Dave Holloway Responds to Dr. Phil’s “Natalee’s alive” comments

Scarborough Country for November 3, 2005

But, first, for more than five months, Natalee Holloway’s family has been desperately searching for the truth about what happened to her the night she vanished in Aruba on a senior high school trip. We are going to be talking to her father, Dave, in just a minute.

But first, a pretty remarkable suggestion last night from Dr. Phil on “The Tonight Show.” Watch what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, “THE TODAY SHOW”)

DR. PHIL MCGRAW, HOST, “DR. PHIL”: We have reasonable belief and some credible evidence that Natalee Holloway is alive.

JAY LENO, HOST: Is alive?

MCGRAW: Is alive. We can’t—we cannot prove that at this point. And we don’t know where she is, but, you know, there is a huge sex slave underground in some of those countries down there. Young women have disappeared from that part of the world before. And we have—we have reasonable cause to believe that she may well be alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Dave Holloway during his interview with Joe Scarborough takes the high ground and does not directly comment on Dr. Phil’s comments nor that if they were ever discussed with the family first prior to Dr Phil making them. The only assertion that Dave Holloway makes is that the premise is just one of many the theories that has been discussed over the past five months. Once again Dave Holloway takes the high road.

SCARBOROUGH: Let me bring in Natalee’s father, Dave Holloway. He joins us on the phone right now from Aruba.

Dave, thank you for being with us.

DAVE HOLLOWAY, FATHER OF NATALEE HOLLOWAY: Thank you.

SCARBOROUGH: You got Dr. Phil going on TV, saying he has reason to believe—or he says, we have reason to believe Natalee is still alive. Did that announcement on an entertainment show last night come as a shock to you and Beth?

HOLLOWAY: Well, no, not really.

I had a lengthy conversation, in fact, just yesterday morning with the FBI, and based on material they read from Aruba, the lady—or an individual is a homicide investigator, and she point-blank told us, this has been going on five months, since June the 10th. We have not changed our position. We are 99.9 percent sure that we are looking at a homicide, but, you know, you still have a 1 percent chance or one-tenth of 1 percent.

And, you know, I have heard those theories before, and I hope Dr. Phil is right.

SCARBOROUGH: Well, have you talked to Dr. Phil? Do you have any insight for us tonight? When he goes on national TV, and he keeps talking about we—we have reason to believe that Natalee Holloway may still be alive. Does Dr. Phil—what, does the guy have a gang of investigators following him around? What is he talking about?

HOLLOWAY: Well, he does.

There’s a group of people that are investigating that aspect of it as well. So, without going into any further details, I have talked with an individual who has that same theory, and has had that for a long period of time. But, you know, we have checked some places and have come up empty-handed.

SCARBOROUGH: So, Dave, there’s no new information out there right now that you know of that would suggest, as Dr. Phil suggested last night, that Natalee is in the middle of some sex trade in Central and South America?

HOLLOWAY: Well, based on the information that I know, at this point in time, it’s a theory. But, you know, they have pulled rabbits out of the hats before, so, you know, maybe they know something that I don’t know.

SCARBOROUGH: Can you give us a quick update on the investigation down there? Obviously, a lot of frustration. You have the chief of police down there, who sounded like he was going to be helpful before you all got there, but, since you have been there, it doesn’t sound like he is willing to go the extra mile to uncover the truth of this case. What is the status tonight?

HOLLOWAY: Well, I am not sure what the exact status tonight is, but we delivered a letter there asking for the removal of all the investigators all the way up through the prosecuting attorney.

And we—Dompig knows. We had one last hope to resolve the case, that one last witness to possibly interview, and I really didn’t want him to mess up on it. And I asked Mr. Dompig to handle it himself. You know, and that didn’t happen. And I don’t know whether they have lost the case now or not. So…

SCARBOROUGH: All right.

All right, Dave, well, thanks a lot for being with us, as always. And we are certainly thinking about you and your family tonight. Good luck with everything down there.

3 Responses to “Dave Holloway Responds to Dr. Phil’s “Natalee’s alive” comments”

1. John Hancock on November 6th, 2005 1:39 am

   Thanks Dr. Phil for keeping hope alive, and breathing fresh interest into this saga. I hope and pray that you are right about her being “still alive” at this very time. The very injection of this hope… even at this late time, should create a clamour for more people to come forth. Maybe “tweaking” the reward would remind the public, and pry loose a knowlegeable voice. Like so many, I am desperate to bring closure… and hopefully a “happy” closure to this shameful investigation. Thanks again, Doc!
   Respectfully, John

2. Amy on November 26th, 2007 8:49 pm

   I haved hoped and prayed since Natalee’s disappearance that she is alive somewhere and will be reunited with her family. While the idea of her being a sex slave is horrific, I pray that she is still alive. Such a beautiful young woman with a bright future in medicine! God be with Dave and Beth and I commend them for keeping Natalee’s story in whatever media outlets have been made available.

3. alina solver on December 18th, 2008 9:10 pm

   Dr. Phil,
   I am an avid watcher of your show and remember hearing you promise the Holloways that you would keep updated and help in any way you could to find Natalee. I was very touched with your concern for them and for their bravery. I have not not not forgotten her and will not. Please do tell me and everyone who cares if there is any hope of her being found still or of any new developements for I’ve cared all this time since hearing about it and am a mother myself of two little wonderful girls. I care and pray for her safe return or at least closure like the Walsh family finally recieved just recently in the news. I don’t know anyone to contact that would know more than you would on this subject and all investigators and family involved. If you wouldn’t mind please let us know if any news positive, please. I know you are busy…..but please just as a little note to the end of one of your programs….because if I care so must many many more care and still pray and remember her. Thanks, Dr. Phil.
   Love, Mrs. Alina Solver up here in Washington State

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