Major Debacle
2010-06-08 17:18:26 UTC
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060304334.html
By KENDAL WEAVER
The Associated Press
Thursday, June 3, 2010; 8:36 PM
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- A Dutch man suspected in the 2005 disappearance of
Natalee Holloway in Aruba was charged Thursday in Alabama with trying to
extort $250,000 in return for disclosing the location of her body.
A criminal complaint by the U.S. Attorney in federal court in Birmingham
also accused van der Sloot in May 2010 of promising to describe the
circumstances of Holloway's death in return for the money. According to a
sworn statement, van der Sloot got a partial payment of $15,000 wired to a
Netherlands bank soon after.
He has long been a suspect in Aruba in the disappearance of Holloway, an
18-year-old from Mountain Brook, Ala., who was on a graduation trip to
Aruba with other seniors when she turned up missing as they flew home. Her
mother still lives in Alabama.
The name of the person paying the money was not given. A call to U.S.
Attorney Joyce Vance was not immediately returned. She said at a news
conference that her office would not be releasing any more details.
Van der Sloot was arrested Thursday in Chile as a suspect in the death of
a 21-year-old Stephany Flores of Peru. Her neck was broken Sunday, five
years to the day after Holloway disappeared, and her body found by a maid
Tuesday in a Lima hotel room registered to van der Sloot. Police believe
he met the University of Lima business student for the first time the
previous night at a nearby casino.
The two-count complaint in Alabama also charged van der Sloot with wire
fraud stemming from the $15,000.
A statement from Holloway's mother, Beth Twitty said that she "extends her
deepest sympathy to the family of Stephany Flores Ramirez and prays for
swift and sure justice." She said that she was grateful for the prayers
and support she's received.
A message left for Van der Sloot's attorney, Joe Tacopina of New York
City, was not immediately returned.
Aruban authorities didn't prosecute van der Sloot in Holloway's May 30,
2005, disappearance even after he was caught on video saying he had asked
a friend to dump her body.
He told investigators he left her on a beach, drunk. That's the last
anyone saw of her. Van der Sloot was twice arrested in her disappearance -
and twice released for insufficient evidence.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects when Peru woman died. ADDS more background
on Holloway's disappearance case.)
dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060304334.html
By KENDAL WEAVER
The Associated Press
Thursday, June 3, 2010; 8:36 PM
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- A Dutch man suspected in the 2005 disappearance of
Natalee Holloway in Aruba was charged Thursday in Alabama with trying to
extort $250,000 in return for disclosing the location of her body.
A criminal complaint by the U.S. Attorney in federal court in Birmingham
also accused van der Sloot in May 2010 of promising to describe the
circumstances of Holloway's death in return for the money. According to a
sworn statement, van der Sloot got a partial payment of $15,000 wired to a
Netherlands bank soon after.
He has long been a suspect in Aruba in the disappearance of Holloway, an
18-year-old from Mountain Brook, Ala., who was on a graduation trip to
Aruba with other seniors when she turned up missing as they flew home. Her
mother still lives in Alabama.
The name of the person paying the money was not given. A call to U.S.
Attorney Joyce Vance was not immediately returned. She said at a news
conference that her office would not be releasing any more details.
Van der Sloot was arrested Thursday in Chile as a suspect in the death of
a 21-year-old Stephany Flores of Peru. Her neck was broken Sunday, five
years to the day after Holloway disappeared, and her body found by a maid
Tuesday in a Lima hotel room registered to van der Sloot. Police believe
he met the University of Lima business student for the first time the
previous night at a nearby casino.
The two-count complaint in Alabama also charged van der Sloot with wire
fraud stemming from the $15,000.
A statement from Holloway's mother, Beth Twitty said that she "extends her
deepest sympathy to the family of Stephany Flores Ramirez and prays for
swift and sure justice." She said that she was grateful for the prayers
and support she's received.
A message left for Van der Sloot's attorney, Joe Tacopina of New York
City, was not immediately returned.
Aruban authorities didn't prosecute van der Sloot in Holloway's May 30,
2005, disappearance even after he was caught on video saying he had asked
a friend to dump her body.
He told investigators he left her on a beach, drunk. That's the last
anyone saw of her. Van der Sloot was twice arrested in her disappearance -
and twice released for insufficient evidence.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects when Peru woman died. ADDS more background
on Holloway's disappearance case.)