Published: March 24, 2009 10:44 am      

(10:50 a.m.) Natalee Holloway update

Holloway trying to cover all the possibilities

By Brian Livingston

blivingston@themeridianstar.com

Dave Holloway, the father of missing teenager Natalee Holloway who disappeared four years ago while on a senior trip to Aruba, said this morning he really doesn't think his daughter's body will be found during this latest search.

But he didn't want to spend the rest of his life wondering, "What if", either.

"The guy whose claims prompted this latest search at the pond has been bugging me for some time," said Holloway of Meridian. "He is convinced he saw something and he passed not one but two polygraph tests conducted by reputable technicians. Now, I'm not really sure just how accurate polygraph tests are but I kept thinking what if he is right. I just couldn't see any reason why he would lie about what he believed he saw."

The latest search is centered around a water run-off retaining pond on the island. Aruban police say previous searches of the marshy area have turned up nothing. Holloway admitted all indications have pointed to the ocean as to where his daughter's body is likely located. But the little bit of doubt placed in his head by this "witness" gave Holloway pause.

Holloway contracted a tracker dog specialist to begin his latest search for evidence into Natalee Holloway's May 2005 disappearance early Monday. Nothing was found during Monday's search.

Natalee Holloway, from Mountain Brook, Ala., was 18 when she was last seen in May 2005 in the Aruban capital Oranjestad on the final night of a high school graduation trip. She reportedly left a bar with Dutch man Joran van der Sloot. No trace of her has been found despite extensive searches involving hundreds of volunteers, Aruban soldiers, FBI agents and even Dutch F-16 jets with special equipment.