7 Updates and a New 1

John Fiocco, Jr.’s parents have hired a lawyer, a private investigator, and Dr. Michael Baden to investigate their son’s death.

Baden said yesterday he has been on the Fiocco case for a few weeks at the request of the deceased 19-year-old TCNJ freshman’s relatives, who live in Mantua, Gloucester County.”The family wants to know why their son died and did anybody do harm to him?” Baden said, adding he has reached “no conclusions at all. We’re just in the process of gathering information.”

 

Good for them.

Lawyers in the Natalee Holloway case were in a New York courtroom yesterday arguing whether to dismiss or move the civil suit filed by her parents. They await a decision from the judge.

The Dorrian brothers, owners of The Falls, were slapped down hard by the State Liquor Authority for their offenses regarding the hiring of Darryl Littlejohn and lying to investigators of the Imette St. Guillen murder.

“He lied. He hedged. He ducked and weaved,” a police source said of Daniel Dorrian. “He did everything he could to avoid helping to find who killed this girl. All because he didn’t want to lose his liquor license. For money and greed.”

They may lose their liquor license. One can only hope. That should be the least of their punishment, in my opinion.

A Russellville detective opens up a little about the Nona Dirksmeyer investigation, defending his department against public criticism. There’s not really any new information in the article, but it’s interesting if you’ve been following the case. I think they did things right.

I hope I’m wrong, but I get the feeling that Tara Grinstead’s family is being taken for a ride by this so-called criminologist, Dr. Maurice Godwin.

Royal Caribbean is fishing with live bait again. Another passenger, Daniel DiPiero, has gone overboard, and, once again, their main concern is public relations. Daniel was drunk. It’s all his own fault, and Royal Caribbean’s hands are clean. Of course. Nevermind that nearly 12-hour gap between the time that a security camera captured Daniel going overboard and the time that the Coast Guard was notified. As you’ll remember, George Smith IV either fell or was pushed overboard during his honeymoon on a Royal Caribbean cruise of the Mediterranean.

Some members of the Peterson jury have their own book coming out this fall. I may read it if the opportunity arises, but I won’t be buying the book. Gloria Allred has made too much money on the case already.

www.tracytribble.com
The family of Tracy Tribble is asking for volunteers to help search for the 35-year-old redhead in western Iowa. She’s been missing from her Council Bluffs home since May 3rd. Or could it be May 2nd? Tracy was reportedly last seen by her husband before he left for work.

Stan Tribble told officers that he last saw Tracy before going to work at 6 a.m. When he returned home at 5:30 p.m., her car was still in the driveway, but she was nowhere to be found.

In addition to her vehicle, Tracy apparently left without her keys, purse, and cell phone. Her wallet, which contains her identification and a debit card, is missing from her purse, but there has been no activity on her account. Her dog was found wandering without its collar in a nearby cemetary. Contrary to the police stance that Stan Tribble is not a suspect, they have released a description of clothing that Tracy was wearing on May 2nd.

A coworker told officers that Tribble, 35, was wearing dark blue pants or jeans, a green sweater and a dark green jacket with a gray fleece lining.

Stan Tribble admits to police that he and Tracy had an argument the night before she disappeared, but denies assaulting her. Police have been called to the Tribble residence on more than one occasion for incidents of domestic violence, and last week filed charges against Stan for an April assault on his wife. Police have stated that so far there is nothing to indicate that Stan Tribble is responsible for his wife’s disappearance, but as the last to see her, he is certainly a person of interest. Police say that Stan has been contacting friends in trying to locate Tracy. Tribble was, at first, cooperative with investigators, submitting to an interview on May 8 and allowing them access to the home at 133 Benton St., but has since hired a lawyer and required a search warrant for further searches of the home. The results of the search warrant executed on May 11 have been sealed, so it isn’t know what, if anything, was found. Friend and former boyfriend Bryon Batchelder told reporters that the couple had had a bad argument the night of May 2 and describes Tracy as distraught afterward. Batchelder has taken a leave of absence from his job in Las Vegas to look for Tracy and doesn’t intend to return until she is found.

Another search is planned for this Saturday, and a $75,000 reward for information as to Tracy’s whereabouts is being offered. Anyone with information is asked to call Council Bluffs police at (712) 328-4764 or the non-emergency number at (712) 328-5737. Tracy’s family has set up a tip-line — (402) 218-1199 — for anyone who may be too intimidated to call police.

