RSSPaul Reynolds Speaks Out for the Family and Defends Texas EquuSearch
Last night on CNN’s Nancy Grace, Paul Reynolds spoke out for the family and defended the previous search group Texas EquuSearch with all the class, grace and appreciation that I have to know Paul for. Paul Reynolds has been a stand up individual from the beginning providing a stern and forceful message for the family with a level and even keeled temperament that can only be commended.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And I know that you`ve also brought in a new search team to help look for Natalee. Tell us about that.
REYNOLDS: You know, we welcome everyone that wants to come to the island to help out. There was a search individual from Massachusetts and an associate of his that came in from Florida. You know, we`re appreciative of their efforts.
But we want to make a special mention of all of the efforts that Texas EquuSearch made. You know, those guys spent four weeks on the island. They had 70 people in there. I spent a week myself working with them personally.
You know, this is a great group of dedicated professionals that have volunteered to leave their homes, and their families, and their jobs, and come down there and, you know, put forth this effort. And they along with the hundreds and almost thousands of others have been just a great asset to our family and the search.
In speaking with Paul Reynold’s the other day I know how hurt he was and just utterly amazed by the insensitivity and foolishness of the comments that were made toward TES. Paul Reynold’s during our lengthy conversation told me that Jim Knox had embarrassed himself, the family and the investigation. To be a fly on the wall during the telephone conversation between Paul Reynolds and Jim Knox.
In the half dozen or so times I have spoke with Paul and the 9 days in Aruba that I got to know Natalee’s uncle I certainly came to know him and know the appreciation he has for all the searchers that came to help his family. Natalee’s family has always been in search and need of help as the disappearance of Natalee in Aruba gets to be overwhelming at times. The help I was able to provide Paul and his family he certainly made me aware of his appreciation. Thus on CNN last night Paul Reynolds further went on to say regarding his deep appreciation for Texas EquuSearch’s help and his hope that the new search team will do just as good a job.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I hate to bring this up, because it could be a little bit of a distraction from the investigation, but I have to, because it is being talked about tonight. There is some sort of reported spat between the first search team and the second one.
Why is that? What do you know about it?
REYNOLDS: You know, I can`t really explain that. All I can really let you know is Texas EquuSearch did a great job. You know, I know Tim Miller. I spent a lot of time with him. I`ve met a lot of the search guys. Some of them go to the church that I go to.
Great individuals. I know they did a good job. And, you know, I`m hoping the new people that are there — I`m hoping they do just as good a job.
Family and EquuSearch Respond to derogatory comments from Jim Knox
Natalee Holloway’s family and EquuSearch have responded to the insensitive and derogatory comments by Jim Knox of the newest search teams in Aruba.
As reported earlier today and as seen by many last night, Jim Knox, of the new search team in Aruba made some pretty accusatory and inflammatory comments regarding previous search groups in Aruba. The insinuation was that Knox was referring to Texas EquuSearch in the following comment as much as Mr. Knox wises to play games of parsing words and state that he never mentioned EquuSearch by name. (The entire transcript of comments can be seen here.)
JK: We arrived on Wednesday, we started working Wednesday afternoon. We met with police first thing as soon as we got off the plane, that’s where we started the cooperation. They were mightily impressed. We presented Fred’s resume of over 2000 finds in 17 different countries and states. They’ve watched the dogs work, they’re impressed, they know that we’re working.
Jamie, I’ve had 1 beer in a week with a hamburger in Saturday. The previous searchers were taking tubs and ice chests of beer out with them. They’d work 2 hours and come in. They had equipment they didn’t know how to use. I could give you a world of information but….
When emailing the family and talking with some of them personally, all were profoundly disappointed in the actions and the comments made by Jim Knox. What makes matters even worse is it appears that members of the family had spoke to Knox before be left for Aruba an stated they asked Knox to discuss his searches with the media and not talk about previous search team’s efforts. I guess Jim Knox did not understand that conversation. Especially seeing that before he even came to Aruba he made other inflammatory and derogatory comments.
The following is an email that I received from Dave and Robin Holloway this afternoon regarding this matter:
I want to take a moment to defend EquuSearch. Dave and I frequently read posts from this website and want to take this opportunity to let everyone know how much we appreciated EquuSearch and all of the hard work and volunteering they have done in our efforts to find Natalee. Dave was with them every day they were there. The only tubs we saw they carried were filled with water and soft drinks! They are wonderful people and very dear friends of ours that we will stay in touch with the rest of our lives. Negative comments from other searchers will do nothing to assist in our search for Natalee and we feel this was uncalled for. We appreciate all of the volunteers who are looking for Natalee, but want to keep it civil and professional.
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support! That is the only thing getting us through this.
