THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The mother of a former suspect in the disappearance in Aruba of American teenager Natalee Holloway said Friday she hopes a probe will bring closure for all the families involved.
"I would like the investigation to continue," said Anita van der Sloot, mother of Joran van der Sloot, one of three youths extensively interrogated by police and prosecutors in connection with the disappearance.
"I would also like to see an investigation into the investigation," she added during the television interview.
Anita van der Sloot, who appeared for the interview with her husband and son, said her family as well as Holloway's needed answers.
"I think it's also very important that for them — for everybody, but particularly for them — there has to be clarity," she said. "Then we can move on. As long as that doesn't happen there will be questions. There will be fingers pointing at Joran."
Joran van der Sloot, who said little during the interview, said he doubts that Holloway is still alive.
Holloway was on a high school graduation trip to Aruba when she vanished May 30, 2005, hours before she was to return home to Mountain Brook, Ala. Extensive searches of the island turned up no trace of her.
The three former suspects, who are the last people known to have seen her, initially said they dropped Holloway off at her hotel.
After hotel security cameras disproved that, they were arrested and Joran van der Sloot said he left her alone on a beach and had no idea how she disappeared.
Authorities in Aruba say the case against the three could be reopened if additional evidence surfaces. But if they were to go to trial now with virtually no hope of guilty verdicts, they would lose the opportunity to try them later if strong evidence emerges.
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