BREAKING: Human remains found in Aruba are not Natalee Holloway

A forensic expert has completed DNA tests on bones previously believed to be connected to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. And the remains do not belong to the missing young woman.

Oxygen.com reports that Dr. Jason Kolowski, the forensic scientist who was examining the bone fragments as part of the docuseries the Disappearance of Natalee Holloway has said that none of the bone fragments are a match for Natalee, and that only three out of four of the fragments are human bones.

“The mitochodrial DNA bone sample was not a match to [mother] Beth Holloway, and so it was ruled out as being Natalee Holloway,” Dr. Kolowski told Oxygen.com.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Natalee’s father Dave Holloway and private investigator T.J. Ward announced the possible new lead in the 12-year-old investigation on the Today show in August. At the time, Holloway said he had confirmation that the remains were human and that he was awaiting the results of DNA testing.

A man by the name of Gabriel told CrimeOnline that he had discovered the bone fragments in April, after he became acquainted with a friend of Joran van der Sloot’s, who was seen leaving a bar with Natalee the night she disappeared in 2005. That friend, John Ludwick, claimed that van der Sloot had paid him $1,500 to recover Natalee’s remains and bring them to a crematorium. He reportedly led Gabriel to a burial spot where some bone fragments remained.

The discovery of the bone fragments was the main premise of the Oxygen series, which aired its finale on September 23, a week before the forensic scientist’s announcement.

Dr. Kolowski told Oxygen.com he does not have any idea who the bone fragments belong to.

“We don’t know if the person is male or female,” Dr. Kolowski said. “We don’t know how old that person is. We don’t know how long that person has been dead.”

Natalee disappeared in Aruba on May 30, 2005, while on a high school graduation trip with classmates.

 

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