Christine Gaines, Tribble’s stepsister, said that the line was established to encourage anyone who might be afraid to call police with information about her sister’s disappearance.

“We hope that this line will open up some opportunities to find new information,” Gaines said.

Police have investigated a couple of tips received by the family, according to Gaines, but no new evidence has turned up.

Gaines also asked that if anyone in the community remembers seeing anything suspicious on rural roads in the last two weeks, to notify authorities.

 

I wonder if that rural road request is just based on a hunch or if it’s the result of something found in searches of the home and both vehicles.

Another Red Herring?

The more that comes out regarding Geoffrey van Cromvoirt and the allegations against him, the less likely it appears that he had anything to do with Natalee Holloway’s disappearance. According to John Q. Kelly, attorney for Beth Twitty and Dave Holloway, the VBC T-shirt found on the beach has no connection to the case. The forensics aren’t there. Beyond that, Geoffrey van Cromvoirt wasn’t even working for his father’s company at the time Natalee Holloway went missing.

In the photo on the beach, van Cromvoirt was working for the “visibility team,” a unit made up of private security guards who work with police to patrol beaches, downtown Oranjestad and other tourist areas.

Van Cromvoirt worked on the beach patrol from August to December, 2005, said Rob Smith, chairman of the Aruba Hospitality and Security Foundation, which runs the program. Before the visibility team, the teen worked at a water sports company but left when business got slow. He returned to that job and left the visibility team when business picked up again, Smith said.

No one — family, friends, volunteers — NOT ONE of the persons who participated in the search for Natalee had ever heard this young man’s name until his arrest last Saturday. All we have is rumors, innuendo, and a T-shirt that can’t be connected to anyone.

Oh yeah, I shouldn’t forget that recently released audio tape of Joran, Deepak, and Satish arguing about who is to blame for what happened to Natalee, and who lied about whom. It’s all a bunch of finger-pointing and confusion. Does it mean that none of the three know what happened to Natalee? Or is it just three scared and unscrupulous boys, each looking to save his own skin by blaming the other? The only definitive thing that can be said is that interrogators were obviously lying to the suspects about what each of them had said regarding the others’ involvement. It’s a common tactic and doesn’t appear to have accomplished anything in this case.

I don’t think the Aruban law enforcement community is capable of redeeming their image and solving this case. It’s just one ridiculous blunder after another. Joe Tacopina sure make the most of it; didn’t he?

I’m really frustrated and aggravated by this investigation. Does it show?

Geoffrey (or is it Godfried?) van Cromvoirt

Rather than an addendum to my previous entry, let’s just go with a new one. The New York Post is providing plenty of fodder for consideration and speculation. According to this article in the Post, Natalee’s friends have told officials that Natalee spent time with Geoffrey van Cromvoirt earlier during her vacation, as well as on the night of her disappearance.

According to what Holloway’s friends have told authorities, the blond-haired, blue-eyed van Cromvoirt was seen with their classmate after she left van der Sloot – the pals say they saw them in the Holiday Inn casino together. But when the casino’s video surveillance tapes were turned over to police, investigators could find no sign of Holloway and van Cromvoirt, the source noted.

Van Cromvoirt’s father is the security expert in charge of video surveillance at the
hotel.

Aruban authorities are also scrutinizing a surveillance tape taken earlier on May 30 that shows Holloway arguing with a light-haired young man in a jewelry store in the Wyndham Hotel, according to the source.

They’re trying to determine if the man is van Cromvoirt.

A source said police records indicate that “Natalee told her mom and others she was in love with a blond-haired, blue-eyed Dutch kid.”

Holloway’s mother assumed the youth was van der Sloot, though he has darker hair.

In contradiction, Beth Twitty told Greta van Susteren that she had never heard of the young man identified by Aruban authorities as G.V.C., and that there is no truth to reports that Natalee had become involved with a blond-haired, blue-eyed, Dutch national during her stay on the island.

