RSSCalling All SAR’s; Search More, Talk Later
I have been an advocate of anyone who is willing and able to help in the searches for Natalee Holloway. It does not matter whether it be with Texas EquuSearch or with any of the many other SAR’s (Search & Rescue) teams out there. I am sure the The Holloway and Twitty’s would welcome most any help that is provided to them to help find their daughter, Natalee Holloway.
That being said, maybe many of the SAR teams that wish to go to Aruba or are going to Aruba should put their priorities in place first before they set foot in Aruba. There is an old saying when you are about to do charity or volunteer work for organizations, “leave your ego at the door.” Today on WPBF News, channel 25 out of West Palm Beach, FL comes the following story: Team Heads To Aruba To Search For Missing Teen. I would commend any search team that takes time to help out the Holloway-Twitty family and search; however, before you even set foot on Aruba you are already criticizing others that have searched and the Aruban Government?
A team of searchers from Lake Park are heading to Aruba in search of Natalee Holloway, an Alabama teenager who has been missing there since May.
Fred Golba said he has a plan to find Holloway.
He will use specialized techniques to search the sandy beaches of Aruba.
Search dogs, Astro and Rhino, who Golba trained will be with him. Golba thinks they will help him succeed where everyone else failed.
“It’s been searched, but it hasn’t been properly searched. Not out of arrogance out of confidence. I have a lot of confidence that I’ll find that body from what I’ve seen,” he said.
In my opinion the more the merrier and if some one can help bring closure to the Holloway’s and Twitty’s the better. However, this idea of in-fighting or SAR’s politics that is going on is very much in poor taste. I am sure that the family cares not who finds Natalee, but that she is found. Criticizing searchers that have come before you when one has no concept of what may or may have not been done is puzzling at best. To also criticize the Aruban Government before you even have a dog on the ground is in my opinion just plain ridiculous.
“There’s only so many options and so many places she could be,” Knox said. “They’ve spent the least time in the obvious places — the beach.”
Knox agreed to send Golba and his dogs to Aruba because of his global experience with cadaver searches including Ground Zero after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Knox and his crew are highly critical of the paid search team that’s already on the island and the Aruban government.
Aruba is not the United States folks, as we have learned along the way in the many weeks that we have been following this story. If one thinks its as simple as just searching a beech in Aruba whenever one feels like it, you may be sorely mistaken. One may want to get their search & rescue dogs through Aruban customs before you start criticizing the Aruban Government. That would just seem like the wise and reasonable thing to do.
I wish this group of searchers the best for Natalee’s family sake. However, let’s just hope they keep their eye on the the ball and that is to find Natalee, not criticizing others that have come before you when you have no idea what the island politics is like. Once again, good luck and stay on point.
Post Cards from Red: Arleen Meets The Monkeys
One of the many questions that I have been asked while in and after getting home from Aruba was whether I saw Arleen Schipper while I was away. The answer is yes. After the taping of the Greta Van Susteren show last Thursday night I got the opportunity to meet Arleen Ellis- Schipper. What I thought was going to be a quick meet and greet turned into a 20 minute conversation. I will say this: “and I thought I was opinionated and passionate about what I spoke of.”
Arleen was a bit skeptical of the blog at first as she thought that they all spoke negative of her. Then I said the name again of Scared Monkeys and I then assured her that the Scared Monkeys blog loved her and she had quite the following. Aruba Girl was there to overwhelmingly confirm that fact. I think Arleen recognized the name when I said it to her the second time around and then began to talk much more openly. As I said to Arleen, “trust me you have fans abound at Scared Monkeys.” Arleen was extremely gracious in talking for such a long period of time and very honest. Her more than honest and pepper-pot personality was truly refreshing.
It was a pleasure to actually talk with Arleen and discuss parts of the case that she has some issue with. Her main concern and point that she made was “consistency”. Her point of consistency was that whether it be the family or EquuSearch that those that go on different shows, whether they be ones that can or cannot be seen in Aruba or local media vs. US media that the same story be told each time. Arleen made the point that this had not always been the case and that it is tough for Arubans to understand what point they are trying to make when two stories are being told. However, I did make the point to say that it is sometimes difficult to be critical on local media of the authorities and expect cooperation when it can be more easily done with the MSM that broadcasts back to the United States. I told Arleen of Paul Reynolds and I going to Aruban radio the day before and earlier that day and she though that was a good thing. I too said it was important to bridge whatever divide there may have been over the frustration of this long investigation.
