I believe it would be beneficial to have some quotes taken from interviews Beth, Dave, and others did, just to refresh our memories.
I am going to attempt to post quotes from an interview each day, as time permits.
Todays quotes are from an interview on
11-14-05 Rita Cosby Live
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10050337/
COSBY: And tonight: The father of the key suspect in the Natalee Holloway case is off the hook, but some people believe he should not be eliminated as a suspect. And our next guest says he may soon have some proof. Late Friday, an Aruban judge said Paul Van Der Sloot is no longer a suspect in the search for the Alabama teen. In fact, Paul Van Der Sloot could even receive damages from the government of Aruba after being held for three days in an Aruban jail.
Joining me now is private investigator T.J. Ward, who has been working hard on this case. T.J., why do you think they sort of let him off the hook too soon?
T.J. WARD, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: Well, we really don‘t know. We‘ve been running a parallel investigation after finishing up our assignment with the Holloway-Twitty family in August and returned to Atlanta, and we have incorporated several retired FBI agents through my associate, Harold Phipps, with the Norcross (ph) Group. We sent an e-mail out and got a great response with about 12 federal agents who are familiar with the area down there, who‘s assisting us, and information that we have that he‘s directly involved with this investigation. And we‘re sorry to see that the Aruban government has let him off the hook at this time.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10050337/
COSBY: Now, is this information that the Aruban government has, as well, you believe?
WARD: I don‘t believe they have this information. Or if they do, they‘ve got some other source or plan or direction they‘re going in. But the information that we‘re receiving and in the case that we are building all the way from the beginning of us being in Aruba in June, ties Paulus Van Der Sloot directly involved in this case.
COSBY: And T.J., how credible do you believe this information is?
And is it witnesses? Is it evidence? Is it a combination?
WARD: There‘s witnesses and interviews that we‘ve done and information that we have received, most recently as last week, that gives us information that he—there‘s a possibility, a very strong possibility, that he‘s involved.
COSBY: When do you think that all these pieces are going to come together for what you‘re look at T.J.?
WARD: Well, probably within the next month, we will have some good
solid information, and go forth and go public with it, and then we will
turn our information over to the Aruba Government and the FBI
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10050337/
COSBY: Are the indications that you are getting that he may have played a role in the crime, the cover up or which aspect?
WARD: We think he has played a role in the cover up of her disappearance.
COSBY: How strong do you also still believe that the three boys played a role too from everything that you are getting?
WARD: We believe the boys are directly involved. And again, our theory is that something happened to Natalee, either where she stopped breathing, had a heart attack or whatever.
And in the course of that happening, we think Paul Van der Sloot played a part in the after effect of that in the removal and concealing of Natalee Holloway.
COSBY: Do you believe, real quick T.J., that what you have, could blow this wide open?
WARD: Yes, I do.
COSBY: And you think maybe within a month?
WARD: I would say within the next 30 days, we should have some good solid information that we will be able to go public with it.
COSBY: All right, T.J. please keep us posted. Thank you very much.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10050337/
I believe it would be beneficial to relook at some interviews Beth, Dave, and others did, just to refresh our memories.
I am going to attempt to post an interview each day, as time permits.
Todays interview is
6-29-2005 Abrams Report
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8416795/
ABRAMS: Hi everyone. First up on the docket tonight, she has the answers to the question everyone has been asking about the case of that missing Alabama teen, Natalee Holloway in Aruba. What evidence do they actually have against the various suspects? Are they even convinced a crime has been committed?
Well, only moments ago, Caren Janssen, chief prosecutor in the case sat down with our own Martin Savidge for her first interview. It‘s another exclusive. He joins us now with what Janssen revealed—Martin.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Dan. There was a lot of information that was revealed. One of the things we should tell you is that Caren Janssen has been a prosecutor for 12 years. For a year and a half, she‘s been the chief prosecutor on the island of Aruba.
The moment you see her, you understand she is a no-nonsense individual. She had some ground rules and she told us quite clearly, we either follow them or we‘d be out of her office never to return again. The ground rules were fairly simple.
We got 15 minutes—that was it—and she had a statement to make initially. After that we could ask questions. Here was the end result.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAREN JANSSEN, CHIEF PROSECUTOR IN ARUBA: We are basing our investigation on that possibility. So I can‘t answer your question positively because we have not found any traces of a crime. We are investigating that possibility.
