A Once in a Lifetime Trip to Aruba - the Disappearance of Natalee Holloway

We all dream of that once-in-a-lifetime trip to a famous destination where we can enjoy parties on the beach, challenging hikes over beautiful vistas, or even snuggle up by the fire after a long day of skiing and fun in the snow. In fact, chances are you’ve heard of Aruba before. It’s known for its stunning beaches, windswept desert landscape, its gorgeous colorful cities, and its spectacular wreck dives. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that Aruba is one of the most desirable vacation destinations in the Caribbean, if not the whole world. That said, even the world’s most idyllic places are not free from danger.

Setting the Scene:

Natalee Ann Holloway was born to parents Dave and Elizabeth Holloway in Memphis Tennessee. Her parents divorced in 1993, and she, along with her younger brother Matthew, was raised by their mother. In 2000, Elizabeth married George Twitty, an Alabama businessman, and moved her family to Mountain Brook. Natalee graduated from Mountain Brook High School on May 24, 2005, and only days later, went on the fabled graduation trip to Aruba, along with 124 of her fellow graduates.

The graduates were accompanied by 7 chaperones, some of the teachers, who met with the teens every day to make sure everyone was fine. Holloway was known to drink excessively, according to friends, beginning every day with cocktails, and even failing to show up for breakfast on a number of occasions. She was last seen leaving Carlos’n Charlie’s bar and nightclub in Oranjestad at 1:30 am on the 30th. She left in a car accompanied by 17-year-old Joran van der Sloot, a Dutch honors student living in Aruba, and his Surinamese friends, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe.  Holloway was scheduled to return to Alabama later that day, but she never appeared for her flight. Her luggage and passport were found in her Holiday Inn room, and Aruban authorities began a search of the island and surrounding waters. They found nothing.

On the Case:

Holloway’s parents flew down to Aruba immediately following her disappearance. Very shortly after, the Twittys give Police the name and address of Van der Sloot, which they got from the Holiday Inn night manager, who reportedly recognized Van der Sloot from security footage. They went with police to Van der Sloot’s home, where he initially denied knowing Holloway, but then told a story that was confirmed by Deepak Kalpoe, who was at the house. According to Van der Sloot, the group stopped at the lighthouse area of Arashi Beach on the way because Holloway wanted to see sharks, and they later dropped her off at the Holiday Inn at around 2:00 am. Holloway apparently fell when she exited the car but refused Van der Sloot’s help. As they drove away, he thought he saw her approached by a dark man in black clothes that resembled a security guard.

The search for Holloway began immediately after, in a combined effort of Aruban and American volunteers, many of whom were Aruban civil servants that the government had given days off to assist in the search. Among the efforts provided, Elizabeth was provided housing initially at the Holiday Inn, then the Wyndham Hotel, and the Aruban government’s provision of $20,000 and other support to volunteer search teams.

Holloway was apparently not caught on the Hotel’s security cameras, and conflicting reports - some from Beth Twitty - have indicated that cameras were not working that night. On top of this lack of clarity, Police Commissioner Jan van der Straaten stated that Holloway didn’t need to enter from the lobby to reach her room. An extensive search for physical evidence was subject to many false leads, including a possible blood sample taken from Deepak’s car - which turned out not to be blood.

On June 5, 2005, police arrested two former Allegro Hotel security guards, Abraham Jones and Nick John, on suspicion of kidnapping and murder. While not confirmed officially by authorities, News accounts suggest that statements from Van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers played a significant role in the arrests. Reports indicated that the two were known to cruise by hotels to pick up women and that one of them had prior encounters with police. The two were released on the 13th, all charges were dropped. On the 9th, however, Joran van der Sloot and the Kalpoes were arrested on the same suspicions. According to police commissioner Gerold Dompig, they were the prime suspects in the case from the beginning, and for a few days after the incident, the three were being closely monitored, with surveillance, phone wiretaps, and even on their emails. Dompig also indicated that the investigation’s cessation and transition to arrest were pressured by the Twittys. According to Dompig, one of the suspects admitted that “something bad” happened when they took Holloway to the beach and led police to the scene; the prosecution spokesperson refused to confirm or deny the allegation, stating only that the investigation was at “a crucial, very important moment.”

On Jun. 17, disc jockey Steve Croes was also arrested, according to Van der Straaten, on information provided by the other three detainees. Joran’s father Paulus van der Sloot was detained for questioning and subsequently arrested. Both he and Croes were released a few days later. During this time, all three prime suspects changed their stories. The Kalpoes apparently dropped Holloway and van der Sloot at the Marriott Hotel beach, and he left her there, while not harming her. Van der Sloot also told yet another story wherein the Kalpoes dropped him off at home and drove off with Holloway, but Dompig believes this latest story came from Van der Sloot’s suspicion that the Kalpoes were essentially pointing fingers at him. The Kalpoe brothers were released July 4th, but Van der Sloot was detained 60 days longer.

In 2006 and 2007 several other arrests were made against individuals who authorities believed were connected to the crime, including the rearrests of the Kalpoe brothers and Van der Sloot on the suspicion of manslaughter and bodily harm that may have caused Holloway’s death. Van der Sloot was incarcerated, but the Kalpoe brothers were released on Nov. 30. On Dec. 18, prosecutor Hans Mos declared the official closing of the case, and no charges were filed for lack of evidence.

In 2010, Van der Sloot contacted Beth Twitty’s lawyer and offered to reveal the location of Holloway’s body and the circumstances surrounding her death, for an advance of $25,000, and a total of $250,000. It was found that the claims he made in exchange for the money were falsified, and he was charged with extortion and wire fraud by the U.S. District Court of Northern Alabama.

Later in 2010, Flores Ramirez, a business student went missing in Lima Peru and was found 3 days later in a hotel room registered in Van Der Sloot’s name. He was arrested and extradited to Peru, where he confessed to the murder and was charged with first-degree manslaughter. He reportedly told Peruvian authorities he knew the location of Holloway’s death as well as offered Aruban authorities find it, but his interrogator reported that the questioning was limited strictly to the murder of Flores. He apparently confessed to extortion, claiming he wanted to hurt the Holloways after making his life difficult, as well as pleaded guilty for the murder of Flores Ramirez, for which he was sentenced to 28 years.

In 2012, Holloway was officially declared legally dead. No traces of her were ever found.