Niamh Shackleton
Natalee Holloway's mom has spoken out following Joran van der Sloot's guilty plea.
On Wednesday (18 October), van der Sloot, 36, entered into a plea deal which involved him pleading guilty to extortion and wire fraud linked to Natalee's disappearance in 2005.
In 2010, van der Sloot was indicted by a grand jury in Alabama for allegedly trying to export money from Natalee's mum, Beth Holloway, by saying that he'd reveal where her daughter's body is located in exchange for $250,000.
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Part of the deal means the 36-year-old must share everything he knows about Natalee and her murder.
He remains the prime suspect behind Natalee's death but hasn't been charged with her murder, though has admitted to killing the late teenager.
In a harrowing confession released by federal prosecutors, van der Sloot spoke of 'kicking her extremely hard in the face' before 'smashing her head in' and throwing her body into the ocean.
Natalee's mom has since spoken out after van der Sloot stood in court earlier this week, and shared how she thinks her daughter's final moments may have played out.
Speaking to CBS News, the bereaved mother shared: "I think she fought like hell with her killer.
"She stood her ground, she knew what was right, she knew what she wanted to do and she knew what her morals were."
Beth went on to address van der Sloot's confession about the location of her daughter's body.
"It’s just blistering to your soul, and it hurts so deeply," she said.
"But you know that you’re there in a functionality role because this is the moment where I’ve been searching for for 18 years.
"Even as hard as it is to hear, it still not as torturous as the not knowing. It was time for me to know."
In court on Wednesday, van der Sloot apologized to the Holloway family for the years of torment he's caused them.
"I would like to apologize to the Holloway family," he said.
"I am no longer that person back then than I am today. I gave my heart to Jesus Christ, he helped me through all of this."
But Natalee's younger sister, Kaitlyn Holloway, didn't buy his apology and she said seeing him 'made [her] feel sick inside'.
Kaitlyn told the New York Post: "He did apologize and he said something along the lines that he gave himself to God and that he’s a Christian - that he’s a changed man. I really don’t think that’s true.
“I don’t think it was a sincere apology considering all the damage he has done. I think it was some BS."
With van der Sloot already serving a 28-year sentence for the murder of Stephany Flores in 2010, there are fears he may not be charged with Natalee's death due to the 12 year statute of limitations for homicide in Aruba (where Natalee was killed).