Prosecutors Consider Manslaughter Charges in Aruba Disappearance

Prosecutors in Aruba are considering manslaughter charges against 50-year-old Gary Giordano, who is suspected in the disappearance of Robyn Gardner on Aug. 2.

The 50-year-old Gaithersburg man was the last person known to see the 35-year-old Frederick woman Robyn Gardner before she disappeared earlier this month.

On Monday, a judge ruled that there is enough evidence to keep Giordano in custody for another 16 days. Prosecutors will have access to new evidence during that time, including the results of the FBI search of Giordano’s Gaithersburg home and interviews with women Giordano dated in the past.

“It must stand to reason by now, because we haven’t heard of her anymore, that she’s dead,” Solicitor General Taco Stein said.

Stein’s confident detaining Giordano is justified, though he did not talk about the evidence.

“There are his statements, which are not in compliance with what we have learned during the investigation, and we need to investigate that further,” Stein said.

When the 16 days expire, authorities can ask for a 60-day hold.

Giordano’s attorney in Aruba said he believes the evidence against his client is not enough to keep him in jail.

Aruban legal analyst Milko Baiz said the authorities have state-of-the-art forensic analysis.

“We have support of the criminal lab of the Netherlands in The Hague, and all material is sent there to be tested and to be checked,” he said.

Meanwhile, Aruban authorities are planning an extensive search for Gardner, using police, firefighters and possibly the military. They will be searching the southern part of the island near where Gardner was reported missing by Giordano, Stein said. The operation is still being organized and is not expected to start for several days.

The goal is to find Gardner's body or any evidence linked to her disappearance, Stein told the Associated Press.