False Leads are the Story

In the search for Natalee Holloway, false leads are now the story. There have been searches at the pond and landfill that have not been successful as leads that came in turn out to be false or unable to be confirmed.

From the Birmingham News:

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AP) — Police have drained a pond, picked through landfill, scoured beaches and sent strands of blond hair overseas for genetic testing — often chasing false leads in the investigation into Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway’s disappearance.

The mystery baffles and frustrates investigators more than two months after the 18-year-old honors student was last seen leaving a nightclub with three young men.

“We thought we could solve this in a couple of days, but it turned out to be very difficult,” said Lt. Roy Tromp, the lead investigator. “In my 30 years as a police officer, I’ve never had a case like this.”

…

The head investigator said he is convinced van der Sloot was involved in Holloway’s May 30 disappearance. Tromp said the teenager, who has maintained his innocence, has changed his account of what happened that night more than 10 times.

Three behavior specialists from the Netherlands questioned van der Sloot for a second day Wednesday, hoping to glean clues from his body language or version of events. An FBI observer was also present.

We all know this is disheartening for those following the disappearance of Natalee, but remember that the search will continue as long as she is missing.