Dave and Robin
I also received am email from Linda Allison that stated the following:
“It is unfortunate that the comments were made last night since it is irrelevant to finding Natalee. I have always been a very big advocate of EquuSearch and have met some truly outstanding, hard-working, and caring individuals”.
I also personally spoke with Paul Reynolds this afternoon at great length and discussed the unfortunate issue at hand and how many people were hurt by these comment. I told Paul that there were many volunteers and caring people out there that were profoundly hurt that their efforts were undermined by the selfish and insensitive comments made by Mr. Knox. I told Paul that people truly care about Natalee and your family and want there to be closure for you, but such comments can only do harm and make people not care. In talking to Paul, he was bewildered and simply shocked at the comments that were made. He called Jim Knox today to tell him just that. It was my understanding that the conversation was pretty much a one sided one with Paul doing the talking voicing his displeasure. Paul told Scared Monkeys that he wanted to apologized for the unfortunate and childish comments made by Knox and in no way did the family support anything that Mr. Knox said. Paul also wished to say the following:
“I am shocked and dismayed at the irresponsibility and inappropriateness of these comments. We have always welcomed every volunteer and every person to help find Natalee. Everyone has been gracious, respectful and diligent in this effort to help our family and to go on the air, in a live broadcast and make such inaccurate and derogatory comments is unbelievable wrong and insensitive.”
I also received am email from Tim Miller of EquuSearch. I did not want to bother Tim as he has been recovering himself from an illness.
Statement from Tim Miller:
I am very hurt and offended by allegations made in our efforts to search for Natalee Holloway. We brought in every resource we thought possible in her safe return or search for her remains.
I was personally very optimistic going into the Natalee search that she would be located, probably deceased.
Probably the most disappointed people besides Natalee’s family was each one of the 93 volunteers from Texas Equusearch that had to leave that island with no results.
I am extremely proud of every effort every volunteer made. I am extremely grateful to every person that sent us a donation allowing us to continue the search as long as we did.
We also realize the struggles of Natalee’s family and did everything we could do to help support them in any way we could.
Texas Equusearch at this point is several thousands of dollars in the red and credit card bills continue coming in. We will defer these expenses through our own fund raisers and we are not asking for the public to support us in these expenses.
We are asking everyone to continue praying for this family during this terrible time of need. Let us continue praying for the other families who also have missing loved ones who have not received the support that was given in the Natalee Holloway search.
On a joking side, I have no turtle eggs and really don’t enjoy turtle soup and I’m very disturbed that Paul VDS felt as though I threatened him, but hopefully someday he’ll allow his property to be searched.
As far as statements from Jim Knox and Fred Golba, I have thick skin and will deal with these as needed.
Again I appreciate all the support that we’ve received during the Natalee Holloway search and other efforts we’ve been involved in.
Hopefully Natalee’s disappearance will not be in vein and resources gathered will be used for our missing loved ones in the future.
God Bless all, Your Friend
Tim Miller
Thus at the time these comments were made the family members had no idea they were being said. Some even found out through SM and direct emails and telephone calls from either myself or other Monkeys for the first time.
Thus everyone can see how one person’s agenda and comments can waste valuable time and resources in the primary goal to find Natalee Holloway. Amazing when one makes thyself bigger than the story. I have to admit I was suspect of Mr. Knox by his previous comments when I previously posted, Calling All SAR’s; Search More, Talk Later.
How anyone can go to Aruba and help in the search for Natalee and use the media air time for their own personal gain, agenda or vendetta is truly reprehensible. I hardly think that this is what the family expected out of Jim Knox nor what he ever claimed he would do prior to coming to Aruba. Jim Knox has has embarrassed himself, the family and the investigation by his actions and I hope understands and makes amends for his foolishness.
I hope that Jim Knox apologizes publicly for what he has said and if not I hope the family tells him to cease all future media events until he does so. There is no need for any of this childishness and three ring circus caused by Knox. This is about finding Natalee and bring closure to the family, nothing more. Maybe Jim Knox should remember this before he opens his mouth again?
Look for the family to be on the talk shows tonight having to do damage control for Jim Knox’s comments.
Tito Lacle Answers the Monkeys Questions, Part 2
The following is the second part of Tito Lacle’s Q&A from the other night. Tito was kind enough to take the time to answer further questions the next day that he had been asked.
Scared Monkeys thanks Tito for spending so much time answering the questions posed to him and his willingness to come into The Monkey Cage.
TLR
Tito – Any news on the whereabouts of the missing gardener?
Klaasend
Tito, Any news on the whereabouts of the missing gardener?
TITO: AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, POLICE ARE STILL SEARCHING..
