Will They Walk?

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AP) — Three young men who have been detained for nearly a month in connection with the disappearance of a missing U.S. teen appeared before a judge Monday as prosecutors argued they should be held for another 60 days — even while acknowledging they have no solid evidence to charge them with a crime.

Aruba's chief government spokesman, Ruben Trapenberg, said Friday that the three could be formally charged with a crime as soon as Monday.

The men, who have been in custody since June 9, arrived at the Dutch Caribbean island's only courthouse in unmarked cars and were escorted through a side door. Family members of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway, who disappeared on May 30, also arrived.

"We felt like this was an important day and we wanted to be here," said Holloway's stepfather, George "Jug" Twitty. "Everybody is frustrated in there."

I'm surprised a decision about whether the three will be charged with murder hasn't been made yet.

I expected today's court appearance to be just a formality and charges would become official. Instead, it seems to be more complicated.

No doubt the Aruban and Dutch governments are feeling the pressure of American scrutiny. However, if the evidence is not there to hold Joran van der Sloot, and Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, they can't detain them any longer.

I keep saying it, but it all comes down to this: Someone knows what happened to Natalee. That someone is not talking. That someone has no conscience.

Because Aruban authorities gave the three the opportunity to cover their tracks early on and Paul van der Sloot told them not to talk, it may be that no one will be held accountable for the disappearance of this young American girl.

I think anyone planning a vacation would be crazy to go to Aruba. However, I suspect travel packages will be available at bargain prices.