Natalee Holloway Update – Poster and Local News Reaction

Natalee Holloway’s parents have issued this poster. Pray for her.

Here is the official announcement from the Aruba Tourism Authority.

Here are some articles from the local papers in Aruba. Look in the “READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY” for full text.

Official Statement as of June 3rd, 2005

Prime Minister’s Statement

Diarioaruba.com Aruba daily newspaper in Papiamento (lots of pictures)

Aruban Authorities Reject More U.S. Help In Finding Missing Teen

Mom of Teen Missing in Aruba Issues Plea, State Department Says It’s Helping

Observations of a Misfit has some great information on the story, very good insight into the issues of caves on the island.

Official Statement as of June 3rd, 2005

In response to the disappearance of American Natalee Holloway, the Government of Aruba and the Aruba Tourism Authority pledge their full support and cooperation to Ms. Holloway’s family.

A thorough investigation is underway with the support of both local and international authorities. Hundreds of concerned Aruban citizens have also joined search efforts along with Americans residing on island and tourists. The massive island-wide search is taking place on land and sea. Aruba Search and Rescue Teams, Dutch Marines, and Coast Guard, who have provided helicopters to assist the investigation from the air, are aiding in efforts.

The island extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to Ms. Holloway’s family and friends for a positive outcome. No additional information is available at this time.

Prime Minister’s Statement

Prime Minister Statement Regarding Natalee Holloway

Updated: June 3, 2005

Good afternoon.

On behalf of the government and people of Aruba, I would like to first and foremost pledge our full support and utmost dedication to the family of Natalee Holloway. We are behind the search effort and doing all we can to assist the local and international authorities.

We are shocked and completely distressed at this turn of events. Aruba’s police force and international authorities are doing everything in their power to find Natalee.

A thorough investigation is underway with the support of both local and international authorities. Hundreds of concerned Aruban citizens have also joined search efforts along with Americans residing on island and tourists. The massive island-wide search is taking place both on land and sea. Aruba Search and Rescue Teams, Dutch Marines, and Coast Guard, who have provided helicopters to assist the investigation from the air, are also aiding in efforts.

The government of Aruba has always made the safety and well being of our visitors a top priority. Learning the news of Natalee’s disappearance on our island left us all in a state of shock and disbelief.

Aruba has very strong ties to the United States, over half a million visitors came from the USA last year. We will not tolerate any activities that harm our American friends or tarnishes Aruba’s reputation.

We are blessed to be an island with very low crime rate and are grateful that the coverage of this incident thus far has reflected that. But again, right now the only thing that is important is bringing Natalee home to her family.

I know I speak for us all when I say the heart of the Aruban community is with the family and friends of Natalee during this difficult time. The outpouring of community support has been overwhelming and I do not expect that to stop until we have answers.

My request to the people of Aruba is to continue to provide tips, regardless of how small the information might seem, to the police. You do not have to provide your name. Please call 587 6222 with any and all leads.

Most important, we must all keep Natalee and her family in our thoughts and prayers.

Diarioaruba.com Aruba daily newspaper in Papiamento

Hoben Mericano keto bay perdi sin ningun rastro 

Awe Diabierna ta cinco dia cu e mucha muher Mericano Natalee Holloway di 18 aà ±a ta perdi sin ningun rastro, desapareci como si fuera ta tera a trague.

 

Autoridadnan di Aruba a tene un accion grandi di buskeda ayeramerdia, totalmente en vano, como cu no a haya nada cu lo por a duna si quiera un indicacion di destino di e hoben.

Mientrastanto su desaparicion a bira noticia na Merca y nomber di Aruba ta wordo menciona den tur prensa. Un suplica ta bay na cualkier hende cu por sa di e mucha aki o cu tin informacion tocante e caso pa tuma contacto cu Polis na 100 o 587-62222.

 Por favor, laga nos tur duna un man pa yuda entrega Natalee sano y salvo back na su famia.

Aruban Authorities Reject More U.S. Help In Finding Missing Teen (AP)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Authorities on the island of Aruba say they don’t need any more help from the FBI than it’s already providing in the search for a missing 18-year-old Alabama girl.

