Joran van der Sloot confessions: Suspect admits murdering Alabama teen Natalee Holloway

Nearly two decades following Natalee Holloway’s mysterious disappearance in Aruba, the individual long under suspicion for her demise has now confessed to the grim details of her murder, as revealed in court documents. Joran van der Sloot’s confession came to light shortly after he pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday, admitting to extortion and defrauding Holloway’s family.

The charges stemmed from his attempt to sell information regarding the location of Natalee Holloway’s remains to her mother, Beth Holloway, in exchange for $250,000. Beth Holloway, expressing her sentiments on the matter, stated, “It’s over. Joran van der Sloot is no longer the suspect in my daughter’s murder. He is the killer.” She continued, “After 18 years, Natalee’s case is solved,” referencing his proffer, a legal move in which the defendant discloses information about a crime, often as part of a plea arrangement.

In the proffer, the 36-year-old van der Sloot admitted to killing Natalee by using a cinder block on an Aruban beach after she had rejected his sexual advances. According to a transcript of an interview with his attorney, he described how Natalee kneed him in the groin after he made unwarranted advances, leading him to respond by kicking her in the face and bludgeoning her with the cinder block. Subsequently, he decided to dispose of her body by pushing it into the ocean.

Notably, Natalee Holloway’s remains have never been located, and in 2012, an Alabama judge officially declared her legally deceased. Joran van der Sloot’s confession to both Natalee Holloway’s death and the prior murder of Stephany Flores in 2010 has led to a 20-year sentence on federal charges, as decided by Judge Anna Manasco.

Having reviewed van der Sloot’s proffer, Judge Manasco concluded that Natalee Holloway’s body would likely never be recovered. Van der Sloot had previously faced multiple arrests in connection with Holloway’s case, but he was ultimately released by Aruban authorities due to a lack of direct evidence. Presently, he is serving a 28-year prison term in Peru for the 2010 murder of Flores. In 2021, he faced additional sentencing in Peru for trafficking cocaine into his prison, leading to an 18-year extension to his incarceration. Under Peruvian law, he is scheduled for potential release in 2045, but Peruvian officials allowed his temporary return to the United States in June to address the extortion and wire fraud charges.