Skip to main content

Giordano denies wrongdoing in Aruba disappearance

By WTOP Staff

Paul D. Shinkman, wtop.com

WASHINGTON — The Maryland man held in Aruba for nearly four months gave his first live interview after returning to the U.S., professing his innocence and offering his perspective on the string of incidents that led Aruban authorities to believe he was responsible for the disappearance of his traveling companion, Robyn Gardner.

Gary Giordano appeared on “Good Morning America” on Thursday morning, flanked by his lawyer, Jose Baez, and his three sons with whom he had a tearful reunion after arriving at Miami International Airport the day before. The Gaithersburg businessman’s explanation included refuting what his lawyer described as an “extremely misreported” story by the media, much of which he was unaware during his incarceration.

Prior to his live appearance, GMA presented a report of the case, starting with Gardner’s original disappearance in Aug. 2, and a “mountain” of evidence that leaves many questions unanswered.

“There’s a mountain of nothing,” Baez said to GMA, “Not even a mountain of sand as it relates to any type of crime.”

Giordano addressed some of the reported inconsistencies in his story — which he says he has told “50, 60 times” while held in Aruban jail — including surveillance video of him searching for authorities after when he says Gardner, of Frederick, Md., was swept out to sea. Some say the footage shows Giordano as more relaxed than a panicked man who needs help.

He says he was tired having just swam a great distance, then running to look for help in a seemingly vacant building.

“It’s like running a marathon,” he told GMA. “There’s nobody there. I’m supposed to scream in the air?”

Giordano also spoke of the $1.5 million insurance policy he took out on Gardner, which caught the attention of Aruban authorities when he inquired about potential collection the day after her disappearance.

His lawyer at the time told him to make those inquiries, he says, following reports that Aruban officials would use private helicopters and divers to conduct a search for Gardner, for which he could then be billed.

Giordano also pointed to a publication from the Dutch government — which has autonomy over the island nation off the coast of Venezuela — that instructs travelers to contact authorities in an emergency, then immediately follow up with their insurance company.

The insurance website he used days before arriving in Aruba orders policies for the entire traveling group, not each member, Giordano says. The amount he took out was for himself with his sons in mind, he says. He could not differentiate that from his traveling companion.

When asked if he would have done anything differently, Giordano immediately replied, “Yes.”

“I feel a person I care about, a companion…has disappeared on my watch. It will weigh heavily on me for a long time.”

He also says the main industries of Aruba are cocaine distribution and human trafficking, and points to what he says are well traveled sea routes to nearby Venezuela.

That country is “a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor,” according to the CIA World Factbook. “Venezuela is not making significant efforts to comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.”

Learn more of the story here:

Follow Paul D. Shinkman and WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote