Teen's disappearance a criminal case
Aruba police say three men are 'people of interest'
ORANJESTAD, Aruba (CNN) -- Aruba police are treating the case of a missing Alabama high school graduate as a criminal investigation but still hope she will be found unharmed, a police spokesman said Saturday night.
Natalee Holloway, 18, was on a senior trip with classmates when she went missing nearly a week ago.
Rudie Soemers, night watch commander, said the effort to find her became a criminal case two days after her disappearance. The woman from the affluent Birmingham suburb of Mountain Brook was last seen leaving a nightclub called Carlos 'n' Charlie's in the town of Oranjestad.
Witnesses said she left in a car with three local young men between the ages of 18 and 25 at about 1:30 a.m. Monday.
Friends have said they have pictures of her dancing with young men at the club.
Authorities have said they talked to the three men who left with her, and the men claim they took Holloway to Arashi Beach before dropping her off at her hotel at about 2 a.m.
The Associated Press reports her uncle, Paul Reynolds, as saying he was told security cameras did not show her return to the hotel that night. The AP says police declined to comment on that report.
"We're still looking, we're still hoping she's alive," Soemers told CNN. He said several people claim they've seen the girl, but the leads have gone nowhere.
Aruba police have three theories concerning her disappearance.
The first theory is that "people of interest" -- the three men Holloway was last seen with early Monday morning -- may have harmed her, deputy police chief Gerald Dompig said.
The second theory is that Holloway may have chosen to disappear "on her own accord," and still a third theory is that Holloway may have been kidnapped, he said.
Even if Holloway did disappear on her own, whoever has harbored her will face criminal charges, Soemers said.
Police spent much of Saturday afternoon at a hotel under renovation near the Holiday Inn where Holloway was staying. They refused to say what led them to the site or what they found, if anything.
In a news conference back in Birmingham, Holloway's aunt, Marcia Twitty, said Saturday that based on information police have relayed to the family, "We feel that we will have a definitive answer in 24 hours."
Aruba's Prime Minister Nelson O. Oduber said Friday that more FBI agents had been added to help in the search, and efforts will be concentrated around coastal areas. Aiding the FBI and Aruba police in the search are Holloway's family members, tourists, Aruban nationals and Dutch marines.
Oduber pledged his nation's "full support and utmost dedication" in finding Holloway. "We are shocked and completely distressed at this turn of events," he said. "We will not tolerate any activities that harm our American friends or tarnish Aruba's reputation."
Rewards and yellow ribbons
Holloway's mother, Beth Holloway Twitty, who flew to Aruba to help search efforts, said about 20 to 40 of Holloway's classmates saw her leave.
"Natalee's bags were packed and ready to go," Beth Twitty told CNN Friday. "Everything was packed. Her passport was in her purse -- she even had the remaining cash she had on her in her purse -- it was in her room, everything was zipped up. She was ready to go home."
"This is such a mystery. It's a mystery to Aruba, and it's a mystery to the United States," she said.
She said she has tried to remain focused and driven during the search because "I wanted to make sure that she would be as proud of me as I am of her in accomplishing our one goal and that is to find Natalee."
Holloway was on the trip to Aruba with about 100 Mountain Brook High School students to celebrate their graduation. Marcia Twitty said Saturday that the Holloway family "absolutely" believes the seven parent chaperones on the Aruba trip did all they could.
Holloway is a straight-A student and a member of the National Honor Society as well as the school's dance team. She has an academic scholarship to the University of Alabama.
The family has posted a $50,000 reward for any information leading to her whereabouts. A family representative said the money was donated in $10,000 increments from the Aruban Tourist Board, the family, the Aruban government, an anonymous donor and the additional $10,000 from various other sources.
The family has asked members of the Mountain Brook community to post yellow ribbons in her honor. In addition, some area youths are making bracelets. Daily prayer services are being held for Holloway.
She is described as being 5 feet 4 inches tall and 110 pounds. The FBI announced Saturday a tip line for Holloway. People with any information are encouraged to call 1-877-628-2533.
CNN Correspondent Karl Penhaul contributed to this report.
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
