Major Controversies Surrounding Joran van der Sloot: A Detailed Timeline

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Joran van der Sloot.

Joran van der Sloot is a Dutch murderer convicted of killing Stephany Flores Ramírez in Peru in 2010. He gained notoriety as the prime suspect in the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba. While never charged in the Holloway case, his involvement remains heavily suspected. He is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for the Flores murder.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Controversies & Scandals

May 2005: Meeting Natalee Holloway

On May 29, 2005, Joran van der Sloot met Natalee Holloway at Carlos'n Charlie's bar in Oranjestad, Aruba. Holloway was last seen leaving the bar with Van der Sloot and two others.

June 2005: Arrest in Holloway Disappearance

In June 2005, Joran van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers were arrested in connection with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The Kalpoe brothers were released on July 4, while Van der Sloot remained in custody.

June 2005: Paulus van der Sloot Questioned and Released

On June 22, 2005, Paulus van der Sloot was arrested for questioning in Holloway's disappearance and was released on June 26.

September 2005: Interview on A Current Affair

On September 26, 2005, Joran van der Sloot stated in an interview with the American television show A Current Affair that neither he nor the Kalpoe brothers had sex with Holloway, and admitted to initially lying to the authorities.

February 2006: Lawsuit Filed by Natalee Holloway's Parents

In February 2006, Joran van der Sloot's parents stated their son was unfairly singled out on ABC's Good Morning America, and Van der Sloot and his father were served with a lawsuit filed by Natalee Holloway's parents while in New York City, alleging personal injury.

April 2007: New Search Launched at Van der Sloot's Parents' Home

On April 27, 2007, Dutch authorities launched a new search at Joran van der Sloot's parents' home in Aruba, reviewing the case for new indications, unrelated to his book.

November 2007: Re-arrest in Holloway Case

In November 2007, Joran van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers were re-arrested for suspicion of involvement in voluntary manslaughter and causing serious bodily harm that resulted in the death of Natalee Holloway. Van der Sloot was later released without charge.

January 2008: Wine Thrown at Crime Reporter

On January 11, 2008, Joran van der Sloot threw a glass of red wine in crime reporter Peter de Vries's face on the Dutch talk show Pauw & Witteman.

November 2008: Fox News Interview and Retraction

In November 2008, Joran van der Sloot said in an interview on Fox News's On the Record that he sold Holloway into sexual slavery and later retracted the statements.

November 2008: Undercover Footage of Sex Trafficking Preparations

In November 2008, Peter de Vries aired undercover footage of Joran van der Sloot making preparations for the apparent sex trafficking of Thai women in Bangkok, with De Vries claiming Van der Sloot was making $13,000 per woman sold into prostitution.

March 2010: Van der Sloot Offers Information on Natalee Holloway's Body

Around March 29, 2010, Joran van der Sloot allegedly contacted John Q. Kelly, Beth Holloway's legal representative, offering to reveal the location of Natalee Holloway's body and the circumstances of her death in exchange for $25,000 upfront against a total of $250,000.

May 2010: Van der Sloot Named Suspect and Flees to Chile

In May 2010, Peruvian officials named Joran van der Sloot as the lone suspect in the homicide investigation of Stephany Tatiana Flores Ramírez. An Interpol notice was issued, and it was believed he fled to Chile. He was sighted entering Chile on May 31, 2010. His ex-girlfriend said he asked her for money to buy a ticket back to Aruba.

May 2010: Van der Sloot and Flores Seen Together Before Her Death

In May 2010, a hotel guest and employee reported seeing Joran van der Sloot and Stephany Tatiana Flores Ramírez entering the hotel room together. Police also obtained video footage of them playing cards at the Atlantic City Casino in Lima the night before. Van der Sloot had entered Peru via Colombia on May 14, 2010, to attend the Latin American Poker Tour.

May 2010: Van der Sloot Flees to Chile After Flores' Murder

In May 2010, following the murder of Stephany Flores Ramírez on the 30th, Joran van der Sloot fled to Chile. He was later arrested in Chile and extradited to Peru for questioning related to Flores's murder.

May 2010: Death of Stephany Tatiana Flores Ramírez

On May 30, 2010, the fifth anniversary of Natalee Holloway's disappearance, Stephany Tatiana Flores Ramírez, 21, was found dead at the Hotel TAC in Lima, Peru. On June 2, a hotel employee discovered her beaten body in room 309, registered to Joran van der Sloot. He had left the hotel without returning the key, leaving the television turned on. A tennis racquet was recovered from the room.

June 2010: Van der Sloot Ordered Held on Murder and Robbery Charges

On June 11, 2010, Lima Superior Court Judge Juan Buendia ordered Joran van der Sloot to be held on charges of first-degree murder and robbery for acting with "ferocity and great cruelty" in the death of Stephany Tatiana Flores Ramírez. Denied bail, he was transported to Miguel Castro Castro prison.

June 2010: Van der Sloot Charged with Extortion and Wire Fraud

On June 3, 2010, Joran van der Sloot was charged by the U.S. District Court of Northern Alabama with extortion and wire fraud. A warrant was issued for his arrest through Interpol. On June 4, Dutch authorities raided homes in the Netherlands at the request of the U.S. Justice Department.

