Posted on 11/04/2005 6:25:15 PM PST by nickcarraway
Five months after Alabama teen Natalee Holloway disappeared, her family remains steadfast in their search for clues surrounding her disappearance. Natalee's father, Dave Holloway, and her mother, Beth Holloway-Twitty, have both done their part to keep their daughter's memory alive and her name in the news headlines.
Both Dave and Beth have returned to Aruba numerous times, searching for clues and confronting the Aruban government about their investigation of Natalee's case. Just last week, Dave, accompanied by EquuSearch - a search and recovery team for missing persons - discovered a makeshift memorial for Natalee. A small wooden cross, surrounded by rocks and coral and draped in rosary beads, stood just yards from where Natalee was reportedly last seen alive. Carved in the corner of the cross were the initials "N.H."
The memorial seems interesting considering the fact that it was found in an area off the beaten path, where the general public would not likely have gone. Is it just a memorial from a saddened local citizen, or the work of someone with a guilty conscience? The answer is unclear at this point.
The non-profit, volunteer group EquuSearch has used highly sophisticated sonar equipment, helicopters and manpower to search both land and sea for clues about Natalee's disappearance. Natalee's family is hopeful that with the help of EquuSearch they may finally find some closure.
History Of False Hope
The search for Natalee Holloway has followed a winding path. Each time Beth Holloway-Twitty and Dave Holloway have found a lead to cling to, their hopes have been dashed.
All Suspects Released
On September 3, 2005 Joran van der Sloot, Satish and Deepak Kalpoe were all released from police custody on the condition they stay available to authorities for questioning. Although prosecutors wanted to hold all three suspects longer, an Arbuban judge ordered their release. Even though the three men are free, authorities say they will continue to investigate the connection between these three men and the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.
No Sign Of Missing Alabama Teen At Aruban Pond
Investigators serached a pond not far from the Holiday Inn where Natalee stayed -- but there were no signs. The pond was searched after a witness claimed to have seen the three suspects named in Natalee's disappearance sitting in a parked car near the pond. In addition to the pond, authorities searched a landfill three times.
DNA Not Holloway's
According to the FBI, DNA taken from strands of blond hair stuck to duct tape found on a beach in Aruba did not match the DNA of missing Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway. A park ranger found the duct tape while collecting trash on Aruba's northeast coast - the opposite side of the island from where the Alabama woman was last seen in public. The results of two tests on the hair came back negative.
Tracing Natalee's Steps
Natalee Ann Holloway had just graduated from Mountain Brook High School in Birmingham, Ala. She was looking forward to attending the University of Alabama on a full academic scholarship.
On an unofficial annual senior trip Natalee and approximately 130 of her classmates ventured thousands of miles away to enjoy the white sands and blue waters of Aruba.
For five days the recent graduates and seven chaperones relaxed, sun bathed and enjoyed the Aruba nightlife.
Dressed in the same blue and green striped low-cut blouse and jean miniskirt that she wore at the beach earlier in the day, Holloway spent Sunday evening partying at Carlos 'N Charlie's, a popular restaurant and dance spot where tourists and locals meet in the Aruban capital, Oranjestad.
Monday morning, May 31, 2005 when the rest of the group gathered to catch their flight, Natalee was no where to be found.
Carlos N' Charlie's master of ceremonies, Jose Hernandez, saw Natalee leave about 10 minutes before the restaurant's 1 a.m. closing. He reports that nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, some of Natalee's friends say they saw her getting into a vehicle outside the nightclub.
According to Natalee's stepmother, Robin Holloway, friends say Natalee was last seen with a local resident who claimed to be a foreign exchange student.
One important clue -- police found Natalee's passport inside her hotel room, narrowing the possibility she left the island.
Good comments you made.
I am convienced Deepok Kalpoe is the one who actually killed Natalee.
Wow, so death is justified if a teenager makes a stupid mistake in judgement.
No, not "justified" - don't be stupid.
Well, it you call her an idiot for making the bad judgement what else can one derive from your statement. Sounds as if it is implying she got what she deserved for making stupid statement.
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