Skip to main content

Jose Baez to represent suspect in Aruba disappearance

By the CNN Wire Staff
Jose Baez successfully defended Casey Anthony against murder charges in the death of her daughter, Caylee.
Jose Baez successfully defended Casey Anthony against murder charges in the death of her daughter, Caylee.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • NEW: Baez met with Gary Giordano in Aruba, a law enforcement official says
  • NEW: He was contacted by Giordano's family in the United States, says another source
  • Baez is best known as Casey Anthony's defense attorney
  • Giordano is held in Aruba in connection with disappearance of Robyn Gardner

(CNN) -- Attorney Jose Baez, best known for his defense of Casey Anthony, said Tuesday he has been hired by a man suspected in the disappearance of an American woman in Aruba.

Baez confirmed via a text message to InSession that he was hired by Gary Giordano, who is being held in connection with the disappearance of 35-year-old Robyn Gardner.

Gardner was last seen on August 2 near Baby Beach on the western tip of Aruba. Three days later, police took Giordano, 50, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, into custody.

Baez will represent Giordano in any possible legal dealings in the United States related to the Gardner case, a source familiar with the legal proceedings said. The attorney was contacted by Giordano's family in the United States, the source said.

Baez met with Giordano Tuesday at the the Correctional Institute of Aruba, commonly known by the Dutch acronym KIA, according to a second source, a law enforcement official.

The missing woman and the suspect arrived on the island July 31 from the United States, prosecutors say.

Giordano allegedly told authorities he was snorkeling with Gardner and signaled to her to swim back. According to a transcript of a police interview, obtained by CNN, he said he feared for his life when he signaled to Gardner and didn't look for her as he swam for shore.

When he reached the beach, Gardner was nowhere to be found, Giordano allegedly told authorities.

Search efforts for the missing woman are ongoing.

Baez defended Casey Anthony, the Florida mom accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter. A jury acquitted Anthony of first-degree murder and the other most serious charges against her in July. She was convicted on four misdemeanor counts of providing false information to law enforcement officers.

InSession's Lena Jakobsson and CNN's Martin Savidge contributed to this report.