It might be wise to take the Post’s reports with a grain of salt, but more reliable organizations, such as the Associated Press and CBS News, are beginning to confirm some of what was originally published by the tabloid. Chief Prosecutor Karin Janssen’s office confirms that G.V.C. was arrested on Saturday and is being held on suspicion “of criminal offenses that may be related to the disappearance of Miss Holloway and of offenses related to dealing in illegal narcotics.” The Post, which appears to be getting their scoops from Diario (an Aruban newspaper owned by Jossy Mansur) also reports the possibility of additional arrests.

Van Cromvoirt, who is Dutch, works for his father’s private security company, VCB [Video Camara Beveiliging] Security, which patrols the beaches outside Aruba’s hotels to protect tourists. He was part of the team keeping an eye on the Holiday Inn where Natalee was staying the night she vanished.

Two more members of that security team are expected to be arrested shortly, the sources said.
…

Van Cromvoirt was picked up Saturday after police seized a white “VCB Security” T-shirt – possibly belonging to the suspect. Sources said the T-shirt has “forensic evidence” on it – believed to be specks of blood. Authorities in Aruba did not disclose what kind of drugs van Cromvoirt is accused of pushing – and whether Natalee had used them.

If anyone can translate Papiamentu to English, I’d be very interested in knowing exactly what this Diario article says. The online translators I’ve tried leave a lot to be desired. All I can make out regarding the T-shirt is that it seems to have been found near a kite surfing area. The area known as “Fisherman’s Huts,” just north of the Marriott resort, is well-known for it’s shallow waters and prevailing winds, perfectly suited for kite surfing. As I understand it, this is the same area where Joran claims to have abandoned Natalee.

In an ironic twist, Fox News is reporting that one of Geoffrey van Cromvoirt’s “friends” characterizes him as being more capable than Joran van der Sloot of doing harm to Natalee, stating that he has a habit of plying young female tourists with alcohol and drugs in order to take advantage of them. The same sort of things have been said about Joran, even as far back to a time when we knew him only as J.V.D.S.

Rumors have been floated as to whether Geoffrey van Cromvoirt has any connection to the former suspects in the case. Joe Tacopina, attorney for Joran van der Sloot, insists that his client does not know him at all. One report has it that Van Cromvoirt may have a passing acquaintance with Satish Kalpoe. It’s also been said that he and Steve Croes are friends. Croes is the party boat DJ arrested last summer for making false statements to police. He came forward to police with the story that he’d witnessed two black security guards escorting Natalee outside the Holiday Inn after she was dropped off by Deepak and Satish Kalpoe and Joran van der Sloot. He claims that he decided (out of the goodness of his heart) to support the young mens’ alibi after overhearing Deepak’s telephone conversation at the Internet cafe where he worked. The possibility of a relationship between Croes and Van Cromvoirt leads me to wonder whom he was truly trying to protect with that falsehood.

In the course of her On the Record appearance, Beth Twitty brought up another important fact. Several of the surveillance cameras at the Holiday Inn were said to be not in working order when Natalee disappeared. Quite a provocative wrinkle, in light of the allegation that Geoffrey van Cromvoirt’s father is in charge of that surveillance system.

Dan Riehl has posted a fascinating interview with an American acquaintance of Geoffrey van Cromvoirt at Riehl World View.

A Curious Development

Over the Easter weekend, officials in Aruba made yet another arrest in the Natalee Holloway investigation — arrest #8, if I’m not forgetting anyone. A nineteen-year-old Dutch national with the initials G.V.C. (variously identified as Godfried or Geoffrey van Cromvoirt) was taken into custody and has since been ordered held for eight days pending another hearing. Reportedly, relevant forensic evidence has been collected from a shirt, belonging to the young man, found on the south side of the island. According to Joran van der Sloot’s attorney, G.V.C. has no connection whatsoever to his client. Joseph Tacopina suggests that police appear to be taking the investigation in a new direction.

This arrest has the potential to be a major development in the case. The New York Post reports:

Aruban cops have arrested Geoffrey van Cromvoirt, 19, who’s father is the security expert in charge of video surveillance at the Holiday Inn where the 18-year-old Alabama student was staying the night she vanished, sources told The Post.

The younger van Cromvoirt works as a member of the island’s High Visibility Team, which keeps an eye on the island’s powder-white beaches 24 hours a day in a bid to thwart crime against tourists.

He was busted after authorities took into evidence a white T-shirt with the beach-patrol team’s name on it from his dad’s security group, the sources said.

