Could Pa. woman’s photo be new lead in Holloway vanishing?

An underwater photograph, possibly showing human remains, is being treated as a lead in the highly publicized case of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama high school student who disappeared in Aruba nearly five years ago.

Patti Muldowney of Manheim, Lancaster County, took the photograph while snorkeling with her husband, John, during an October vacation.

In December, they noticed how some shapes resembled a skeleton partly covered with sand, and recently forwarded the photograph to the Philadelphia office of the FBI.

"It's been sent to our legal attache in Bridgetown [Barbados] and they will work with local authorities in the matter," spokesman Brian Herrick said this morning.

The FBI will assist only if requested.

"This is just a foreign police cooperation case," Herrick said.

"We try to leave no stone unturned, so we will look into it," deputy chief Adolpho Richardson, of the Aruban police, told the Birmingham (Ala.) News, "although the chances are very slim that it will lead to any results."

The Muldowneys are scheduled to discuss the case at 8 tonight on HLN with CNN's Nancy Grace. Holloway's father, David, is expected also be on the show, which will be rebroadcast at 10 p.m.

John Muldowney seems sure the picture shows remains, although rocks or other debries could create the illusion of a skeleton.

"It's somebody's body. Somebody will get closure," he repeatedly told reporters yesterday, according to LancasterOnline.com.

His gut feeling is that body will prove to be Holloway's.

The FBI's Herrick declined to comment on the photo, except to say, "It's certainly a possible investigative lead."

Natalee Holloway was an Alabama high school student visiting the Caribbean island on a class graduation trip when she disappeared in May 2005. The mysterious case was a media sensation for months, with countless reports about clues and suspects.

Three men were arrested but never charged.

Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.