SAVIDGE: And again, you seem to allude to it. You are working under the belief that she is dead, but you have not received anything to confirm that she is dead. Is that right?
JANSSEN: No. No, we can‘t confirm that because otherwise, we would have told the family first. But there are no traces, no facts, no circumstances that we can base the opinion that we are sure that Natalee is not alive anymore.
SAVIDGE: And you have not been told anything by the people in custody that...
SAVIDGE: ... she is dead?
JANSSEN: No. No. That‘s true. They didn‘t tell us that.
SAVIDGE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) I guess there was a feeling—there is a feeling...
JANSSEN: Yes.
SAVIDGE: ... that with the release of Mr. Van Der Sloot, Paul, with the release of Steven Croes, that the investigation has reached an impasse. I know you‘ve spoken about that...
JANSSEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
SAVIDGE: ... but you seem to imply that actually no, things are moving along very well.
JANSSEN: Yes, I don‘t have that feeling that we are in the middle of an impasse or that we are at the end of a tunnel. I think positively because we have many questions, we have a lot of things we have to search for, and I think we are in a phase—an important phase in the investigation, a crucial phase, perhaps, by getting those technical information so we can make a timeline because it‘s not only the night of Sunday to Monday what is important but also the days after.
SAVIDGE: And these communications you speak of...
JANSSEN: Yes.
SAVIDGE: ... the messaging, the chatting...
SAVIDGE: ... this is what occurred between the three suspects?
JANSSEN: Also and others.
SAVIDGE: After Natalee vanished?
JANSSEN: Yes. Yes.
SAVIDGE: Have you actually been able to read or do you only understand that they communicated...
JANSSEN: No...
SAVIDGE: Do you know what they were saying?
JANSSEN: We have much more information than only that. I can‘t tell you the details about that. I only can say there‘s telephone, e-mail, chat sessions, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) messages and that‘s the sort of communication that we are investigating now. And it gives us a clear picture of where they were and how they communicate and what they said to each other.
SAVIDGE: One of the criticisms that has come from America is why did it take so long before the three young men, the last man...
JANSSEN: Yes.
SAVIDGE: ... to be with Natalee...
JANSSEN: Yes.
SAVIDGE: ... were taken into custody.
JANSSEN: Well that‘s an important question. I‘m glad you asked me that. Because everyone in my business knows that if you have a crime, and you do an investigation, and you have a certain moment that a person is coming to be a suspect, it‘s the worse thing you can do is run and arrest him because in one hour you don‘t have anything to speak about. Your—through your subjects what you can discuss, you have to investigate around him, have some information and then when you have a good solid base, you can go talk with somebody as a suspect.
SAVIDGE: Did you survey them? Did you follow them? Did you listen to their conversations? Clearly you were able to gather information.
JANSSEN: Yes. I can‘t tell you what we did in that time. But we spent it on building up the investigation, step by step.
SAVIDGE: The concern is that perhaps evidence was lost. That there was time for the suspects to dispose of what could have been evidence.
JANSSEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) That‘s not my opinion. No.
SAVIDGE: OK. The father—let me see if you understood this correctly. You mentioned that there was harm done to the investigation from Mr. Van Der Sloot, Paul Van Der Sloot...
JANSSEN: Yes.
SAVIDGE: ... and you said the family. Are you referring to the Holloway family when they—could you just clarify what you said...
JANSSEN: Yes. OK. I said that the investigation was—I think you called it...
JANSSEN: ... harm or obstructed, by the fact that the father of the suspect, the minor, who has always been arrested but released...
SAVIDGE: What did the father do?
JANSSEN: Well, the father has spoken with those three suspects and he said he gave them some legal advice but I think the advices were going further than that. They spoke about the situation that when there is no body, you don‘t have a case, and that was already in the first day after the disappearance. And secondly, the father and the mother have asked a friend of Joran, the suspect—the minor suspect, to come to their home to tell them what he has explained to the police. And that is, well, I can say was an obstruction of the investigation.
SAVIDGE: So both the Holloway family and the father in some way has...
JANSSEN: I‘m not talking about the Holloway family.
SAVIDGE: OK...
JANSSEN: No...
SAVIDGE: ... that‘s what I want to make sure...
JANSSEN: No, I‘m not talking about the Holloway family. I‘m talking about the family of the minor suspect, the suspect who is 17.
SAVIDGE: OK. The father spoke to the three young men prior to them being taken into custody and offered them some sort of legal advice...
JANSSEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
SAVIDGE: ... including specifically saying if there is no body, how it would impact the investigation.
JANSSEN: They talked about that and he confirmed that...
JANSSEN: ... and they talked about that.
SAVIDGE: Seems a very damning thing to say...
JANSSEN: Well, you can take your own conclusion of that, but I can say that the investigation has shown and he confirms that, that is spoken to them. That was the conversation only a couple of days after the disappearance.
SAVIDGE: Do you consider the father a suspect or is it this obstruction or interference that you arrested him for?
JANSSEN: No, we did not arrest him for that interference situation. He was a suspect and the judge made his decision that there were insufficient grounds to make him a suspect.
SAVIDGE: And how did you feel when you heard that from the judge?
JANSSEN: Well, as always, a disappointment when you are running an investigation and one of your suspects is released, but it‘s not the end of the investigation and we are going, we are going further to solve this case and find the truth.
SAVIDGE: Do you think you will solve it?
JANSSEN: I hope it. I can‘t give you guarantees, but we are still determined and working all right.
SAVIDGE: The point that the father brought up in the conversation to the boys, if there is no body—and we have been searching all over this island for so long...
JANSSEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
SAVIDGE: ... and searching in the water—what happens if there isn‘t a body? What happens if she is never found? Can you pursue this case?
JANSSEN: Well we are now in the middle of an investigation. Everybody is watching, the suspects also. So it wouldn‘t be wise to say anything about that possibility. We are focusing on the investigation. We are getting some information. We are doing it step by step. It takes not days, perhaps weeks, but we are concentrating on that.
SAVIDGE: But you know Dutch law. I mean you must know what is required as far as evidence and proof.
JANSSEN: Well, Dutch law is not so many different about—than the American system. Maybe when you go to court. In America, you have a jury trial and in the Dutch law, it is the judge who makes decision if somebody is guilty or not guilty. But to build up the evidence, I think it‘s not so different as in the states.
SAVIDGE: With the evidence you have today, would you feel confident going before a judge?
JANSSEN: We have a long way to go. We have still a long way to go.
SAVIDGE: That implies you may not have a lot.
JANSSEN: You must give me a chance.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SAVIDGE: And a chance is what she says she needs at this particular point. She said the reason she talked to us was she wanted Americans to see her face, to see her personality, to understand how committed she is to this particular case. There are 20 investigators from Aruba alone working on it in conjunction with the FBI and top investigators here from the Netherlands. She says that is the least that is due to the family of Natalee Holloway and to the American public to understand—Dan.
ABRAMS: All right, Martin, great job getting that interview. We‘re going to play more of Martin‘s interview coming up in our next block, more information coming from the chief prosecutor. But let me just summarize because we just heard a lot, a lot more than I would have expected this chief prosecutor would have said.
First of all no confession—none of the suspects, she says, have actually confessed to killing Natalee Holloway, number one. Number two:
That the three suspects, and others were e-mailing and texting each other and they now have those e-mails and text messages and they‘ve now obtained those e-mails and text messages. That‘s number two.
Number three: That the father of Joran Van Der Sloot, who was arrested and then released offered the three suspects legal advice and she said, but it was more than that. She had said to them—that he said to them when there‘s no body you don‘t have a case. But she also added that he was arrested not just for that, as we knew, but that he was arrested because he was a suspect in this case.
snip
ABRAMS: We‘re back with more of the exclusive interview with the top prosecutor in Aruba certainly making news. She‘s in charge of the Natalee Holloway investigation, the missing Alabama teen. Prosecutor Caren Janssen sat down with Martin Savidge. Martin is back with us—Martin.
SAVIDGE: Yes, one of the things that we talked about in this interview was you know the charges. And as you know the law, the setup here is a little bit different than it is in the United States. You are charged under suspicion or suspicion of a crime and they didn‘t want to talk specifically in the first week of the investigation as to what the charges were that they were contemplating. There was a reason for that and that‘s what Caren Janssen is talking about right now here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANSSEN: The prosecution did not express the charges, the public during the first week of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, more out of respect also for the family. We did not want to speak about murder and homicide because we did not want to hurt the feelings of that family unnecessarily and because in the early stage, they only want to find their girl alive.
