Beth Holloway Seeks Justice for her Daughter

Written by Melody Brumble

Even when Beth Holloway realized her daughter Natalee was dead, she didn't give up hope.

Beth's search for answers about Natalee's disappearance during a school trip to Aruba in 2005 captivated the world. This afternoon, Beth spoke about that journey and her new mission at Gingerbread House's yearly fundraising luncheon.

"There are phases of hope that are there for all of us to seize," Holloway said.

Her first phase of hope lasted four days, until she realized that Natalee never returned to her hotel the night before the school group's departure from Aruba.

While praying beside a deserted road on the island, Beth Holloway understood that her daughter "was with God."

At that moment, she said, she entered the second phase of hope. She was determined to find out exactly what happened to Natalee and seek justice.

Beth Holloway got answers when suspect Joran van der Sloot said during an undercover video that he had a friend drop Natalee Holloway in the ocean after she had a seizure. She believes her daughter suffered an overdose from a date-rape drug.

She hasn't seen justice in her daughter's death, but even that didn't snuff Beth Holloway's hope. She presented the stories of other families looking for missing loved ones and founded the Natalee Holloway Resource Center.

"After all I've been through, and all my family's been through, I have a right to crawl in a hole and never come out -- but that's not how I want to live my life," she said. "I found myself asking what I can do to teach others from our tragic situation."

Beth Holloway praised Gingerbread House staff members and supporters for their role in nurturing hope. Gingerbread House serves children who have suffered physical and sexual abuse.

"You are proactively working to save these children from their abusers," she said.

For more information on how to book Beth Holloway for your next event, visit premierespeakers.com/beth_holloway.

Source: Shreveport Times