Alcohol, Drugs Suspected in Natalee's Death

Natalee Holloway probably died as a result of a combination of drugs and alcohol and a panicked attempt to cover up her death resulted in her body being carefully hidden, and then moved to a location already searched, on the island of Aruba, according to the chief investigator into her disappearance.

Aruban Deputy Chief of Police Gerold Dompig told CBS 48 Hours correspondent Troy Roberts that a new witness in the case said the Alabama teen was in possession of drugs and was drinking heavily on her final day of her senior trip to the island in May 2005.

"We feel strongly that she probably went into shock or something happened to her system with all the alcohol – maybe on top of that, other drugs, which either she took or they gave her – and that she... just collapsed," Dompig said.

Dompig told CBS that a new witness has prompted a renewed search for Holloway's body in areas previously searched by authorities.

"He [the witness] wanted to talk about the fact that he knew more about the whereabouts of Natalee ...concerning a specific burial location. The information that this person gave was too specific to just be a story that was just made up by someone."

Dompig's complete interview will be broadcast this Saturday, March 25 at 10 p.m. Easter on CBS "48 Hours Mystery."

See Also:
Police: Natalee Wasn't Murdered
Police Eye Drugs, Alcohol in Holloway Case

Background:
Natalee Holloway: Missing in Aruba

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