Aruba holding American in investigation

The FBI searched the Maryland home of a man being held in Aruba in connection with the disappearance of a woman he was vacationing with, officials said. FBI agents were at the Gaithersburg home of Gary Giordano, 50, who was detained in an Aruba jail in connection with an investigation into the disappearance of a Maryland woman, CNN reported Saturday. Investigators said Giordano told them he was snorkeling with Robyn Gardner earlier this month. He said he signaled to her to head back to shore but when he reached the beach Gardner was nowhere to be found. Investigators detained Giordano Aug. 5, as he was preparing to leave Aruba. The area Giordano led authorities to is a rocky patch of beach locals said is not popular as a snorkeling spot. Giordano was to have a court appearance in Aruba Monday. Aruban prosecutors said the missing woman and Giordano arrived in Aruba from the United States July 31. The New York Daily News Saturday said Aruban authorities have extended the search to include an abandoned phosphate mine on the southern tip of the Caribbean island. The newspaper said searchers emerged from the mine Friday with a pink shirt and sandals, although it wasn't clear if they were related to the missing woman. The mine is near the area where Giordano said the pair were swimming. "As long as we don't have a body, you can question whether or not she is dead," said Aruban Solicitor-General Taco Stein. "On the other hand, with all the publicity on the case, if she were still alive she would have made herself known."