Fourteen Years After Her Daughter Disappeared, Natalee Holloway's Mother Returns To Aruba

Nov 28, 2019

In 2005, the world was shocked by the mysterious disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Just 18 years old, Natalee disappeared in May of that year when on a trip with her classmates to Aruba to celebration their high school graduation. Late one night, Natalee was recorded entering the car of 17-year-old Joran van der Sloot and two of his friends, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, and was never seen again.

A media sensation ensued following Natalee’s disappearance as thousands of people came to search for the missing teen. While van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers were arrested in connection with Natalee’s disappearance, no charges were ever filed, and Natalee was never found. Despite never finding any remains, Natalee was declared dead by Aruban authorities in 2012.

Throughout it all, Natalee’s mother, Beth Holloway, remained her biggest champion, encouraging the media and law enforcement personnel to find her daughter. For the first time in nearly a decade, Beth visited Aruba with reporters from ABC’s 20/20. Speaking with Deborah Roberts, Beth says that even though authorities never filed charges against him, she is convinced that van der Sloot murdered Natalee.

Back in 2012, van der Sloot was sentenced to 28 years in prison after he was found guilty of the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores in Peru, a woman he met at a casino. Those close to the convicted murderer say that he is most concerned about being extradited to the United States in connection with Natalee’s death. Van der Sloot is currently married and has a child with a woman he met while serving his sentence.

During her visit to the island nation, Beth tried to speak to van der Sloot’s mother, ringing the bell of the family’s gated home before being turned away by police. An emotional Beth says that she can no longer look at the ocean, revealing to Roberts that when she looks at the waves, she feels that she will never know what happened to her daughter.

In a separate interview with Inside Edition, Roberts says that part of Beth’s decision to return to Aruba was to move forward with her life. Roberts makes it clear that Beth believes that she will never find closure following what happened to Natalee, but she at least wants to attempt to go on with her life.

What do you think of how Beth Holloway’s visit to Aruba after not stepping foot onto the island in nearly a decade? Do you think van der Sloot murdered Natalee?