A graduation holiday in Aruba turned into a nightmare for an 18-year-old Natalee Holloway who disappeared during a graduation trip with her classmates in 2005. Her disappearance triggered an international search, media attention and a nearly two-decade wait for answers. Now, Netflix has released a three-part documentary Taken: Natalee Holloway which revisits the case through the eyes of her mother, Beth Holloway, investigators and people who knew the teenager.



Where to watch Taken: Natalee Holloway?


The three-part true-crime documentary premiered on Netflix on November 4. Directed by Dani Sloane and Matthew Galkin, the series explores the disappearance, the investigation and Beth's long search for answers.



Who was Natalee Holloway?


Born in 1986, Natalee grew up in Mountain Brook, Alabama. Her friends called her “Hootie”. After graduating from high school, she was preparing to attend the University of Alabama on a full academic scholarship and dreamed of becoming a doctor.




Her mother, Beth, remembers her as “so driven and determined”, but also someone who enjoyed life and was surrounded by friends.



What happened during her Aruba trip?


Many students travelled to Aruba in May 2005 to celebrate their high school graduation. One of them was Natalee and on the fateful night of May 30, she was last seen leaving a nightclub with Joran van der Sloot. She never returned to her hotel or boarded the flight home.



How did the search unfold?


Her mother immediately arrived at Aruba with family friends after learning about her daughter's disappearance. Volunteers and investigators from Aruba, the US and the Netherlands joined the search.



Was Natalee Holloway ever found?


Till now, her remains have never been recovered. Former Aruban deputy police chief Gerold Dompig acknowledges in the documentary that finding Natalee remained the biggest missing piece of the investigation.



What happened to the suspects?


In June 2005, van der Sloot, along with two others were arrested, but were later released without any charges. In 2010, van der Sloot allegedly agreed to offer information about Natalee's remain's, and demanded money in exchange. This lead to an FBI operation, federal charges of extortion and wire fraud.



Why was Joran van der Sloot imprisoned in Peru?


Van der Sloot was later convicted of murdering Peruvian student Stephany Flores, whom he killed on May 30, 2010, five years after Natalee disappeared. He received a 28-year prison sentence in 2012.



What did the accused confess in 2023?


In June 2023, Peru temporarily extradited van der Sloot to the US to face the extortion and wire fraud charges. In October, he pleaded guilty and provided an account of how he killed Natalee. However, he has never been formally charged with her murder, and her remains are still missing.