‘Give her back’: grieving mother Natalee Holloway shares stark details of moment she confronted teen killer

A confrontation in Aruba

Natalee, an 18-year-old Alabama high school graduate, disappeared during a trip to Aruba in 2005. Her mother, Beth, hurried to the island and soon confronted van der Sloot, then 17, at his home, where his father, Paul, was also present.

Beth said her instincts told her van der Sloot was not being truthful. She recalled that Paul, a lawyer, appeared to urge his son to tell the truth, after which van der Sloot offered what Beth described as his first detailed account of the night.

Van der Sloot’s account

Van der Sloot allegedly told Beth he had kissed Natalee on a beach, then taken her to her hotel. He said she fell while getting out of the car, struck her head and was helped inside by security guards.

Beth said she could not tell which parts of the account were true, but believed van der Sloot knew what had happened to her daughter. Before the confrontation, she had also learned he had presented himself to Natalee’s friends as a tourist, though Beth said he was a local Aruban.

The grey Honda

Natalee was last seen on May 30, 2005, getting into a grey Honda with van der Sloot. When Beth saw a grey Honda outside his home, she wondered whether Natalee might be in the car or inside the house. Beth said she held a photograph of her daughter and told van der Sloot, “Give her back now!” She recalled that he replied, “What do you want me to do?” and repeatedly struck his chest.