Judge to Declare Natalee Holloway Legally Dead: Reasonable or Premature?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/01/12 23:36:48

Related Topics: Natalee Holloway, Joran Van Der Sloot, Van Der Sloot, parents, Judge, Murder, School, Family, New York, Medical, Guilty, Father

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	Reasonable	385 votes	88%
	Premature	54 votes	12%

More than six years after 18-year-old Natalee Holloway disappeared from a school trip to Aruba, an Alabama judge has announced that he will declare her legally dead. Her body still hasn't been found, but her parents feel that it's unlikely Holloway is still alive. Though the decision is occurring just days after primary suspect Joran van der Sloot confessed to murdering another young woman, Stephany Flores, the hearing was planned before the confession.

The New York Daily News reports David Holloway, Natalee's father, told the judge he believed Natalee was dead and doesn't want to continue paying for her medical insurance. His attorney told the judge, "No evidence has been found [indicating] Natalee Holloway is alive." The hearing on Thursday was a chance for anyone to present evidence that she's alive. Natalee's mother objected at first, but her lawyer says she has since conceded.

+29

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Jane Constant 2012/01/13 01:44:48

Reasonable

+6
It's tragic. But I think it's the right decision.
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David W.Levingston 2012/01/18 02:01:49

Reasonable

I think he did it, he couldn't take the heat so he murdered another woman who was snooping

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RoryCanadia 2012/01/17 16:26:20

Reasonable

What the law says will not ease the grief of her family, but there comes a time to accept that the worst may have happened. The only other thing I'll say is if that had been a local Aruban, they would have been declared dead ....probably 5 and a half years ago.

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twhiting9275 2012/01/17 14:35:55

Reasonable

Way, way too long to have to wait for this one.

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katy.isodo 2012/01/17 10:22:13

Premature

I don't think from a legal stand point you can declare someone dead without a body, there's just too many ways to abuse such a scenario. However I do think her family needs some closure and to be able to begin healing and may not be able to do so if they are forever in a "limbo" area.. wondering. But will the legality really fix that?

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Get Bashed 2012/01/17 07:10:54

Reasonable

It's always tragic to lose a family member, it's even more tragic to lose one quite so young. I think this may help get some much needed closure for her family.

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LillianTorres 2012/01/17 05:05:26

Reasonable

how long has it been?

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davidl 2012/01/16 16:15:02 (edited)

Reasonable

6 years; convicted murderer last one to be seen with her; inept & slow police; connected rich kid to can buy off police; no way to search ocean; face it, she was fish food the evening she was murdered.

Ask the same people who say it is premature how much longer they should wait, and the answer will likely be forever.

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Jules 2012/01/16 15:37:27

Reasonable

It's really very sad but true. See the problem with murder these days is that the murderers are finding these ways to get rid of the bodies, and since the bodies are needed for substantial evidence, they are able to get away with murder. But this is a smart decision, because there hasn't been any evidence to suggest that this poor girl is still alive after all this time, my heart goes out to the family for having to deal with this for so long. As for the court system and the need of a body for proof, that might have to change over the years if we have more cases where the bodies of the victims are not found.

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Brother Bo 2012/01/16 15:15:36

Reasonable

No sense in prolonging the declaration just because her mother WANTS her daughter to be alive. Although it was inadmissible in court, Vanderslut told the investigator, on video, how she died and how he got rid of the body. Why prolong the truth just because you can't handle the truth?

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PortaPocketGal 2012/01/16 15:09:50

Reasonable

noone likes to say it but we all know that she's gone. it is a tragedy but leaving this file open and just hanging there is irresponsible and further harms the surviving family. they need to be able to access whatever they can from Natalee's estate and move forward while no doubt always treasuring & honoring her memory

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bad x 2012/01/16 13:26:02
Manwë 2012/01/16 07:26:06

Reasonable

Usually it's seven years before such a declaration is made, but it is reasonable.

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imsmarter 2012/01/16 06:59:40

Reasonable

+1
I think that if her parents believe this everyone else should let it go. They are searching for closure.

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Chukroast 2012/01/16 05:52:13

Reasonable

It's fair if her family doesn't object. In many cases they cannot claim death benefits without that certificate.

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««zamboni»»Hellsoldier-BN0 2012/01/16 04:30:12

Reasonable

And they should have done the same about the McCann Girl.

