January 08, 2006

SEARCH TEAMS BACK--ARUBA REFUSES TO HELP



Two search teams that helped hunt for missing Mountain Brook teen Natalee Holloway hope to return to Aruba soon for another look. Texas EquuSearch plans to return to the island later this month or next. Director Tim Miller intends to visit Aruba next week to set up the logistics for that trip, said George Adlerz, EquuSearch's manager of training of operations. The nonprofit team began its search after Holloway disappeared May 30 on a graduation trip to the Caribbean island but cut it short due to lack of deep-water equipment. Police and private searches have turned up few clues to her disappearance.


In addition, Florida State University's Underwater Crime Scene Investigation Program has asked Aruban officials if members can return to the island. Forensic divers from that program have been to Aruba twice and on the last visit were searching the waters around the island with sonar.

Director Tom Kelley said the team needs stronger sonar equipment to search two miles offshore, where depths plummet to nearly 600 feet. "We consider the business down there unfinished, and we'd like to go back to finish it up," he said. "We'd love to bring some kind of closure to this. She's an American citizen, she's our neighbor, and we want to make sure that if she was a victim of a crime, we do everything we can to solve it."

Beth Twitty, Holloway's mother, applauded the two search teams' efforts to return but said she didn't plan to revisit the island at this time unless absolutely necessary. She said the teams were frustrated by having to cut their searches short. "They thought they could at least rule out some possibilities," she said by phone from Palm Springs, Calif., where she spoke to a conference of the National Sheriffs' Association.

Twitty also said she was disappointed that authorities did not re-arrest or question one of the suspects, 18-year-old Joran van der Sloot, while he was home in Aruba for the holidays. Van der Sloot, who was detained and released in the case along with six other men, is attending a university in Holland.

Still under investigation Aruban authorities said the investigation is still proceeding but would not comment on any specifics. Aruban Deputy Police Chief Gerold Dompig said he had heard from Miller about EquuSearch's plans and wished them well, but that the government was unlikely to provide official support since the nonprofit group joined in an American call for a boycott of the island.

The boycott was led in part by Gov. Bob Riley, who encouraged Alabamians not to travel to the island in support for Holloway's family. The governors of Arkansas and Georgia have joined in the call for a boycott. "The government wants to work with every organization, but it seems strange to work with someone who calls for a boycott," said Dompig, who also refused to comment on the specifics of the case.

Dompig would not say whether police have come any closer to interviewing Mountain Brook students who were with Holloway on the trip. Aruban authorities have petitioned the State Department for permission to do so and have received support from Rep. Spencer Bachus, whose spokeswoman said Friday that she had no new information.



8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Arubans were asked about a month ago in polls and surveys whether our government should assist the search/dive teams and 87% said NO!! Most feel we've done as much as we really can or want to do. We've never spent so much time or money on an investigation. Since the alleged 3 state boycott and the dishonest rhetoric from the Twit, we're over it. 87% is an incredibly high number of Arubans that don't give a damn, myself included, anymore. Beth needs to get it through her dense redheaded bipolar skull that her daughter's disappearance may NEVER be solved. 87% of Arubans have spoken.

Michelle Says So 2.0 said...

Please cite your "statistics". Who did you poll? You can't just poll Joran's friends and the people at Carlos & Charlies...duh. Stupid, stupid people...

Anonymous said...

http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kouri/050810

Aruba...a drug paradise. SCUMBAGS.

Anonymous said...

Where is the money coming from for Tim Miller's upcoming search in Aruba?

We know that the Arubans paid for his expenses before. Is it the American Tax dollar or the American collection plate being passed around again?

Their are STILL missing people here in America to be found.

Please give us an intelligent answer for these questions.

Not like words you have been using like duh.. stupid...idiot...
Use more of the English vocabulary
please.

Anonymous said...

The case and expenses from it would not have been as high if the LE hadn't screwed up. Most people in America could see that Aruba definitely has le problems.
I would like to know actually what the Arubians did. How about some of the big time receipts. I saw a few smaller donations to recovery for Natalee but they probally knew they wouldn't have to pay that. Frankly, really tired of almost everybody their lying. No we don't all lie in America about murder cases. Usally when people are the last ones with the victim, they really aresuspects. Usally they are guilty too.

Anonymous said...

http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kouri/051019

http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kouri/050810

Aruba....One hell of a drug infested island. They will always have an income to fall back on. The slimy Paulus will see to it along with Dum-pig his buddy.
Where is Natalee. Tell the truth you corrupt island of CREEPS. Hope the income there gets so bad that you are all thrown to the sharks like what you did to Natalee.

Anonymous said...

Ms. lake erie prom queen:
Freedom of speech, remember?
Simple questions need simple answers.

As usual, you didnt answer one of my questions thus far. How could you? You dont know.

SPECULATION......

We are not slamming anyone.

Money doesnt grow on trees.

Dan in Tx said...

Oh I almost forgot: about who is paying for all this. I will tell you what I know, since Beth and Dave have nothing to hide (and they're both way too dignified to acknowledge these ugly Aruban rumors. Remember, readers, it is common sociopathic behavior to blame the victim, and Aruba seems to defend sociopaths against all reason or morality):

Ruben Trappenberg crowed about how much money Aruba spent on this investigation, but Jug said this amounted to some taxi fares and equipment rentals. So who do you believe, given that nobody has produced receipts? I know who 70% of Americans will believe....especially when they consider how Aruba can't even account for millions of dollars supposedly spent on airport improvements. How did Rudy pay for his helicopter, anyway?

Americans have deep pockets, deep enough to give a tiny Caribbean nation no different than any other tiny Caribbean nation 70% of their income. Deep enough to give till it hurts. Go on just about any pro-Beth, pro-Natalee, pro-boycott website and see how many don't have Paypal donations for them linked up.
According to the U.S. State Department factbook, Aruba's average annual household income is $22,000 USD. The average American household income is twice that. We have a lot of money to donate and a lot of money to spend in Martinique, Barbados, the Grand Caymans...and NOT in Aruba.

But by all means keep taking the course you are, Aruba. Keep giving the American people more reasons to believe every rumor of sex parties after hours, every rumor of rape gangs, every rumor of corruption and cover-up. The other Caribbean nations, your neighbors, are staying silent because they are licking their chops at all the business they will get from your loss. And guess what? The American businesses follow the tourists...nobody will fund a hotel on an empty island!

I would suggest you stock up on soap while you can.