ARUBA - Robyn Gardner, 35, Maryland woman missing in Aruba, 2 Aug 2011 - # 7

[JeannaT]

It is interesting. I do not see even one iota of urgency in his walk or his actions. He seemed to be in slow motion to me. And just because a place looks closed, doesn't mean there aren't workers still inside. Why didn't he call out to anyone?

He doesn't care that much about her, and yet he takes out a million dollar life insurance with him as the beneficiary? No wonder he was moving so slowly.

Well, let's look at this from the other direction.

Imagine he's killed her and buried her somewhere, so he can get the insurance money. How would he look at this point, if he were trying to fool people into thinking he was urgently seeking help?

IMHO, faked attempts to get help look much more animated than real attempts. He would be focusing on APPEARING panicked, rather than focusing on getting help as quickly as possible.

 

[Niner]

It is interesting. I do not see even one iota of urgency in his walk or his actions. He seemed to be in slow motion to me. And just because a place looks closed, doesn't mean there aren't workers still inside. Why didn't he call out to anyone?

He doesn't care that much about her, and yet he takes out a million dollar life insurance with him as the beneficiary? No wonder he was moving so slowly.

re bold - yes - I would be screaming at the top of my lungs - "HELP!! My friend is caught in a riptide - HELP!!!!" Seems very nonchalant (sp?) about everything in that video...

 

[JeannaT]

re bold - yes - I would be screaming at the top of my lungs - "HELP!! My friend is caught in a riptide - HELP!!!!" Seems very nonchalant (sp?) about everything in that video...

Would you do that if you fully believed no one was there to hear you?

Time is lost by yelling and screaming in full panic. Some people don't do that (I don't, I look cool as a cucumber in a crisis), and it doesn't help.

I think we've all seen people in a true crisis remain calm and steely while the crisis was occurring, and people whose full panic wastes precious time and energy.

If you were to videotape me in an emergency situation, I'd probably look like he does.

Well, not the toupe.

 

[katydid23]

I don't know. If she was truly caught up in that rip current that you can read about on travellogs, she may have been carried out to sea.

Her snorkeling gear too? I doubt that.

The other few drownings that i read about ---the bodies were recovered. Why wouldn't she be since they began the search immediately. I am sure they looked in the direction of any tides.

 

[redheadedgal]

Is there even sand there? It looked like rocks to me.

with the terrain (rocks, sand, bush, grass etc) seen in post 837 in the previous thread i would think that his wet shoes would not be pristine clean white if he ran across any part of the earth b/w said beach and the restaurant as they appear in the video... should have clarified not just sand.

 

[Niner]

TimeLine (approx)
July 2011 - Robyn sends GG a text "Get me out of here." Per a report. there is a fight just prior to leaving for Aruba between GG and RF.

Saturday, July 30th - GG takes out Travel insurance policy for RG and himself.

Sunday, July 31st - Flight time from Maryland to Orlando is about 1 1/2 hours. Given the time they would have needed to be at the airport for security, my guess-timate is that they were at the airport no later than 6am.
9am – Orlando Airport: ABC News has seen receipts that revealed that the couple ordered four Bloody Marys at 9 a.m. at the Orlando Airport on their way to the island,
?? Arrive at hotel - and that the two bought a liter of Ciroq vodka after they checked into their room at the Marriott Hotel in Aruba.
Sunday, July 31, late afternoon - I met Robyn and Gary on the beach in front of the Marriott Stellaris Hotel. They had arrived on that day. My husband and I sat and spoke with them for awhile. They asked my husband and I about activities on the island.... Was shocked to see that this had happened, since we just spoke with them last Sunday, late afternoon. I am sure it was Robyn because I commented on her tattoo, indicating that I liked it. Didn't think they went together as a couple, as he was much older. She was also sitting kind of far away from him on the beach chair. She was nice. We were actually discussing the Natalee Holloway case. I will pray for her return.

Sunday, July 31st – evening/concert started at sunset - GG & RG attend party at MooMba’s/pictures at party/concert; the Balashi Beach Bash at MooMba

Monday, August 1st - GG and RG bought bottle of vodka this day, per reports.

3:09pm – Toyota RAV-4 drives by The Rum Reef Bar & Grill – seen on video.

3:41pm – GG & RG seen walking by the ‘closed’ restaurant gates –“ walking on beach” seen on video.

5:02pm – Facebook comment: “the 16. I can communictate here.”

late at night - per GG (on DateLine) went swimming in hotel pool.

Tuesday. August 2nd – 2:05am - Facebook comment left on RF's wall by Robyn: "This sucks."

