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DR. DREW

`Real Housewife`s` Husband Commits Suicide; American Woman Missing in Aruba

Aired August 16, 2011 - 21:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DIANE DIMOND, HOST: Good evening. I`m Diane Dimond, sitting in for Dr. Drew tonight.

We`ve got the latest on Casey Anthony and the missing American in Aruba.

But first tonight, one of the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" is facing a real-life personal tragedy. Russell Armstrong, the venture capitalist married to blonde, statuesque Taylor Armstrong was found hanging in the Mulholland Drive home where he was staying with a friend. His body was discovered just about 24 hours ago.

Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sad news in just now about the estranged husband of "Real Housewives" Taylor Armstrong. The 47-year-old Russell Armstrong killed himself in his home last night in Bel Air. Taylor filed for divorce from Russell after six years of marriage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Taylor told "People" magazine that domestic abuse was behind her claim for divorce. Taylor claims he would grab her and push her.

Russell Armstrong spoke with people. "Did I push her? Yes. Maybe things happened in the heat of the moment, but it was during a time that was not characteristic of who we were."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This show led to his depression.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DIMOND: Well, Taylor Armstrong`s rep said late today that, "Taylor Armstrong is devastated by the tragic events that have unfolded. She requests privacy at this time so that she may comfort her young daughter."

You know, Taylor had filed for divorce from Russell just one month ago amidst allegations of domestic violence. The couple was married for nearly six years. And Taylor admits that it was she who initially pursued him.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAYLOR ARMSTRONG, "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS": When I first met Russell, I had to do the majority of the pursuing in order to make the relationship a reality.

RUSSELL ARMSTRONG, TAYLOR ARMSTRONG`S HUSBAND: How`s the rock shrimp?

T. ARMSTRONG: It`s great. Have some.

I made a list of the things that I wanted in a partner. And I said life`s work. He loves, loves, loves to work more than anything.

Got that one.

And I want a man`s man.

Honey --

So I get a bull-riding Texas cowboy. Check. Got that one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIMOND: Well, adding to the tragedy of this story, Russell and Taylor Armstrong are the parents of an adorable little girl named Kennedy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

T. ARMSTRONG: My daughter has my husband`s temperament. She`s very strong-willed. She definitely gets what she wants.

Do you want to get in bed with mommy? Please?

She`s a beautiful little soul, but she knows how to control a situation even at 4 years old.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIMOND: What a sweetheart little girl.

Joining me now are A.J. Hammer, host of HLN`s "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT"; Michaele and Tareq Salahi, former stars of "The Real Housewives of D.C."; clinical psychologist Lisa Boesky; and Mark Eiglarsh. He is a criminal defense attorney.

A.J., let me start with you. You got a very important interview. You spoke to Russell Armstrong`s attorney, Ronald Richards. Let`s look at that and then we`ll talk on the other side.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RONALD RICHARDS, RUSSELL ARMSTRONG`S LAWYER: I`m 100 percent convinced and -- based on facts -- that this show led to his depression on a couple different grounds. One is that the show characterized him as someone that abused his spouse. It highlighted ancient financial negatives in his past and put him in a spotlight that he wasn`t coped to deal with.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIMOND: But was that the cause of his suicide?

You can see more with Russell Armstrong tonight on "JOY BEHAR" at 10:00 p.m., and with A.J. tonight, 11:00 on HLN`s "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT."

A.J., what do you make about this suicide? What do we know? Was there a note? Do we have a definitive motive?

A.J. HAMMER, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Well, Diane, I can tell you that while police haven`t found a note, there doesn`t seem to be any question that this was a suicide. And it`s left people just in shock and disbelief.

And when I spoke with Armstrong`s attorney earlier today, he told me that, despite the fact that Armstrong was unhappy about his wife having filed for divorce, despite the fact that he was dealing with catastrophic financial issues, the attorney told me he saw no signs that Armstrong was so acutely depressed, which obviously you have to be to ultimately commit suicide.

And on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," I also spoke with Taylor just a few weeks ago, when she said she told us that she was hanging in there as this divorce moved forward. And as you just said, tonight we`re all hearing that she`s just naturally devastated by this news.

DIMOND: Right. But A.J. --

HAMMER: But other than everybody generalizing about the financial issues and the divorce, no motive here.

DIMOND: Yes. When we hear the attorneys speak, though, it sounds like it`s all the fault of this reality television show. But he really had a lot of financial issues for a lot of number of years.

HAMMER: Yes. And this is a man who was a venture capitalist, very successful at what he did, worth a fortune.

I mean, these were extraordinarily wealthy people at one time. And then, apparently, he lost it all. Reports out there are saying that he was in debt as much as $10 million.

DIMOND: Oh, my.

HAMMER: And he committed suicide, apparently, at the home of somebody that he was staying with. He was no longer in the home that he had shared with his wife.

DIMOND: Right.

You know, in an interview with "People" magazine last month, Taylor Armstrong said that she was verbally and physically abused during their nearly six-year marriage to Russell. When asked about his estranged wife`s allegations, Russell did not deny those claims, but he did make this shocking statement about the "Beverly Hills Housewives" show: "Maybe things happened in the heat of the moment, but it was during a time in our lives that was not characteristic of who we were. This show has literally pushed us to the limit."

Michaele and Tareq Salahi, let`s bring you in here. And I should, in the interest of full disclosure, admit to everyone that I wrote a book about you both called "Cirque Du Salahi" about the White House gate- crashing incident.

