Mother of Robyn Gardner grateful to Aruba authorities, hopes to find her daughter

Andrea Colson, the mother of the Maryland woman named Robyn Gardner who went missing nine days ago while on a visit to Aruba, has said that she is hopeful of finding her daughter. Colson issued a statement in which she expressed gratefulness to Aruba authorities and the volunteers who are working round the clock to find her daughter.

Meanwhile, police has arrested Gary V. Giordano, the man companying Gardner during the tour, on suspicion because Gardner went missing when the two were snorkeling together. However, the lawyer for Giordano has stated that his client has nothing to do with the disappearance of Gardner and that he is being unfairly held. Aruba authorities have said Giordano has been held due to discrepancies in his story.

"It was decided to detain him for further questioning on the possible drowning of the woman," Aruban authorities said in a statement.

The disappearance of Gardner is evocative of the unsettled disappearance case of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway. The teenager went missing during her school tour to Aruba in 2005.

According to Aruba investigators, Giordano, who was arrested by authorities Friday as he was boarding a plane to the U.S., told them that Gardner went missing while they were snorkeling around the southern tip of the island.

"We became separated and I never saw her back to the shore," Giordano has said.

Gardner's roommate, Christina Jones, said in an interview that she had her doubts about Gardner going on a tour with Giordano.

"I was not excited about her going away with Gary," Jones said.

Jones also revealed that her friend had made plans to go on trip with Giordano two months ago.

"When she changed her mind, the way he responded set off a firework within my own self, so I got worried when she said she was going to leave to go to Aruba with Gary," Jones recalled.

Gardner had also updated her Facebook profile that she was not having good time in Aruba.

According to one source, Aruba investigators have asked the FBI to get hold of phone records and other private details of Robyn Gardner. Aruba authorities are trying to ascertain the whereabouts of the pair besides trying to establish their activities in the days and hours leading up to Gardner's disappearance.

"I'm terrified," Richard Forester, who claims to be the boyfriend of Gardner, said today on "Good Morning America". "I've been hearing stories about Gary Giordano, that he's quite tech-savvy and is able to manipulate people's computers and track them and follow them."