Disappearance of Natalee Holloway

"Natalee Holloway" redirects here. For the film, see Natalee Holloway (film).

Natalee Holloway
Senior portrait of Natalee Holloway in 2004
Born
Natalee Ann Holloway

(1986-10-21)October 21, 1986
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.[1]
DisappearedMay 30, 2005 (aged 18)
Oranjestad, Aruba, Netherlands
StatusMissing for 19 years, 3 months and 17 days; declared dead on January 12, 2012[2]
EducationMountain Brook High School
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)[3]
Parents

Natalee Ann Holloway (October 21, 1986 – disappeared May 30, 2005; declared dead January 12, 2012) was an 18-year-old American high school graduate from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who disappeared from the Caribbean island of Aruba on May 30, 2005.[4] Her disappearance resulted in an international media sensation, especially in the United States.[5] The prime suspect, Dutch national Joran van der Sloot, has made conflicting statements over the years about his involvement, including a confession to killing her.[6] Holloway's remains have not been found.

Holloway, who had visited Aruba with classmates following her high school graduation, was scheduled to fly home on May 30 but failed to appear for her flight.[7] She was last seen outside Carlos'n Charlie's, a restaurant and nightclub in Oranjestad, entering a car with local residents van der Sloot and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe.[8] When the three men were questioned, they claimed they had dropped off Holloway at her hotel and denied knowing what had become of her.[9] Upon further investigation by authorities, van der Sloot was arrested twice on suspicion of involvement in her disappearance, and the Kalpoe brothers were each arrested three times. Due to lack of evidence, the suspects were released each time without being charged with a crime.[10][11] Holloway's parents criticized Aruban police for the lack of progress in the investigation. The family also called for a boycott of Aruba, which gained Alabama Governor Bob Riley's support but failed to gain widespread backing.[12][13]

With the assistance of hundreds of volunteers, Aruban investigators conducted an extensive search operation. American special agents from the FBI,[14] fifty Dutch soldiers, and three specially equipped Dutch Air Force F-16 aircraft participated in the search.[15][16][17] In addition to the ground search, divers searched the ocean for Holloway's body.[18] She was never found.[19][20][21]

On December 18, 2007, Aruban prosecutors announced that the case would be closed without charging anyone with a crime.[22][23] However, the case was reopened on February 1, 2008, after video footage was publicized of van der Sloot, under the influence of marijuana, saying that Holloway died on the morning of her disappearance, and that a friend had disposed of her body.[24] Van der Sloot later denied that what he had said was true, and in an interview said that he had sold Holloway into sexual slavery.[25] He later retracted his comments. In January 2012, van der Sloot was convicted of the May 30, 2010, murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores Ramírez in Lima, Peru. At the request of Holloway's father, Alabama judge Alan King declared her legally dead on January 12, 2012.[2]

On June 8, 2023, van der Sloot, who was still the main suspect in Holloway's disappearance, was extradited to the U.S. to face trial for extortion and wire fraud, with both charges being linked to Holloway's disappearance.[26] On October 18, 2023, van der Sloot pleaded guilty to the extortion charges and confessed to killing Holloway by blunt force trauma after she rejected his sexual advances.[6] Eleven days later, he returned to Peru to continue his sentence for killing Flores.[27]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference BethBook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Natalee Holloway declared dead by judge six years after disappearance". The Guardian. London. January 12, 2012. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Court TV 2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference USA Today 2005-06-02 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference BBC News 2005-06-25 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference cnn_proffer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Court TV 2005-06-08 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference CNN 2005-06-09 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference ABC News 2006-02-23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference AP 2007-11-22, 3 re-arrested was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference USA Today 2005-11-21 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference NatSupport was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference LA Times 2007-06-04 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference MSNBC 2005-06-06 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference AP 2007-11-22, F16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference demonstration was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference divers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference MSNBC 2006-05-23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference Alcohol was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rawls 2012-01-12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fox News 2007-12-19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ Cite error: The named reference USA Today 2007-12-18 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference ABC News 2008-02-03 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ Cite error: The named reference Fox News 2008-11-24 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ Chandler, Berly; Cano, Regina Garcia; Briceno, Franklin (June 8, 2023). "Main suspect in 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway arrives in US from Peru to face charges". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  27. ^ Robinson, Carol (November 1, 2023). "Joran van der Sloot returns to Peru to serve murder sentence after Natalee Holloway confession". AL. Retrieved January 2, 2024.