In a development that brings fresh hope of solving the Natalee Holloway mystery, a new witness has placed chief suspect Joran van der Sloot near the scene of her disappearance at a crucial moment in the case.
And the witness has passed a polygraph test, The ENQUIRER has learned exclusively.
There’s also a second new witness – an ex-girlfriend of Joran’s – who claims that the wealthy lawyer’s son confessed, then threatened her on the same beach where he was last seen with Natalee.
That’s the intriguing evidence behind Aruba prosecutor Hans Mos’ recent stunning announcement that he may be close to rearresting van der Sloot, The ENQUIRER has learned.
Eighteen-year-old Natalee vanished in May 2005 during a graduation trip to the island with fellow seniors from Mountain Brook High School in Alabama.
Joran, then 17, has admitted that he was the last person to see her – but claims he left her alive after making out with her on the beach.
The new witness has told police that he was awakened by barking dogs at 4 a.m., and from his living room window near the beach saw Joran running past.
The teenager was coming from the direction of a tidal pond, his clothes were soaked and he was wearing only one shoe as he ran toward a McDonald’s restaurant, the witness said.
“It’s highly significant because Joran told police that he left Natalee at 2:30 a.m. and got a ride home from one of his pals,” former U.S. Secret Service agent Art Wood, who investigated the case and helped Natalee’s family, told The ENQUIRER.
For more on the case, pick up this week’s issue of The ENQUIRER.
