Man Who Was Held in Disappearance of South Carroll Grad Sues for Insurance Money

The man held and released , a graduate of  who went missing in Aruba last summer, has sued to collect $3.5 million from Gardiner's travel insurance policy, according to the Huffington Post.

The Huffington Post reports that Gary Giordano, Gardner's taveling companion in Aruba, contends in a  lawsuit that AMEX Assurance Company is required to pay $3.5 million under the terms of a policy purchased before Gardner went missing on Aug. 2.  The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Cook County, IL, where AMEX Assurance is based.

Gardner, who lived in Frederick, took out a policy on July 27 that allowed for up to $3.5 million in claims of accidental death or dismemberment, according to the Huffington Post.

Investigators suspicious of Giordano, who has lived , kept him in an Aruban jail , but a judge released him in November, according to The Huffington Post.

Giordano told The Associated Press the lawsuit speaks for itself and declined further comment.  

Gardner was last seen at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino in Oranjestad, according to an article by The Huffington Post. Giordano told authorities that Gardner was swept out to sea while they were snorkeling, according to The Huffington Post. Her body has not been recovered.

Gardner was staying on the same resort island as Natalee Holloway, the young high school student whose disappearance in 2005 remains unsolved, according to the Natalee Holloway Resource Center.

Read the full Huffington Post story here.