Tuesday, August 2nd – 6:51am - Prime murder suspect Gary Giordano, who friends said she met on a swingers sex site, is thought to have threatened to kill her while grabbing her by the neck and shoving her into an elevator on August 2 - the last day Miss Gardner, 35, was seen alive. The videotape from the Marriott Resort in Aruba allegedly shows the two having a furious and violent fight on the day she went missing. A source close to the investigation told the National Enquirer: 'They were having a major fight. Robyn was waving her arms and shouting at Giordano. He was grabbing her arms and jerking her around and shouting back at her. 'Then Giordano apparently realized their argument was heating up in public where someone might overhear them. He violently grabbed the back of Robyn's neck with one hand and shoved her back into the elevator with the other hand.' After reviewing the video multiple times, experts believe Robyn shouted: 'I'm out of here. I'm leaving F you!. I'm not spending another minute with you!' while he shouted back: 'Get back here! I'll kill you, b!tch!'

Tuesday, August 2nd – 7:57am - Facebook: RF to Robyn: “?? InBox me”

3:07pm - Arrived at restaurant – Seen on camera entering restaurant.

3:10pm - Robyn sends RF a Facebook message 'Don't worry. I care about you I love you we'll talk and sort things out when I got back,' Reportedly went to bathroom after entering restaurant.

At 3:57pm, Giordano returns to their rental car outside and refills his blue cup, going back inside at 4pm Seven minutes later, Gardner heads to the bathroom again. One witness has said that at this point she seems sober but groggy.

4:13pm - Robyn is last seen (leaving restaurant). A man who works near Baby Beach reported seeing their vehicle park up by the rocks close to the water, wondered why they chose there to go snorkeling. A fisherman comes forward and says that GG and RG never went into the water. Gardner was last seen alive Aug. 2 at the Rum Reef Bar & Grill in the Baby Beach area of Aruba with Gary Giordano - approximately 4pm. Giordano, 50, and Gardner, 35, had traveled to Aruba together. He is being held in an Arubian jail but could be released today. Giordano claims that Gardner got swept out to sea when the two went snorkeling

approx. 4:22pm - Approximately 10 minutes after leaving restaurant a fisherman reportedly saw Giordano and Gardner leaving a beach together, and said they did not get into the water.

Just before 5pm on August 2nd, the couple saw a white Toyota RAV4 just like the car Giordano rented parked in the eerie Dog Graves Beach Pet cemetery; as the couple drove along the road, they saw the man beating the woman in the face. He was slapping her really hard, then punching her with his fist and beating her on the head. She was screaming; the couple stopped their car, yelled at the man and asked what the hell he was doing. When the man saw them, he started his vehicle and drove off in the opposite direction. The shocked couple drove on to nearby Baby Beach. Then they thought about what they’d seen for a few minutes and drove back to Dog Graves Beach but didn’t find any trace of the other couple or their vehicle. They noticed it because vehicles are not allowed to park in that area, where Arubans have been burying their pets for generations. In fact, the car was parked on some of the pet graves (per National Enquirer Oct 3, 2011)

6:15pm (time seen on video) - GG knocking on several back doors.

6:16pm – (video) GG walking up the stairs.

6:16pm – (video) GG walking along the bar.

6:17pm - (video) GG walking the bar area; then walking around to the back (no footage).

6:20pm - GG reportedly headed to the back kitchen of the bar and told someone to call police. Three witnesses, two women and a man, told police that Giordano approached them on Aug. 2, saying, "Can you help me? We were snorkeling and my girlfriend is missing," she told police. One woman told police that while Giordano's sneakers were wet, his shorts were not. When Giordano reported Gardner missing, he seemed extremely drunk, a local fisherman, Sergio Silva, told ABC News, although Giordano told police that the two never purchased alcohol at the restaurant.

6:23pm - 911 received notification of a possible drowning of a woman. The traveling companion of this woman, a man G.V.G. stated that they were going snorkeling behind Nanki Country Club.

At 6:23 pm on the day of her disappearance, police were called, and 20 minutes later began to search the area. Then, Giordano left the search to return to his hotel and take a nap, according to police. Disclaimer: This claim, at 6.40 GG went for a nap, not true, there are various pics of GG helping the police in the dark, pics where it is completely dark, it takes till 7:30 for it to get dark, so GG was not taking a nap at 6:40, he still was working with the police at least at 7:30.

Thursday, August 4th - Robin’s mother arrives.

Thursday, August 4th – original date to fly back

Thursday, August 4th – throughout the day per RF – RG’s gmail chat function – turned green (active), orange (idle) and gray (signed off) on Wednesday and Thursday.

