Posted on 06/02/2005 8:02:49 AM PDT by SamFromLivingston
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — FBI and Aruban officials said Wednesday that they had flew clues to the whereabouts of a Mountain Brook High School graduate who disappeared during a senior trip to the island.
FBI officials in the Caribbean were coordinating with Aruban police and Dutch authorities, who oversee Aruba, to search for Natalee Holloway, 18, The Birmingham News reported.
Holloway joined about 125 graduating seniors and adults on the five-day trip, which is an annual tradition not sponsored by the school. Other students said she never showed up for the group's return flight Monday.
"We went to check in for our airplane, and she wasn't there, and she's been missing since then," said Jay Weinacker, a member of Holloway's graduating class.
Holloway's parents, David Holloway, of Meridian, Miss., and Beth Holloway Twitty of Mountain Brook, and several family members traveled to Aruba to aid the search, said Robin Holloway, the girl's stepmother.
"It is torture," Robin Holloway said. "It is just agony."
Aruban police said Wednesday that they had questioned and released three local men who said they dropped the teenager off at her hotel late Sunday night. Officials said the girl's parents were unable to spot her on a hotel surveillance tape.
Officials said there were few leads on Natalee's whereabouts.
After hearing of her disappearance, Robin Holloway said her husband felt compelled to search for his daughter.
"We can't just sit here and do nothing," she said. "We don't know if she is still in Aruba ... or she's been kidnapped. We just don't know anything."
Officials at Mountain Brook Community Church said more than 150 people participated Tuesday in a prayer service for Holloway.
"Word just kind of got out, and parents and students just really wanted to get together and have a little prayer service for the whole situation," said Troy Gambrell, an associate in the youth ministry.
Unless she just had big problems at home and didn't want to go back or was looking for her 15 minutes of fame etc I dunno. Pray she's playing such a game. If so, hug her when found and then whip that butt good for playing such a game.
The only other alternative is that she is "working" somewhere against her will.
18 year olds are adults in the United States. She'd be able to go with or without her parents' blessings and with or without any "parental chaperones".
LOL,,,when you are in a hole, stop digging.
Who said that?
I am at a loss to figure where on earth you people come up with these fantasy posts.
Believe me, I've been out there. I've had to travel more in the last three years than I have in my entire life. And the more I see of the world, the less I want to travel.
Both my children's senior classes cruised to the Caribbean in 2004 and 2005. There was an adult chaperon for every 4 students and they still talk of the wonderful time they had.
Prayers for this young lady and her family.
Lucky them. We didn't get a senior trip.
That's what I thought. Ignore it and hope nobody notices.
If people got paid to twist other's words and make up meanings, you would be wealthy.
Specifically what words of yours did I twist?
Very sad.
bookmarking
When I was 15, I did three weeks in Europe. Three of the most fascinating weeks of my life. I don't regret it and neither do my parents.
But your parents must have been CRAAAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZZEEEEEEEEEEEE!
< /sarcasm>
Key word in your sentence....United States.
Latest update from Aruba News is that she was seen having lunch with two "beach bums" in Noord on Tuesday. Hopefully she is still alive and has just gone "walkabout".
This young lady certainly heard of the "Runaway Bride" fiasco. Why would she create gut-wrenching fear among friends in her class tour group, and her family at home by voluntarily disappearing on an island that has no "out" such as a Greyhound to Las Vegas?
"Three men in a car dropping her off" or "lunch with two beach bums" coupled with no word from her for several days doesn't bode well at all.
Leni
I agree that it doesn't look good. Still, a sighting on Tuesday (IF legitimate) is better "than last seen on Sunday".
I'll continue to hope for the best.
Aruba: Crime
Illicit drugs: transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity Crime Info. for Aruba
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The 18-year-old went to a nightclub in Aruba with a man she befriended while on the trip. She was last seen in the man's car leaving the club at about 1 a.m. Monday.
The man, who lives in Aruba, has been interrogated and his car is in FBI custody.
The trip has been by taken by Mountain Brook students and chaperones for the last three years. About 138 seniors and seven chaperones took the trip this year.
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A statement from U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, said his office has been in contact with Holloway's family and the U.S. consulate on the island. Island authorities have requested FBI assistance, according to Bachus' statement.
Macia Twitty, Holloway's step-aunt, said she is an excellent student and was on the high school dance team. She is expected to attend the University of Alabama this fall on an academic scholarship.
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Alabama girl missing for fourth day in Caribbean island, police fear worst
If you are interesdted in vacationing in the Caribbean, try cruising to a lot of places, then focus on one to re-visit.
We just cruise, these days, since the food is great, and Celebrity really does treat us well...
We arrived early in the cool part of the day, but it got up close to 100 IN NOVEMBER! Yet, we found the place great, and NEVER felt fear of anybody...
Go, and enjoy! The natural bridge is on the north shore, and is about the only thing to see there, other than an old stone fort...
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