The search for Natalee Holloway

in November 2007, Tim Miller and Dave Holloway went to New Iberia, La., to see off the research vessel named Persistence.

Dave Holloway: Your boat says it all -- persistence. I've been persistent, and Tim’s been persistent and everybody else is going to be persistent.

And just as the persistence was leaving port, there was a bombshell.

The three main suspects, Joran van der Sloot, and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, were rearrested.

Dave Holloway broke his vow and rushed back to Aruba along with Beth for special meetings with prosecutors. They were asked to bring medical records.

To their horror, though, they say they ended up talking not about new evidence but were asked probing questions about Natalee’s character.

Beth Holloway: They kept saying that Natalee, you know, was a drug user … She's never had a history of drug use. She's never been in drug rehab. Yeah, I thought that -- then, they don't have anything. They don't have anything, you know?

Natalee’s parents were even more infuriated when all three suspects were released -- again. Aruban authorities soon put the case on hold.

Natalee’s father had only one glimmer of hope to cling to.

Dave Holloway: And when this went out, I thought, gosh, the only thing I can hold on to is, is this boat search. I said, that's my last hope. That's my very last hope.

Tim Miller: The sea has always been calling us back.

In December 2007, Miller returned to Aruba, and based on his theory and study of water currents, literally drew a line in the sand.

(footage of Tim drawing in the sand with a stick)
Tim Miller: That's where she's at, right there.

And Dateline was there when the Persistence was ready to sail.

Tim Miller: I stepped on the boat and said “Natalee we're coming to get you.” Now we're finally coming to get you. And I still believe that from the bottom of my heart. She's out here and now we're on our way.

Over the holiday season, the crew of the persistence worked day and night to survey the ocean floor and look for targets that could hold the key to finding Natalee.

On Christmas Eve sonar pictures revealed what looked like a large trap, almost exactly where Tim Miller theorized it would be.

And on Dec. 29 the crew dropped a remote operated vehicle, or ROV, into the water to get a closer look.

Tim Miller: It looked like a skull. Still looks like a skull.

Chris Hansen: So, you're thinking-- you're thinking at this point--

Tim Miller: I’m thinking at this point, "Oh, my God, maybe we've got something. Maybe we've got something."

Could they have found her? Or was hope, perhaps, making them see what they wanted to see?

(on the boat)

Tim Miller: In my years of searching we have seen several bodies, skeletal remains--I have seen my own daughter's skeletal remains. I can’t help but believe at this moment that that is human remains in that crab trap.

Tim Miller couldn't help but think that the date they first saw that trap -- Christmas eve --

Video   Answers for Natalee’s parents? Feb. 22: After two and a half years of searching, Natalie's parents are told they may finally have an answer. Dateline NBC

was a sign that just maybe they were on to something.

(on the boat)

Tim Miller: Maybe that was some of God's timing. I hope maybe Beth and Dave can have what they have been looking for two and half years.

Dave Holloway: I got a phone call from Tim.

Chris Hansen: And what'd he say?

Dave Holloway: He told me, he said, "Dave, we found her."

Chris Hansen: "We found her?"

Dave Holloway: Yeah. I said, "Are you sure?" and he said, "I’m 99.9 percent sure." He said, "We hadn't gone down and dove under or anything. But the photographs--" he said, "I tell you, Dave." I-- he said, "That's what we're looking for. And that's gotta-- that-- that's it."

Chris Hansen: Did you think that was it?

Dave Holloway: I did.

And the Holloways weren't alone. The next day Aruban authorities, including chief prosecutor Hans Mos, came on board to see for themselves.

Tim Miller: We showed them what we had. I think they got real interested, too. We all thought we had something.

The Aruban authorities agreed the find looked promising. And finally, divers from the Persistence and the Aruban police set out to get an up-close look.

Tim Miller: Everything was going right. That morning there was actually a double rainbow when we got started.

Chris Hansen: A double rainbow. Not just one rainbow.

Another sign from above?

A school of dolphins followed the Persistence as it sailed out to the target.

Tim Miller: I know I looked at somebody on the boat, and I said, "The-- the dolphins are going with us to go ahead and get Natalee."

(On the boat)

Tim Miller: We are at the spot. Ready to go down . .it is now only a matter of minutes before we know.

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