Community Corner

ABC News Obtains Photos of Gardner, Giordano in Aruba

Photos were snapped on the afternoon the North Bethesda woman went missing.

ABC News has obtained photos of with the Gaithersburg man held in connection with her disappearance.

The photos show Gardner, who disappeared in Aruba Aug. 2, with her traveling companion Gary V. Giordano at a restaurant on the Dutch Caribbean island the afternoon of her disappearance. Giordano, who has not been charged with a crime, said Gardner was swept out to sea while the two were on a snorkeling excursion.

Since his arrest, allegations of domestic abuse have surfaced against Giordano. Aruban uthorities have reported that Giordano took out a $1.5 million on Gardner before their trip and attempted to cash in on the policy days after he reported her missing. PEOPLE magazine has also reported that of Gardner have been discovered on Giordano's camera.

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A source tells ABC News Giordano is telling authorities Gardner entered the water twice. After entering the water for the first time, she cut her toe and returned to shore, according to ABC. She then entered the water a second time, which is when Giordano said she was swept away, ABC is reporting.

Gardner had been drinking vodka and taking sleeping pills the day she disappeared, a source told ABC.

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Gardner's boyfriend, Richard Forester, had disputed Giordano's story. In a a new interview with ABC News, Forester said he doubted Gardner would take sleeping pills in the middle of the day. He also called for a search of the island with canines. A search for Gardner's remains or other evidence that could shed light on her disappearance turned up empty on Monday.


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