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DT
Tito – We asked last night, but I was wondering what your personal
theory was as to what happened to Natalee?
TITO: I DON’T HAVE ONE.. GAVE UP ON HAVING ONE.. POLICE THINK SHE IS DEAD.. THEY HAVE BEEN TREATING THIS INVESTIGATION FROM THE BEGINNING AS A MURDER INVESTIGATION
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Sb
My question would be: Do you have any read on what the Holloway/Twitty
family suspect has happened to Natalee? Do they agree with the Aruban
authorities’ ideas?
TITO: THEY DO AT SOME EXTEND.. FATHER ‘DAVE’ BELIEVES IT WAS SOMETHING GONE BAD, AND JUST WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.. DOESN’T BELIEVE THE BOYS WANTED TO KILL HER BUT THAT THEY PANICKED WHEN SOMETHING WENT WRONG.. THE MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW IF SHE CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH AND WILL DEAL WITH IT WHEN IT HAPPENS..
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Crazybabyborg
Not a question, but I know all of the monkey cage appreciates your willingness to accept the fabric pictures. Thank You!
TITO: YOU ARE SO WELCOME.
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Friend of monkeys
TITO…..hi and thx…i have been here from day one and remember early in June when aruban pub info official stated on fox they were shocked to find that NH had been kidnapped and they were following a car in Venezuela going to columbia…..what ever happened to that??? sounded serious and true at the time. thank you . are they looking in Venezuela deeply?!
TITO: THEY ARE LOOKING IN VENEZUELA.. EARLY REPORTS HAD PEOPLE SPOTTING NATALEE IN PUNTO FIJO.. AND FBI SEND PEOPLE OVER TO SEE. BUT IT TURNED OUT NEGATIVE
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TexasRick
Tito?? Anyone?? Paulus and his wife could not possibly afford
NINE attorneys representing his son, given their jobs, the sort of house
they live in and the car that they drive. Can anyone in Aruba find out who
is paying for the lawyers? Is that a matter of public record? ….It would be
interesting to see if any of these lawyers have histories of working with
drug-trafficking types in Aruba as that might explain things more clearly…
.Keep Joran out of jail and thus “innocent” and take the heat off from their
profitable drug operations, like GHB and Ecstasy…
TITO: THE FATHER OF JORAN IS PAYING FOR THE 3 LAWYERS.. EACH LAWYER IS FROM A DIFFERENT FIRM AND HAS MORE PARTNERS.. HENCE THE SUMMATION OF 9 LAWYERS.
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Molly12
Tito why do you think Jug said the police know where the gardener is?
TITO: I DON’T KNOW
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Golden – Hey Tito, I’m a couple of pages behind so I hope you are still on
board. Greta mentioned on the Jay Leno show that the prosecutor hated her. Any ideas why?
TITO: I ANSWERED THAT LAST NIGHT ALREADY
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Read more
Wow Diario, How do you really Feel?
A translated article from Today’s Diario. This is not supposed to be an editorial but you could not prove it by the context of the article. I would think that an investigative newspaper like Diario would and has printed articles questioning the investigation and the lack of leads in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The Diario and Jossy Mansur have made great strides in their own investigations and financing of some of the searches. The below article just seem to be very odd as compared to the participation of Diario itself.
What I find most troubling is the following statement from this article:
“This almost certainly not the case, as more groups want to come search on our island, and let us not forget that there are groups who are after the reward money and will come to also try their luck.”
That is what they think this is about? If a non-profit organization actually finds Natalee I have to believe they are bound by financial rules that state how any such reward money is dealt with. It is sad that this is the view put out to the Aruban people as to why people come and help the families search for Natalee Holloway. Many people volunteer their time away from their lives and careers to help with no chance of this “try your luck” theme that has been put forward. One would then ask the question to the writer of this article and Dairio; if you solves the case and found Natalee Holloway, what would you do with the money?
For many following this case and who have participated in the efforts to help the Holloway’s & Twitty’s gain closure, this has only been about trying to help. To reference all of the failures and failed leads serves no purpose. This is not about what has been done and failed it should be about what more can be done to succeed. Every lead had to be looked into because one never knows which one may be THE ONE that solves the mystery.
The other comment I find rather conveniently inflammatory is the following:
“What they were good at was to discredit our island and they questioned our dignity of our people.”
No one discredits the dignity of your people. It has been said over and over again that there are 3 or 4 people that everyone has a question about, not the Aruban people. However, is it any wonder why Arubans may feel like they do when the most read paper on Aruba prints a story like this? In my opinion it is rather irresponsible. From personal experience the Aruban people I have met over the years and the ones most recently I have come to know are great people. They opened their homes to me and even more to the point we have developed friendships as if we have known each other for years.
