Natalee Holloway

[Norman Stansfield]

If that had been my daughter, I never would have let her go to Aruba in the first place.

This is a good point, probably a better point than the one I kicked this off with. My wife, who's more familiar with such things, says it's routine for parents hereabouts to sign off on such trips. Not at our house.

Why are children rewarded for graduating high school. Isn't that to be expected?

First let me start with I think 17 is way too young to go on a trip like that without parents. But with that said, it seems you think the vacation is a reward for graduating. So does that make your vacation from work a reward? Is doing your job not something that's to be expected anyway?

I see nothing wrong with a little reward, so long as it is safe.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

If that had been my daughter, I never would have let her go to Aruba in the first place.

This is a good point, probably a better point than the one I kicked this off with. My wife, who's more familiar with such things, says it's routine for parents hereabouts to sign off on such trips. Not at our house.

Why are children rewarded for graduating high school. Isn't that to be expected?

You didn't receive gifts when you graduated high school? You didn't have a party?

No party ... unless you count the big kegger out at somebody's parents' country home. And the only gifts I got were things I'd need for the dorm in the fall.

 

[Norman Stansfield]

If that had been my daughter, I never would have let her go to Aruba in the first place.

This is a good point, probably a better point than the one I kicked this off with. My wife, who's more familiar with such things, says it's routine for parents hereabouts to sign off on such trips. Not at our house.

Why are children rewarded for graduating high school. Isn't that to be expected?

You didn't receive gifts when you graduated high school? You didn't have a party?

No party ... unless you count the big kegger out at somebody's parents' country home. And the only gifts I got were things I'd need for the dorm in the fall.

That's cool. But you DO realize that presents and/or a party accompany high-school graduation for many kids across the country, no?

That being said, I definitely would NOT allow my child to go on such a trip at that point. There are many other suitable gifts one could give to a graduate.

 

[black dude with pompano]

Is it completely outside the realm of possibility that what actually happened is what the guys said happened: For whatever reason, they left her there on the beach by herself? And then, because she was drunk, she decided it would be totally fun to go swimming, and she got pulled out to sea and drowned? They're not going to try these guys because they don't have any proof that they killed her, Nancy Grace's screaming aside.

To me, the justice system there did its job. They identified with whom she was last seen, they tried to figure out if those people killed her and they realized they didn't have evidence to prove those people did.

Agree 100 percent. I'm not sure this case was botched. The police have learned everything that is within their power to learn. Barring a confession by one of the participants, the end of the line has probably been reached here.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

If that had been my daughter, I never would have let her go to Aruba in the first place.

This is a good point, probably a better point than the one I kicked this off with. My wife, who's more familiar with such things, says it's routine for parents hereabouts to sign off on such trips. Not at our house.

Why are children rewarded for graduating high school. Isn't that to be expected?

You didn't receive gifts when you graduated high school? You didn't have a party?

No party ... unless you count the big kegger out at somebody's parents' country home. And the only gifts I got were things I'd need for the dorm in the fall.

That's cool. But you DO realize that presents and/or a party accompany high-school graduation for many kids across the country, no?

That being said, I definitely would NOT allow my child to go on such a trip at that point. There are many other suitable gifts one could give to a graduate.

I just think sending your kid on a vacation to Aruba or Cancun for graduating high school is a bit over the top.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Is it completely outside the realm of possibility that what actually happened is what the guys said happened: For whatever reason, they left her there on the beach by herself? And then, because she was drunk, she decided it would be totally fun to go swimming, and she got pulled out to sea and drowned? They're not going to try these guys because they don't have any proof that they killed her, Nancy Grace's screaming aside.

To me, the justice system there did its job. They identified with whom she was last seen, they tried to figure out if those people killed her and they realized they didn't have evidence to prove those people did.

Agree 100 percent. I'm not sure this case was botched. The police have learned everything that is within their power to learn. Barring a confession by one of the participants, the end of the line has probably been reached here.

After all this time I can't believe someone hasn't talked.

 

[Norman Stansfield]

If that had been my daughter, I never would have let her go to Aruba in the first place.

This is a good point, probably a better point than the one I kicked this off with. My wife, who's more familiar with such things, says it's routine for parents hereabouts to sign off on such trips. Not at our house.

Why are children rewarded for graduating high school. Isn't that to be expected?

You didn't receive gifts when you graduated high school? You didn't have a party?

No party ... unless you count the big kegger out at somebody's parents' country home. And the only gifts I got were things I'd need for the dorm in the fall.

That's cool. But you DO realize that presents and/or a party accompany high-school graduation for many kids across the country, no?

That being said, I definitely would NOT allow my child to go on such a trip at that point. There are many other suitable gifts one could give to a graduate.

I just think sending your kid on a vacation to Aruba or Cancun for graduating high school is a bit over the top.

Fair enough. I would tend to agree. But I guess to some parents with the means, it's not.

 

[old_tony]

Is it completely outside the realm of possibility that what actually happened is what the guys said happened: For whatever reason, they left her there on the beach by herself? And then, because she was drunk, she decided it would be totally fun to go swimming, and she got pulled out to sea and drowned? They're not going to try these guys because they don't have any proof that they killed her, Nancy Grace's screaming aside.

