The museum is remembering Natalee’s case on the 20th anniversary of her disappearance
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (April 21, 2025) – Around 3.8 million students graduate from high school in the United States each year. Many of them celebrate by taking a senior trip with friends and classmates. When Natalee Holloway disappeared on a graduation trip in 2005, it made media headlines worldwide. In honor of the 20th anniversary of her disappearance and death, Alcatraz East Crime Museum opened a temporary exhibit titled International Journey to Justice: Catching Natalee Holloway’s Killer on April 18, 2025.
“It is hard to believe it has been 20 years since this tragedy occurred,” said Ally Pennington, artifacts and programs manager at Alcatraz East Crime Museum. “The recent developments in this case are a testament to the dedication Natalee’s mother had to getting justice for her daughter.”
The exhibit focusing on Natalee will feature original artifacts including memorabilia from her life, a dress she wore to a school dance, and original poetry written by Natalee. Open through October 2025, patrons can learn more about Natalee, her disappearance, and the 18-year fight to capture the man who took her life. The museum has a long-standing relationship with Holloway’s mother, Beth, and has resources about travel safety available on their website:www.crimemuseum.org/
Holloway and fellow classmates took a trip to Aruba just days after their 2005 high school graduation. The trip turned into a tragedy when the 18-year-old went missing on the last day of their trip. Beth Holloway and others made every effort to locate Natalee and determine what happened. The investigation that ensued found that she was last seen with Joran Van der Sloot, who was arrested multiple times in connection with the case but was never convicted.
In the years that followed, authorities continued to unravel the details surrounding Holloway’s disappearance. Van der Sloot’s statements about the case varied, and for a long time, it remained unclear what happened on the night Natalee disappeared. In 2010, Van der Sloot contacted the legal representative of Beth Holloway, offering to provide details of Natalee’s death and the whereabouts of her remains in exchange for money. He would later admit the information provided was useless.
In 2023, Van der Sloot was extradited to the United States to face charges related to the extortion of Beth. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Van der Sloot pled guilty and was sentenced for extortion and wire fraud. As part of the plea deal, Van der Sloot was required to provide a proffer letter confessing to killing Holloway, recounting her last moments alive. He could not be charged with her murder due to the confession exceeding Aruba’s statute of limitations.
“It took almost two decades for Natalee’s killer to face justice for her death,” said Pennington. “Natalee’s story will always be a pertinent reminder to travel safely, and we are honored to help keep her memory alive.”
The U.S. Department of State provides safety tips for those traveling abroad, including knowing about the destination country’s laws and customs ahead of time, avoiding dangerous areas, and being cautious of scams.
The museum features over 100 exhibits and interactives and four temporary exhibit spaces, with many famous items on display, including Al Capone’s rosary, Ted Bundy’s dental molds, and Charles Manson’s acoustic guitar. This top museum is open at 10 am daily. The last tickets are sold 60 minutes before closing. These interactive experiences are available for an additional fee for birthday parties, school groups, scouts, team building, or other special events. To get a discounted rate for groups of 15 or more, complete the online form and allow up to 72 hours for confirmation. For more information about tickets, discounts, temporary exhibits, and all the museum offers, visit the site: https://www.
Alcatraz East Crime Museum has updated its board of crime experts, which includes Derwin Bradley, a retired master police officer; James R. Knight, a crime writer; Robin Maynard, a certified crime scene investigator in Florida; Derek Newport, a law enforcement veteran who worked for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for 20 years; and Judge Belvin Perry, Jr., who presided over the notorious case against Casey Anthony, among others.
About Alcatraz East
Alcatraz East is the most arresting crime museum in the United States. Guests of all ages can encounter a unique journey into the history of American crime, crime-solving, and our justice system. Through interactive exhibits and original artifacts, Alcatraz East is an entertaining and educational experience for all ages – so much fun it’s a crime! This family attraction is at The Island’s entrance, 2757 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN. The last ticket is sold 60 minutes before closing. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.alcatrazeast.com.
