WASHINGTON: A Dutchman who was the prime suspect within the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway, an American girl vacationing in Aruba, has confessed to her homicide, prosecutors and the sufferer’s household mentioned on Wednesday (Oct 19).
Joran van der Sloot, 36, as a part of a responsible plea entered in a associated case, confessed to killing Holloway on the Caribbean island, they mentioned.
Holloway, 18, disappeared whereas on a highschool commencement journey to Aruba. Her physique has by no means been discovered.
Van der Sloot pleaded responsible throughout a courtroom listening to in Birmingham, Alabama, on Wednesday to trying to extort US$250,000 from Holloway’s mom in 2010 in alternate for details about her daughter’s disappearance.
United States District Choose Anna Manasco sentenced Van der Sloot to twenty years in jail for extortion and wire fraud.
As a part of the plea settlement, Van der Sloot “agreed to offer full, full, correct and truthful info relating to Natalee Holloway’s disappearance in alternate for a sentence of 20 years”, the Justice Division mentioned.
“Immediately marks the tip of 18 years of questioning what occurred to Natalee Holloway,” US district lawyer Prim Escalona mentioned following the sentencing. “Natalee can relaxation realizing that justice was served.”
Holloway’s mom, Beth Holloway, additionally spoke to reporters exterior the courtroom, saying: “Immediately, I can let you know with certainty that after 18 years, Natalee’s case is solved.
“So far as I am involved, it is over.”
“He cannot be tried right here for Natalee’s homicide,” Holloway added. “However I am glad realizing that he did it. He did it alone and he disposed of her alone.
“I will not provide the particulars of his brutal confession.”
Van der Sloot was extradited to the US in June from Peru, the place he’s serving a 28-year jail sentence for the 2010 homicide of Stephany Flores, a 21-year-old Peruvian girl.
Beneath an settlement with the Peruvian authorities, Van der Sloot is to be returned to Peru following the US extortion case to serve the rest of his sentence there for the homicide of Flores.
His 20-year US sentence is to be served concurrently together with his 28-year Peruvian sentence.