Maybe Diaro if you wish to complain about the bad press that you claim comes from the American media, you may first want to look in the mirror and check your own pages out first. There is a big difference between questioning authority, the investigation and the Government participation and making a blanket statement regarding all Arubans. One would almost think that this newspaper never printed one word questioning any of the ways in which this investigation has been handled. That would hardly be the case.
I find this article one of the most puzzling and troubling that I have seen especially when having personally spoken to Jossy Mansur himself. My hopes are that he will discuss this in the not too distant future.
Saturday 13 august DIARIO page 13
“More Search Teams Can Be Expected on Aruba”
In the disappearance case of Natalee Holloway.
Oranjestad (AAN): During the almost 80 days of investigation in the case of Natalee Holloway, all sorts of resources have been used to localize the body of the disappeared teenager, either alive or dead.
The arrival of the new group of Florida with the two dogs, Astro and Rhino, brought the question if this is the last resort to localize the young girl.
Detention of the two security guards, after that the three young teenagers, of which two have received their freedom, and now one is still under continuous interrogation, didn’t give any result.
Investigators from the Netherlands came and FBI from the US to do an investigation, and nothing has helped as yet.
Sophisticated equipment was brought that were used in a helicopter to fly in the west and northwest area of our island to detect heat or a buried human body, which didn’t give any results.
From the US the Equusearch team came that also didn’t achieve anything, nor the private detective that the family brought and worked illegally on our island didn’t achieve anything in their investigation.
All the while, [Aruban] police force and Aruban investigators and Judicial deports received blow after blow from the “experts” almost every night on American television and who do not know what they are talking about regarding Aruba or our legal system.
What they were good at was to discredit our island and they questioned our dignity of our people.
It went so far that the Netherlands sent some F-16 to fly and investigate, what also doesn’t have much credibility on our island, seeing as when they left after two days of flying they disappeared and no one heard anything else about this presumed investigation.
A gardener came forward who saw the young men in the morning after the disappearance of Natalee, in the car in the vicinity of Racket Club, and this alleged witness also disappeared like the F-16s.
Another witness came forward who allegedly saw movements at the Dump and later could not indicate with clarity what he saw and where he saw it, and caused that again the Dump was being dug up, without any results.
Today a Florida group came to contribute their efforts. The questions is if they are the last resort.
This almost certainly not the case, as more groups want to come search on our island, and let us not forget that there are groups who are after the reward money and will come to also try their luck.
Indications are thus that the Florida group with their equipment and two dogs, we can expect arrival in the coming weeks of other groups to continue the search
Rescue International Wants to Send Search & Rescue Dogs back to Aruba
While I was in Aruba helping search for Natalee Holloway with Texas EquuSearch, one of 
the many search teams that I met was members of Rescue International. Bruce Barton, Dale and search canine Ebby performed searches at the landfill, the Bird Sanctuary, the abandoned Atlantis Hotel, on the beaches and at the dunes while in Aruba. They are looking to return to Aruba to further help the cause; however, they do need help in their efforts. Many if not all of the hotels do not allow dogs to stay in them as this is a tourists island. If anyone has any connections or information that could help them in this matter please contact them at: director@rescueinternational.org or email red@scaredmonkeys.com and I will forward them the information. Also, if anyone knows of individuals who may have houses for rent in Aruba as well.
Bruce Barton sent me an email stating that they hope to go back to Aruba as soon as possible to help in the efforts. Also, Rescue International is asking for donations to help fund another trip to Aruba to help search for Natalee Holloway. If you have any questions regarding their searches, their organization or donations they can be contacted directly. Thank you.
Formed in 1985 Rescue International (RI) is a nonprofit, volunteer association of people, response teams and companies that provide special search, rescue, and recovery services and products to requesting agencies free of charge. RI’s educational programs are based on a foundation of experienced instructors teaching students skills and providing information derived from hands on experience and supported with a written program guide and/or manual. RI has a number of Search and Rescue Training Programs available. RI’s canine programs will help train SAR Canine handlers and their dog to reach a minimum Canine Training Standard for each area of operational ability. Based in Stroudsburg, PA., RI members and resources have responded to many of the major disasters in the past 15 years, including the 1987 Bridgeport, CT – Apartment Building Collapse, 1988 Earthquake in Armenia USSR, Hurricanes Hugo-Andrew-Opal, 1999 flooding in Boundbrook, NJ , World Trade Center Disaster Recovery Operations and many regional rescues. The Funds: NOTE RI is a non-profit rescue and educational organization but is not a charity and donations are not tax deductible per the IRS code, its only a act of passion and thanks to the handlers, canines and team members that are on the line or are going to be there when needed.
