FBI Agent Involvement- Holloway Case Links/Trans./threads

[Fu-Gee-La]

Bachus Press Conference Dec 16, 2005 TRANSCRIPT

SNIPS-

At my request, and let me go back and tell you my involvement in the Natalee Holloway case The day that Natalee or the day or the day after Natalee missed her flight, the Holloway family contacted me as their congressman and asked if I would help them in the search for Natalee. I immediately asked if the FBI was involved and I don't remember at this late date whether they asked me to talk to the FBI or whether I suggested the FBI to them, but I did call our american representative in Aruba and talked personally with him. I found out that the procedure would be for the aruban government to request the help of the FBI. I immediately placed that call, talked to two members of the aruban government and within probably six (6) hours, and I think there have been varying reports in the news media, but within six (6) hours there was a formal request from the aruban government to involve, at least within six (6) hours I had information and confirmation that the aruban government had requested the participation of the FBI. That was reported in the Birmingham News and (inaudible)


There have been people who have said Is this effort by the arubans simply an effort to mitigate the boycott or the bad publicity. I can't answer that, other than to say that they did not suggest this to me. This was my suggestion to them, that I would like them to come to the United States and meet with both State and Federal officials . I've also heard from time to time that the FBI is involved, they're in Aruba. On one or two occasions I had confirmation that six (6) agents were on the ground in Aruba. I've heard from time to time that the Arubans and the FBI were co-operating, weren't co-operating. I mainly heard that on tv. The FBI policy is mainly not to comment to me in an official nature, but I have asked them if the arubans are not co-operating with you, if they're (inaudible) you ethically, please let me know and they have never adivsed me of a lack of co-operation. I've seen those on the news media and I've simply not the person to say that those reports are or are not true .

What will be taking place today, in fact as we meet is, there were two things in my discussion with the arubans which I asked them and they asked me. I asked them to come to Washington to meet with State and Federal officials. They in fact told me that they had two (2) requests of me. One (1) was that I try to facilitate greater co-operation between them and the State Department and the FBI in that they had made requests of the State Department and the FBI in connection with interviewing witnesses here in this country.

http://www.refugeesunleashed.net/viewtopic.php?t=3493

From June 3, 2005 briefing at the State Department

MR. MCCORMACK: What I can share with you is that the Department learned on Tuesday, June 1st, that an American citizen was missing in Aruba. The citizen's name is Natalee Holloway and she was last seen on Monday night, I think, on May 31st. Natalee's family have arrived in Aruba and a consular officer from Curacao is in Aruba at this time and is in contact with the family. And we are making sure that we provide all possible assistance to the family and local authorities and would also note that the FBI is also on hand and cooperating with local authorities in the search effort. And beyond that, I can't really offer anything else, due to Privacy Act considerations.
Why don't we go in the back. Yes.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0506/S00076.htm
http://www.refugeesunleashed.net/viewtopic.php?t=4665

[Fu-Gee-La]

Tuesday, June 07, 2005


Aruban police in unmarked cars accompanied by FBI agents made a pre-dawn raid at 5 a.m. Sunday, rousting two suspects aged 28 and 30 from their beds.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,158666,00.html


BACHUS STATEMENT ON MEETING

WITH ARUBAN OFFICIALS





WASHINGTON - Congressman Spencer Bachus, along with criminal justice and law enforcement officials, today met with Aruban authorities regarding the Natalee Holloway case. He released the following statement after the meeting:



“The day after Natalee’s disappearance, I contacted Aruban authorities and they agreed to invite the FBI to the island. It was at that time I established ongoing communications with those authorities. That communication has continued. As a result, an invitation was extended to them to come to Washington to review the Holloway investigation and answer our questions.


“The meetings today in Washington were not intended to be a substitute for meetings between the family and their representatives and Aruban officials. Meetings between the family representatives and Aruban officials were previously arranged and it is my understanding some of those meetings took place this week in Aruba.



“The meetings today were between state and federal law enforcement agencies and Aruban officials. The first meeting was with state officials and included Jefferson County District Attorney David Barber, Shelby County District Attorney Robert Owens and Alabama District Attorneys Association Investigator Russell Yawn.



“Also in a separate meeting with the Arubans - from the FBI - were Chris Gregorski, Acting Chief Violent Crimes Section, and Chip Burrus, Deputy Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation Division.



