Disappearance of Natalee Holloway

Natalee Ann Holloway (October 21, 1986 – disappeared May 30, 2005; declared dead January 12, 2012) was an 18-year-old American high school graduate from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who disappeared from the Caribbean island of Aruba on May 30, 2005. Her disappearance resulted in an international media sensation, especially in the United States. The prime suspect, Dutch national Joran van der Sloot, has made conflicting statements over the years about his involvement, including a confession to killing her. Holloway's remains have not been found.

Holloway, who had visited Aruba with classmates following her high school graduation, was scheduled to fly home on May 30 but failed to appear for her flight. She was last seen outside Carlos'n Charlie's, a restaurant and nightclub in Oranjestad, entering a car with local residents van der Sloot and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe. When the three men were questioned, they claimed they had dropped off Holloway at her hotel and denied knowing what had become of her. Upon further investigation by authorities, van der Sloot was arrested twice on suspicion of involvement in her disappearance, and the Kalpoe brothers were each arrested three times. Due to lack of evidence, the suspects were released each time without being charged with a crime. Holloway's parents criticized Aruban police for the lack of progress in the investigation. The family also called for a boycott of Aruba, which gained Alabama Governor Bob Riley's support but failed to gain widespread backing.

With the assistance of hundreds of volunteers, Aruban investigators conducted an extensive search operation. American special agents from the FBI, fifty Dutch soldiers, and three specially equipped Dutch Air Force F-16 aircraft participated in the search. In addition to the ground search, divers searched the ocean for Holloway's body. She was never found.

On December 18, 2007, Aruban prosecutors announced that the case would be closed without charging anyone with a crime. However, the case was reopened on February 1, 2008, after video footage was publicized of van der Sloot, under the influence of marijuana, saying that Holloway died on the morning of her disappearance, and that a friend had disposed of her body. Van der Sloot later denied that what he had said was true, and in an interview said that he had sold Holloway into sexual slavery. He later retracted his comments. In January 2012, van der Sloot was convicted of the May 30, 2010, murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores Ramírez in Lima, Peru. At the request of Holloway's father, Alabama judge Alan King declared her legally dead on January 12, 2012.

On June 8, 2023, van der Sloot, who was still the main suspect in Holloway's disappearance, was extradited to the U.S. to face trial for extortion and wire fraud, with both charges being linked to Holloway's disappearance. On October 18, 2023, van der Sloot pleaded guilty to the extortion charges and confessed to killing Holloway by blunt force trauma after she rejected his sexual advances. Eleven days later, he returned to Peru to finish his sentence for killing Flores. Provided by Wikipedia