June 2010: Van der Sloot Confesses to Flores' Murder

On June 7, 2010, Joran van der Sloot confessed to bludgeoning Stephany Flores. Later, he attempted to retract this confession, alleging intimidation by the Peruvian Police and framing by the FBI.

June 2010: Van der Sloot Reportedly Confesses to Killing Flores

On June 7, 2010, Joran van der Sloot reportedly confessed to killing Stephany Tatiana Flores Ramírez after hours of interrogation, having initially proclaimed his innocence. This confession potentially aligned with a defense strategy to reduce the charge to manslaughter.

August 2010: Photo of Van der Sloot with Inmates Surfaces

In August 2010, administrative action was taken after América Televisión aired a photo of Joran van der Sloot with inmates Hugo Trujillo Ospina and William Trickett Smith II taken with official equipment at Miguel Castro Castro prison on August 23, 2010.

August 2010: Interpreter Issues and Trial Delays in Van der Sloot Case

In August 2010, the Van der Sloot case stagnated due to the inability to find an official interpreter for the case in Peru, as stated by Navarro on August 21, 2010. On September 6, a Peruvian appeals court rejected Van der Sloot's motion that he was being unlawfully held.

September 2010: Beth Holloway visits Joran van der Sloot in prison

In September 2010, Beth Holloway and a Dutch television crew visited Joran van der Sloot in a Peruvian prison. Holloway stated she told Van der Sloot she had no hate in her soul and inquired about her daughter's disappearance. Van der Sloot responded he could not speak without his lawyer and handed her Navarro's business card.

September 2010: Van der Sloot Admits to Extortion Plot

On September 6, 2010, in an interview published by De Telegraaf, Joran van der Sloot admitted to the extortion plot against Natalee Holloway's family, stating he wanted to retaliate for their actions over the previous five years. His attorney suggested potential translation errors in the interview.

October 2010: Video surfaces of Van der Sloot involved in marijuana transaction

In October 2010, América Televisión broadcasted a video showing Joran van der Sloot, shirtless, participating in a marijuana transaction within the prison. His lawyer claimed the situation was staged. It was also reported that Van der Sloot was painting his cell to improve his conditions, and the incident was being investigated by prison officials.

2010: Top Crime Story of the Year

In 2010, Time magazine declared Joran van der Sloot's arrest the top crime story of the year, after the Holloway and Flores cases attracted widespread media attention.

February 2011: Navarro protests denial of interview with Van der Sloot

In February 2011, Joran van der Sloot's lawyer, Navarro, protested a decision by prison officials to deny Radio Netherlands Worldwide permission for a subsequent interview with Van der Sloot, alleging the ruling was influenced by upcoming general elections.

January 2012: Van der Sloot Sentenced to Imprisonment

In January 2012, Joran van der Sloot was sentenced to 28 years' imprisonment for the murder of Stephany Flores.

March 2014: Peru Announces Van der Sloot Extradition to U.S. in 2038

In March 2014, the Peruvian government announced that Joran van der Sloot would be extradited to the U.S. in 2038 after completing his sentence in Peru for the murder of Stephany Tatiana Flores Ramírez, to face charges of extortion and wire fraud.

February 2016: Undercover Footage of Van der Sloot Confessing to Holloway Murder

In February 2016, an undercover reporter filmed Joran van der Sloot confessing to the murder of Natalee Holloway, during which he laughed about never revealing the truth and admitting to killing her. His Peruvian wife was present during the conversation.

August 2020: Van der Sloot establishes drug trafficking operation inside prison

In August 2020, Joran van der Sloot had set up a cocaine trafficking operation inside the prison, where a family member of a fellow detainee used sugar beets to smuggle cocaine into the prison. Van der Sloot proceeded to deal the cocaine inside the prison, as well as setting up a trafficking network by forwarding packages of cocaine from the prison to other destinations abroad.

February 2021: Van der Sloot convicted of drug trafficking in prison

In February 2021, Joran van der Sloot was convicted of drug trafficking while serving his sentence in Challapalca Prison. He had set up a cocaine trafficking operation inside the prison.

January 2023: Additional Sentence for Trafficking Cocaine

In January 2023, while already imprisoned, Joran van der Sloot had an additional 18 years added to his sentence for trafficking cocaine.

June 2023: Van der Sloot Extradited to the U.S. and Arraigned

On June 8, 2023, Joran van der Sloot was extradited from Peru to the United States, landing in Birmingham, Alabama. On June 9, he was arraigned in federal court in Birmingham on charges of extortion and wire fraud against Beth Holloway, pleading not guilty to both charges.

June 2023: Van der Sloot Extradited to the United States

On June 8, 2023, Joran van der Sloot was extradited to the United States to face trial for extortion and wire fraud, related to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

October 2023: Van der Sloot Admits to Killing Natalee Holloway

In October 2023, Joran van der Sloot admitted to killing Natalee Holloway in a proffer letter after pleading guilty to other associated charges in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

October 2023: Van der Sloot Admits to Holloway's Murder and Receives Sentence

On October 18, 2023, Joran van der Sloot admitted to beating Natalee Holloway to death on an Aruba beach as part of a plea deal. He stated he bludgeoned her head with a cinder block and disposed of her body in the ocean. He was sentenced to 20 years on the extortion charges, to run concurrently with his Peru sentence.