Forensic Divers and Texas Equusearch Continue Searches for Natalee Holloway

From Rita Cosby, ‘Live and Direct’, October 26, 2005

As posted last week regarding Tim Miller of Equusearch, forensic dive teams were coming back to Aruba in search of Natalee Holloway. As Dave Holloway had previously said in an interview on the Abrams Report regarding the investigation and searches in Aruba:

Dave: Yes, for the first time we have gotten some guidance on what areas to focus our search efforts on.

Abrams: Where is that coming from?

Dave: That’s coming from Chief Dompig himself.

More from the forensic dive team in Aruba and Dr. Dale Nute, forensic scientist with Florida State University.

COSBY: Forensic divers are back on the case in Aruba today. They’re beginning the latest round of underwater searches for missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway. With some help from EquuSearch, divers today focus on the waters just off the lighthouse.

On the phone tonight from Aruba is Dr. Dale Nute. He’s a forensic scientist with Florida State University. Dr. Nute, why the lighthouse?

DR. DALE NUTE, FORENSIC SCIENTIST (via phone): Well that’s where EquuSearch got the information that the—maybe at least some evidence in that area, so…

COSBY: What kind of evidence, sir?

NUTE: Well, we’re obviously looking for the body. We’re—that’s the main thing, but we’re looking for any other evidence that we might be associated with it.

COSBY: Where does that evidence come from and how sort of solid of a tip is that?

NUTE: I don’t really know. We are primarily subcontracted in effect by Texas EquuSearch and they do the intelligence work and we do the searching.

COSBY: Do you think though, sir, you know from your experience—here it is—she’s been missing since May 30. That’s a long time. Do you think you’ll really find anything now?

NUTE: There are a number of scenarios in which it’d be very likely to find something—enough evidence to make it well worthwhile.

COSBY: What did you see under water? Did you get any glimpse of anything?

NUTE: Yes. We saw the normal rocky bottom and some sandy bottom. It’s—we had—we searched out two areas that had been identified as possible target areas because of particular shape of the rocks or whatever. And so we used the drop camera today to check those areas out.

COSBY: And how long do you think you’re going to be there in Aruba?

NUTE: Well, and I are going to be here until Sunday and then depending on what we find or don’t find, we may have someone else come down.

COSBY: Well very interesting Dr. Nute. I hope it is a good solid lead to get you out there to help get some good answers soon. Thank you very much. We wish you a lot of luck out there.