“The Aruban delegation included two law enforcement officers involved in the ongoing Holloway case, as well as representatives of the Aruban Prime Minister and Dutch Embassy. Adolfo Richardson was the senior Aruban police official in the investigation and took over the investigation after the retirement of Jon Vandor Stratten. Renato Emerencia is the police analyst who is responsible for the maintenance, organization and analysis of the evidence in the Natalee Holloway case. Other Aruban officials, including Deputy Police Chief Dompig, participated in today’s meeting by telephone from Aruba.



“We had a frank and open discussion regarding the progress of the investigation and of their efforts and intentions going forward. Disclosure of confidential information could compromise the investigation, and, therefore, I am not at liberty to share any information not previously released.



“The Arubans assured us the case is going forward with 14 investigators presently assigned. They also advised us that 40 percent of their annual law enforcement budget has been spent on this case. They did make one specific request of me: to facilitate greater cooperation and coordination with federal authorities. I will most certainly honor that request, and hopefully, the meeting with the FBI will be helpful in that regard.


“Our thoughts and prayers remain with Natalee and with the Holloway family.”

http://www.refugeesunleashed.net/viewtopic.php?p=147209

[Fu-Gee-La]

anssen said FBI divers were in the country but had not yet conducted any searches of coastal waters.
Aruban police spokesman Edwin Comenencia said earlier that FBI divers had conducted searches but suspended them on Wednesday because they had covered the area they set out to.
Judy Orihuela, FBI spokeswoman in Miami, said two FBI divers traveled to Aruba over the weekend and returned to the U.S. early this week. "They were asked to do some site survey," Orihuela said. "They never got in the water." Orihuela said there are five FBI agents in Aruba observing the investigation.
Oduber said Aruba has "splendid contacts" with U.S. law enforcement agencies. The prime minister also said he had been in touch with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the governor of Alabama and other officials.

http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.p ... arrest.inc

By MICHAEL NORTON Associated Press Writer
ORANJESTAD, Aruba Jun 7, 2005 —

Two men charged in Natalee Holloway's disappearance lost their jobs as security guards at a hotel near the one in which the Alabama teenager was staying the day before she vanished, a police officer said Tuesday.

The suspects lost their jobs when their company's contract expired with the hotel, which was closed for renovation, on May 29, the day before the 18-year-old honors student disappeared during a senior class trip to the Dutch Caribbean island, the police officer told The Associated Press.

The men ages 28 and 30 will appear before a judge Wednesday to determine whether their detention is legitimate, Attorney General Caren Janssen said. The hearing will be closed to the public, she said.

About 700 volunteers joined police, soldiers and FBI agents on Monday, combing scrubland and beaches on Aruba's southeastern tip in an unprecedented search for Holloway. Aruba's government had let 4,000 civil servants off work early.

Search parties found numerous items including T-shirts and sunglasses, but none had been tied to the missing teenager, authorities said.

The hotel at which the two suspects worked was just a couple of blocks away from the seaside Holiday Inn at which Holloway had been staying.

The suspects were arrested Sunday morning at their homes in the southeastern community of San Nicolas, but Aruba officials have declined to provide specific charges before their hearing.

Authorities searched the men's homes and impounded three vehicles, carrying away bags of items. Authorities said they had not found any of Holloway's belongings at the suspects' homes, but an eight-member team of FBI agents supporting the investigation was to help perform forensic testing.

The officer told AP Tuesday that the men were known to police for hanging around hotels on the resort island and sometimes approaching female guests, although no complaints had been filed against them



Monday, June 06, 2005
HANNAH WOLFSON
News staff writer

ORANJESTAD, Aruba - Aruban police arrested and interrogated two men Sunday whom they believe were spotted with a missing Mountain Brook teen shortly before she disappeared a week ago.

The two men, known drug dealers, may have connections with three others targeted earlier as "persons of interest," according to police.

Police identified the two suspects only as Aruban residents aged 28 and 30. They were security guards at the vacant Allegro hotel, which authorities picked through Saturday as part of the ongoing search for Natalee Holloway, 18

Wednesday, June 8, 2005

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (CNN)

The two men, who are hotel security guards, are to appear in court Wednesday, when prosecutors could lay out the case against them. They have not been formally charged.

