September 19th, 2011
02:59 PM ET

Aruban authorities to re-enact American's woman's last known steps

Aruban officials plan to spend Monday afternoon tracing the last steps of an American woman last seen six weeks ago in the Caribbean nation, an official with the national prosecutor's office said.

Prosecutors had been waiting to stage the event when weather conditions were similar to those on August 2, when Maryland resident Robyn Gardner disappeared, said Ann Angela of the prosecutor's office.

Gary Giordano, the man Gardner came to Aruba with, is in custody and has been the only person identified by authorities as a suspect in the case.

Re-enactments are common in the Dutch legal system, like the one done while authorities probed the disappearance six years ago of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, Angela said. Aruba is an independent entity within the Netherlands government.

The missing woman and Giordano, a 50-year-old from Gaithersburg, Maryland, arrived on the island on July 31 from the United States, prosecutors say.

Prosecutors say Giordano told authorities he was snorkeling with Gardner, 35, on Baby Beach on Aruba's western tip and signaled to her to swim back. According to a transcript of a police interview, obtained by CNN, he said he feared for his life when he signaled to Gardner and didn't look for her as he swam for shore. When he reached the beach, Gardner was nowhere to be found, Giordano said, according to authorities. Search efforts for the missing woman are ongoing.

Earlier this month, a three-judge Aruban panel denied Giordano's appeal of a ruling keeping him behind bars for another 60 days as the investigation continues.

- CNN's Martin Savidge contributed to this report.

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Filed under: Aruba
soundoff (24 Responses)
  1. nkrempa

    I think you've all missed the point here... regardless of either woman's personal life, *I* don't think either deserved to be killed in any fashion – and let's face it, that's most likely what we're looking at in both cases. I can only hope that the authorities in Aruba are more on the ball with this one than they were in the Holloway case. My sympathies to the families of both victims.

    September 19, 2011 at 6:42 pm | Report abuse |
  2. kim

    Damn those are harh words for a victim she probably didnt know she was in danger that guy probaly told her a boat loads of lies half truth and gain her trust inorder to do her harm and that is not fair she a victim despite her alleged character which we dont know is true. Its unfair to blame the victim.

    September 19, 2011 at 7:46 pm | Report abuse |
  3. geeeeeatoouuut

    You cant feel sorry for people who put themselves in these situations just like i wouldnt feel sorry for someone who stuck their head into a plane propeller

    September 19, 2011 at 8:13 pm | Report abuse |
  4. s kel

    RUFFNUT, wheres my Gates BBQ?

    September 19, 2011 at 9:00 pm | Report abuse |
  5. banasy©

    AGAIN with the bbq!

    September 19, 2011 at 9:06 pm | Report abuse |
  6. s kel

    Lol,Bansay look it up online, its good, Ruffie wont answer me lol

    September 19, 2011 at 10:07 pm | Report abuse |
  7. gung hoe

    Dont feel bad skel Ruffie lives in his own little world

    September 20, 2011 at 12:31 am | Report abuse |
  8. banasy©

    Howdy, gung hoe.

    September 20, 2011 at 1:11 am | Report abuse |
  9. Mad Max

    Remind me never to take the wife to Aruba!

    September 20, 2011 at 5:34 am | Report abuse |
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