So what does everyone think about the Aruba case?

[Sam5]

Any ideas?

[The Supreme Canuck]

Uh, sorry for my ignorance, but just what is the Aruba Case?

[Sam5]

Uh, sorry for my ignorance, but just what is the Aruba Case?


An 18 year old blonde Alabama girl went on a vacation trip with about 100 other high school graduates to the Island of Aruba, and on her last night there, she disappeared. Three of our cable news networks have been giving this story a lot of coverage.

[The Supreme Canuck]

Ah, thanks. Haven't heard about that one at all. Time to do some Googling.

[SciFi Chick]

I think it's sad. I think it also proves that turning 18 doesn't magically make one an adult.

[Sam5]

I think it's sad. I think it also proves that turning 18 doesn't magically make one an adult.

Yes, it’s very sad. I can’t believe the chaperons allowed the girls to get drunk and go off with strangers.

And the local police don’t seem to be very competent. They’ve got two different sets of people arrested who don’t have anything at all to do with each other. I’ve never heard of such a thing.

Do you happen to know if there are any cliffs at the lighthouse near that city where she disappeared?

[Halcyon Dayz]

The Aruban government must be putting quite some pressure
on the police to solve this case quickly.
Tourism, especially from the US, is crucial for the local economy.

I understand they have requested the aid of the FBI and
the Dutch marines stationed on Aruba.

I hope she turns up OK.

[The Supreme Canuck]

Can the FBI do anything? They only have jurisdiction within the United States.

[SciFi Chick]

Can the FBI do anything? They only have jurisdiction within the United States.

Well, sure, if they're invited by a government. They can use their technology and resources at the very least, maybe even offer manpower.

[The Supreme Canuck]

Huh. I wasn't aware that their mandate allowed it. I'm probably just thinking back to CIA = outside the US and FBI = inside the US. Whoops.

[SciFi Chick]

Huh. I wasn't aware that their mandate allowed it.

You can make mandates allow things if it's going to affect a situation politically. I can't say more of course, because that would be political. :P

[Halcyon Dayz]

They can assist with technology, expertise and intelligence.
The FBI has considerably knowhow and resources.
And a lot of people on Aruba ARE Americans.

Don't forget Aruba is a tiny place, the size of DC,
with some 70,000 inhabitants.
I guess the local police force can't be very big or have
much technical resources.

[Musashi]

The Aruban government must be putting quite some pressure
on the police to solve this case quickly.
Tourism, especially from the US, is crucial for the local economy.

I understand they have requested the aid of the FBI and
the Dutch marines stationed on Aruba.

I hope she turns up OK.

I was under the impression that her turning up OK is now impossible. Has something changed?

[Jpax2003]

I was just thinking of those radio ads with "Charlie from Aruba... where happiness lives" I don't think we should send kids there alone anymore. "Sorry, Charlie."

[Halcyon Dayz]

There is a grave suspicion, but not yet proof positive of murder.
As far as I know.

[Andromeda321]

She's dead because you can't hide someone on such a small island for so long short of massive conspiracy, which this doesn't appear to be. Nor do I believe a body will be found: a local would easily know where to dump the body so it won't be found and it doesn't take that long to become a part of the food chain out there.
I'm also still trying to figure out what kind of friends this girl has if they all see her leave alone with three random local guys after she's had a few to drink, yet do nothing about it. Have people completely lost their minds? #-o

[Humphrey]

My feeling?

I feel the three guys gave her a date rape drug and tried to get her away. but either they gave her too much causing her to die, or something happened where she was killed in the process of what they did afterwords. So they hid her body and hoped nobody would remember them escorting her out.

No evidence behind it, just a gut feeling.

[Sam5]

There is very little accurate evidence or information coming from the authorities or the media so far. The Aruban authorities seem to be sincere and they desperately want this case quickly solved, but they haven’t had much experience investigating cases like this. They allowed the FBI in to make use of the FBI’s experience at investigations.

The biggest mystery is there are no physical clues. Maybe the boys cleaned up their car. Maybe the girl thought the one boy was getting too fresh and maybe she walked away from the car during the night at the lighthouse. Maybe she fell into the ocean. No one seems to know. Or, maybe the police aren’t telling all they know.

The US media first “convicted” the two black guys arrested more than a week ago. Now the media is saying they probably aren’t guilty and they are blaming the large white boy.

I’m not sure anyone murdered the girl. She is just missing. She could have gone into the ocean by herself by accident. If the boys couldn’t find her, they might have told the police they dropped her off at the hotel at 2 am. But, the police said the hotel security camera didn’t show her being dropped off. She just disappeared.

Other theories are that someone kidnapped her and sold her into “slavery” in Venezuela or some other island. Seems there are drugs that can be given someone like that, that messes up their minds so they can’t figure out how to escape once they are captured. But that doesn’t mean the three boys did it. Maybe she just wandered off at the lighthouse and someone else got her.