Joran van der Sloot has returned to international headlines following the release of Netflix’s three-part documentary Taken: Natalee Holloway, which premiered on November 4, 2026. The series revisits the disappearance of 18-year-old Natalee Holloway in Aruba and the years-long investigation that eventually led to van der Sloot’s confession in 2023. Renewed attention surrounding the case has also sparked curiosity about his former wife, Leidy Figueroa, their daughter and the circumstances behind their separation.
Van der Sloot remains imprisoned in Peru for the murder of Stephany Flores Ramírez. While his criminal history has been extensively documented, his marriage to Figueroa and their family life have attracted renewed interest following the documentary’s release.
Who Is Joran van der Sloot’s Ex-Wife, Leidy Figueroa?
Leidy Figueroa, also known as Leydi Figueroa Uceda, is a Peruvian woman who married Joran van der Sloot while he was serving a prison sentence in Lima. She reportedly studied accounting and worked selling goods, including cigarettes and candy, to prison inmates.
The couple met while Figueroa was visiting a correctional facility in Peru. Their relationship developed through regular visits, conversations and letters exchanged during van der Sloot’s imprisonment.
They married on July 4, 2014, in a private ceremony at the prison. Figueroa was approximately seven months pregnant at the time, and their marriage attracted widespread international attention because of van der Sloot’s involvement in two high-profile criminal cases.
Why Did Joran van der Sloot and Leidy Figueroa Divorce?
Joran van der Sloot and Leidy Figueroa’s relationship deteriorated after several years of marriage. In May 2023, his lawyer confirmed that the couple was pursuing a divorce after approximately nine years together.
Their separation reportedly coincided with van der Sloot’s romantic involvement with another Peruvian woman, Eva Pacohuanaco, whom he had met during his imprisonment.
Pacohuanaco later appeared in the 2024 Peacock documentary Pathological: The Lies of Joran van der Sloot, discussing her relationship with him and allegations surrounding a prison drug-trafficking investigation.
Although Figueroa is widely described as his ex-wife, the precise date their divorce was legally finalised remains unclear from publicly available records.
Does Joran van der Sloot Have Children With Leidy Figueroa?
Joran van der Sloot and Leidy Figueroa have one daughter together, Dushy van der Sloot, born in September 2014, approximately three months after their wedding.
Their daughter’s birth attracted considerable attention because van der Sloot was already serving a lengthy prison sentence. Reports indicate that Figueroa also had a son from an earlier relationship before meeting him.
Dushy has remained outside the public spotlight, and little verified information is available about her upbringing. It is also unclear whether van der Sloot currently maintains regular contact with his daughter.
Where Is Leidy Figueroa Now?
Leidy Figueroa has largely withdrawn from public attention following her separation from van der Sloot. Recent reports suggest she has continued living privately in Peru, although her exact residence, occupation and current relationship status have not been independently confirmed.
Unlike van der Sloot, whose criminal cases continue to attract international coverage, Figueroa has not maintained a prominent public presence.
Meanwhile, van der Sloot remains incarcerated in Peru. In October 2023, he pleaded guilty in the United States to extortion and wire fraud charges involving Natalee Holloway’s family and admitted killing the teenager in 2005.
He received a 20-year federal sentence running concurrently with his Peruvian imprisonment. His original 28-year sentence for murdering Stephany Flores was extended following a separate drug-trafficking conviction, with reports identifying 2045 as his projected release year under Peruvian sentencing rules.
The release of Taken: Natalee Holloway has renewed discussion about the case and the devastating impact on Holloway’s family. For Leidy Figueroa, however, the public record remains limited to her former marriage, their daughter and the separation that ended their relationship.
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