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BornToBeWild 2012/01/16 03:45:23

Reasonable

Her family deserves some kind of closure at least!

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Reggie☮ 2012/01/16 03:36:35

Reasonable

This whole story is horrible but I think it's the right decision to make.

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Bunk11 2012/01/16 01:52:05

Reasonable

Given what has now been proved (via confession & videotape) about Joran van der Sloot, it's almost certain that she died the night she was abducted. Most likely, van der Sloot killed her and his two Guyanese friends helped him dispose of the body. It would be nice if he confesses before he's killed in the Peruvian prison he's being sent to, but I wouldn't count on it.

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Mike 2012/01/16 01:10:24

Reasonable

Dah everyone knows who did - its the guy that is being sentenced in Peru

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Peewee 2012/01/16 00:50:20

Reasonable

+1
It's really sad, but after 6 years......hopefully that will give room to prosecute that parasite who killed her, and give him a real sentence.

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Krissy 2012/01/16 00:31:33

Premature

you never really know if shes dead or being kept under crazy circumstances...

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Peewee to Krissy 2012/01/16 00:51:33

I'm afraid the only way they'll find her, dead or alive, will be by accident. :-(

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Krissy to Peewee 2012/01/16 01:44:27

+1
probably...sadly.

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C. C. Rider 2012/01/15 22:37:43

Reasonable

+3
No one wanted this outcome but it had to come to this. The only upside to this whole tragedy is they have the killer.

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Stix 2012/01/15 21:50:33

Reasonable

+2
Joren will get his in the end...and he will never get out of this prison alive.

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Peewee to Stix 2012/01/16 00:53:17

In the end, pun intended? An arrogant cracker like him who killed one of their innocent young women probably won't last long.

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Stix to Peewee 2012/01/16 02:31:49

+1
:o)

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sglmom 2012/01/15 21:34:29

Reasonable

+2
This is NOT a 'joking' manner ..
This is a young woman .. missing for 6 yrs .. last seen in the company of someone who committed OTHER Murders too ..

A tragedy indeed .. let the family have their time to grieve in private ..

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wolfshadow 2012/01/15 21:10:03

Reasonable

+1
I think she would have surfaced by now if she could...

no pun intended...

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Alexis 2012/01/15 20:52:22

Reasonable

+2
Shes been missing for a long time, I only hope she isn't being held somewhere by someone. But I'm sure her parents won't give up.

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none 2012/01/15 20:12:58

Reasonable

+1
Six years and no sign at all, it's probably time.

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Mrkando 2012/01/15 19:57:20

Reasonable

+2
If after this length of time they have no more evidence of her it is highly unlikely that she is alive. More importantly her family has finally come to except the fact that she may never be found. This declaration has nothing to do with the fact they suspect this guy may have been involved. With no evidence there is not much more that can be done. Not likely that she will ever be forgotten and you can better believe her family will still be holding out hope but this is something they had to do.

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AngryGabby 2012/01/15 19:54:32

Reasonable

+2
This poor girl has been missing for nearly a decade without a trace. I wish it could be otherwise, but that's the way the world works.

As horrible as it is to admit, especially for those related to her, she is most likely gone.

RIP, Natalee. :(

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allthegoodnamesaretaken 2012/01/15 19:52:14

Reasonable

+1
It is quite sad, but honestly, it seems obvious.

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Aubrey (: 2012/01/15 19:47:30

Premature

+1
I feel like they should have more evidence supporting that she is dead before declaring her so. I understand the family no longer wanting to pay insurance, though. However, you look at cases like Jaycee Dugard. She was missing for eighteen years, but she was still found alive. I feel like if there's still a chance (and unless there is verifiable proof that she is dead, there is still a chance), it's still too soon to make the call.

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Andy 2012/01/15 19:46:22

Reasonable

+1
Very sad story... but, it is probably time to move on. The killer looks like he will get off on this one...but not the other

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Stix to Andy 2012/01/15 21:42:59

+1
He will be convicted for the first muder in prison....he won't make it 3 years.

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Andy to Stix 2012/01/16 02:14:35

are you suggesting he will be out in 3 years... or that he will not 'survive' 3 years???

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Stix to Andy 2012/01/16 02:29:46

He will be dead within 3 years.

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Andy to Stix 2012/01/16 02:34:31

probably...

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