorities said.

Croes said the Dutch teenager has a team of lawyers, so Carlo's removal will not leave van der Sloot without representation. The spokeswoman is not related to Steve Croes.

Updates

I'll leave this post up and update it unless there is something to be addressed in a full post. I have a lot of work to do on emails and other items - as I come across items of interest, I'll post them below.

Video clips related to the Investigation

The Political Teen has an audio up of Tom from Scared Monkeys on the Andy Thomas Show.

Update 10PM: A reader writes that the court cases are finished and the detentions extended an additional eight days - also, Paulus Van der Sloot will not be permitted to see his son.

Fox News Weekend

I've been invited to appear on Fox News: The Big Weekend Story tomorrow evening at 9PM. I assume these invitations are often tentative and changing. I'll expect to know more tomorrow when I'm supposed to hear back from them for the pre-interview. I'll update at top if it changes.

Update:

The invite states: "We would give you an opportunity to discuss the types of information being passed around on posts on your site. Furthermore, we are interested in your views of Joran from the information you have seen."

By the way, I'm not listed on the guest list, which is fine. If I understand the nature of the booking business, it's not real pretty. They need to book a very full slate to avoid blank air. It's understandable and part of the business; which ever way it works out is fine with me.