In 2005, an 18-year-old student from Mountain Brook went missing on her high school graduation trip to Aruba.
Her disappearance made international headlines.
Natalee Holloway was never seen or heard from since May 30, 2005, and she was declared dead in 2012.
Authorities considered several suspects in the case but one stood out from the rest – Joran van der Sloot, a young Dutch national.
Aruban authorities arrested him early on in connection to Holloway’s disappearance but eventually released him due to lack of evidence.
Now, however, he is serving a 28-year prison sentence in Peru for the murder of a young woman in 2010.
Holloway’s parents announced Wednesday that van der Sloot will be temporarily extradited to Birmingham to face fraud and extortion charges related to their daughter’s disappearance.
An Alabama grand jury indicted van der Sloot in 2010 for allegedly trying to extort money from the parents by promising them information about Natalee’s disappearance. He demanded $25,000 for providing the location of her body and then $225,000 after her remains were found.
DEVELOPING: Jordan Van Der Sloot, accused killer of Natalee Holloway, to be extradited to Birmingham to answer charges of extorting money from Natalee’s mother. Statement from Beth Holloway ->@abc3340 pic.twitter.com/sST4CAJfTe
— Stephen Quinn (@StephenQ3340) May 11, 2023
Holloway’s mother, Beth, said that van der Sloot’s extradition is bittersweet.
“I was blessed to have had Natalee in my life for 18 years, and as of this month, I have been without her for exactly 18 years,” she said. “It has been a very long and painful journey, but the persistence of many is going to pay off.
“Together, we are finally getting justice for Natalee.”
Gov. Kay Ivey called the extradition “significant.”
Joran van der Sloot’s extradition to Birmingham, Alabama — Natalee’s home for her 18 years — is significant. Criminals like him are deceptive & vicious. Alabama moms like Beth Holloway are stronger. Her commendable persistence to obtain justice for Natalee is FINALLY paying off.
— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) May 11, 2023
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
