The mother of slain Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway says that her killer’s apology means nothing to her.
Speaking with NBC News, Beth Holloway said Joran van der Sloot — who is serving a sentence in Peru for the murder of another woman — lacks the ability for remorse.
“He doesn’t have that in his existence,” Holloway said. “Just to say the words? It’s fine. It didn’t mean anything.”
Van der Sloot, a Dutch national, pleaded guilty Wednesday to extorting money from Holloway’s family years ago. Part of the plea deal required him to admit his guilt in Natalee Holloway’s death and explain what happened in 2005, CrimeOnline reported.
He said that he and Holloway were walking along the beach, and Holloway rejected his sexual advances. She kneed him in the crotch, and he responded by kicking her “extremely hard” in the face. Then, he said, he took a concrete block and smashed her face in before dragging her lifeless body into the ocean.
“I would like to apologize to the Holloway family,” van der Sloot said in court. “I am no longer that person back then than I am today. I gave my heart to Jesus Christ, he helped me through all of this.”
Beth Holloway responded to the apology in court.
“You are a killer, and I want you to remember that every time that jail cell door slams,” she said.
Van der Sloot was sentenced to 20 years in prison, to be served concurrently with the 28 year sentence he is serving in Peru. If he is released early there, he must return to the United States to serve out the remainder of his term here.
Beth Holloway told NBC News, however, that even though she doesn’t accept the apology, she is satisfied with the confession.
“I am satisfied knowing that he did it, he did it alone, and he disposed of her alone,” she said. “I have what I need. Her case is solved.”
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[Featured image: Beth Holloway via AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File]