Joran van der Sloot ... A Reminder of the Need for Personal Protection

Joran van der Sloot has long been thought to be the person who ended the promising life of American teen Natalee Holloway. Now he is accused of murdering another young woman, Stephany Flores while in Peru. The suspect gave several different accounts of what happened the night Holloway disappeared but has reportedly confessed to battering Flores in a fit of anger after she found a connection to him and Natalee.

Since the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, whose body has never been recovered, allegations of van der Sloot preying on young female tourists who visit Aruba have flourished. He has been characterized as a predator who hid behind the power of a father who was a judge. The elder van der Sloot passed away, perhaps making his son more vulnerable to making mistakes and getting caught. NBC's Dateline profiled van der Sloot tonight. Dateline has updated the case reporting that van der Sloot has finally confessed to killing Natalee Holloway.

On ABC, 20/20 focused on the rape and murder of angel-faced 3-year-old, Riley Fox. The little girl was taken from her home while her father slept and her mother was away.



These are but a few in the numerous instances of violent acts against women and children that often result in their deaths. It is my opinion that predators are born. More often than not, they are not candidates for rehabilitation but are repeat offenders who will never stray from their abusive, menacing behavior.

As a society, we have to become proactive in our efforts to defend ourselves from these types of criminals. Equipping our homes with alarms is a good start but chances are, an intruder can be in and out before the police ever arrive. Other methods of protection should be considered. Statistics show an increase in the number of women choosing to arm themselves with firearms. Some people are uncomfortable with that idea. Additional options, such as tasers and stun guns are available as well. Each individual should consult law enforcement in his or her jurisdiction to confirm that possession of such items is legal. A self-defense course could be another option if any are held in your area.  Also, if you have young children, you may want to consider personal alarms  or other safety devices for them.

Ladies, if you must be out at night, try not to go alone. Always be aware of your surroundings to make sure no unsavory characters are lurking around or watching you. Lock your car doors and do not label your address as "home" if you use a navigation device. If it's stolen, it can lead the thieves to your house. Keep your home alarm system turned on during the daytime as well as at night. Above all, use common sense.  Remember, that handsome smile and suave demeanor could be masking your worst nightmare.