Alabama Judge To Rule Natalee Holloway Legally Dead

A probate judge in Alabama has indicated he is going to sign an order declaring Natalee Holloway, who disappeared in Aruba 6 years ago officially dead. Her father, David Holloway wanted to have the matter closed so he could stop making payments on her medical insurance and use the $2,000 left in her college savings account for her younger brother.

Originally her mother, Beth Holloway had originally opposed the entire idea of having her declared dead, but now that she understand her father’s reasoning she is not opposing the motion.

The judge has ruled that the family has met the legal burden of having Natalee declared legally dead. Now, should anyone come forward wanting to assert otherwise they will have to meet the legal hurdles of proving she is still alive.

Natalee went missing on a school trip to Aruba in 2005. A Dutchman, Joran Van der Sloot was arrested twice for the crime but never charged. He recently plead guilty in the death of Stephany Flores in a Lima, Peru courthouse. He is expected to be sentenced later this month.

Beth Holloway’s lawyer, John Q. Kelly, had made a statement when Van der Sloot plead guilty saying,

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Flores family during these extraordinarily painful and public proceedings. We hope they find some measure of privacy, inner strength and peace as time goes by.”

Kelly also said he hoped the US government would do all in its power to have Van der Sloot extradited to the US to face charges he stole $250,000 from Beth Holloway to reveal the whereabouts of her daughter. She went to Aruba but he never showed up after receiving the money.

Are you glad this chapter in the Natalee Holloway story is closed?