Prosecutors on Tuesday ordered the two men to remain detained, saying there was "reasonable suspicion" the men were involved in "certain criminal acts."

Acting on a tip, police arrested the two hotel security guards Sunday morning in the oil-refining town of San Nicolas.

http://www.refugeesunleashed.net/viewto ... torder=asc

[Fu-Gee-La]

June 6, 2005

http://www.legendgames.net/showstor...s/WN0000182.txt
"With the Natalee Holloway investigation focusing on three men, one the son of a judge and all said to be popular on the small island, authorities are speaking with an ominous tone of mystery regarding the Alabama senior and honor student's disappearance.

He declined to give details.
An additional ten FBI agents are on in Aruba, bringing the total to thirteen. The additional resources were apparently requested as a result of some unknown circumstances in the case.
U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, said Saturday there were circumstances surrounding Holloway's disappearance that warranted the FBI being heavily involved.
"The circumstances were disturbing," said Bachus, who formally requested the FBI's involvement. "I can't get into it, but it's something the family is aware of. There was an immediate recognition that this was not simply a teen who wandered off."
http://www.refugeesunleashed.net/viewto ... torder=asc

[Fu-Gee-La]

EquuSearch founder Tim Miller met with Aruba's Prime Minister Nelson Oduber Tuesday. He said with the help of the Dutch Marines, the search-and-rescue group would be able to search the entire island.

"Right now, we have a lot of work ahead of us. I met with the police commissioner. We've got areas mapped. I think this is new energy," Miller said.

Oduber said he filed a formal request Tuesday with the Netherlands to send in a new contingent of Dutch Marines to help in the search for Natalee, based on EquuSearch's recommendation.

Spokesman Ad van der Linde of the Dutch Defense Ministry said around 70 Dutch Marines among several hundred based on the island had assisted in three search missions.

Countless searches by Dutch Marines, FBI agents and trained dogs, Aruban police and hundreds of resident and tourist volunteers have failed to turn up any sign of Holloway.
http://www.click2houston.com/news/4664959/detail.htmll

[Fu-Gee-La]

uly 26, 2005
Aruba brings in experts; reward now $1 million

By Margaret Wever
Associated Press Writer

ORANJESTAD, Aruba — Aruban authorities have brought in experts from the Netherlands and send a prosecutor to consult with the FBI as they seek to solve the disappearance of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway, officials said Monday.

The reward in the case rose to $1 million.

The four experts from the Netherlands traveled to the Dutch Caribbean island to assist with interrogations while two members of the team investigating the Holloway case traveled to the FBI crime lab in Quantico, Va., the public prosecutor's office of Aruba said.

Aruba has agreed to show transcripts of interrogations to the FBI, which is acting in an advisory role in the high-profile case, in a sign of increased cooperation that drew praise from the family of the Mountain Brook teen who vanished on the last night of a high school graduation trip.

"I'm really so grateful to the Aruban officials who have made it possible to release this information," the teenager's mother, Beth Holloway Twitty, said after announcing that the reward for information leading to her safe return had been increased to $1 million.


The public prosecutor's office said in a statement that Amalin Flanegin, a senior member of the prosecution team, and a police investigator would be at the FBI crime lab for a week with materials gathered during the investigation to discuss the case. They did not specify the materials.

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdail ... ruba.shtml

VAN SUSTEREN: Last month, Dave Holloway went to Aruba to organize another search for Natalee. While he was there, he met with a prosecutor who is no longer on the case. When chief prosecutor Karin Janssen found out about it, she was so mad, she complained to the attorney general. Why?

VAN SUSTEREN: Between the time you learned of her name two or three weeks into the case, until the time you actually met with her, did you ever sit down and talk to her?

HOLLOWAY: No, I've never had any contact with her. I've just heard her name and heard that she flew to Quantico to deliver or to provide the FBI with some information.

[Fu-Gee-La]

FBI (search) agents and officers from the Miami-Dade police department brought two bloodhounds to help search an area of tropical vegetation next to the Marriott Hotel on Tuesday as firefighters pumped water from the site. At nightfall, more than two weeks after the Alabama teen disappeared, they gave up the search of that area.

