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DNA on duct tape not missing teen's

Investigators drain Aruba pond in search for Holloway

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PALM BEACH, Aruba (CNN) -- DNA taken from strands of blond hair stuck to duct tape found on a beach in Aruba does not match the DNA of missing Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, an FBI spokeswoman said Thursday.

Two tests proved negative, said Special Agent Judy Orihuela, who added the 18-year-old woman's family has already been informed.

Meanwhile, investigators continue draining a catch basin -- an operation that began 9 p.m. Tuesday -- for clues in the Holloway search.

In late May, the pond had about 2 inches of water, but after Hurricanes Emily and Dennis, the water rose to more than 5 feet. After the basin is drained, authorities expect to dredge the bottom. Firefighters have been pumping at least 3,600 gallons of water a minute, or 2 inches an hour.

The pond is next to a racquet club and across the road from the beach where brothers Deepak Kalpoe, 21, and Satish Kalpoe, 18, told police they dropped off Holloway and their friend Joran van der Sloot, 17, early May 30, the day she disappeared.

Law enforcement sources close to the investigation told CNN a local gardener claimed to have seen the Kalpoes and Van der Sloot sitting in a darkened car near the racquet club about 2:30 that morning.

The sources said that while the gardener did not specifically mention the pond, it is being drained because of its proximity to where he said he saw the car with the three males.

An appeals court judge in Aruba is expected to decide Friday whether DNA samples taken from suspects can be used as evidence.

Defense lawyers said the samples should not be allowed because proper procedures were not used to obtain them, and the prosecution agreed. If the evidence is thrown out, new samples can be taken.

The judge is also expected to rule on a motion to prevent local law enforcement officials from sharing evidence with the FBI.

The Kalpoes are still considered suspects in Holloway's disappearance despite being released from jail.

Van der Sloot, the son of an Aruban judge who at one point also was briefly detained, remains in custody.

His mother has said he acknowledged being on the beach with Holloway but left without her because she wanted to stay.

No one has been charged in the teen's disappearance.

Holloway was on a post-graduation class trip to Aruba with classmates from the Birmingham, Alabama, suburb of Mountain Brook when she disappeared.

On Monday, Holloway's mother announced a $1 million reward for her daughter's safe return. (Full story)

CNN's Susan Candiotti, Eric Marrapodi, Darryl Trimm and Bethany Chamberland contributed to this report.

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