I had to smile when Arlene spoke of some of the MSM types and the shows that she has been on and her adventures. I guess there are certain shows that we will never be seeing Arleen on and for “certain” reasons. It was nice to know that at the end of our conversation there was some agreement and others parts we just agreed to disagree. No harsh words just a mutual respect and understanding. Then Arleen agreed to have her picture taken. I said it was a must for all of her admiring fans at Scared Monkeys. I really do thank Arleen for spending so much time with me discussing the case, it was very much appreciated.
Paul Reynolds; Cross Fire, Aruba Style
After spending a majority of the time on the American media outlets and 24-7 news outlets like Fox, MSNBC and CNN Paul Reynolds addresses the Aruban public. I have spent much of the past couple of days getting to know Paul Reynolds and discussing what are the best methods to getting out the word to not only the American viewers but also the Aruban people. As I have discussed previously to Paul and Natalee’s Aunt Linda Allison, that I have never seen one family ever so control a news cycle with a story and along with it the media. Literally guilting the media in to continual coverage of the story as the American public demands it. If the MSM ever discontinued coverage the wrath of the American public would be swift. That being said, there still is another media side that has not been used and that is that of the local radio of Aruba.
Pictured above, Paul Reynolds begins his efforts into appealing to the Aruban people by having a radio interview the other day with the host of Magic 96.5 FM.
Yesterday it was a radio interview with Elvis Weert of Top 95. I actually did not realize at the time that I was to take part in the interview as well. My role has always just been to analyze what I have seen and heard from the many Aruban people I have met during my stay and what I have always seen in the past and to come up with any way possible to help cross the divide between the Aruban and American opinions on this case. Being a part of the interview was a nice surprise.
Thus began the radio interview with Paul Reynolds and Elvis as Paul took many calls from Aruban people that were tough but fair. Paul Reynolds stressed once again that the Holloway & Twitty have no problem with the Aruban people and that in fact they thank them for all that they have done. However, they do have a problem with three people in particular, Joran and the Kalpoe brothers. Paul stated that in one way or another one or all three know what happened to Natalee. Paul subjected himself to calls and questions from Arubans and should be commended for that. I truly hope that he and the family continue to do this in reaching out to Arubans so that they understand what is going on and that they remain informed with fact not rumor.
An interesting situation happened during the questioning that I had previously mentioned to Paul as for the reason to do local radio. Much of what Arubans get for TV news if CNN and that means Nancy Grace. How many times I have been told down here that this woman is terrible and that all she does is trash Aruba. Needless to say, Nancy need not attempt to get any time-sharing in Aruba anytime soon. That being said most Arubans never see Fox, MSNBC, Court TV, etc. Could one only imagine having all your news on this story coming from Nancy Grace and Larry King? Other than the internet to see on-line news, Arubans without it are limited in their scope. Thus the importance of local radio that gets to Aruba as well as the surrounding islands. During the Elvis self proclaimed “i don’t mean this to be a a cross-fire interview”, one of the questions was, “has the family done anything to stop that hateful things said by Nancy Grace?” One can begin to see how the “CNN” mantra has become part of the Aruban vocabulary and thus the influence that this one network has on the dissemination of information on the island. As I have said to many Arubans when they have complained of Nancy Grace to me since I have been here, “that’s OK we don’t like her much in the states either”.
No matter what the case, the Holloway and Twitty’s must continue to cross the divide of international vs. local media so that all sides are working toward a common goal. The international media is important to keep the story going in America; however, the local media is needed to possibly inform Arubans to come forward with leads to possibly solve this mystery. They are both resources that need to be used to help find Natalee.
Riding With Paul Reynolds
In the late morning I met Paul Reynolds, Natalee’s uncle, for some coffee and to discuss his upcoming plans. Paul plans to leave Aruba tomorrow and go back home to Texas. He also stated that he will be back to Aruba. Paul has made himself accessible all the time and has answered so many questions. After breakfast Paul let me ride with him and spend a day in the life of a member of the Family searching for any clues or leads in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.
