Three Familiar Suspects Arrested in Natalee Holloway Case
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, new developments in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway: three suspects back in custody. Police let them go last time for lack of evidence. They say, this time, they have got the goods. We're digging deeper. Also tonight, the president's former spokesman -- his new book dishing dirt about deception at the highest levels of government, naming names, including Cheney and Bush. But there's a twist and a wrinkle in the twist, and maybe some fog on top of that. We will try to clear it all up. Also tonight, actor Dennis Quaid's children reportedly falling victim to a medical mixup at a hospital. We will look at what went wrong and why a million-and-a-half Americans fall victim every year to sometimes deadly mistakes -- all that and more tonight. First, though, that break in the Natalee Holloway case -- she vanished on a school trip to the Dutch island of Aruba. That was way back in May of 2005. Tonight, authorities have three suspects in custody. And you will remember their names. That's because the three being held tonight are the same three who were held once before in Natalee's disappearance and presumed death. So, what's different this time? In a moment, you will hear from the key suspect's lawyer. First, late details and some background from CNN's Susan Candiotti.</s>SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Whatever new evidence authorities have on Joran van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers is being kept under wraps for now. Natalee Holloway's father tells CNN's "NANCY GRACE" show, the investigation has come full circle.</s>DAVE HOLLOWAY, FATHER OF NATALEE HOLLOWAY: They have been investigated for the last two-and-a-half years. And, hopefully, with what they say that they have, this new evidence, maybe we will finally get some answers.</s>CANDIOTTI: Last spring, Dutch investigators returned to the island and dug up again part of the van der Sloot property and revisited the Kalpoes' home. They returned to Aruba last month, and now say they have new incriminating evidence. Whatever police have, one defense attorney says, it must be scrutinized.</s>MARK EIGLARSH, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It's been two years since they presented evidence in front of a judge. Now they're doing it again. I, from a defense perspective, would argue that now they have a little bit more of something, and they're giving it another try to see if they can get an indictment.</s>CANDIOTTI: It took a week for police to begin searching the small Caribbean island after Natalee disappeared. Two days after that, authorities finally picked up the boys from the bar for questioning. Van der Sloot claimed at one point he left Natalee drunk on the beach and walked home by himself. About two weeks later, his father, a judge, was arrested, then released. A landfill was searched. A pond was drained. Every inch of the island, it seemed, was covered, but still no Natalee. Law enforcement sources said the boys' stories had changed repeatedly. Things didn't seem to add up. Yet, in July 2005, the Kalpoe brothers were released, as was van der Sloot two months later. All were freed for lack of evidence. Van der Sloot left to attend college in the Netherlands. The Kalpoe brothers went back to their lives on the island. Last year, van der Sloot said he's being wrongly portrayed as a suspected rapist and murderer, and he seemed concerned over Natalee's welfare. (</s>BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, ABC NEWS) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did it seem like a wrong thing to do, leaving a girl on the beach like that?</s>JORAN VAN DER SLOOT, SUSPECT: At that moment in time, for me, it wasn't the wrong thing. But it's something a real man would do. It's not normal. It's not right at all.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But you did it?</s>VAN DER SLOOT: Yes.</s>CANDIOTTI: A former deputy police chief in Aruba who worked the case tells CNN he suspects Natalee was not left at the beach, but went home with van der Sloot, that may have been weakened by alcohol and possibly drugs, and may have collapsed. He suggests the boys panicked and -- quote -- "got rid of her." Van der Sloot is expected to be extradited to the island in the coming days. The Kalpoe brothers will be in court Friday. Authorities say they expect to reveal some of their new evidence then. Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami.</s>KING: Joe Tacopina is a defense attorney representing Joran van der Sloot. He and I spoke a short time ago. I began by asking him where his client is tonight.</s>JOE TACOPINA, DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR JORAN VAN DER SLOOT: He's in custody in the Netherlands. He will be transported back to Aruba. Again, he's not fighting extradition because he's -- he's ready to answer any questions they have in regards to his knowledge of the events of the night that Natalee went missing.</s>KING: Have you been able to speak to him at all or his family since this happened?</s>TACOPINA: I have spoken with his family. I have spoken with his parents. You know, obviously, we have been down this road before. They have been put through the ringer for the last year-and-a-half. You know, they were hoping it was over. They did a very thorough investigation. Three countries had looked into this for the last year-and-a- half, not found a stitch of evidence, incriminating Joran. That's because he had nothing to do with -- with Natalee's disappearance, I firmly believe. But, you know, this is par for the course here. Thirteen -- now 13 arrests have been made in this case without a single person being brought to charges or any answers really being -- being given.</s>KING: You say par for the course. I assume you have seen the police statement. They say they have new evidence, which is why they went and re-arrested these suspects.</s>TACOPINA: Yes.</s>KING: Any idea what that new evidence is?</s>TACOPINA: No, John, no idea whatsoever what that new evidence is. But, again, I will -- will caution to be not too optimistic here, because, again, we have been down this road before. They have said they had new evidence. And the new evidence turned to be insignificant or irrelevant factually. And what they have told me, which has been very little, is that the new evidence, they have been specific to say that it reflects and it pertains to the Kalpoe brothers. Now, I don't know what know what that evidence is either. But they have specifically not mentioned that they have new evidence against Joran. And, again, he's being held under the suspicion that they have said. They have not charged him with anything. They're going to bring him back. And we fully expect that he's going to be brought back, questioned, and subsequently released, and hopefully be able to resume his studies back in the university in the Netherlands.