For me, the first question that comes to mind is: Where has this t-shirt been for the last 10 months? If it’s been in police possession all this time, why is it just now being connected to someone? If it was only recently discovered, can any forensic evidence found on it be considered reliable and probative of anything?

I admit to having difficulty considering the possibility that Joran van der Sloot and the Surinamese brothers, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, are without blame in the disappearance/death of Natalee Holloway. They’ve said and done plenty to merit the scrutiny of the hairy eyeball of suspicion. They recklessly and shamelessly pointed the finger at two innocent men, Mickey John and Abraham Jones, as the last to be seen with Natalee. They repeatedly lied to investigators, family and friends regarding the series of events during their time spent with Natalee. They lied so much that if they were to tell the truth now — and perhaps they have — no one would believe them. They have only themselves to blame for that. If it turns out that they are innocent (relatively speaking), they should have no expectations of an apology from anyone, in that regard.

Nevertheless, I must also acknowledge the niggling uncertainty I’ve felt since last August. When Joran first came out with the story that he left Natalee alive and well on the beach, I considered it just another variation in the litany of his lies. As I considered the cell phone and computer evidence that appeared to corroborate his story, I couldn’t shake the notion that he might — just might — be telling the truth. Perhaps someone else came along after Joran abandoned her and did harm to Natalee. Perhaps, we, as well as Aruban law enforcement and the mainstream media have been looking in the wrong direction all along. Mind you, I’ve tamped that doubt down more often than not. Joran’s absurd story about how he lost his shoes and the disparity between his and the Kalpoe brother’s versions of how Joran got home were enough to evoke suspicion. But as the saying goes, truth is often stranger than fiction.

The arrest of G.V.C., to some degree, edifies the niggling doubt. I certainly haven’t written off Joran, Deepak and Satish as suspects, but I’m open to the possibility that they are not the guilty party. It also injects a bit of optimism that the case might eventually be solved. It’s still a longshot but better (I hope) than slim to none. I’m as interested as the next guy or gal in seeing where this leads.

I feel like I have more to say on this subject, but I don’t have time to collect my thoughts just now. I’ve already taken so long to finish this entry that I’m probably way behind in coverage. I’ll update later if necessary, or delete this paragraph if not.

Dog and Pony Show

The circus continues in Aruba. In the center ring are the Dutch with a lame re-enactment. In ring #2, we have Aruban police, searching for a man who harassed beach-goers days before Natalee disappeared. And in the third ring are Julia Renfro, editor of Aruba Today, and Joe Tacopina, American attorney for Joran van der Sloot, juggling wild geese. Meanwhile, a new ringmaster is in charge. Gerold Dompig has given up his top hat, whip and megaphone to Adolf Richardson, former second-in-command in the Holloway (farce of an) investigation.

The show must go on!

Good grief.

Hodgepodge of Updates

A DNA match has linked Darryl Littlejohn, the New York bouncer accused in the rape and murder of Imette St. Guillen, to at least one additional attack.

NY1 News
WABC-7

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Westport News has a lengthy article (with lousy format) about George Smith IV and his family’s fight for justice on his behalf. His mother, Maureen, provides some background and insight. The rift between George’s widow, Jennifer Hagel-Smith, and his family is acknowledged, but no further information provided.

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Dave Holloway has written a book about the disappearance of his daughter, Natalee, and his experiences with the Aruban justice (Is that an oxymoron?) system. Read an excerpt of the newly released Aruba: The Tragic Untold Story of Natalee Holloway and Corruption in Paradise here.

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Neil Entwistle is due to be arraigned for the murders of his wife and daughter, Rachel and Lillian Enwistle, in Middlesex Superior Court tomorrow .

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And last but not least, Laci Peterson…

Kimberly Guilfoyle, host of Fox News’ The Lineup, interviewed Ron Grantski over the weekend. She’s written a brief article — The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree — regarding Scott Peterson and his parents and wants to hear what you think.

