This is a partial transcript from "On the Record," June 16, 2005, that has been edited for clarity.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, HOST: It's been 17 days since Natalee disappeared. Natalee's relatives are here in Aruba searching for her, but investigators are not answering all of their questions.
Earlier, I spoke with her Natalee's stepfather, George "Jug" Twitty.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
Jug, can you give me an update on the investigation, what you know, how far the police have gone in terms of finding Natalee?
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY, NATALEE'S STEPFATHER: I really don't have any information. We're kind of sitting back. We've had negotiations. You know, I've been here 16 days I think now and talked to the FBI, I've talked to police. It's a tough investigation. But I feel assured that they're doing everything possible to try to find Natalee. And I've been assured — you know, we get updates from the FBI every day. They're working right alongside with the Aruban police and government, and hopefully, are going to, you know, bring it to an end shortly. I mean, every day I get up and I say, Maybe today's the day we'll find Natalee. But I know in my heart — I mean, it's so tough, you know, being the stepfather down here, trying to help the mother, you know.
VAN SUSTEREN: Yes, you've got three problems. You've got a heart broken about a missing Natalee. You've got your own sort of sadness and whatever, and you've got also Natalee's mother.
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY: Right. But it's hard. I mean, when you go back at night, you know — and you've seen she's a tough lady. She's a beautiful, tough lady and — but at night, when we get together — we have friends here supporting us, and that gets us through, the community in Mountain Brook and our friends and everybody that's given us so much to get through this. But at night, when we go back to the hotel room and we quiet down, when we're staying in the room that Natalee was in, it's very tough.
VAN SUSTEREN: Are you in the same room?
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY: Same room.
VAN SUSTEREN: By design? I mean, did you intentionally want that room?
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY: That's what Beth wants. We want to stay there. I mean, her bags are there, packed. They were ready to go and — and that's what we want.
VAN SUSTEREN: I have heard that you spoke with one of the men who's in custody, is that right?
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY: I'd rather not discuss that.
VAN SUSTEREN: Any reason why?
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY: I think it may hamper the investigation.
VAN SUSTEREN: Can you at least tell me the circumstances sort of how you even came in contact with him? Did you, I mean, sort of get (INAUDIBLE) an active part of the investigation?
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY: No. I mean, that's all left up to the police department. It's part of the investigation which — everybody — they know the details. I've talked to them about the details. I'd rather them sort that out and let them work it out.
VAN SUSTEREN: All right. I don't mean to press you. I'm just sort of curious.
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY: No, I understand.
VAN SUSTEREN: OK. I'm just, you know, curious. What's the plan for the next coming days, I mean, just going to find — going to find Natalee.
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY: Right.
VAN SUSTEREN: How are you going to go about sort of advancing this?
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY: Well, we have plenty of people down here searching. Of course, my friends have been down here searching. And you know, I'm basically relying on the Aruban police and government, and I have full confidence now. And I've been through some ups and downs. This thing is so big that, you know, I think it just caught them by surprise. And they've never had anything like this. But I've been assured, like I said, by the FBI and by the Aruban police and through updates every day that they're getting closer.
VAN SUSTEREN: What did you think of when you saw other missing young women and men in this country, their parents on TV? Did you understand the agony that now you and Beth are going through? I mean, can you in any way...
GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY: No, I did not. Now I do understand. And this one's even tougher because there's no clues. I mean, there's no evidence, you know? So we have hope. You know, every day, we have hope that Natalee is still alive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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