Suspect in Holloway disappearance to appear in federal court for extortion case; plea deal possible

2025-01-13 02:08:05 source:lotradecoin upcoming token launches category:Scams

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — An attorney for the mother of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway, who disappeared in Aruba, said a possible plea deal with a suspect in an extortion case is contingent upon his disclosing details about her death.

Joran van der Sloot, long considered the chief suspect in Holloway’s 2005 disappearance, is scheduled to appear in federal court Wednesday morning in Birmingham, Alabama, for a plea and sentencing hearing for a case in which he is accused of trying to extort $250,000 from Holloway’s mother in 2010 to reveal the location of her body.

John Q. Kelly, an attorney who represented Holloway’s mother during the alleged extortion, told The Associated Press Tuesday that a potential plea deal is contingent upon him revealing information about what happened to Holloway. Kelly first made the comments on NBC’s “Today” show. Emails sent to van der Sloot’s attorney and a spokeswoman for federal prosecutors were not immediately returned.

Holloway’s family has long sought answers about her disappearance. But those answers have proven elusive. Van der Sloot has given a variety of conflicting descriptions over the years about what happened, which would likely put raised scrutiny on any new account. Her family is expected to be in court Wednesday.

Other news Former Brooklyn resident sentenced to life in prison for aiding Islamic State group as sniper Father and other family members are convicted in New Mexico kidnapping and terrorism case Las Vegas police officer gets 12 years in prison for casino robberies netting $165,000

Holloway went missing during a high school graduation trip with classmates to Aruba. The Alabama teen was last seen leaving a bar with van der Sloot, a student at an international school. The mysterious disappearance sparked years of news coverage and true-crime podcasts, books and movies. Van der Sloot was identified as a main suspect and was detained for questioning but no charges were filed in the case.

A judge declared Holloway dead but her body has never been found.

Prosecutors in the Alabama case said van der Sloot contacted Kelly in 2010 and asked for $250,000 from Beth Holloway to reveal the location of her daughter’s remains. He later agreed to accept $25,000 to disclose the location, and asked for the other $225,000 once the remains were recovered. Van der Sloot said that Holloway was buried in the gravel under the foundation of a house, but later admitted that was untrue, FBI Agent William K. Bryan wrote in a 2010 sworn statement filed in the case.

Van der Sloot moved from Aruba to Peru before he could be arrested in the extortion case. Van der Sloot was extradited to Alabama earlier this year from Peru, where he’s serving a 28-year sentence after confessing to killing a Peruvian woman in 2010.

Peru’s government allowed van der Sloot’s temporary extradition to the U.S. to face charges there. Under a 2001 treaty between the countries, a suspect can be temporarily extradited to face trial in the other country, but must “be returned” after judicial proceedings are concluded.

More:Scams

Recommend

Chiquis comes from Latin pop royalty. How the regional Mexican star found her own crown

Diamonds are made under pressure, and Chiquis is ready to sparkle.The Mexican American singer-songwr

Whoopi Goldberg pushes back against 'Barbie' snubs at 2024 Oscars: 'Everybody doesn't win'

Bye, Barbie. Whoopi Goldberg is giving her hot take on the hit film’s exclusion from some of the top

Czech lower house approves tougher gun law after nation’s worst mass shooting. Next stop Senate

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Parliament’s lower house on Friday approved an amendment to the country’s gu