Suvechha Sarkar
Leidy/Leydi Figueroa Uceda was leading a simple life as a mother of one in Lima, Peru. However, she soon came under public scrutiny when she got married to an inmate, Joran van der Sloot, at a prison in the city in July 2014. As she remained under the spotlight, the relationship faced several questions regarding her life with him. Netflix’s ‘Taken: Natalee Holloway’ explores the connection of Joran to a 2005 case in which an 18-year-old Natalee Ann Holloway disappeared in Aruba. The episode also briefly focuses on his marriage to Leydy, which left Natalee’s mother, Beth Holloway, completely surprised.
Leidy Figueroa Got Married to Joran van der Sloot in July 2014
Leidy Figueroa Uceda was born sometime around 1989 or 1990. Although the public reports do not provide much information about her early life, it is known that she was born in Peru. In adulthood, she entered a relationship, believing she had found love. Shortly after, they welcomed their son into their lives. Unfortunately, cracks soon appeared in her relationship, leading to their separation. By 2010, Leidy was residing in Lima, Peru. Her personal life soon took a turn when she crossed paths with an inmate named Joran van der Sloot at the Miguel Castro Castro Prison Facility in San Juan de Lurigancho, Peru, in July 2010.
According to reports, Leidy was at the prison with her cousin to visit another inmate, who introduced her to Joran. Meanwhile, his attorney claimed that they met while selling goods such as cigarettes and candies in the prison. At the time, Joran was serving a 28-year prison term for the murder of a 21-year-old Peruvian woman, Stephany Tatiana Flores Ramirez. Furthermore, he was considered a suspect in the disappearance and possible murder of 18-year-old Natalee Ann Holloway during her trip to Aruba on May 30, 2005. It is essential to note that although he later admitted to killing Natalee, he has never been convicted of her murder. Official records suggest that when Joran and Leidy eventually began speaking, they developed a relationship.
In one of her interviews, Leidy revealed that she began visiting Joran in prison twice a week and brought him home-cooked meals, candies, and cigarettes. Reports indicate that the prison where he was incarcerated allowed conjugal visits to all the inmates. Consequently, Leidy became pregnant and was excited about welcoming a daughter. She was expecting for seven months when she and Joran finally tied the knot on July 4, 2014, during a small jailhouse ceremony. The ceremony took place in complete privacy and was attended by a few people, without the presence of any cameras. His family members were reportedly not present there during the marriage ceremony.
Leidy Figueroa’s Marriage to Joran Likely Ended After He Asked Her For a Divorce
Some reports suggest that Leidy and Joran married so their daughter would be born into a married family. Although some records alleged that he might have tied the knot to avoid his extradition to the US to face federal charges of wire fraud and extortion after ending his prison term in Peru, his attorney denied the claim. The attorney insisted, “He’s getting married because he’s in love and is having a child. There are no hidden agendas.” On September 28, 2014, Leidy and Joran gave birth to their daughter, Dushy/Dusha Trudie Van der Sloot. They even added “Trudie” to her name to honor the memory of his grandmother, Trudie. Following that, Leidy continued maintaining her marriage to Joran.
Leidy had stated that she felt Joran was kind and gentle. She also believed that he changed as a person while serving his sentence and had asked God for his forgiveness. The situation took a turn in August 2020, when Joran’s then girlfriend, Eva Pacohuanaco, allegedly tried to bring drugs into the prison facility where he was serving his sentence. It is worth noting that she was never convicted of the drug smuggling charges. Despite learning about the incident, Leidy remained married to him. By 2021, Joran was prosecuted for the drug trafficking case, and in January 2023, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for drug trafficking.
According to Joran’s lawyer in a public report, he had asked Leidy for a divorce in 2022, and by the following year, he was in a relationship with Eva. Another official record from May 2023 stated that Joran’s attorney said he had fewer female visitors at his new prison, where the security was tighter. The attorney further stated, “But he still writes to girls, and they send him pictures.” Currently, it appears that Joran and Leidy are divorced, with some reports referring to her as his former wife. At the time of her marriage, Leidy was training to become an accountant and was selling goods to inmates in prison. As of writing, she is seemingly maintaining a low profile, shielding further details of her professional and private life from the limelight.
Read More: Beth Holloway: Where is Natalee Holloway’s Mother Now?