"We didn't find anything," police spokesman Comemencia told The Associated Press. He declined to say where investigators might look next.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,159601,00.html

[Fu-Gee-La]

Aired June 24, 2005 - 20:00:00 ET

PENHAUL: Well, of course, we do know those FBI divers were in here what seems like weeks ago now, Nancy. I guess it was probably two weeks ago now. But because the government never pinpointed a search area in the ocean for them, they never put a flipper in the water.

What we do know now, though, of course, is a Texas volunteer search team is on the ground, or should be on the ground completely in the next few moments. They`ve got all sorts of specialist equipment. They`ve got divers, they`ve got sniffing dogs, they`ve got sonar, and they should be getting their search underway in earnest as of tomorrow, Nancy.

[Fu-Gee-La]

Posted: 5/31/2005
The Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A Mountain Brook High School graduate disappeared during a senior trip to Aruba, FBI officials said Tuesday.

Special Agent Jeff Fuqua said Birmingham FBI agents were coordinating with FBI officials in the Caribbean to search for Natalee Holloway, who took the trip after her May 24 graduation. She never showed up for the group's return flight Monday, The Birmingham News reported.

"We have been made aware of the missing girl, and we're looking into the matter," Fuqua said.

Police in Aruba also said they were searching for Holloway.

Students said about 125 graduating seniors and adults took the five-day trip, which is an annual tradition not sponsored by the school.

"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.

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.

Holloway's family members declined comment, The Birmingham News reported.

http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/in ... labamanews

[CherokeeKid]

June 6, 2005

http://www.legendgames.net/showstor...s/WN0000182.txt
"With the Natalee Holloway investigation focusing on three men, one the son of a judge and all said to be popular on the small island, authorities are speaking with an ominous tone of mystery regarding the Alabama senior and honor student's disappearance.

He declined to give details.
An additional ten FBI agents are on in Aruba, bringing the total to thirteen. The additional resources were apparently requested as a result of some unknown circumstances in the case.
U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, said Saturday there were circumstances surrounding Holloway's disappearance that warranted the FBI being heavily involved.
"The circumstances were disturbing," said Bachus, who formally requested the FBI's involvement. "I can't get into it, but it's something the family is aware of. There was an immediate recognition that this was not simply a teen who wandered off."
http://www.refugeesunleashed.net/viewto ... torder=asc

If there were something released by Wikileak or someone else, I would be very interested to know what those "disturbing circumstances the family is aware of" are.

And, what the FBI disclosed to Bachus in the closed meeting were neither Beth Twitty nor Dave Holloway were allowed to attend to.

[yankee-in-france]

.. perhaps there was enough information/circumstantial evidence to conclude that it was a homicide case. Remember Jan van Straaten [sorry, I forgot his name] saying that Natalee was deceased, and he knew this because he had seen the file.

A sensitivity for the anguish Beth and Dave were going through might have also been the reason for not having them at the meeting. I don't think that it would be pleasant for either of them to hear in plain words which might have happened to Natalee.

... and also wasn't it June 10th or thereabouts that the FBI had informed the family of something that made Beth conclude that Natalee was dead.

[CherokeeKid]

.. perhaps there was enough information/circumstantial evidence to conclude that it was a homicide case. Remember Jan van Straaten [sorry, I forgot his name] saying that Natalee was deceased, and he knew this because he had seen the file.

A sensitivity for the anguish Beth and Dave were going through might have also been the reason for not having them at the meeting. I don't think that it would be pleasant for either of them to hear in plain words which might have happened to Natalee.

... and also wasn't it June 10th or thereabouts that the FBI had informed the family of something that made Beth conclude that Natalee was dead.

YIF, up to this day there is no evidence that even a crime was committed against Natalee. Karen Janssen put that in writing when Joe Tacopina responded to the civil lawsuit filed in NYC.

Here is what Jan van der Straten actually said:

reporter:
Rep: Hebt u nog hoop op een goede afloop?
Jan: Hoop moet je altijd hebben, maar ik geloof niet meer dat we Natalee levend zullen terugvinden.
Rep: Waarom niet?
Jan: Omdat ik het onderzoek ken en u niet.

