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Joran Van der Sloot, the primary suspect in the mysterious disappearance of Natalee Holloway, has been extradited from Peru to the United States to face trial on charges of fraud and extortion.

The 36-year-old Dutch national left Peru on Thursday morning, leaving behind a case that has captivated the public for over 18 years.

Van der Sloot's connection to the Natalee Holloway case dates back to 2005 when the 18-year-old Alabama high school student vanished without a trace.

Her body was never found. And Van der Sloot has long been considered the key suspect in the investigation. He currently faces additional charges of extortion and wire fraud for allegedly attempting to sell information about Holloway's whereabouts to her mother for a staggering sum of $250,000.

Despite his lawyer's efforts to halt the transfer to the United States through a Habeas Corpus petition, Van der Sloot's extradition proceeded. He has been serving time in a Peruvian prison for the murder of 21-year-old Stephany Flores in 2010.

He was initially sentenced to 28 years for the murder. But his jail time has been increased due to his involvement in a drug smuggling scandal in the prison.

Joran Van der Sloot extradited

The decision to temporarily transfer Van der Sloot to the United States was made by Peruvian officials in May.

The move has sparked renewed interest in the Natalee Holloway case, with crime experts and legal analysts examining the extortion charges and the alleged cover-up involving Aruba's tourism industry.

Clinical psychologist and author Dr. Chloe Carmichael described Van der Sloot as a "vicious sociopath" who heartlessly played with the emotions of the Holloway family. She expressed relief that he is being extradited. This is the only way to get a semblance of accountability for his alleged actions.

Some experts, like former district attorney Matthew Mangino, caution against jumping to conclusions. And point out that Van der Sloot's conviction only pertains to the murder of Stephany Flores. And the pending charges are not for Natalee's murder.

There may be no justice for Natalee since proving murder without a body poses a significant challenge. With no physical evidence available it would be impossible to determine the manner and cause of death.