Thursday, August 4th - after Gardner went missing, Giordano called American Express Travel four times, asking about how he could redeem his policy. Police documents show that the American Express representative who took one of the calls said Giordano sounded excited, like he had "just won the lottery." The representative was so troubled by his behavior that the person called the police.

Friday, August 5th - Three days after the search for Gardner began, Giordano got within feet of leaving the country before he was stopped at Aruba's airport where he told U.S. Customs he had to change flights because of weather, and told officials that his travel companion was "taking another flight." He was trying to board a flight one hour earlier than his scheduled departure. When arrested, authorities say Giordano was drenched in sweat. Mug shot after being arrested trying to get on a plane off the island.

Wednesday, August 31st – GG detained in jail for another 60 days (until Oct. 30th).

Tuesday, November 29th - GG released from jail, free to go anywhere!

Note: If anyone has any updates for the TimeLine, please post!

__________________

Thought I'd repost the Timeline over to this new thread...

 

[Niner]

Would you do that if you fully believed no one was there to hear you?

Time is lost by yelling and screaming in full panic. Some people don't do that (I don't, I look cool as a cucumber in a crisis), and it doesn't help.

I think we've all seen people in a true crisis remain calm and steely while the crisis was occurring, and people whose full panic wastes precious time and energy.

If you were to videotape me in an emergency situation, I'd probably look like he does.

Well, not the toupe.

There 'could' have been someone there working late... How would I really know there wasn't anyone in there working late... :waitasec:
I've truly never been in a situation where someone is drowning and I have to go for help - so I can't really say What I would do... I can't even swim...
:seeya:

 

[katydid23]

Would you do that if you fully believed no one was there to hear you?

Time is lost by yelling and screaming in full panic. Some people don't do that (I don't, I look cool as a cucumber in a crisis), and it doesn't help.

I think we've all seen people in a true crisis remain calm and steely while the crisis was occurring, and people whose full panic wastes precious time and energy.

If you were to videotape me in an emergency situation, I'd probably look like he does.

Well, not the toupe.

If he fully believed there was no one there then why was he calmly and slowly walking up and down and knocking on the windows? Why waste his time?

And why would he think there was nobody around? Wasn't he just eating and drinking there a couple hours earlier? Would it be completely deserted ?

Nobody said he should be in a full panic mode, but he was not even calling out for anyone's help. Knocking on the closed door of a closed bar is not going to get any response. But yelling HELP would perhaps do so, imo.

 

[Dushi]

I expect he was aware of the hours of operation
He was there the day before

 

[JeannaT]

If he fully believed there was no one there then why was he calmly and slowly walking up and down and knocking on the windows? Why waste his time?

And why would he think there was nobody around? Wasn't he just eating and drinking there a couple hours earlier? Would it be completely deserted ?

Nobody said he should be in a full panic mode, but he was not even calling out for anyone's help. Knocking on the closed door of a closed bar is not going to get any response. But yelling HELP would perhaps do so, imo.

He hadn't given up on pounding, as I understand it, until he heard voices around the corner and he went in that direction.

I don't know what he would have done had there been no voices - maybe started yelling or pounding harder. But it came to an end very quickly by him hearing people just around the corner.

From what I understand, the video sequence goes like this:

He walks into the building area, looks around very briefly, bangs on a closed window and door briefly, right then hears voices around the corner, and goes in that direction and seeks their help. Had he NOT heard the voices, he may have done what most here expected him to do - to shout into the emptiness incase someone was in there after all.

 

[vlpate]

If he fully believed there was no one there then why was he calmly and slowly walking up and down and knocking on the windows? Why waste his time?

And why would he think there was nobody around? Wasn't he just eating and drinking there a couple hours earlier? Would it be completely deserted ?

Nobody said he should be in a full panic mode, but he was not even calling out for anyone's help. Knocking on the closed door of a closed bar is not going to get any response. But yelling HELP would perhaps do so, imo.

When someone is drowning, I think full panic-yelling mode is appropriate. Using your cell phone to call their version of 911 would also seem appropriate.

He was half-arsed knocking on the boarded up windows, probably because he knew there were cameras there. He's more than familiar with surveillance. Although, I wonder why he wouldn't think about that when getting refills for his juice out of the car. :waitasec:

 

[JeannaT]

When someone is drowning, I think full panic-yelling mode is appropriate. Using your cell phone to call their version of 911 would also seem appropriate.

He was half-arsed knocking on the boarded up windows, probably because he knew there were cameras there. He's more than familiar with surveillance. Although, I wonder why he wouldn't think about that when getting refills for his juice out of the car. :waitasec:

It doesn't appear he had a cell phone with him.

