A new Netflix documentary tells the tragic story of Natalee Holloway, the high school student who disappeared in Aruba while on vacation in 2005.
At the center of the story from the beginning was Joran Van Der Sloot, the local teenager and son of a Dutch diplomat, who met Natalee at a club. She was last seen leaving the scene in a gray car with him and two other men. The story made headlines for years, as Natalee’s determined mother searched for answers and justice.
In 2023, she finally understood, in a way, when Van Der Sloot finally admitted that he caused Holloway’s death. All of this has some people wondering: where is Joran Van Der Sloot now?
Today, Joran Van Der Sloot is in prison in Peru
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Van Der Sloot’s story took another tragic turn when he was convicted of the murder of a second young woman. This earned him a long prison sentence.
In 2023, according to PeopleVan Der Sloot ultimately admitted to Holloway’s murder as part of a plea deal in an extortion case. The confession is horrible.
Van Der Sloot said he knocked Holloway unconscious on the beach when she rejected his advances, then smashed her head with a cinder block. He then threw her body into the sea, according to People. According to Peopleby the time he confessed to the murder, the statute of limitations for homicide in Aruba had expired, being 12 years. He pleaded guilty to extortion from his mother. So, to be clear, Van Der Sloot was never convicted of Holloway’s murder, despite his confession.
According to NJ.comin 2023, Van Der Sloot was sentenced to 20 years in prison for trying to extort money from Holloway’s mother in exchange for information about her daughter.
Van Der Sloot “is currently incarcerated at Challapalca Prison in Peru. He is serving a 28-year prison sentence for the 2010 murder of Stephany Flores Ramírez and is concurrently serving a 20-year sentence for extortion of the Holloway family. His expected release date is 2045,” NJ.com reported.
What happened to Stephany Flores Ramirez?
According to ABC 7, Ramirez, 21, was found dead “at the Miraflores Tac hotel in Lima in a room registered to Van Der Sloot.”
She “was found beaten and stabbed to death. Cuts were found all over her face and body,” and a fight took place, ABC News reported, adding that Van Der Sloot met the victim at a casino after traveling to Peru to participate in a poker tournament.
The suspect fled to Chile, where he was arrested, according to CNN.
Van Der Sloot also confessed to the homicide, telling police he murdered Ramirez “by choking her with his bloody shirt so she couldn’t go to the police,” ABC News reported.
He said Ramirez hit him and became upset when a message appeared on his computer accusing him of being connected to Holloway’s disappearance. He said he killed her impulsively.
“There was blood everywhere. What am I going to do now? I had blood on my shirt. There was also blood on the bed, so I took off my shirt and put it on her face, pressing hard, until I killed Stephany,” he told police, according to ABC.
Related: Netflix’s Latest True-Crime Documentary Hits No. 1 After Just One Day
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on November 9, 2026, where he first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as Favorite source by clicking here.
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