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She's Dead, Suspect Said in Chat

Still not enough to hold anyone, judge ruled

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 21, 2007 5:00 AM CST

(Newser) – Though the case has been closed in the disappearance of American teenager Natalee Holloway, one of the men detained in her suspected murder wrote in an internet chat room that she was dead shortly after she vanished, an Aruba prosecutor has revealed. That evidence was used last month to rearrest three suspects in the Alabama high school student's disappearance. But a judge ruled it was not enough to hold them, CNN reports. 

"The fact that she's dead is not good," one of the suspects wrote. The computer information was only retrieved recently with the aid of technology not previously available to authorities. Joran van der Sloot and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe were released again just weeks ago. Other witnesses at the new hearing to charge them indicated the suspects were hiding information. Holloway's body has not been found. She was celebrating graduation with her class on the island trip.

Joran van der Sloot, right, sits in a car with his father, Paulus Van Der Sloot, left, after Joran was released from custody near Oranjestad, Aruba, Friday, Dec. 7, 2007.  A judge ordered the release of the Dutch suspect who was re-arrested last month in the disappearance of U.S....
Joran van der Sloot, right, sits in a car with his father, Paulus Van Der Sloot, left, after Joran was released from custody near Oranjestad, Aruba, Friday, Dec. 7, 2007. A judge ordered the release...   (Associated Press)
Beth Holloway Twitty, the mother of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway, wears a bracelet that spells Natalee's name, right, and a blue bracelet in Natalee's memory, left, in Palm Beach, Aruba, in this June 28, 2005, file photo.  This fall, HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins, will publish Loving Natalee
Beth Holloway Twitty, the mother of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway, wears a bracelet that spells Natalee's name, right, and a blue bracelet in Natalee's memory, left, in Palm Beach, Aruba, in this...   (Associated Press)
This undated photo, released by the Holloway family on June 7, 2005, shows Natalee Holloway of Mountain Brook, Alabama. Holloway has been missing since May 30, 2005 when she vanished in Aruba while on a trip with classmates celebrating their high school graduation. A renewed investigation into her disappearance has...
This undated photo, released by the Holloway family on June 7, 2005, shows Natalee Holloway of Mountain Brook, Alabama. Holloway has been missing since May 30, 2005 when she vanished in Aruba while on...   (Associated Press)
Joran van der Sloot, 20, takes a walk to the local supermarket...
Joran van der Sloot, 20, takes a walk to the local supermarket...   (Getty Images)
This poster which was prepared and released by the Holloway family after their daughter Natalee went missing is seen in this image originally made available by the Holloway family in this Friday, June 3, 2005, file photo. Authorities have closed the investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway and do...
This poster which was prepared and released by the Holloway family after their daughter Natalee went missing is seen in this image originally made available by the Holloway family in this Friday, June...   (Associated Press)
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More Newser Stories

Natalee Holloway Declared Dead

Holloway's Dad Seeks New Info From Van der Sloot

New Leads Could Solve Holloway Case

Pal Linked to Natalee Death Denies Involvement

Aruba May Bust Holloway Suspect Again


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