In a shocking turn of events, Joran van der Sloot, the longtime suspect in the 2005 disappearance of American teenager Natalee Holloway in Aruba, has confessed to her murder. The confession came as part of a plea deal related to charges of extortion and wire fraud, bringing an end to an 18-year-long mystery that has captivated the world. Van der Sloot, now 36, pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to extort $250,000 from Natalee Holloway's mother, Beth Holloway, in 2010 in exchange for information about her daughter's disappearance.

As part of the plea agreement, he agreed to provide full, complete, accurate, and truthful information about the circumstances surrounding Natalee Holloway's disappearance. During the court hearing in Birmingham, Alabama, van der Sloot's confession shed light on the events of that fateful night in 2005. He admitted to assaulting Natalee Holloway on a beach, stating that she had resisted his sexual advances. In a disturbing account, he described kicking her extremely hard in the face, rendering her unconscious or possibly dead. He then claimed to have used a cinderblock to inflict fatal injuries before dragging her body into the sea.

The emotional courtroom was filled with Natalee Holloway's family, who had endured nearly two decades of uncertainty and despair. Beth Holloway expressed her satisfaction with the confession, stating, "As far as I am concerned, it's over." She called van der Sloot a killer and thanked everyone involved in bringing closure to their never-ending nightmare. Despite the admission of guilt, van der Sloot will not face charges for Natalee Holloway's murder in Aruba due to the statute of limitations having expired. However, the investigation into her disappearance remains open on the island, and authorities have pledged to follow up on any substantial leads.

The plea deal also mandates that van der Sloot take a polygraph test and provide all necessary information to the authorities. The 20-year sentence for extortion in the United States will run concurrently with the 28-year sentence he is serving in Peru for the murder of another woman, Stephany Flores, in 2010. He will return to Peru to complete his sentence after the conclusion of the U.S. extortion case. Natalee Holloway's case has been the focus of extensive media coverage, books, documentaries, and legal battles over the years. Her disappearance at the age of 18 during a high school graduation trip left her family with countless questions, but today's admission marks a significant breakthrough in a case that has haunted them for almost two decades.