RSSScared Monkey’s Interview Transcript with Tim Miller – July 24th, 2005
Tim Miller from Equusearch Interview -2pm EST July 24th, 2005
SCARED-TOM
It is with sincere pleasure that Scared Monkeys welcomes Tim Miller of EquuSearch to our page. As most of you know, Tim founded Eqqusearch in honor of his daughter, Laura Miller. Eqqusearch was founded in 2000, and is a 501 (c) 3 non profit organization with over 250 volunteers to date. In 2004, Tim stated that he had returned three out of twenty missing children back to their parents, and since that time he has done so much more. Tim continues this tribute to his daughter day by day, searching tirelessly for missing loved ones until they are brought home. He has promised no less to the Holloway family, and today he takes some time to sit down with Scared Monkeys and answer some questions…… We would also like to mention our prayers are with the Indonesia people that have suffered a 7.8 Earthquake today and tsunami warning. Our prayers are with them. Without further ado, here is Red and Tim Miller.
RED
Tim, It is a pleasure to meet you and for you to take the time to speak with Scared Monkeys … Thank you … Welcome
TIM MILLER
We appreciate your concern and all of the wonderful emails of encouragement we’ve received.
RED
Tim, There are many people who have just learned about Texas Equusearch from the Natalee Holloway disappearance. Can you tell us about the mission and history of your organization?
TIM MILLER
We started our organization in memory of my 16 year old daughter Laura Miller that was abductedand murdered back in 1984. Our mission was to never leave another family alone during a periodof time when a loved one was missing. We started just using horses as a resource for law enforcement and other search teams. We’ve grown from there to now having horses, 4-wheelers, boats, certified divers, airplanes, helicopters, certified search dogs, infrared equipment, night vision equipment and a lot of determination.
RED
Many people who read Scared Monkeys are wondering how the best way to help is. Is it through donations, participation such as helping instead of taking a vacation, or through helping by offering one’s specialized services?
TIM MILLER
We survive only on donations. We’ve never received a grant or large sponsorship from any large corporation. Volunteering instead of taking a vacation is always a help and offering specialized services is very valuable.
SCARED-TOM
Just wanted to convey the message that we, and I think it’s okay for me to say this for just about all of the other ‘Monkeys’ around this forum, are honored to be graced with Mr. Miller’s presence. I for one think you are a very special man and deserve much kudos for all you’ve done, not just for the search for Natelee, but for families of missing children everywhere. Your work is a labor of love and does honor your daughter’s memory in the most magnanimous way. God Bless you and yours, (Kismette… South Texan transplanted in South Alabama)
RED
Tim, The Aruban PM has just said that all information regarding this case will be turned over to the FBI. Will Tx EQ-S have access to this information as well to help aid you in your searchfor Natalee?
TIM MILLER
LE in Aruba and FBI will give us info on areas they feel as though needs to be searched.
RED
With a new police commissioner appointed in Aruba taking over for van Straaton, do you think you will get permission to search the Van der sloot residence and/or the Kalpoes? Do you think you will ever get permission to search at Joran’s home in the abandoned well? (SM & wantsanswers)
TIM MILLER
I feel as though a search warrant will need to be issued before any searches can be done on suspect’s property. Any searching inside their homes will have to be done by LE.
RED
Do you believe that the Arubian authorities have assisted your search for Natalee with absolute candor, fidelity, and sincere support in pursuit of the objective in finding her as quickly as possible? (Rip Van Winkle)
TIM MILLER
I feel as though the first 10 days were a huge mistake, but the authorities have assisted usin our search efforts as well as they can. I feel the authorities want Natalee found as much as her parents and all of us do.
RED
Have you and/or the Holloways been following the Scared Monkeys site for possible leads forareas to search in this case? (subdued)
TIM MILLER
Yes. Kylie keeps her eye on the monkeys.
SCARED-TOM
Kylie is a member of the Texas Equusearch team. She has been a member of the board since the early days.
RED
Was there any place on the island that you were told by the authorities that was out of bounds to search for Natalee?? (nurturer & Yellow Ribbon)
TIM MILLER
No.
SCARED-TOM
A sincere thanks from the Monkeys to you and your Equu Team for all you’ve done to help Natalee’s family as well as others around the world!!!Wick3dsBaby
RED
Tim, we all at SM think you’re the greatest! There are so many of us who are supporting you and your efforts. I grew up in Texas all my life. We’ve heard speculation about a well in the back of the VDS house that no one has supposedly been able to access and search. Did the ALE keep you from searching back there? Would they not allow a search warrant? Or was it searched by dogs early in the investigation and they found nothing?(ExTexinAZ)
TIM MILLER
We are not aware of any search warrant, but this is an area of interest for us. We took the dogs outside their property to see if they could possibly get any scent. We flew in 2 vision poles which has cameras and a screen that we wanted to put in that well. So far we have not been successful getting to the well.