After breakfast we made a quick jaunt over to the Van der Sloot home to see by the off chance that maybe Paul Van der Sloot was home. A couple more pictures later and off we go. Having no success, it was off to the ponds to take a quick look as to what was finally done. I quick side note is that I am not quite sure why they ever stopped at the ponds seeing that they were not drained entirely. I just hope that the story that the pumps broke was not the reason why actions were ceased there. From what I saw there was plenty off water still needed to be drained.
It was now off to Paul’s hotel to do some brain storming and bide some time until his Fox, Day Side interview. I referenced to Paul that although it was a mark of brilliance what he and his family have done with the MSM in keeping this story on the front pages like no other story I have seen in recent years. Let us remember that Beth, Paul and family have single handed kept the MSM focused on Natalee Holloway and the events in Aruba. They have literally guilted the media into following the story or suffer the wrath of the viewing public.
That being said I mentioned to Paul as I did earlier in the week to Natalee’s dad, Dave Holloway, that maybe they should think about local media as well. International media like FOX, CNN, MSNBC and the other alphabet ones are great for American attention; however, Aruba really only gets CNN. If they really wanted to get to the hearts and minds of the Aruban people then maybe they should appeal to them through the local radio. Do interviews, take questions, appeal to the sensibilities of the Aruban public. To truly get through and make your point it is much better coming from the mouths of Natale’s family on local radio than it is from Nancy Grace on CNN. Ask any Aruban with regards to their opinion of Nancy Grace and they will say, I hope shy does not think of buying time sharing any time soon.
So thus the calling of the local radio stations began. Paul went live on Magic 96.5 FM today for a short time and tomorrow Paul will be live and in person at Top 95 from 9 to 10 am. He will be discussing where the situation is presently at and answering questions. Let us just hope that the family will continue to pursue the local media scenario as Aruban’s will listen to the radio, watching Nancy Grace that is another story.
Then is was off to the Marriott for the Fox News interview for the Day Side program. There we met Jossy Mansur who was also a guest on the show. I couple of technical difficulties later and Paul got bumped and Jossy Mansur went on to discuss Joran Van der Sloot and some of his anger management issues. After the show I was introduced to Jossy for the first time. Seemed like a nice enough man who wanted to get to the bottom of things. However, that post is for another time like tomorrow. I will say that I was amused when I introduced myself, “Hello Sir, I am Red from Scared Monkeys.” His reply, “I am glad to finally meet you, your monkeys think I am only in this for the fame and attention and absolute power.” Needless to say a smile engulfed my face knowing that the only way he could have known such a comment was to be reading the Scared Monkey’s forum.
After the Fox interview Paul Reynolds, Jossy Mansur and I sat down and just discussed the case and issues. Jossy presented a rather chilling statement that when reviewed seems to be true. Jossy said, “The only fact that we truly know as the truth is that Natalee got into a car with them.”
After meeting with Jossy it was off to the Holiday Inn so that Paul could meet up with his sister Beth Twitty who had just gotten in to town earlier today. Look forward to seeing Paul tomorrow and go with him to the radio interview on Top 95 at 9am. Thank you Paul for allowing me the insight and access to what is only a small portion of Natalee’s families day searching for her. Until tomorrow … signing off.
Texas EquuSearch Returns for further inspection of VDS’s Neighbors Property
Texas EquuSearch returned yesterday to Paul Van der Sloot the neighbor’s property to check out further sites of interest that needed to be re-examined from the day before. With permission of the owner of the property EquuSearch went to work. The points of interest were the old water reservoir made of concrete and the sewer. As seen in the pictures below, such a site could have been a prime location to dispose of a body. Joe Houston of EquuSearch used vision stick, a device that allows one to search in areas by extending a telescopic pole and turning the camera in all directions providing a video display of the area in question.
The video display as seen in the picture above allows the camera to be extended in all areas that are inaccessible. The camera can also be submerged in water to look for any objects that may be on the bottom of the water reservoir beneath the surface.
After over an hour of searching all four walls of the reservoir and all areas in between and underneath the water, the EquuSearch team determined that the site was clear and no longer was considered a place of interest. All leads must be checked out for their potential value. No matter what the outcome, the vision stick, was an interesting and useful research piece of equipment in helping provide camera views that would not be available to the common eye. Just one in the many resources that Texas EquuSearch uses to help find and search for Natalee Holloway.