The 18-year-old was last seen getting in a car leaving a nightclub early Sunday morning in Aruba.

The mother of Natalee Holloway had urged the island’s Dutch government to request more direct help from the United States. But Aruba’s attorney general says local authorities don’t need it.

Meantime, Aruba’s coast guard began searching surrounding waters as part of the effort to find the missing teen.

Her passport was found in her hotel room after she disappeared Monday. She was on the last day of a trip to celebrate her graduation from high school.

Holloway took the five-day trip with more than 130 other graduating seniors and adults after her May 24 graduation. She has been missing since Sunday. Other students said she never showed up for the group’s return flight Monday.

Police and volunteers are scouring beaches and scrubland on the island for a fifth day. The mother, Beth Holloway Twitty, told reporters the family wants the Dutch government to officially request more direct help. Aruba police and Dutch military are leading the search, with help from FBI agents.

Twitty said everyone has “a common goal to find Natalee” and bring her home. She choked up and left the room in tears after finishing the statement.

As the search for Holloway continues in Aruba, police revealed new information about her disappearance.

A police superintendent in Aruba said the teen’s disappearance is looking more and more like a crime.

Hundreds of residents and tourists on the Caribbean island are entering their fourth day of searching for Natalee Holloway. FBI agents have helped the Dutch military and Aruba police search scrubland.

Police found her passport in her hotel room so they said it’s most likely she never left the island. Her stepmother said she was last seen with a local resident who claimed to be an exchange student.

Twitty said she’s not leaving the island without her daughter. The family has offered a reward to anyone who delivers her safely to a police station or hospital.

Authorities said they have questioned and released three Aruban students. The students said they dropped Holloway off early Monday at the Holiday Inn where she had been staying. Friends said they saw Holloway getting into a vehicle outside a nightclub very early on the last morning of a high school trip.

A family spokeswoman said it would be “totally, totally out of character” for the 18-year-old to get in a car with strangers.

A police inspector said there’s no “indication as to if she is alive.” He said everyone on the island knows of the case and police “are doing everything to find her.”

Scores of tourists and locals have volunteered to post fliers and help in the search.

Holloway’s family asked Aruba radio and television stations to broadcast their reward offer. That’s according to her mother. The family has not specified an amount. But it said it will reward anyone who brings the missing teenager safely to a police station or hospital.

Holloway’s parents and several family members traveled to Aruba Wednesday to aid in the search.

Birmingham FBI representative Special Agent Jeff Fuqua said his agency is coordinating with FBI officials in the Caribbean to search for Holloway. An FBI agent is also currently in Aruba helping with the search. The Coast Guard and the Marines are also helping in the case.

Local media have said that there have been several reported sightings of Holloway. Local reporters also said that the Coast Guard, the Marines, the FBI and local police searched the west coast of Aruba Thursday.

About 150 students attended prayer services for Holloway on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon at Mountain Brook Community Church.

“We prayed she’s being protected right now,” said Mallory Sylvester, Holloway’s friend. “We pray for her family, friends and that everybody else will pray for her, too.”

“They’re an amazing group of kids,” said Marcia Twitty, Holloway’s aunt. “They come together in prayer throughout (the) community in the afternoon in a small church just to pray for her safety and quick and immediate return.”

“They get a lead, they go chase it,” said Frances Ellen Byrd, Holloway’s friend. “They are getting leads, but so far nothing’s turned up. We still don’t have Natalee.”

“We just prayed for her safety and to give strength to all those down there and the strength of their family,” said Sylvester.

“She’s responsible, nice, smart. She has big plans for the future,” said Byrd. “Everybody has hope. Everybody has hope that she’s coming home.”

Holloway was active in many clubs in school, including the dance squad and the Spanish Honor Society. She was also on the honor roll in the 10th through 12th grades. She is expected to attend the University of Alabama on an academic scholarship this fall.

Update: Aruba Missing Persons Directory
This page provides information regarding missing persons from Aruba or about people who went missing while on vacation in Aruba or the Caribbean.
Natalee Ann Holloway
If you have any information
please contact: megan_twitty@excite.com

Or call Aruba Police on
(297) 100 OR (297) 5824000