At this stage of the investigation, we cannot exclude that something terrible maybe happened to Natalee. We are determined to find the truth, to find Natalee and in case somebody harmed her to find those who are responsible. The investigation has been hampered by the fact that the father had been instructing the three suspects with elementary aspects and the parents together, has been interviewing friends of their son about what he told to the police.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: One of the other things that the prosecutor wanted to express and expressed very clearly was that we started talking about the frustration of the Holloway family, they‘ve been very vocal, especially in the past couple of days about how they feel this investigation is not going in a positive direction. And Caren Janssen said that she understood that frustration, that she could sympathize with their anger and she knew where it was coming from and that said quite frankly if the shoe were on the other foot, if she was in that predicament, she would feel the same frustrations.
But she has also met with them and again, one of the reasons she
granted this interview was to express not just to the Holloway family, but
to the American public that she personally is doing everything she can to -
· one—find Natalee Holloway, find those who are responsible and understand exactly what happened—Dan.
ABRAMS: All right. Martin Savidge, once again thank you very much for that exclusive interview out of Aruba.
snip
ABRAMS: Mr. Lejuez, have you been able to hear this interview with the prosecutor?
CHRIS LEJUEZ, ABRAHAM JONES‘ ATTORNEY: Most of it. Not all of it though.
ABRAMS: What do you make of this? Let me ask you as a legal matter in Aruba. It sounds like what the prosecutor is saying is, because the father spoke to the three suspects a couple days after Natalee disappeared, gave them advice, said to them where there‘s no body, there‘s no case and then they say that he and his wife interviewed the friend of their son to find out what their son had said to police. Is any of that illegal in Aruba?
LEJUEZ: It‘s not illegal, sir, but I would rather not comment regarding the ongoing investigation. There is one thing I will say something about. There is the fact that I heard the prosecutor say that she has no proof yet that a crime has been committed. This is something that I‘ve been saying all along right from the start.
We don‘t know yet if there has been a crime—if a crime has been committed. What we do have are suspicions that possibly a crime has been committed and based on these suspicions these people are being held apparently, sir.
ABRAMS: But does it sound to you—again and I‘m not asking about what you know about the case. I‘m asking you sort of just as someone who knows Aruban law. Are you allowed, as a lawyer in Aruba—I mean, here you‘re allowed to say to someone hey look, if there‘s no body, there‘s no crime, to give that advice. You‘re allowed to go and ask people questions about what someone said to the police, et cetera. It sounds like what the prosecutor is saying is that‘s an obstruction of justice.
LEJUEZ: I can tell you this sir, I heard (UNINTELLIGIBLE) last night on TV, on the Dutch television, where he mentioned that he did speak to the boys and he explained to them the criminal procedure in Aruba. That‘s the word he used. He explained to them the procedure.
ABRAMS: And based on what you‘ve heard the prosecutor say, does it sound to you like that‘s all he did?
LEJUEZ: I believe that the prosecutor is a serious person, would have reasons to state what she has stated. I cannot confirm it though.
ABRAMS: Yes. What about your client? What about the fact—your client and his friend, are they still possibly going to be called as witnesses?
LEJUEZ: The case against—they have been released but that doesn‘t mean that the case against them has been dropped as yet, so it‘s possible that they would want to hear them again either as witnesses or a suspect. Until the case is dropped, they‘re really in the clear in this case, sir.
snip
ABRAMS: Mr. Lejuez, what do you think of our analysis on this?LEJUEZ: I‘m sorry; did you speak to me sir?
ABRAMS: Yes, I was asking you what you thought of the analysis that we have just been going through about the father‘s role?
LEJUEZ: It‘s quite accurate. In Aruba you do have the right not to testify against your son or your father or mother or your grandchildren or your spouse. He waived that right apparently. It doesn‘t mean that you have the right to lie though. Once you waive the right, you have to tell the truth. And according to his own interview, he has been telling them about the procedures in Aruba. There‘s nothing wrong with that. Any father would do that. But I don‘t know if he has given them more specifics regarding the case itself. According to Mrs. Janssen, apparently he did...
ABRAMS: Yes...
LEJUEZ: I can‘t confirm that.
ABRAMS: All right, here‘s the sound again just so we‘re clear on exactly what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANSSEN: The father has spoken with those three suspects and he said he gave them some legal advice, but I think the advices was going further than that. They spoke about the situation that when there is no body, you don‘t have a case and that was already in the first day after the disappearance. And secondly, the father and the mother have asked a friend of Joran, the suspect, the minor suspect, to come to their home to tell them what he has explained to the police. That is, well, I can say, was an obstruction of the investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8416795/