And in the GMA sequence, he acknowledged he didn't know how to get first responders in Aruba - whether it's 911 or whatever the number, he didn't know.

It's not clear he had cell service there, but looking at him it's pretty clear he's not carrying a phone.

What he had to do, he says, is find someone who DID know how to summon help, which he did.

 

[RR0004]

Otto: The truth does have versions in the US. In Florida, a true understanding of the truth requires full disclosure, in Tennessee it means minimal disclosure ... different state, different interpretation of the constitution and law. In Kansas, people are entitled to see their birth certificate, in Missouri, they can't ... US justice is all over the planet ... from eye for an eye to compassion, from facts to perceptions ... it's absurd.

I was talking about his stories in general, not about a court of law. lol Truth is what actually happened and his version keeps changing from what we know. If people from Missouri can't see their birth certificate how do they get passports??? That sounds odd.

I find it interesting that JB would not let KC talk but you can't shut GG up and he's running the circuit. How is JB representing GG, giving him legal advice when he's not licensed in the State of Maryland????? jmo

He's his PR lackey. JB must realize he doesn't have a future in law. It could be that he's using his "connections" and gets a cut for any paid interviews...or he just can't stand not having his face plastered on tv and is doing it for free.

 

[RR0004]

He hadn't given up on pounding, as I understand it, until he heard voices around the corner and he went in that direction.

I don't know what he would have done had there been no voices - maybe started yelling or pounding harder. But it came to an end very quickly by him hearing people just around the corner.

From what I understand, the video sequence goes like this:

He walks into the building area, looks around very briefly, bangs on a closed window and door briefly, right then hears voices around the corner, and goes in that direction and seeks their help. Had he NOT heard the voices, he may have done what most here expected him to do - to shout into the emptiness incase someone was in there after all.

If it wasn't a secluded beach area, why not ask the other folks down by the water for help? I would have thrown those pesky sneakers off and gone back in the water to search...or asked all those other folks who were snorkling there to help him in the water. I once witnessed someone in trouble (got caught in a current) in the ocean...heard the person who had been with him screaming...saw a rush of people in the area charge into the ocean. If GG had just left the water and went to look for help he would have looked a little more frazzled (IMO) and a little more wet.

 

[LambChop]

It's so interesting, reading these boards how people view the same video and come away with different viewpoints.

To me, he looks urgent. He appears to be urgently looking for help. As he states, there was no one there - it was all completely locked up - so banging on doors or windows would be pointless, he says. And I agree there.

At the end of the video he hears voices around the corner, and hurries off to get help from them.

This isn't his child. This is a woman who he doesn't really care all that much for apparently, and he doesn't really know for sure where she is. She could have come ashore, it seems.

I've certainly seen people in positions like he is in not go into full blown panic, but rather methodically seek help in a purposeful and fairly calm manner - and to me that's what he looks like. He's not dawdling at all.

And if he's telling the truth, he's had to swim for his life for quite awhile and then walk a distance, after drinking. He doesn't look like a terribly fit man - he'd be running on empty.

Or the reason there was so calm, purposeful and methodically is because he already knew she was dead. What's the hurry.....I'm not having a heart attack over this one. Body language is everything. jmo

 

[LambChop]

So WHY the heck did he take a first time snorkeler to that ugly, rocky,rough and dangerous place? They drove for an hour PAST beautiful, pristine bays to get to the rocky God forsaken place. Why do you think that is?

Why would RG bring snorkeling gear with her when she wasn't planning on going into the water above her waist? I mean that's room for another dress, a pair of shoes, etc. About the swimming in the pool....many of the pools in Aruba are now using salt water. I doubt she went under the water if she was in the pool. jmo

 

[otto]

part 1 http://video.ca.msn.com/watch/video/missing-in-paradise-part-1/17yynui5u

part 2 http://video.ca.msn.com/watch/video/missing-in-paradise-part-2/17yaes8mh

part 3 http://video.ca.msn.com/watch/video/missing-in-paradise-part-3/17yyo5dk7

part 4 http://video.ca.msn.com/watch/video/missing-in-paradise-part-4/17yuzp7vj (Baez)

part 5 http://video.ca.msn.com/watch/video/missing-in-paradise-part-5/17y2sb5sr (door in Baez face at 4:21)

part 6 http://video.ca.msn.com/watch/video/missing-in-paradise-part-6/17y0r5zic

All: http://video.ca.msn.com/browse/source?tag=enca_msnbc:enca_dateline

 

[Shoretoshore]

