(Lima, Peru) WIAT- Loved ones of Natalee Holloway are reacting to the latest on the murder in Peru and what it means for the Holloway investigation.
Investigators think a tennis racquet may have been used in the killing of 21 year old Stephany Flores, according to Carlos Gonzalo a spokesperson for Peru's Interior Ministry speaking to CNN. Gonzalo says investigators are testing the racquet and bloody clothes found with Joran van der Sloot for DNA. The body of Stephany Flores was found Wednesday in a Lima hotel room registered to van der Sloot.
The Flores murder happened exactly five years after Natalee Holloway disappeared. Van der Sloot was also arrested and released twice in connection with that case. A top Peruvian government official suspects Joran van der Sloot may be a serial killer, according to published reports.
Back in Birmingham, a family friend of Natalee Holloway feels the timing is no coincidence.
"I think that's beyond creepy. I mean...and again who knows what he does? He gets away with everything he's ever done best as I can tell. So perhaps he does this a lot and we just don't know. It's happened to the wrong people. Who can explain the coverage that Natalee got?" said Betsy Koepsel. "We know how he is. We know how he answers questions. We know how his mind works and so I hope that the Peruvian officials can get what they need to get from him to get the truth from him for Stephanie, because we weren't able to get it for Natalee."
CBS 42 News has learned from sources in Aruba, there may be more searches on the island soon. The editor of Aruban newspaper El Diario tells CBS 42 that Joran van der Sloot would face a trial by judges and not a jury in Peru.
"We are glad people finally paying attention to this guy as a very dangerous man on the streets, if found guilty he will be put in jail for a minimum of 25 years, said Jossy Mansur, Editor of El Diario.
