Natalee Holloway Disappearance: Robin Holloway, “Everybody that has Talked to Dave and Interviewed Dave, they Know How Patient He is”

Scarborough Country for November 2, 2005

Robin Holloway and Clint Van Zandt discuss the shake up and turmoil in Aruba as regards to the Natalee Holloway investigation. It is hard for many to believe that after five months investigators seem no further to solving this disappearance let alone having any leads than they did when Natalee Holloway first went missing. In many respects the investigation seems worse thus causing the parents of Natalee Holloway to send a letter to the Aruban Attorney General declaring a lack of confidence in the proceedings and petitioning a new investigative and prosecutorial team. Robin Holloway makes a comment that many can understand and relate to as all have seen her husband’s patience on display in dealing with the disappearance and investigation of his missing daughter Natalee.

But just, five months, I mean, we are going on half-a-year. And there’s still no answers. As far as we know, they are still no closer to finding out what happened to Natalee.

And, of course, I mean, everybody that has talked to Dave and interviewed Dave, they know how patient he is. But just—it’s been so long with just—just so much needs to be focused back onto the three suspects, not these questions about is Beth related to Hitler? No, she is not, but, if she was, just that has nothing to do with what happened to Natalee.

It is truly amazing the tactics that are being used at this point in the investigation. Many begin to wonder what case the ALE are actually looking at. A reference to a “Hitler” comment coming from the same people who demanded an apology from Beth Twitty when she called the Kalpoe brothers criminals? Some how a Hitler reference may just be a bit more inflammatory.

As this is a reminder to many, the case at hand is one of a missing teenager, Natalee Holloway not Hitler, not money scams, etc. FOCUS. Your task is to find a missing teenager that seems to have disappeared from your island. Your task is to also reinvestigate the entire matter from the beginning as it would appear it has never been done.

Which makes the situation at hand even more remarkable in that as Clint Van Zandt states it seems that the investigator’s goals are more to incite Aruban sentiment against Beth Twitty than they are cleaning up a “sloppy investigation”.

Well, I think so, Joe. You know, I understand the family’s frustration, as you say, having been there, having talked to Beth and the investigators, the private investigators working the case.

I mean, they are all frustrated with it. There was mistakes made from square one. I think, for most people, it looks like this case has ground to a standstill without any solution. So, from an investigator’s standpoint, it’s time for new blood.

Yes, I think it is already, Joe. I think that there’s this animosity that is building. I think the Aruban government and people want this case to go away. You know, as Americans, obviously we don’t.

Clint Van Zandt went on to say what many, even Arubans or those that side with Joran Van der Sloot being innocent must admit:

But, you know, one of the things that I would advocate on this, Joe, is that the reality is that the Aruban police have really lost their credibility in this whatsoever. They have done a terrible investigation.

A missing person’s case no where close to being solved, no suspects being questioned, Joran Van der Sloot having spent three months in jail, two arrested security guards, non-searched suspect homes, and an investigation spiraling out of control where it seems that it is more important to the ALE to state who is in charge than anyone taking charge of the investigation.

It should be remembered that ALL have respected Dave Holloway for his handling of this matter and his restraint and patience he has shown in dealing with the many ups and downs during the search for Natalee Holloway. It appears that the ALE’s actions has even managed to make Dave’s patience dissipate. This is no longer about painting Beth Twitty as the bad guy when all she has ever wanted is her daughter back. Many have seen fit to lose that minor detail in all of the mud slinging. This is about a family and their missing daughter, grand daughter, sister, niece, and cousin. Even Dave Holloway, a man of patience, seems to have lost his as well. For all those who have praised Dave Holloway through out this ordeal do not think he is justified?

For more of the Scarborough interview:

SCARBOROUGH: A major shakeup in Aruba today. Natalee Holloway’s parents fired off an explosive six-page letter. They say they are absolutely fed up with the investigation. And they want new people on the case and they want them there now.

With us on the phone is Natalee’s step-mom, Robin Holloway, who signed the letter, and also MSNBC analyst Clint Van Zandt, who was in Aruba this summer, did some remarkable report.

Let me start with you, Robin.

It sounds like the family is finally fed up. What was the triggering event to make you all write this remarkable letter to Aruban authorities?

ROBIN HOLLOWAY, STEPMOTHER OF NATALEE HOLLOWAY: Hi, Joe. And just, I apologize for my voice. I think I am losing it, so I hope you can understand me OK.

But just, five months, I mean, we are going on half-a-year. And there’s still no answers. As far as we know, they are still no closer to finding out what happened to Natalee. We are just hoping some fresh faces will bring new answers, and that there’s—we know there’s witnesses that need to be re-questioned or re-interviewed, and hopefully, a new team could help solve what happened to Natalee, because, right now, almost half-a-year later, we are still no closer.

SCARBOROUGH: But obviously, the family has been so frustrated for so long, but you all have had to bite your tongues because you had to work with the Aruban authorities, but, again, at this point, you have just had enough, haven’t you?

HOLLOWAY: Oh, yes.

And, of course, I mean, everybody that has talked to Dave and interviewed Dave, they know how patient he is. But just—it’s been so long with just—just so much needs to be focused back onto the three suspects, not these questions about is Beth related to Hitler? No, she is not, but, if she was, just that has nothing to do with what happened to Natalee.

Just we need to get our perspective back on the three witnesses and what they know and what they did with her. And just—we don’t know what else to do now.

SCARBOROUGH: Yes, and that’s a great point. It seems to me that everybody in Aruba, Clint, they are trying to make this about Beth. They are trying to attack Beth. You were down there.

CLINT VAN ZANDT, MSNBC ANALYST: Sure.

SCARBOROUGH: These guys have been running an extraordinarily sloppy investigation, haven’t they?

VAN ZANDT: Well, I think so, Joe. You know, I understand the family’s frustration, as you say, having been there, having talked to Beth and the investigators, the private investigators working the case.

I mean, they are all frustrated with it. There was mistakes made from square one. I think, for most people, it looks like this case has ground to a standstill without any solution. So, from an investigator’s standpoint, it’s time for new blood.

SCARBOROUGH: And Beth is—or this letter at least is saying that it appears that the chief investigator’s goal right now is to incite anti-Beth feelings.

And if you look at some of the statements Dompig has made over the last several days, it certainly looks like they are trying to turn the people in Aruba against Beth. It’s going to get ugly down there pretty soon, isn’t it?

Clint?

VAN ZANDT: Yes, I think it is already, Joe. I think that there’s this animosity that is building. I think the Aruban government and people want this case to go away. You know, as Americans, obviously we don’t.

But, you know, one of the things that I would advocate on this, Joe, is that the reality is that the Aruban police have really lost their credibility in this whatsoever. They have done a terrible investigation. They do basically terrible interviews. I have seen the results of the interviews when I was down there doing some reporting for you and your show, and it’s just not consistent with what we see internationally.

Were it me down there, I would say, hey, let’s—you know, the FBI can’t go down and take over the case. I mean, whether the Holloway-Twitty family wants that, the reality is, it’s not going to happen. But the Dutch can. The Dutch are very good investigators in Holland, good homicide detectives, good interviewers. Were it me in the Aruban government, I would say, let’s bring a team in from Holland, kind of a cold-case squad. Let them start from square one and let them take the case.

SCARBOROUGH: And that would make a big, big difference.

Clint, thank you so much, as always.

Robin Holloway, greatly appreciate you joining us by phone.