RED
If you were free to conduct any and all investigations with no limit in Aruba, what would you be doing right now?
TIM MILLER
I feel as though LE has conducted a good investigation. The key to further search activities will be how the hair samples come back.
RED
Tim, Can you describe for us how you initially set up searching for someone? Do you typically (at least here in the US) get provided information from LE and others which is not made public? How accurate is that information vs. the outcome in the cases you become involved with?(RB)
TIM MILLER
Each search is different whether its an Amber Alert, elderly/diabled/on special medications,or endangered missing. We determine what resources we need to use in the beginning. Family or LE call us and then we determine how important the case is. LE gives us much information so we can determine where the search must start. LE information is extremely valuable and normally we have their cooperation. LE isn’t there to waste time, so the information provided is info to be ruled out as quickly as possible.
RED
Tim, I also have a vanished son. Maybe you could ck my link & give me a suggestion? Regardinging Natalee: Did anyone ever point you in the direction of Seroe Alejandro, just north of Savaneta? More specifically, the area of the van rijn country rave house? If so, what did you observe? thanks ‘n blessings (karen~)
TIM MILLER
Yes. We’d be glad to review your son’s case. No one pointed us in that direction, but it is an area that we searched. Right now I’m not familiar with that (van rijn spot), we’d have to go through our daily search reports. Nothing really stood out that concerned us.
RED
There have been many psychic speculations regarding this case. Have you followed any leads that were provided to you by these psychics? Have you, in the past or currently, found psychicsto be useful in your searches? (OneSillyMonkey)
TIM MILLER
There has been a psychic named Mary Ann Morgan that has been working with the family. She has done some really neat things in the past, but as far as this case there has been no help through any psychics. Psychics have not been involved with TX E searches, but have called us with information on many searches. None of their information ever panned out. Intuition is a valuable tool within the search team.
RED
There have been reports that a shallow grave was discovered in the area of Boca Tortuga, on the eastern part of the island. There are also reports that cell-phone calls made by Joran earlyin the morning came from a location on the eastern side of the island. It seems plausible that thisarea could yield more clues.
TIM MILLER
We found a site that we feel as though was a possible gravesite. Our thoughts are that Natalee may have been buried in that hole for 1 or 2 days then moved. We have information that the cell phoneswere possibly being used in that area. Joran stated that something went wrong and they buried Nataleein the sand which we feel the spot we found is possibly it. The duct tape and hair was found 3/4 of a mile from where the possible gravesite was. With the information of her being buried, possible cellphone usage, discovery of possible gravesite, and duct tape with hair lead me to believe that Nataleewas dumped in the sea in that area. We are anxiously awaiting the results of the hair samples which has been sent to the FBI lab and also the lab in the Netherlands.
RED
How much of the searching that takes place is actually based on gut feelings or instinct that you or others may have? If any… how do you find a balance between this (your gut feelings) and the cold/hard facts of a case? (spab & Mrs Red)
TIM MILLER
Its a combination of the two. Also many times we get leads from people for areas to search several times we’ve found our missing people by those leads. Local media generates many leads for us.
RED
How many places have your cadaver dogs hit on, and has any physical evidence been found at any of those places that leads you to believe that Natalee was once there? (nikkibnurse & mscowboy)
TIM MILLER
Our dogs had small alerts in a few areas. One of them being an inland lake close to Joran’s house that our divers dove and we also used side scan sonar. Nothing was found.
RED
And finally Tim: Thanks so much for your efforts on behalf of Natalee. Did your folks or anybody else take a close look at the boca tortuga where the tape and the cloth were found? What do you make of this? (iquitos)
TIM MILLER
Thanks for all of your kind words and support! Again I feel as though with the possible gravesite tape and hair, comments of Natalee being buried in the sand and possible phone calls from that area something possibly happened there. Again we are waiting for the results on the hair. If the tests come back positive we are putting in twice as many divers and underwater equipment in that area as we brought in the first time. Wish us luck.
RED
Tim, we would like to thank you so much for spending so much time this afternoon to answer the many questions that we have here at Scared Monkeys. We truly appreciate your time and wish you success in helping the Twitty & Holloway families and all those in the future that you provide closure to. A sincere thank you.Tom & Red
TIM MILLER
We appreciate your interest in Texas Equusearch and the Natalee Holloway case. Please go to our website at http://www.texasequusearch.org to review other missing person cases that need help. Equusearch has been extremely blessed by all of its members, volunteers, and the outpouring love andsupport we’ve received from around our country. Thank you for having us on Scared Monkeys. Remember lost is not alone. God Bless. Tim Miller
SCARED-TOM
That concludes the interview. Thanks for your participation and viewership.
Scared Monkeys would like to extend a special thanks to Kerin for preparing the interview for this post.
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[...] July 23, 2005 Scared Monkeys conducted an interactive, town hall style on-line interview with Tim Miller of Texas Equusearch, the non-profit search team that had been searching for Natalee Holloway in Aruba since she had [...]