Things Heat Up in Aruba

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AP) -- The family of Natalee Holloway on Monday more than doubled the reward for help solving her disappearance, while the Alabama teen's mother again criticized the direction of the investigation.

The reward for information that helps solve the more than 2-month-old mystery is now $250,000, up from $100,000, said Beth Holloway Twitty, the teen's mother. The family has also offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Natalee's safe return.

"I hope more money will help bring people forward," Holloway Twitty said in an interview. "I still don't feel like this investigation is heading in the right direction."

Holloway Twitty said police had given her copies of statements from witnesses and other documents from the investigation that have led her to believe investigators are on the wrong track.

"The level of ineptness has been incredible," Holloway Twitty said of Aruban authorities. "The whole thing has been wrong from the beginning."

Of course, I am saddened that Natalee Holloway appears to have been a victim of a horrible crime. I want to see justice done.

Beyond that, I think this case is holding my interest because there seems to have been such a high degree of corruption and incompetence on the part of the Aruban officials. Also, it's possible that Paul van der Sloot was allowed to cover up for his son and protect him from being held responsible for Natalee's disappearance.

Natalee disappeared way back on May 30. Obviously, the investigation into the matter has been a complete disaster. The Aruban authorities blew it from the beginning. There's no going back to undo the damage that was done by releasing van der Sloot and the Kalpoes from custody.

As it stands now, if Joran van der Sloot isn't charged by September 4, he walks away free.

My heart just breaks for Natalee's parents. It's important to remember that they have lost their beloved daughter. To them, this isn't just some mystery that cable news is choosing to follow for our summer entertainment. This reality show is their nightmare.

...Chief Prosecutor Karin Janssen called the criticism unwarranted.

"I'm positive about our progress and very proud of my team," said Janssen.



If Karin Janssen is proud of her team, she has the bar set as low as it can go.
Later Monday, Holloway Twitty said she confronted one of the men who had been arrested and then released in her daughter's disappearance.

Holloway Twitty said she went into the Internet cafe where 21-year-old Deepak Kalpoe worked, telling him about the $250,000 reward and encouraging him to come forward with any information he might have.

"He wouldn't look at me," said Holloway Twitty. "He just told me I would have to speak to his lawyer."

I'm sure Deepak has been told by his lawyer not to say a word to anyone about the case. It doesn't surprise me that he wouldn't talk to Beth Holloway Twitty at the Internet cafe. However, I am somewhat surprised by his unwillingness to talk to authorities.

Why wouldn't he take the reward money if he has information? Why protect Joran van der Sloot? Why such loyalty?

The fact that he has remained silent tells me that he is not entirely innocent in the matter.
Holloway Twitty said the family wanted to publicize the reward in neighboring Venezuela and Colombia, even though Aruban authorities and the FBI have said they don't believe Natalee ever left Aruba.

I take that to mean that the authorities believe she never left Aruba alive.

If Natalee was somewhere on the island, then you'd think by now that some evidence would have turned up.

It's a big ocean....