Aruba Tourism Authority on the Mysterious Death of another American

Aruba Tourism Authority on the Mysterious Death of another American
By Kitty Bean Yancey

The mysterious disappearance of a 35-year-old American who allegedly was snorkeling with a male American companion on Aruba marks the second time a female U.S. tourist has vanished on the popular Caribbean island in a decade.

The Associated Press reports that Robyn Gardner of Frederick, Md., is missing and that her travel companion, Gary V. Giordano, said she never returned to shore after he signaled for them to go in on Aug. 2. The Aruba prosecutor's office says Giordano (whom they identify only as "GVG") is being detained for questioning.

The Dutch island popular with Americans is known for its calm waters and nice beaches. An American tourist has disappeared, reportedly while snorkeling. Her companion is being held for questioning.

The Aruba Tourism Authority said today that as Gardner's disappearance does not appear to be "a tourism situation, we are not commenting." The authority says North American visitation was up 1.48 percent last year from 2009 and that in July 2011 Aruba reported 50,558 U.S. visitors, up 6.5 percent over July 2010.

In spite of intense searches during a number of days by amongst others the surveillance department and the detective department of the Aruban Police, the Aruban Maritime Police, the Coast Guard, Search and Rescue Divers and volunteer divers of Jads and the use of two helicopters, an airplane and several boats, until now the woman has not been found in sea or on the shore.

The statements made by the traveling companion led to such questions that on Friday, August 5, 2011 it was decided to detain him for further questioning on the possible drowning of the woman."