Rep: You still hope for a positive outcome?
Jan: You always have to be hopeful, but I don’t believe anymore that we will find Natalee alive.
Rep: Why not?
Jan: Because I know the investigation and you don't !

http://www.refugeesunleashed.net/post-842102.html

I was talking about the first Bachus interview on Saturday, June 4, 2005. It was still very early in the case, Natalee had missed her flight on Monday, May 30 and Bachus made the following comments at the end of the week (Saturday, June 4):

U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, said Saturday there were circumstances surrounding Holloway's disappearance that warranted the FBI being heavily involved.
"The circumstances were disturbing," said Bachus, who formally requested the FBI's involvement. "I can't get into it, but it's something the family is aware of. There was an immediate recognition that this was not simply a teen who wandered off."

At that time, JK2 were only called in as witnesses.
The first suspects detained were the two security guards on June 5 (Sunday).

I'm wondering what could have been those disturbing circumstances?

(YIF, could you please move the few posts we made to the NH forum and maybe name the thread "Disturbing Circumstances the family was aware of". Thanks!)

[yankee-in-france]

CK, I know that there is no evidence that we know of that a crime was committed against Natalee, but I think that the heavy money is on it that there was a crime committed and that she is no longer alive. It doesn't necessarily mean that because no case was pursued that there is no evidence that a crime was committed against Natalee. Unless the ALE files are opened and become public knowledge, we will probably never know what evidence there is.

I don't quite understand what you are reading into the paragraphs that you bolded regarding disturbing circumstances that the family was aware of. I read it that the FBI and the Americans did not accept the Aruban explanation of girl running off in paradise and believed that it was a homicide. That certainly would qualify as disturbing circumstances to most parents and again is probably nothing more than the FBI not wanting parents to have to hear certain details that would be upsetting.

[Heli]

"disturbing circumstances" is in large measure a subjective description.
You firstly must know who characterized the circumstances as disturbing and what the basis in fact was to come to that characterization.

I'll agree that there were a lot of disturbing circumstances occuring in the first few days and not all were directly related to the fact that Natalee was missing.

[resigned]

Without disclosing anything, as you know Greta, the first week or two of this investigation there were several suspects, you know went off this direction, went off that direction and for what seemed to be all the right reasons and on thing that, I think that all needs to go back into, but I think that they do have, I do think that, obviously she is, she didn't fly back on that plane and something happened to her and it was of a criminal nature.

"We have been made aware of the missing girl, and we're looking into the matter," Fuqua said.

"The circumstances were disturbing," said Bachus, who formally requested the FBI's involvement. "I can't get into it, but it's something the family is aware of. There was an immediate recognition that this was not simply a teen who wandered off."

Rep: You still hope for a positive outcome?
Jan: You always have to be hopeful, but I don’t believe anymore that we will find Natalee alive. Rep: Why not?
Jan: Because I know the investigation and you don't !

If you're asking me, are you more certain that this case will be solved than you were before you met with them, I will say that I think that the people I've met with, they are professional, they have devoted a tremendous amount of resources to the case but I think they're up against a pretty sophisticated group, who you know, if somebody gets a warning that the police are going to sit them down in 24 or 48 hours and talk to them, lots can happen in 24 or 48 hours

like making sure there is no evidence.

[yankee-in-france]

.. or insufficient evidence for a conviction.

[Black-Tulip]

.. or insufficient evidence for a conviction.

Insufficient evidence is no evidence. Otherwise there would have been a trial.

As simple as that.

[yankee-in-france]

Insufficient evidence is no evidence. Otherwise there would have been a trial.

As simple as that.

In many cases, there is evidence but it may not be sufficient to convict and the prosecutors decide not to proceed and risk an acquittal. Better to wait and hope that more evidence will surface in time. It may be the same with the Aruban prosecutors. They did say that they could bring a body disposal charge but didn't want to do that because of the short sentence so they must have evidence of some kind.

[iquitos]

IMO, if they had it they would have gone to trail just for the hell of it.

[CherokeeKid]

CK, I know that there is no evidence that we know of that a crime was committed against Natalee, but I think that the heavy money is on it that there was a crime committed and that she is no longer alive. It doesn't necessarily mean that because no case was pursued that there is no evidence that a crime was committed against Natalee. Unless the ALE files are opened and become public knowledge, we will probably never know what evidence there is.

YIF, Karin Jansen sent a letter to the Justice Department of the United States, on October 31, 2005, stating that there was no evidence of a crime.