Second Wind

Until Joran van der Sloot’s recent visit to New York to tape a television interview, public interest in the Holloway case was waning. The investigation into Natalee’s disappearance seemed to have stalled, and the search for her remains appeared abandoned. Suddenly the missing Alabama teen’s parents, Beth Twitty and Dave Holloway, filed suit against the Dutch student and his father, Paulus van der Sloot, Joran began hitting the airwaves with self-serving interviews, and the lead investigator, Gerold Dompig, opened up to CBS’s Troy Roberts. Now come reports of a new search using cadaver dogs and ground penetrating radar [second link to CBS report], along with the revelation of a new potential witness and the dubious prospect of a trial of one or more of the three prime suspects — Joran van der Sloot and brothers, Deepak and Satish Kalpoe — this summer. The latest out of Aruba is the plan for a television call-in show (in the manner of America’s Most Wanted) to gather tips from the public. Dompig characterizes this the “critical last phase” of the investigation. How desperate are they to bring an end to this saga? Perhaps, some would characterize it as determination, but it doesn’t read that way to me.

Clint Van Zandt provides astute observations on recent developments in a recent MSNBC commentary article. He concludes with two questions for case watchers:

1. How do you think this crime (or case) can be solved?
2. What do you think happened to Natalee Holloway?

I have a few more specific questions:

• Do you believe that Natalee was drugged in order that she might be taken advantage of, or was her state of intoxication a result of her own reckless behavior?
• Joran claims that they drove to his family’s home at Natalee’s request, but abruptly decided not to go in because his father and brothers were sleeping. What is your opinion of this statement?
• According to Joran, Natalee wanted to go to the lighthouse to see sharks, but they never went to the lighthouse, opting instead to take a walk on the beach. The Kalpoe brothers state that they did drive to the lighthouse, but no one got out of the car; they subsequently dropped Joran and Natalee off at the beach near the Marriott. Do you believe there is any truth to either one of these stories.
• Beth Twitty claims to have translated documents that detail Joran’s description of a sexual assault on Nataleea as she drifted in and out of consciousness. Chief Dompig denies that any such documents exist. Joran now insists that Natalee was in full control of her faculties throughout their time together and he never touched her against her will. What do you make of these varied reports?
• Joran claims to have abandoned his shoes (along with Natalee) on the beach. What do you think really happened to his shoes?
• In an earlier account, Joran declared that Deepak had picked him up at the beach and driven him home that night. More recently, he explained that Satish picked him up instead because Deepak was busy on the computer. However, the Kalpoe brothers insist that neither of them gave Joran a ride home; Deepak was chatting online while Satish had gone to bed upon arriving home at approximately 1:45-2:00 am. They suggest that Joran walked home. Whose account is closer to the truth?
• Do you believe that one or more of the prime suspects participated in the concealment or disposal of Natalee’s body, or did Natalee fall into the hands of another culprit after Joran left her alone?

I’m really interested in your responses to these questions. If you have a theory about any aspect of Natalee’s disappearance, I hope you’ll share it in the comment section.

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Joran’s most recent interview was given to a Dutch publication. He made what I consider an intriguing comment:

Van der Sloot said he decided to abandon Holloway at the beach despite her insistence that he stay to talk and look at stars.

“Everything had to be her way. At that moment, I thought: ‘We’re not going to have sex. I have exams tomorrow and I just want to go home, forget her.'”

Maybe I’m reading too much between the lines, but I detect a marked contemporaneous hostility toward Natalee in his remarks.

Joran Tells the Truth

Miracle of miracles! Joran van der Sloot has proven that he can indeed tell the truth. ABC aired Chris Cuomo’s interview with the Dutchman on Thursday night’s Primetime. The problem is that he refuses to tell the truth about what happened to Natalee Holloway and where she is. Neither can he be honest about his own character. Instead he portrayed himself as the gallant, conscientious gentleman who refused to have sex with the girl-gone-wild, Natalee Holloway, because he didn’t have a condom. Not only did he besmirch her at every turn — insisting that she brazenly pursued him and suggesting that she found some other guy to hook up with after he left her alone on the beach — but he insulted her mother without justification, as well, informing Cuomo that Natalee had called Beth Twitty “Hitler’s sister.” He also blamed his initial lies as to Natalee’s whereabouts on the Twittys, inferring that he and Deepak might have told the truth if Beth hadn’t been so accusatory toward them and disrespectful of the Van der Sloot family.

