The Gaithersburg, Md. man suspected in the disappearance of a Frederick, Md. woman got a new high-profile defense lawyer on Thursday.
NBC News was the first to learn that Chris Lejuez is the new lead attorney for Gary Giordano in Aruba.
Lejuez replaces attorney Michael Lopez, who will continue to work on the case. Lejuez once defended two security guards who were suspected in the disappearance of U.S. teenager Natalee Holloway. Those guards were eventually released.
Giordano, meanwhile, is still being held in connection with the presumed death of his travel companion, Robyn Gardner. Giordano told authorities that Gardner disappeared while they were snorkeling in August.
Lejuez and Giordano's attorney in the U.S., Jose Baez, both maintain that Giordano's story hasn't changed in the 16 separate statements he's given throughout the investigation.
"The thing that stands out to me is Gary's story is consistent in what he's telling police," Lejuez told NBC's Don Wood in Aruba. "They have tried all kinds of theories and strategies, and [Giordano's] story stands like a rock."
Giordano's team has filed a motion to get him released from jail pending a trial. Aruban Solicitor General Taco Stein said no date has been set for that motion, and a hearing on is not likely to happen until next week.
