REPORT: Joran Van Der Sloot "Is Psychologically Disturbed," Says His Mother
June 20 2010, Published 4:59 a.m. ET
Joran van der Sloot's own mother believes he may have murdered Stephany Flores Ramirez, RadarOnline.com has learned, but prays that his "disturbed" mental state will earn him a fair trial.
"I now believe that Joran may indeed have done something to Stephany in Peru," Anita van der Sloot is quoted as telling the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. "Joran is sick in the head but he didn't want any help."
Anita van der Sloot also revealed to De Telegraaf that she spoke to Joran in the days that he was a fugitive in the case of Stephany's murder.
"I said, 'Joran, you're being searched internationally. A girl in dead. Where are you?' I told him he had to turn himself in. If only he had listened to his mother."
De Telegraaf also quotes Anita van der Sloot saying she and her husband Paul "made a big mistake" in not sending their son to a mental hospital after he was arrested in the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway five years ago.
"He was traumatized" after that arrest, Mrs. van der Sloot said. "We made a big mistake then. We sent him to the Netherlands to study. He should have gone to a closed clinic. He needed psychological help even back then."
Now, the confused and grieving mother says, "if he killed Stephany, then he will have to carry the burden of that. I will not visit him in his cell, I will not embrace him. But he should get a fair trial.
"He is psychologically disturbed. That has to count for something, right?"