An Alabama judge today officially declared Natalie Holloway as dead. Natalie Holloway disappeared more than six years ago in Aruba, when her senior class visited Aruba for their class trip to celebrate their graduation. The Judge Allan King officially declared Natalie dead , in a Birmingham courtroom. Natalie’s father is the one who wanted to bring closure to Natalie’s death, as he felt that since there is no evidence that supports she is alive, then we must bring closure to the situation, which involves declaring her legally dead. Natalie’s younger brother is in need of her college fund of $2000, which is one of the reasons that the father is going forward with this declaration, as reported by ABC News.
The father’s attorney, Mark White, has said that his client would get closure from this declaration and that Natalie’s death certificate could be presented as evidence of this closure. There are many reasons to not want to officially declare Natalie dead, however a lot of people including her father, want to see closure to help them heal the wounds. Another factor is that dealing with insurance companies can’t often times become the nightmare when you do not have the death certificate available. By officially pronouncing her dead, and will not only give closure to those that loved her most, but it will also help any legalities involved.
There is one person however, who is opposing the proceeding. That is Natalie’s mother, Beth.
“Beth’s position is she has no proof or indication that Natalee is still alive, but absent any proof or indication that she is dead, she always wants to hang onto that slight glimmer of hope,” said Beth Holloway’s attorney, John Q. Kelly. “No mother likes to, without evidence, have her daughter declared dead. She wants to carry around her around in her heart.”
Because no one has any more information on whether Natalie is still alive, it is very likely that the petition will go through, says Kelly.
When asked about the petition, Beth Holloway says that the actions of her ex-husband is inexplicable that she was very surprised that he had filed the petition.
This hearing came a day after Joran van der Sloot was charged with murdering a Peruvian woman.