Hi everyone! I've missed reading all your posts. I haven't been on in a while. I have been watching the gma segments and I saw dateline last night. I am curious, earlier on, it was reported that Gary was going to the car several times with the blue cup.. But on dateline they said he went out once to the car.. I no longer really know what to believe about this case. I kind of don't think he killed her (I'm leaning more toward something accidental)(or possibly she did drown) please don't crucify me for saying that. After hearing him (gg) talk, I believe he comes across angry at times because he's spent all this time in jail and if he didn't hurt Robyn , then I think that's where his bitterness and anger is generated from.Not to mention all of the negative stuff that's been and is being said about him. IMO I don't think he would step straight out of a prison where he's been held and walk right into an interview and speak out if he was guilty. We all know ca is guilty and shes yet to speak out bc she knows shes guilty. Nothing she said made since but gg's story does cast possibility in my mind and is explainable IMO. I think they drove out to that area to possibly take nude pics and went in the water to have sex..(maybe) he didn't really answer that.. Please understand I'm not saying I believe everything he's said or that I think hes a good guy, I'm only saying I don't (at this time believe he is guilty of outright murdering Robyn Gardner.However, I do not believe the juice story he said on dateline. I think it would make since for him to go out to the car and fill the cup with alcohol so that he could add extra alcohol to their rum reef drinks if they were not strong enough for their taste. My friend and I have done that on occasion in the past ourselves. However, if he did only have one cup and only went out to smoke once, then I could understand he may have gotten hot standing out there and if they had some juice or cokes etc on ice in a cooler then maybe he did get thirsty and pour some cold juice in the cup.. But I'm thinking it was alcohol and he is denying it to avoid a possible future wrongful death case.. Some may say he's the one refilling the drinks so he is responsible if she did drown.. (I'm not sure if I explained that clearly) I'll try and clear it up if anyone would like. After seeing his explanation about the insurance, I did look it up and he was telling the truth about the auto selection that automatically gave Robyn the same benefits as the ones he selected for himself. I also think the part about him not wanting to go into details about why she wasn't at the airport on his flight out.. I personally would not want to go into details with the ticket lady either. And after finding out his first lawyer was a personal injury lawyer, I believe he was advised to call the insurance company. It was also said the first lawyer had him sign that he'd get a portion of the money once it was paid out. So, I think the lawyer say $ signs and gave him bad advice. And I know there have been reports that Gary acted excited when talking to the insurance agents but unless there was a way to listen to the conversation, I'm not believing much of what has been media reported, it's mostly been twisted versions on all the facts so far. I am not completely sold on his innocence but I am not so sure he is guilty anymore either. :/

 

[LambChop]

I don't know. If she was truly caught up in that rip current that you can read about on travellogs, she may have been carried out to sea.

A little bit upthread another poster poster posted that some restaurant business used to dump food remains there, but stopped because sometimes the large bones of the carcasses would wash up on the beach. Meaning, it was atypical but they stopped because it could and often did happen.

So to me that sounds like usually the carcasses would wash away.

They never dumped carcasses there at Baby Beach. Maybe you misunderstood my post but this is not a normal riptide area. Those are further up on the eastern side of the island where the cliffs are located. The eastern side of the island is where the water is deep as it comes in and crashes on the cliffs. There is a very, very strong current there. The water is very, very dark there which leads you to believe the bottom is pretty deep otherwise the color would be a shade of aqua.

Authorities have already stated that it was calm, low wind and no storms that day.....no riptide, no reason to think that GG was telling the truth. Where they went in, supposedly, there are no fish. If they wanted to snorkel they did not have to drive 27 miles out of their way (two days in a row after 3:30 in the afternoon) when there are beautiful snorkeling areas right off the beach within 1/2 of where they were staying. It's safe there because there are always a few people there in the water. He picked an area that had no one, no one in the water to claim that he and an inexperienced snorkeler went out far enough that she drowned.

He should have said they were snorkeling and he looked up and she was gone. He searched but because of the hour of the day he could not find her and headed back to shore. Liars always like to embellish their story, don't they now.

Baby Beach faces SA and in particular Venezula which is about 15 miles away. jmo

 

[LambChop]

Would you do that if you fully believed no one was there to hear you?

Time is lost by yelling and screaming in full panic. Some people don't do that (I don't, I look cool as a cucumber in a crisis), and it doesn't help.

I think we've all seen people in a true crisis remain calm and steely while the crisis was occurring, and people whose full panic wastes precious time and energy.

If you were to videotape me in an emergency situation, I'd probably look like he does.

Well, not the toupe.

So he would remain calm in this type of crisis but (as was described here earlier on these threads) when he was caught stealing tv's from Target he was in full panic mode. That makes sense. jmo