To me, the justice system there did its job. They identified with whom she was last seen, they tried to figure out if those people killed her and they realized they didn't have evidence to prove those people did.

Agree 100 percent. I'm not sure this case was botched. The police have learned everything that is within their power to learn. Barring a confession by one of the participants, the end of the line has probably been reached here.

After all this time I can't believe someone hasn't talked.

After all this time, the leading evidence is still missing: the body. Until the body is found, no reason for anyone to talk.

 

[Double Down]

Does anyone need an extra torch? Let me know. I have a couple leftover in my trunk from yesterday's trek to Jersey when we tried to burn down the statehouse.

 

[silvershadow1981]

In my opinion, I wonder what kind of friends allow their girl to wander off with three strangers while she's under the influence, as has been reported. Hell, I know plenty of women who will ****-block one dude trying to go somewhere more quiet with a sober girl. What? No, that's not my dating life, thank you.

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

Is it completely outside the realm of possibility that what actually happened is what the guys said happened: For whatever reason, they left her there on the beach by herself? And then, because she was drunk, she decided it would be totally fun to go swimming, and she got pulled out to sea and drowned? They're not going to try these guys because they don't have any proof that they killed her, Nancy Grace's screaming aside.

To me, the justice system there did its job. They identified with whom she was last seen, they tried to figure out if those people killed her and they realized they didn't have evidence to prove those people did.

Agree 100 percent. I'm not sure this case was botched. The police have learned everything that is within their power to learn. Barring a confession by one of the participants, the end of the line has probably been reached here.

After all this time I can't believe someone hasn't talked.

After all this time, the leading evidence is still missing: the body. Until the body is found, no reason for anyone to talk.

And odds are the body never will be found, particularly if she drowned.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

In my opinion, I wonder what kind of friends allow their girl to wander off with three strangers while she's under the influence, as has been reported. Hell, I know plenty of women who will ****-block one dude trying to go somewhere more quiet with a sober girl. What? No, that's not my dating life, thank you.

Friends who are too young to be in a drinking in foreign country sans parents.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

"Out tarting around"?
I forgot to get off the bus and ended up in 1877.

 

[User 1019]

"... tarting ..."

Is that what they call it, these days?

 

[RedSmithClone]

If that had been my daughter, I never would have let her go to Aruba in the first place.

This is a good point, probably a better point than the one I kicked this off with. My wife, who's more familiar with such things, says it's routine for parents hereabouts to sign off on such trips. Not at our house.

Yeah ... sorry but my kids will never be allowed to take trips out of the country without me standing right there watching them. I feel bad saying that because I know there are some really good study abroad options for high schoolers these days, but at the same time, the world is a much different place from when I was in high school - and that's just 13 years ago. As far as a spring break or high school graduation trip out of the U.S.A. - not gonna do it, wouldn't be prudent at this juncture. At least I know in the U.S., if something happens we have a solid set of laws and a strong judicial system to make things a little easier. This whole case is a friggin' shame.

 

[Bubbler]

You know where I got to go for my high school graduation ... work!

Well ... I got fired from that job at a similarly titled donut shop in Indy.

I couldn't tell the muffins apart (despite clearly visible signs), I never made cash drops, and I forgot to lock the back door one night, which was bad given that the store got robbed that night. I was the number one suspect, the only thing that let me off the hook was I hanging out with the owners' son.

I cannot BELIEVE the injustice I was dealt!

Taking my firing as a major slight ... I peed all over the bathroom the day I was let go. Take that Mr. Detail Oriented!

 

[slappy4428]

You know where I got to go for my high school graduation ... work!

Well ... I got fired from that job at a similarly titled donut shop in Indy.

I couldn't tell the muffins apart (despite clearly visible signs), I never made cash drops, and I forgot to lock the back door one night, which was bad given that the store got robbed that night. I was the number one suspect, the only thing that let me off the hook was I hanging out with the owners' son.

I cannot BELIEVE the injustice I was dealt!

Taking my firing as a major slight ... I peed all over the bathroom the day I was let go. Take that Mr. Detail Oriented!

And yet, you still hit your peak...

 

[Bad Guy Zero]

Sometimes these cases end up being solved after having sat "cold" for many years. The Austin, TX frozen yogurt shop in 1991, Tyler, TX KFC in 1983, and Mia Zapata are three examples that immediately come to mind.

Of course Natalee Holloway could just as easily end up being this century's Elizabeth Short.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

If that had been my daughter, I never would have let her go to Aruba in the first place.

Excellent point.

When did a trip to Padre or Daytona become sub-standard spring break/graduation trip options?

Whoah... you don't think there is an even BETTER chance of this sort of **** happening here????

 

[Football_Bat]

Sometimes these cases end up being solved after having sat "cold" for many years. The Austin, TX frozen yogurt shop in 1991, Tyler, TX KFC in 1983, and Mia Zapata are three examples that immediately come to mind.

Of course Natalee Holloway could just as easily end up being this century's Elizabeth Short.

Or this year's Elizabeth Smart.