Natalee Holloway declared legally dead

By the CNN Wire Staff

Updated 5:41 PM EST, Thu January 12, 2012

Story highlights

Holloway's father says "a lot of things came together" making now the right time
He adds, "We've been dealing with this death for the last 6½ years"
Natalee Holloway's mother says the Alabama judge's ruling "makes me very sad"
The then 18-year-old girl was last seen in Aruba with Joran van der Sloot

Yearbook photo of Natalee Holloway

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