Riehl World View

Update: 4 PM

As Fox is now reporting, sources on the island recently informed me that there was a problem with a flight from Curacao to Aruba, causing a delay in an extension hearing for three of the boys held.

There is unconfirmed speculation on the ground at this time that one, or possibly two of the suspects could be released after that hearing - with more arrests coming tonight, or tomorrow.

Crime Reporting

In narrative form from Steve on The Dark Side.

If you Like Gadgets

Here's a website full of them.

NJ Boys Found Dead

I was talking with someone earlier about taking the couple hour drive south to Camden, NJ tomorrow to do a report from on scene ... I was hoping for better news from this.

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - The father of a missing 6-year-old boy found his son's body and those of his two young friends in the trunk of a car Friday, two days after the children disappeared from a nearby yard where they were playing.

Update 8:15 PM

The full throttle search is anticipated to begin tomorrow. They are starting with three grids, one over water and two over land. They will cover those grids before moving on to additional grids based upon evidence or indicators that suggest one spot being more likely to be productive, than another.

Boats are expected to run 24/7 with two boats on the water at all times. In the event of a sonar hit, divers will be dispatched into the area.

There is a great deal of conflicting talk coming from the island. Some is consistent with much of what is in the news, other speculation is very different. Honestly, I can't ascertain the motivations, and in some cases the root source for some of what is being said.

Unfortunately, what I also cannot do is conclude that anyone has extablished beyond a reasonable doubt what really happened that night, or has even established a solid theory. As always in this case, that doesn't mean authorities don't have one; but if they do, they seem to be keeping a pretty good lid on that, as Dutch law requires.

It's quite possible that their necessary silence is leaving room for any number of theories and speculations that will prove unfounded.

Some individuals on the ground are still feeling very positive as regards the current cooperation of the Aruban authorities.

Two Observations

One is a personal observation I am only posting after seeing the interview with Mrs. Kalpoe tonight on Fox. I can remember when this all started and I was reviewing the boy's websites.

Just as Joran's website was noteworthy for a significant number of pictures from partying and the clubs, casinos, etc. .. the site of Satish was the opposite.

I remember pictures from field trips, archeological sites, art and so forth - I was genuinely struck by the difference in the two boys. That doesn't mean anything as far as guilt, or innocence, but it was a genuine observation.

The second observation will sound like gossip, which basically, it is - please take that into account. If it didn't come through an extremely reliable source on the island, I would not mention it at all.

In talking with an adult professional from Aruba who knew Joran, the individual stated that Joran often bragged to him of his many "sexual conquests" resulting from the use of an illicit substance slipped into a woman's drink and the Aruban individual suggested Joran was a "psychopath."

I doubt that the source of these statements is a certified psychologist, but if he is repeating these types of statements to individuals in and around the investigation, it will likely come out and be proven or disproven in any potential trial. And noone should be considered guilty of anything without one.

He Deserves An Answer

In Three Things, Hector, a blogger I once dragged over this blog more harshly than any other, heh, though fortunately we managed to stay friends, asks:

But I have one question for Dan, maybe I missed it in reading his blog, why the major interest? I don't get why you've decided to devote your blog to thing and what the hell are you going to do when this story inevitably comes to a close?

I didn't decide. The first one or two stories were news stories for BNN, a little like any others. But along with the emotion evoked by one so young and promising gone missing, I grew concerned that, as I saw things, there were forces at work - another land, a tourist economy, a class system that could provide a scapegoat - that at least had the potential to keep whatever the truth is from coming out.

Having been blogging for almost a year, I realized I didn't have to just read the paper, or the websites. I could pick up a telephone. I could develop sources. I could, in a small way, be a part of a search for truth and not just wait to see what was fed to my by whatever the circumstances and large media presented to me.

I also came to realize that I could tell my own little discovered truths along the way, with all their shades of gray and uncertainty, in a manner a larger more established media simply cannot do; nor should it try.

And I didn't go searching for readers, somehow they found me. If I'm not mistaken, that's what the larger more established blogs that have all but ignored this story always told me blogging was - at it's best. And also how you would know that you're succeeding, such as it is.

This wasn't a decision for me. It just happened ... the way so may things happen. A young woman goes on vacation and winds up missing, possibly dead. A young man goes out for the night for some fun and, who knows, forfeits his own life and future in the process? Things happen all the time. This blog deal isn't even an especially remarkable "happening" in the grand scheme of things.

And as for what will happen next ... I can't say, really. Whatever "happens," I suppose. Check back, if it's half-way interesting, I may just let you know. ; )

Paul Van der Sloot Involved In Natalee Holloway Disappearance

After discussions with two independent sources on Aruba this evening, it would appear that a strong working theory by some close to the investigation is that Paulus Van der Sloot was directly involved with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, up to and including disposal of her body after the fact.

This could explain Joran Van der Sloot's unusual interaction with Satish and Deepak Kalpoe during interrogation, as first reported here.

That interaction involved Joran Van der Sloot changing his story immediately after being called a liar by one of the Kalpoe brothers for stating that he had picked him up at the beach.

I asked questions involving a Scared Monkey's report suggesting the Kalpoe brothers and Steve Croes may be released - neither source felt that was likely. In the opinion of one, "the boys are in this up to their ears," and another contact suggested while there will be a court hearing tomorrow, it was not expected that anyone would be released.

Additionally, in a refreshing change, individuals close to the currently ongoing independent search seemed to praise the co-operation of the Aruban Government, as well as the FBI, suggesting that no stone would be left unturned and all co-operation possible would be extended to gain maximum benefit from the independent search.

It was also suggested that police and FBI would be party to the search, as well as supporting it, and that from initial interaction with EquuSearch, they seemed like an incredibly competent group with an impressive capability.

The search could include up to eight divers, as well as resources capable of handling a ground search. Recent fly-overs over several days have been used to identify areas and locations where a body might have been concealed given the last known location of Natalee Holloway and the presumed time line available for that purpose.

If there's anything new in e mail, I'll update below, or here for Blogger News Network readers.

This post is also available at Blogger News Network.

Breaking

Van der Sloot Father arrested.

Update: Brief communication from island - at least some in search party feel optimistic they will find Natalee soon - I'm unable to say why, or if just a feeling - hope to have more tonight.

EquuSearch head said to be arriving today, will review previous findings and team will set strategy for search when rest of group arrives.

Video Report

The Political Teen has the Greta video with an Aruban reporter discussing how Joran's story has changed. What's also confusing is that they seem to be saying that Satish is the older brother of he and Deepak.

Update: Link for video of interview with Natalee's Father.

Update: There's additional video and satelite imagery of Aruba available here.