Reward for information on teen up to $250,000

updated 4:59 p.m. ET Aug. 8, 2005

ORANJESTAD, Aruba - The mother of an Alabama honors student missing in this Caribbean island for over two months said Monday the investigation into the teen’s disappearance has been marred by ineptitude  and more than doubled the reward for help in solving the case to $250,000.

Natalee Holloway’s mother, renewing criticism of authorities on the Dutch Caribbean island, said police had given her copies of statements from witnesses and other documents from the investigation that have led her to believe investigators are on the wrong track.

“The level of ineptness has been incredible,” Beth Holloway Twitty said of Aruban authorities. “The whole thing has been wrong from the beginning.”

She declined to give details on the documents or say how she thinks authorities should be handling the case.

The family is also offering a $1 million reward for information leading to the 18-year-old’s safe return. The other reward was raised from $100,000, and Holloway Twitty wanted to publicize the rewards in neighboring Venezuela and Colombia, even though Aruban authorities and the FBI said they don’t believe the teen left the Dutch Caribbean island.

The family has said the reward is a mix of their own money and donations, but they have declined to give a breakdown.

“I hope more money will help bring people forward,” she said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I still don’t feel like this investigation is heading in the right direction.”

Chief Prosecutor Karin Janssen called the criticism unwarranted.

“I’m positive about our progress and very proud of my team,” said Janssen.

Not a trace
Extensive searches by Dutch marines, Aruban police and thousands of volunteers have found no trace of Natalee, who vanished on May 30 during a graduation trip with 124 classmates on the island.

No one has been charged in the disappearance. Seven men were arrested, but all except 18-year-old Joran van der Sloot have been released.

Through his lawyers and family, van der Sloot has acknowledged being on a beach alone with the young woman the day she disappeared but says he left her there unharmed.

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