Natalee Holloway

Pennsylvania couple think they may have found Natalee Holloway's skeleton

By The Birmingham New

A Pennsylvania couple who went snorkeling on a vacation to Aruba have discovered among their photographs what appears to be the image of a skeleton on the ocean floor. The husband, John Muldowney, says he's got a gut feeling it could be the body of Natalee Holloway from Mountain Brook, reports the Lancaster (Pa.) Intelligencer Journal.

Muldowney says he's taken copies of the photo to the FBI and local police. He's also sent a copy to her father, he told the newspaper. Muldowney says he's had little success getting answers from the FBI and no response from her father.
Holloway disappeared in 2005 during a graduation trip to Aruba. No one has been charged in her disappearance although an island youth, Joran van der Sloot has been considered a major suspect and the made statements considered potentially incriminating.

Aruban police say they will look into skeleton photo

By Erin Stock 

In this October 2009 underwater photo provided by John F. Muldowney, is shown a portion of the ocean floor off the coast of Aruba. Muldowney feels the photo, taken by his wife, Patti, while the couple was on vacation in Aruba, may show the remains of Natalee Holloway. (AP Photo/Patti M)

 The Aruban police's lead investigator on the Natalee Holloway case said today he was unaware of a photo taken by an American tourist who believes the image shows what could be the missing teen's body on the ocean floor.

Deputy Chief Adolpho Richardson said his team of investigators will look into it, in a telephone interview with The Birmingham News.

"Of course," he said. "We look at everything."

Richardson said authorities are still actively investigating the Mountain Brook girl's disappearance. Holloway vanished in 2005 on a high school graduation trip to the Caribbean island.

"We try to leave no stone unturned, so we will look into it," Richardson said. "Although the chances are very slim that it will lead to any results."

Divers have conducted a thorough search of the waters, Richardson said. But he said if a body was dumped at sea, "it could be even in Panama. You never know."

Richardson also said a recent on-air confession by suspect Joran van der Sloot on Dutch television has produced new leads. He said he remains hopeful that investigators will uncover what happened to Holloway.

John F. Muldowney holds a photo in his home in Manheim, Pa., Thursday, March 18, 2010, that his wife Patti took while the couple was on vacation in Aruba in early October 2009. The Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era reported that the photo has been turned over to the FBI. Muldowney says he has a gut feeling that the picture may show the remains of Natalee Holloway. (AP Photo/Carolyn Caser)