</s>KING: You seem to consider this a case of Keystone Kops. Obviously, there's been an international spotlight on the authorities. They have been ridiculed. They have obviously been criticized by the Holloway family quite extensively. You really think they would go through this again without any new evidence?</s>TACOPINA: Hey, listen, I didn't think they would be arresting people eight months ago and a year ago without any evidence whatsoever. But they did it. I don't know, John, what to make of this. I don't know what their motives are. But I will tell you -- I will tell you that they botched this investigation from the get-go. They focused on -- and rightfully so did they focus on Joran and the Kalpoe brothers from the beginning. But when the evidence did not lead them in that direction, continually, they stayed there. And I think they let a lot of leads go. There was a predator that was seen on that island that accosted American tourists just days before Natalee's disappearance right by that same area. They didn't put a composite sketch up of that individual until a year later, when the new police chief came in and wanted to refocus the investigation. So, this investigation may never give us the answers that we want or the Holloway family wants. But, unfortunately, we're back here again. And, before we get too excited, I think we need to see what this new evidence is. I doubt it's going to have any forensic value whatsoever. It could be witness statements, which, again, you're going to see called into question without any corroboration. But, you know, I'm confident in the truth here. And I think, at the end of the day, Joran will be released.</s>KING: Joe Tacopina, thanks for your thoughts. And we will keep track of this, as this bizarre case takes yet another twist.</s>TACOPINA: Thanks, John.</s>KING: Thank you.</s>KING: And it seems like everyone involved in this case has an attorney. Vinda De Sousa is the lawyer in Aruba for Natalee's dad Dave Holloway. She joins us now live on the telephone from Aruba. Let me begin with this question. Have you been able to talk to Natalee's father and stepmother? And what is their reaction, if so, to the news of these arrests?</s>VINDA DE SOUSA, HOLLOWAY FAMILY ATTORNEY: Hi. Good evening. Yes, I have talked to Dave Holloway. I reiterate that I'm Dave Holloway's attorney in Aruba. I have spoken to him. And, of course, they're pleased with any developments in this case. Anything that could lead to a satisfactory solution or at least knowing what happened is very pleasing to them.</s>KING: Now, the prosecutors say they have new incriminating evidence, the reason for re-arresting these three initial suspects. Can you tell us anything at all about what you know about this evidence?</s>DE SOUSA: No, they're not -- they're very tight-lipped about the evidence, and rightfully so, understandably so. They don't want to hamper the investigation in any way. What they're saying is there is new evidence or/and new facts and circumstances that have led to this re-arrest.</s>KING: Over the course of this confusing and often controversial investigation, the Aruban authorities have suggested at times that Natalee may have overdosed on drugs or died of alcohol poisoning. Has the family ever believed that?</s>DE SOUSA: It is my understanding that the family never did, but the authorities certainly are looking into that. And it's their belief.</s>KING: And let's look at the specific charges now, as these three suspects have been re-arrested. the charge is involvement in the voluntary manslaughter or causing serious bodily harm to Natalee Holloway. What does the wording of the charges tell you about this case?</s>DE SOUSA: The wording of the charges tell me that they no longer believe that there is any evidence or anything to do with premeditated murder or first-degree murder, that something -- they believe that something happened that was involuntary, but that the suspects are somewhat involved.</s>KING: Now, this case has not cast the Aruban authorities in the best light, to say the least, around the world, and particularly here in the United States, where Natalee Holloway lived. It's been referred to as the catch-and-release justice system. In your view -- and you know the island well -- obviously, you know the law there well -- has the case been handled properly under Aruban law?</s>DE SOUSA: Under Aruban law, they have handled it the way they should have, in the sense that they held the suspects. We don't have the bail system here in Aruba. So, once a suspect is arrested, they need to present first under suspicion of having committed a crime. Then they have to present enough evidence to justify holding the suspects longer. And, the longer they hold them, the more evidence they have to present in order to justify holding them longer. The fact that the suspects were held as long as they were is because they were looking at the case, they were investigating, and there was enough justification to hold them as longs as they did. They were released because there were no new facts or evidence to justify holding them any longer. Now, in order to have a suspect who has been held in preventive custody and then released, in order to re- arrest them, they need to new facts or circumstances or new evidence. That's the sole grounds on which they can re-arrest them. And, evidently, they do have enough of that to justify their re-arrest.</s>KING: And give us, as best you can, the timeline for what happens next.</s>DE SOUSA: The timeline of what happens next is, they will be held for eight days. And, from there on, a new -- a judge commissioner, there will be there -- there will be a new arraignment hearings. And, from there on, again, their prolongation of their arrests will have to be looked at and justified enough for them to be held longer than those.</s>KING: Vinda De Sousa, the attorney for Natalee Holloway's father Dave Holloway, thank you so much for your help tonight. Thank you. Like most young women, Natalee had hopes and dreams. Here's the "Raw Data." She was 18 years old when she disappeared in 2005, about to graduate from high school. A straight-A student, she had a full scholarship to attend the University of Alabama, where she planned to be premed and eventually become a pediatrician. Last month, Natalee would have celebrated her 21st birthday. Up next, finally, the word we have all been waiting for, a minor detail perhaps, you know, when the presidential primary season begins. Also, what the spokesman saw -- reaction to Scott McClellan's allegation that he misled the American people, with the involvement of the president and the vice president.