ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AP) — The family of Natalee Holloway on Monday more than doubled the reward for help solving her disappearance, while the Alabama teen's mother again criticized the direction of the investigation.

The reward for information that helps solve the more than 2-month-old mystery is now $250,000, up from $100,000, said Beth Holloway Twitty, the teen's mother. The family has also offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Natalee's safe return.

"I hope more money will help bring people forward," Holloway Twitty said in an interview. "I still don't feel like this investigation is heading in the right direction."

Holloway Twitty said police had given her copies of statements from witnesses and other documents from the investigation that have led her to believe investigators are on the wrong track.

Story continues

advertisement

"The level of ineptness has been incredible," Holloway Twitty said of Aruban authorities. "The whole thing has been wrong from the beginning."

She declined to give details on the documents or say how she thinks authorities should be handling the case.

Chief Prosecutor Karin Janssen called the criticism unwarranted.

"I'm positive about our progress and very proud of my team," said Janssen.

Holloway Twitty said the family wanted to publicize the reward in neighboring Venezuela and Colombia, even though Aruban authorities and the FBI have said they don't believe Natalee ever left Aruba.

Extensive searches by Dutch marines, Aruban police, and thousands of volunteers have found no trace of the 18-year-old honors student, who vanished on May 30 during a graduation trip with 124 classmates on the Dutch Caribbean island.

No one has been charged in the disappearance. Seven men were arrested, but all except 18-year-old Joran van der Sloot have been released.

Through his lawyers and family, van der Sloot has acknowledged being on a beach alone with the young woman the day she disappeared, but says he left her there unharmed.