Disapointment, Surprise Over Closing of Holloway Case

Chris Pollone/NBC 13
Published: December 18, 2007
Updated: December 18, 2007

ORANJESTAD, Aruba- Authorities in Aruba say they have closed the investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, adding that the Kalpoe brothers and Joran van der Sloot will not be charged.

A spokeswoman for Natalee's mother Beth Holloway says she is "terribly disappointed" that the case was closed. Prosecutors say they still believe the three men are involved in the disappearance, but cannot prove a crime was committed because Natalee's body was never recovered.

Many had suspected Aruban prosecutors would close the case by the end of the year, but "Aruba Today" Editor in Chief, Julia Renfro, says that expectation didn't blunt the reality that the decision has officially been made.

"It's surprising to everybody because so much has been said about these three main suspects," Renfro tells NBC13 HD news. "But the bottom line is the prosecutor's office announced they do not have enough evidence to bring this to trial."

Renfro says the news is a blow not only to friends and family of Natalee Holloway, but also to people in Aruba who believe in the criminal justice system there, and had hoped the island's most notorious crime would be solved.

"To come two and a half years later to find there's not much more than we know today, that we knew two years ago, that's devastating," says Renfro.

It's a sentiment shared by many in Natalee's home town of Mountain Brook. Natalee's high school dance teammate Cameron Perry hopes one day the Holloway family gets justice. Right now, she's can't be sure that will happen.

"It's kind of upsetting," Perry says. "But I guess you could see it coming because it's been dragged out for so long and right at the beginning it seems like it would hinder the case."

Meanwhile in the waters off Aruba, the underwater sonar search for any clues in Natalee's disappearance continues. Searchers tell NBC13 HD news that closing the case will not stop their efforts. In fact, should they find some new, compelling evidence, the case of Natalee Holloway can be re-opened.