According to Joran’s latest story, Natalee was fully in control of her faculties the night she disappeared, never losing consciousness or seeming incoherent in Joran’s presence. Joran stated that he, at first, intended to take Natalee to his house, where (as you’ll remember) he has his own private quarters, but then changed his mind because the considerate lad didn’t want to wake his father and brothers. After a short drive to the lighthouse (to see sharks), he asked Deepak Kalpoe to drop them off on the beach near Natalee’s hotel and said that he’d call him for a ride later. Deepak must be a really good bud to leave his house in the middle of the night in order to chauffeur Joran around the island. The pair spent most of their time together strolling hand-in-hand on the beach and making out in the sand. That is, until Joran got tired and wanted to go home. So he phoned his friend, and minutes later Satish Kalpoe arrived in his brother’s car. Joran, unable to convince Natalee to leave, hopped in and headed for home. Oops! He forgot his sandy shoes. For some reason, it was impossible to go back and get them. Upon arriving home, he used the Internet to check soccer scores, view some porn, and e-mail Deepak to let him know that he’d made it home. Satish, despite living in the same house with his brother, must be incapable of effectively communicating this. The Kalpoe brothers both deny giving Joran a ride home that night. Joran suggests that it is they who are lying, perhaps because one of them returned to the beach later and did something to Natalee.

So now, you’re probably wondering what Joran told the truth about. The two biggest truths that slipped Joran van der Sloots lips under Chris Cuomo’s questioning were (paraphrasing):

1. That he hates Natalee.
2. That he will never be free of this burden until the truth comes out.

Funny, that. I thought the whole point of doing the interview was so that Joran could get the truth out there and the world would know that he is innocent. From his own admission, we know that the truth about Natalee Holloway’s disappearance is yet to be heard.

I had intended to tape Thursday night’s program to review it later and, hopefully, offer additional observations, but due to technical difficulties, i.e. a bonehead blunder, that didn’t work out. I can say that Joran is well-rehearsed in narrating his fairytale, practiced at trying to appear blameless and beleaguered, but woefully inept and ignorant (or perhaps just oblivious), when it comes to conveying contrite and compassionate. Though he didn’t do a lot of shifting his eyes down and to the left (a la Peterson), it did appear that he rarely looked Cuomo in the eye when he answered questions. And he did this fluttery semi-closing of the eyelids when he knew he was lying (my opinion, of course) about something important, such as whether or not he harmed Natalee, whether or not he killed Natalee, etc. That’s my observation. I’d love to hear from anyone else who watched the interview. If you didn’t watch, don’t let that stop you from joining in.

A Holloway Sting

There has been a fascinating development in the Natalee Holloway case. Yesterday, John Q. Kelly filed suit against Joran van der Sloot and his father, Paulus, in a Manhattan court on behalf of Natalee’s parents, Beth Twitty and Dave Holloway. The defendants were served with summons when the emboldened pair arrived in New York for a television interview with an unnamed media organization. Greta van Susteren last night interviewed Kelly, who gave the impression of the cat who swallowed the canary. Withstanding much probing by Greta, Kelly guarded the details of how this feat was accomplished, but allowed that he got wind of the Van der Sloot’s impending visit through his own investigative resources. The when and where of their arrival was determined, and papers were quickly drawn up, filed in the appropriate jurisdiction, and served on the defendants aboard their conveying aircraft.

Van Susteren also interviewed by telephone Julia Renfro, Editor of Aruba Today. It’s my impression that Ms. Renfro has, from the beginning, demonstrated bias in support of the suspects, Joran van der Sloot and Deepak and Satish Kalpoe. Last night, it seemed she had to stifle her outrage as she sputtered through the phone that people will be shocked to learn of the tactics employed by the Holloway camp in achieving their coup. Renfro insinuated that Joran and his father were lured to the U.S. with the promise of proclaiming their truth by Larry Garrison, co-author of Dave Holloway’s book about his daughter’s disappearance and the corruption that hindered a proper investigation. She stated that Garrison was to collaborate with Joran and Paulus on a book of their own.

If there is any truth to Julia Renfro’s allegations, I’m thoroughly impressed. After months of frustrating observation of the floundering investigation by the inept (and possibly corrupt) Aruban authorities, it’s a heartening turn of events. It appears that Natalee’s family has assembled a network of shrewd, resourceful allies in their search for the truth. The successful execution of a masterful plan is a satisfying thing. I’m thrilled for them and pleased with the new potential avenue in the quest for answers.