Aruba Judge Orders 2 Suspects Held In Missing Teen Case
Natalee Holloway Missing Since May 30
POSTED: 8:16 am MDT June 8,
2005
UPDATED: 10:17 pm MDT June 8,
2005
ORANJESTAD, Aruba -- Defense lawyers said an Aruban judge ruled Wednesday that there is sufficient evidence to continue holding two former security guards in connection with an Alabama teenager's disappearance.
Authorities in the Dutch Caribbean island can hold Nick John, 30, and Abraham Jones, 28, without filing formal charges. The two were arrested last Sunday in connection with the May 30 disappearance of Natalee Holloway, 18, of Mountain Brook, Ala.Court officials said the judge plans to review the case again next Wednesday and every eight days after that until there is a final resolution. Under Aruban law, authorities may hold the suspects for a total of 116 days before charges must be filed.The pair were arrested on suspicion of first- and second-degree murder and capital kidnapping, the latter of which is invoked when a kidnapping victim is killed.The two men police deny any connection to Holloway. Jones' common-law wife said he was with her when Holloway was last seen.A police officer told The Associated Press that the two were known to authorities because they had a habit of going around to hotels trying to pick up women or bum cigarettes.In a Wednesday morning press conference in Birmingham, Marcia Twitty, aunt of the missing teen, told reporters that Holloway's family does not hold chaperones, other students or anyone else responsible for the fate of the girl. Holloway vanished while on a five-day school trip to the Caribbean island."There is no blame," said Twitty. "Sometimes bad things just happen."Police and FBI continued to search for the missing teenager Wednesday, but were hampered by a lack of any solid leads. Authorities aren't saying if they think Holloway was a victim of foul play and said that they have not ruled out accidental death.
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Video:Authorities in the Dutch Caribbean island can hold Nick John, 30, and Abraham Jones, 28, without filing formal charges. The two were arrested last Sunday in connection with the May 30 disappearance of Natalee Holloway, 18, of Mountain Brook, Ala.Court officials said the judge plans to review the case again next Wednesday and every eight days after that until there is a final resolution. Under Aruban law, authorities may hold the suspects for a total of 116 days before charges must be filed.The pair were arrested on suspicion of first- and second-degree murder and capital kidnapping, the latter of which is invoked when a kidnapping victim is killed.The two men police deny any connection to Holloway. Jones' common-law wife said he was with her when Holloway was last seen.A police officer told The Associated Press that the two were known to authorities because they had a habit of going around to hotels trying to pick up women or bum cigarettes.In a Wednesday morning press conference in Birmingham, Marcia Twitty, aunt of the missing teen, told reporters that Holloway's family does not hold chaperones, other students or anyone else responsible for the fate of the girl. Holloway vanished while on a five-day school trip to the Caribbean island."There is no blame," said Twitty. "Sometimes bad things just happen."Police and FBI continued to search for the missing teenager Wednesday, but were hampered by a lack of any solid leads. Authorities aren't saying if they think Holloway was a victim of foul play and said that they have not ruled out accidental death.
Previous Stories:
- June 8, 2005: Report: Two Aruba Men Held On Suspicion Of Homicide, Kidnapping
- June 6, 2005: Search Continues For Missing Alabama Teen
- June 5, 2005: Vigil Held In Aruba For Missing Alabama Teen
- June 4, 2005: Still No Trace Of Teen Missing In Aruba
- June 3, 2005: Aruban Authorities Reject More U.S. Help In Finding Missing Teen
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