A 50-year-old United States citizen is being held in connection with the disappearance of his female friend in Aruba, authorities announced Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office said the man, who has only been identified by his initials GVG, has claimed 35-year-old Maryland native Robyn Gardner disappeared while they were snorkeling behind Nanki Country Club on August 2. GVG claims he motioned for Gardner to return to the beach, but when he reached land she was not behind him and had disappeared.
"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," spokeswoman Ann Angela said.
On Sunday, an Aruban judge ruled GVG can be detained for 8 more days. Angela said the judge will then “decide again if he will remain in detention or go home.”
Richard Forester, Gardner’s longtime boyfriend, has asked for the public’s help in finding Gardner. She was supposed to return to the U.S. on August 4. "I want to let people know this is going on. She's been missing six days, and every day she's gone raises fear that she won't be coming back,” Forester told MyFoxDC.
The Natalee Holloway Resource Center described Gardner as “5'5" and 120 pounds, with blond hair and brown eyes.” “She has tattoos on her left arm (back of her shoulder to her elbow), her rib cage, and her right bicep,” the center added.
The center is named for the Alabama teen that disappeared in Aruba in 2005. No traces of Holloway were ever found.
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