Holloway’s uncle says he hopes Aruba authorities reopen case after charges against man

Natalee Holloway’s uncle hopes case is reopened

NEW YORK — The uncle of a teen who disappeared in Aruba in 2005 says he hopes authorities there reopen the case now that the man linked to his niece’s disappearance has been arrested in a killing in Peru and is facing extortion charges in Alabama.

Speaking to NBC’s “Today” show Friday, Paul Reynolds, the uncle of Natalee Holloway, says the family hopes to see Joran van der Sloot put behind bars.

The Dutch man was detained Thursday after crossing the border from Peru, where authorities say he’s the prime suspect in Sunday’s killing of 21-year-old Stephany Flores.

The same day he was arrested, van der Sloot was charged in Alabama with trying to extort $250,000 in return for giving the location of Holloway’s body.

Reynolds called the alleged extortion attempt “a despicable act.”