Rita Cosby, Live & Direct
MSNBC
August 22, 2005.
COSBY: Tonight, some
late-breaking developments in the case—and it could be major, in the case of
missing teenager Natalee Holloway. We understand that there is at least one
woman who is getting ready to come forward, saying that she was victimized by
Joran Van Der Sloot, and that there may be others to follow.
Beth
Holloway Twitty now joins me LIVE AND DIRECT from Aruba. Also with her is
private investigator Art Wood. Art, I want to begin with you because what do
you know about this young woman who may be coming forward?
ART WOOD, PRIVATE
INVESTIGATOR: Well, Rita, I can tell you this:
Down
here in Aruba tonight, there‘s a courageous young 17-year-old girl who claims
that she was raped, and date-raped drugged by Joran Van Der Sloot.
This
girl is going to, in the next few days, is going to go to the prosecutor. She
has an attorney. And her attorney told me that the young lady is very strong,
very courageous, and she‘s not afraid of this judge‘s son.
COSBY: Now, Art, when did
this happen? When did this alleged rape take place?
WOOD: Amazingly, Rita,
this date rape took place very recently, as early as this spring. The girl also
said that she has two classmates or friends who also were raped and drugged by
Joran Van Der Sloot.
COSBY: And how come she
didn‘t come forward sooner, Art?
WOOD: You know, I asked
her attorney that, and the attorney says, “You know, this girl wants to come
forward. This girl is ready to come forward. At first, her parents were kind of
holding her back.”
But
now that she has an attorney, she is coming out. And we‘re
getting down to the time line. September 4th is fast approaching. I
think there are other young ladies, both tourists, American or Dutch, plus
local girls that need to come forward, if they were in any way inappropriately
handled by Joran and his friends.
COSBY: You bet. And I
know that all of you put out that plea.