Three more arrested in teen’s disappearance

June 15 key date
Lejuez has said the suspects deny any connection to Holloway. Both men are Aruban citizens, although one is originally from Grenada, Lejuez said.

In an interview after the hearing, Pietersz said prosecutors asked that the defendants be kept in jail at least until June 15, when they hope to conclude their investigation.

Vivian Van Der Biezan, spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office, said investigators must come up with some evidence to hold the suspects beyond that date.

Der Biezan also said she would check into whether Dutch law allows a charge of murder if no body is found. Investigators “cannot exclude the possibility of a criminal act because of the days that have passed.”

Under Aruban law, only serious suspicion from investigators — not solid evidence — is needed for a judge to rule that suspects can be held, Pietersz said.

“I do believe my client is innocent, that’s all I can tell you,” she added.

At least one of the suspects had a reputation of trying to pick up women at tourist hotels on the Dutch Caribbean island, police said. But both men insist they never met Holloway, Lejuez said.

Suspect's wife: 'He was home'
Jones’ common-law wife, Cynthia De Graaf, said she and her husband were together continuously May 29 and May 30.

“He was home. He was even sick,” De Graaf said, breaking down in tears as she waited for the hearing to start. “They ruined everything. My daughter has been asking for her father.”

Jones’ mother, Cynthia Rosalie Jones, added that the only way her son knew about Holloway was from seeing the television news.

“They have my son there for something he knows nothing about,” Jones said emphatically. “My son is innocent.”

Authorities have not said Holloway was a victim of foul play and have not ruled out any possibilities, including that she may have drowned, Janssen said Tuesday.

“I haven’t seen any proof she is not alive,” Lejuez said Wednesday, adding that regarding his clients, “In my opinion, there is no evidence whatsoever that they are involved in the disappearance of Natalee.”

Investigators searched the suspects’ homes and impounded three vehicles, carrying away bags of items, but said they had not found any of Holloway’s belongings.

A graduation trip gone awry
The night she disappeared, Holloway ate and danced at a bar and restaurant. She did not show up for her flight hours later, and police found her passport in her hotel room with her packed bags.

Seven chaperones accompanied the students on the trip.

It was not clear if Holloway had been drinking the night of her disappearance, though her relatives say she does not party much and is a straight-A student who had earned a full scholarship at the University of Alabama.

The Aruba government and local tourism organizations have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to Holloway’s rescue, her family and benefactors in Alabama have offered an additional $30,000, and Carlos’ n Charlie’s donated another $5,000 for a total of $55,000.

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