Continuing correspondence on the Aruba investigation

Friday, June 17, 2005

We publish here another sample of the letters we continue to receive from readers concerning the investigation in Aruba into the disappearance of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway:

We are hearing a lot of accusation and counter-accusation surrounding the Natalee Holloway disappearance in Aruba. Looking back at the Jennifer Wilbanks runaway bride situation, my belief is that Natalee Holloway is a runaway. 

I think she took the Aruba vacation as an opportunity to run away with someone she possibly met on the internet or an acquaintance. I think she was smuggled off the island. 

My concerns are:

(1) I haven't heard any report where authorities tried matching her name against any flight list entering the USA from any other country.

(2) A possible search of any computers she used to see who she was in contact with before she left for Aruba.

(3) Calls made from any cell phones that she had access to.

(4) Was her passport left behind with the remainder of her luggage? 

With the runaway bride in mind I think Natalee Holloway reaching the age of 18 years want to be on her own and possibly skip town with a friend. If that turns out to be the case, remember El Warner said it first.

El Warner
New York

As an Aruba timeshare owner and an Aruba lover, I am finding it hard to keep from obsessing over the unfolding story of the Natalee Hollaway disappearance. 

I’m struck by the kindness of the Aruban people when I visit the island, and I’m struck by it now as I watch television reports about the investigation. I also recognize that a police force that doesn’t have to wrestle with a-murder-a-day as is the case throughout my own country may not be quick to respond the same way the homicide units in our cities are.

And that is incredibly unfortunate for the Hollaway family – and for those who are under suspicion here as well – but it also should inform critics of the investigative team about why Aruba is so loved by tourists: it’s incredibly safe.

I know just enough about Aruba and its geography to be dangerous here, and lately I find myself spending a lot of time theorizing about whether and how one boy could do what everyone seems to assume he may have done here. And I constantly have to remind myself that Aruba law governs these investigations with a set of rules that we and our news media are unfamiliar with, and that therefore there may be much information I simply do not have access to.

And with all due respect to our news media, their insatiable appetite for the least tidbit, however unreliable, has to make the Aruban police all the more determined to manage this process as “close to the vest” as is humanly possible on a small island.

It may be that at the end of the day, it will turn out that various aspects of this investigation were not handled as well as everyone would have liked. Sounds a lot like some of the well-known cases right here in the US where investigative bungling let killers go free, doesn’t it?

For one thing, I have to agree with those who ask whether the two security guards recently released might ultimately have wound up paying the price for something that we all seem now to assume was carried out by one, two, or three boys were it not for the spotlight being shone on this case.

But before I go throwing rocks at the Aruban authorities and the Aruban people, I’d take a good look at the glass houses we live in here in the US, and let these people do their jobs.

Get the FBI team in closer if need be to help guide the investigation in a land miraculously free from a lot of the hideous crime we would like to forget here at home, but let them do their jobs, for heaven’s sake.

K. McGrath
Boston, Massachusetts, USA

The crass ignorance of Americans never fails to amaze one. Every one of those writers are dismissing Aruba and the Caribbean simply based on one crime that is still in the initial stages of the investigation. One would think from reading their diatribes that no crime was ever committed in America and that are murders are solved.

Simply put there are more crimes committed in America than any where else on the planet. Many murders in America also go unsolved one just have to watch America's Most Wanted to see unsolved murders.

Perhaps if Americans valued their lives they would stop drinking themselves in to a stupor so that they are unaware of whose car they get in to. Obviously the behaviour exhibited by this young lady is one that she is accustomed to.

Getting drunk and going into a car with 4 strange men is not a reason for anyone to kill Natalie but perhaps if Natalie took better care of herself and her person she would not be missing and what of her friends? Where were they and how could they let their friend go off with strangers?

Instead of blaming all the people of Aruba perhaps you Americans should question your behaviour not only at home but abroad. This tragedy could have happened anywhere and will continue to happen anywhere when young women do not value themselves.

B. Huggins
Canada

I have been following Holloway case and I am surprised by several tactics taken by law enforcement officials. First, it appears that they allowed the three teens who were last seen with Ms Holloway to go free on May 31st without checking for bruises and scratches on their bodies and yet arrested two other men.

And further to that point gave the boys and their parents 9 days to formulate an alibi with legal guidance enabling them to create reasonable doubt. It also gave them additional time to arrange for disposal of evidence. Second, I am shocked to learn that they searched the van der Sloot home just yesterday, June 15th. 

If these allegations are naive or unfounded and the police have in fact collected pieces of the puzzle that will bring these 3 to justice I apologize to the government of Aruba and its police department for this letter.

However, if these 3 walk free, I will believe that this investigation was bungled in some effort to protect their tourist trade or to protect Paulu van der Sloots family. If these boys are released I will support a movement to boycott any hotel, restaurant or airline that services Aruba or any business that has ties there. 

Michele DeVore
US Citizen NY

As a US citizen I was disturbed reading some of the articles proposing a boycott of Aruba, and even the whole Caribbean islands. Unfortunately we live in a violent world, and violence is not limited to the Caribbean, especially Aruba.

I believe the police have bungled this case, but does anyone here in the US really believe if this case was here in our country that our authorities would not be hesitant about pursuing a prominent family’s son?

Yes, it is unfair, and often true that justice does not prevail for everyone. But to suggest that Aruba is an unsafe place that vacationers should not travel to again is just too much. I have traveled to the Caribbean each year, for the past thirteen years, and have never had a problem, nor any of our friends and family.

Yes, bad things do happen, but for Americans seemingly to forget that WE have a violent society, and that our law enforcement officials do make plenty of mistakes is why I had to write this letter.

As for the letter stating that "young women should be able to travel late at night with strangers", yes in a fantasy world that is true. But we live in a real world, and young women who get into cars with strangers often have bad things happen - in the US, Caribbean, Europe and anywhere else in the world.

I say when traveling, just use some common sense. Every year I see young women visiting the Caribbean eager to meet locals, party, drink too much and do things that they probably would not do at home. As for justice in this case, I truly hope these young men are all brought to justice, and serve time.

According to their story, she left the car with him, and he came back alone. Where did they think she was?

Did they not ask about her, or have any concern? These men DO NOT represent Aruba, and other Caribbean people. They are just like many young men in this country who think they can get away with anything, and have no concern about anyone but themselves.

The majority of Caribbean island locals want nothing more than for vacationers to have a happy, safe vacation. Do not paint all island nationals with the same brush. 

L. Thompkins
USA

   Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version