Joran van der Sloot’s mother, Anita van der Sloot-Hugen, has returned to public attention following the release of the Netflix documentary Taken: Natalee Holloway. The former art teacher, who initially defended her son during the investigation into Natalee Holloway’s disappearance, later publicly distanced herself from him after his arrest for another murder in Peru. Her changing attitude toward Joran remains one of the most discussed aspects of the family’s history.

The documentary, released in November 2026, revisits the disappearance of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway in Aruba and the long search for answers. Beth Holloway, Natalee’s mother, recalls her early encounters with Joran’s family, including conversations with Anita about her son’s behaviour. Those recollections have renewed interest in Anita’s personal life, her relationship with Joran and her decision to remain largely outside the public spotlight.

Who Is Joran van der Sloot’s Mother?

Anita van der Sloot-Hugen is a Dutch former art teacher who lived in Aruba with her husband, Paulus “Paul” van der Sloot, and their three sons.

The family relocated from the Netherlands to Aruba in 1990, where Paul pursued a legal career and later trained for a judicial position.

Anita worked in education and was known locally for her involvement in teaching art before her family became associated with the Holloway investigation.

Her life changed dramatically in May 2005 when Natalee Holloway disappeared during a graduation trip to Aruba.

Joran, then 17, became one of the principal suspects after investigators established that he had been among the last people seen with the American teenager.

The investigation brought intense international media attention to the Van der Sloot family, with reporters examining their personal lives and questioning their knowledge of the disappearance.

Anita initially appeared publicly to defend her son, arguing that his inconsistent statements did not necessarily mean he had committed a crime.

However, her position became increasingly complicated as further allegations and criminal investigations emerged.

Why Did Anita Initially Defend Joran?

When Natalee Holloway disappeared in 2005, Anita maintained that her son was innocent and suggested that he had become frightened by the investigation.

Joran had provided investigators with conflicting accounts of his movements on the night Holloway vanished.

Anita acknowledged that her son had behaved irresponsibly but initially believed his changing statements reflected panic rather than involvement in murder.

As a mother, she faced the difficult position of defending her teenage son while the Holloway family desperately searched for their missing daughter.

Her public statements attracted criticism from people who believed Joran was withholding important information.

At the same time, the investigation had not established what had happened to Holloway, and Joran had not been convicted of any crime connected to her disappearance.

Anita continued supporting her son during the early stages of the investigation, even as the family’s reputation came under increasing scrutiny.

Her husband, Paul, was also detained briefly by Aruban authorities before being released without charges.

The pressure surrounding the case affected the entire family and continued for years.

What Did Anita Reveal About Joran’s Behaviour?

Anita later acknowledged that Joran had experienced behavioural difficulties long before his arrest in Peru.

During interviews in 2010, she described him as someone who frequently lied and had developed serious problems with gambling.

She said he sometimes left home secretly to visit casinos and had become increasingly difficult for the family to manage.

Anita also discussed concerns about his emotional wellbeing and revealed that the family had attempted to arrange psychiatric treatment.

According to her account, Joran was supposed to travel to the Netherlands to receive professional help.

Instead, he left a note indicating that he was leaving and travelled to Peru.

His decision proved significant because he subsequently became involved in the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores Ramírez in Lima.

The revelations suggested that Anita had become increasingly worried about her son’s behaviour and recognised that he needed professional assistance.

However, descriptions of his behavioural problems do not independently establish a specific psychiatric diagnosis.

Why Did Anita Distance Herself From Her Son?

Anita’s public attitude changed considerably after Joran was arrested in Peru in June 2010.

He was accused of murdering Stephany Flores Ramírez, a young Peruvian student who had been found dead in a Lima hotel room.

The arrest came only months after Anita’s husband, Paul, suffered a fatal heart attack in February 2010.

Speaking publicly about the allegations, Anita expressed serious concerns about her son’s mental state and acknowledged that he had refused help.

She described him as troubled and said that if he was responsible for the murder, he needed to accept the consequences.

Her comments marked a clear departure from the protective position she had maintained during the early Holloway investigation.

Anita also indicated that she did not intend to visit him in prison.

In January 2012, Joran was convicted of murdering Flores and sentenced to 28 years in prison.

Although Anita’s earlier statements demonstrated her decision to distance herself, there is limited independently verified information about the full extent of their contact in subsequent years.

What Did the Netflix Documentary Reveal?

The Netflix documentary Taken: Natalee Holloway has renewed discussion of Anita’s relationship with her son and her interactions with Beth Holloway.

Beth recalled meeting Anita during the early investigation and discussing concerns about Joran’s behaviour.

According to Beth’s account, Anita had acknowledged that her son experienced anger management difficulties and had received psychiatric attention during childhood.

The recollections added another dimension to the public understanding of the family’s concerns before the disappearance.

The documentary also examines the years of uncertainty that followed Natalee’s disappearance and the emotional impact on her family.

In October 2023, Joran finally admitted that he had killed Natalee on an Aruban beach in 2005.

His confession came during federal proceedings in the United States involving extortion and wire fraud charges connected to his attempts to obtain money from the Holloway family.

The admission confirmed his responsibility for Natalee’s murder, although her remains have never been recovered.

Anita has not made a widely documented public statement responding directly to the confession.

Where Is Anita van der Sloot Now?

Anita van der Sloot-Hugen has maintained a largely private life in Aruba following years of intense international attention.

Reports have indicated that she continued living on the island and maintained family connections outside the public spotlight.

She has generally avoided interviews about Joran’s criminal convictions and his eventual confession in the Holloway case.

Some accounts have described her continuing interest in art and local community activities, although detailed information about her current daily life is limited.

Her other two sons have also remained comparatively private, and the family has not publicly shared extensive information about their relationships.

Joran remains imprisoned in Peru, where he is serving sentences for the murder of Stephany Flores and additional offences.

For Anita, the events surrounding her son transformed what had once been a relatively ordinary family life into decades of public scrutiny.

Her story remains connected to the Holloway investigation because of her early defence of Joran, her later concerns about his behaviour and her decision to distance herself after his conviction.

While the documentary has renewed interest in her experiences, Anita has largely chosen to remain outside the public conversation surrounding her son’s crimes.