Aruba's Deputy Chief of Police Gerold Dompig has been taken off the investigation into the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway less than two weeks after he appeared on U.S. television saying the 17-year-old was not murdered, but died of an alcohol-drug overdose.
No specific reason was given officially for Dompig's removal, but Holloway's family members have long suspected that the deputy chief may have been involved in at least a partial cover-up in the case.
Natalee's father, Dave Holloway, told NBC 13 of Birmingham that the "new" witness that Dompig talked about on CBS 48 Hours, who claimed to know where her body was buried, is Dompig's brother-in-law, a suspected drug dealer.
"I think it's been his actions. Even from the beginning, they've been, you know, just awkward. He was the one who refused to allow the FBI on the island, you know. Just some of his characteristics, if he's involved in what I feel like is a cover-up and, you know, maybe he was trying to help someone else out. I'm not sure, but there's something strange going on there, maybe some others who are involved in it," Dave Holloway told NBC 13.
Dave Holloway also said that the brother-in-law has been questioned before and has given investigators no credible information about his daughter.
See Also:
Lead Investigator Taken Off Holloway Case
Background:
Natalee Holloway: Missing in Aruba
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Poll: Will We Ever Know What Happened to Natalee Holloway?
Comments
We were guests at the HOL.INN about 2 months ago. OUR room was in the closest bldg, there was a delightful resort next to us that seemed to be a young person’s dream, they played music until the wee hours of the morning, which didn’t upset me since I am not a sleeper and would rather sleep late in the morning. I sat on my terrace and watched people walking by and just enjoying the beach. Our terrace overlooked a thatched hut on the beach that rented water sport fun and activity. There was another thatched hut about 10 to 15 feet to the left of this that seemed to be just a “SHADE HUT” for those who enjoy the beach in the shade. To the right, there were a couple stacks of beach chairs that the cats that have made the entrance to that building of the Holiday Inn their home. Everyone, including my husband and I fed all of our leftovers to them after meals.