And Dompig gave an interview to CBS in March 2006 where he revealed that ALE came to the conclusion that they believe Natalee Holloway was NOT killed but died accidentally on an OD of alcohol, possible drugs. And the only crime would be that her body was illegally disposed of.

Peter de Vries revealed end of 2006 when he first investigated the case, that Natalee had died accidentally and that she had cocaine.

IMO, there is no evidence, all there is are Joran's words, his stories he started to make up, some he got money for by Greta and a TON of accusations made by Beth Twitty and her entourage. ALE felt obliged to investigate whatever he came up with (Daury, fell from balcony, Bubali pond etc). But nothing panned out.

I don't quite understand what you are reading into the paragraphs that you bolded regarding disturbing circumstances that the family was aware of. I read it that the FBI and the Americans did not accept the Aruban explanation of girl running off in paradise and believed that it was a homicide. That certainly would qualify as disturbing circumstances to most parents and again is probably nothing more than the FBI not wanting parents to have to hear certain details that would be upsetting.

I don't believe that the Twittys or Bachus believed this was a homicide case and that's why the FBI needs to be involved. IMO, one of the main reasons was that the Twittys wanted to put pressure on ALE because they did not immediately jump on the case as in Aruba, Natalee was an adult and if there are not an immediate danger or reason, they would wait 48 hours, just like here in the USA. Beth Twitty distributed those "KIDNAPPED" posters and I wonder if she told Bachus the same story.

Btw: Thank you YIF for moving this thread into the NH forum!

[CherokeeKid]

Without disclosing anything, as you know Greta, the first week or two of this investigation there were several suspects, you know went off this direction, went off that direction and for what seemed to be all the right reasons and on thing that, I think that all needs to go back into, but I think that they do have, I do think that, obviously she is, she didn't fly back on that plane and something happened to her and it was of a criminal nature.

Who was uttering those unfounded accusations that it "was of a criminal nature"?

[Black-Tulip]

In many cases, there is evidence but it may not be sufficient to convict and the prosecutors decide not to proceed and risk an acquittal. Better to wait and hope that more evidence will surface in time. It may be the same with the Aruban prosecutors. They did say that they could bring a body disposal charge but didn't want to do that because of the short sentence so they must have evidence of some kind.

And what kind of evidence did you have in mind? Blood, other traces of Natalee, her clothes, fingerprints? Eyewitnesses? Because I have no idea.

[CherokeeKid]

IMO, those disturbing circumstances the family was aware of could also have been that:

- Natalee had been heavily drinking throughout her vacation while on Aruba and that she was heavily drunk when she went with JK2. Being heavily drunk would put her already on a higher risk.

- Beth Twitty possibly knew that Natalee was in possession of drugs (cocaine) as she was in touch with some of the MB kids which she had denied for months.

- there were possibly problems at home, Natalee supposedly said she did not want to go back home, Beth Twitty was rather angry at Natalee. Beth Twitty and Natalee were in touch while Natalee was in Aruba, however, Beth Twitty had denied this as well.

[CherokeeKid]

The same day, Monday, May 30, 2005, when Natalee had missed her fight, Beth and Jug Twitty and the posse flew to Aruba in a private jet.

Again, there was a reason for that. IMO, it had to do with the phone calls made between Beth Twitty and Natalee. IMO, there was a reason to rush to Aruba.

They also brought in this Medjet on the second day, May 31. At a cost of $37,000.

Beth Twitty in an interview with Greta:

Well, you know, Greta, it’s hard for me to even respond to that, but if I must, I would hope that Deputy Dompig realizes that we’re not flying family, friends and searchers in and out on brooms to Aruba. You know, we pay air fares. We pay hotel bills. We pay the exorbitant attorney fees, private investigators. You know, one sample of a bill was $37,000 to Medjet because we had the jet sitting on the tarmac for two days because that’s when we thought we were pulling Natalee out alive of one of their crackhouses, being held by a crack addict against her will. So you know, there have been some expenses that we have incurred during this investigation.

[Black-Tulip]

Who was uttering those unfounded accusations that it "was of a criminal nature"?

Well, you know CherokeeKid ...


I think the disturbing circumstances have to do with the drugs they found in Natalee's possesion.