Michaele, as a former member of the "Housewives" franchise, did you ever feel like the show pushed the cast members to do things they didn`t want to do?

MICHAELE SALAHI, FMR. STAR, "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF D.C.": Hi, Diane.

Yes. The tragedy today is very painful. And being a part of the show is, there`s so many highs to it, but you have to be ready.

And I think when I signed on, I sure didn`t know all that was coming for me. So it definitely is a challenge not only on you as an individual, but as a couple.

It tests everything. And no matter what you`ve done good or bad in your life, they`re going to focus on the bad, because that`s the sensationalism. That`s what people watch and kind of what sells. So it`s painful.

DIMOND: Right. I know.

Tareq, after having spent some time with you and Michaele at your home in Virginia, the wives are obviously the stars of these shows. But you as a husband were also featured.

Did you feel pressure to act a certain way for the cameras? Were the producers very specific about what you should do?

TAREQ SALAHI, FMR. STAR, "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF D.C.": Well, sure. I mean, this is TV. This is entertainment. This is part of Hollywood.

You know, when you`re filming these scenes that you normally wouldn`t do with people that you normally don`t hang out with, you`re not being yourself. So you really are acting, because that`s not really who you are and really what you do in real life.

So that`s the truth of it. Not everybody wants to hear that, but that is the truth of at least that show.

DIMOND: And so the whole moniker reality TV, yes, we get the point.

Lisa Boesky, let`s bring you in here. Who kind of people are they usually who sign on to do shows like this?

I mean, when you watch the "Real Housewives" series, for example, there`s always one person or one couple who`s always the butt of all the hate and all the jokes. Who in the world -- what kind of personality would want to put up with that?

LISA BOESKY, PH.D., CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Well, what`s interesting is it was really his wife that signed up for this. And he may not have been prepared for this.

But I would have to say that I disagree with what people have said. And research shows that it`s rarely one factor that results in someone`s suicide. And for men in their 40s and 50s, the breakup of a relationship like a divorce, financial problems like debt and bankruptcy, and legal problems are the number three risk factors for suicide.

Now, I do think being on the show intensified that, particularly because they did showcase some of his negative qualities, which as a man I`m sure he saw as "failures." And it made it much more difficult for him, particularly because he did have this success in the background.

But I would wonder even if he didn`t do the show, given all that`s going on his life, if he would still be suicidal, because remember, people said he wasn`t depressed. But depression in men looks different. They are not sad and crying.

They have trouble concentrating. They have trouble sleeping. They often lose interest in things that they`re usually involved with. But when you ask them how they`re doing, oftentimes they`ll say, I`m fine, I can handle it. And obviously for him, he couldn`t.

DIMOND: Yes, because that`s the way men answer that question most often.

BOESKY: That`s right.

DIMOND: I want to talk more about with the Salahis when we come back about why they agreed to do that show.

But Mark Eiglarsh, I want to bring you in here. His attorney is on record now saying it was that show`s fault that pushed him over the ledge. Is there a lawsuit here?

MARK EIGLARSH, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Absolutely not. Listen, reality shows do not kill people. People kill people.

Reality shows do cause exhaustion. It is physically draining, night after night, trying to keep up with the Kardashians. I mean, I`m only one person here.

But it is not the fault at all of the reality show. The guy obviously had some problems, and he had those defects of character that ultimately led to his demise, not the reality show.

DIMOND: Yes.

Well, something tells me the folks over at Bravo television are getting a little nervous about now.

Stand by, everybody.

Next, the other "Housewives of Beverly Hills" are talking tonight about Armstrong`s death. You`ll hear what they`re saying.

And later, is Casey Anthony going to make a bundle from a book deal? Come on. Can this be true? We`ve got the answer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARDS: These shows have a way of tearing apart a manage. I saw no objective markers that would lead me to believe that he was suffering from this type of acute depression. If I had, I would have intervened immediately. Nothing that was out of the ordinary with somebody who was losing his celebrity wife to a TV show.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DIMOND: Welcome back to DR. DREW. I`m Diane Dimond, sitting in tonight for the good doctor.

We`re continuing our discussion now about the shocking suicide of one of the stars of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

Russell Armstrong -- he was the estranged husband of Taylor Armstrong -- apparently killed himself last night.

Just two weeks ago, HLN entertainment correspondent Kareen Wynter asked Taylor Armstrong about the personal challenges she was facing. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: How are things going with you now in the divorce? I know it`s still fresh, but are you hanging in there?

T. ARMSTRONG: I am. Thank you so much. And I`m just really focused on Kennedy right now and making sure that she`s happy and her life stays very consistent with the big changes that are going on in all of our lives.

WYNTER: You`re so vocal when it comes to speaking out about domestic violence and with the allegations. Is that going to be addressed on the show?

T. ARMSTRONG: You`ll have to tune in and see. But a lot of the issues in my marriage are definitely addressed this year. And thankfully, I have five strong women that are standing next to me now, and they`ve got my back.

WYNTER: Are you getting any advice at all from Camille?

T. ARMSTRONG: Yes.

WYNTER: What is she telling you?

T. ARMSTRONG: To take care of your kids and focus on that, and just take it one day at a time and not think about the big picture, because it`s just too overwhelming right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIMOND: Well, that`s good advice for her right now, too.

Lisa Boesky, you`re a clinical psychologist. Can you give us some insight into what we just heard there from Taylor Armstrong? Is that sort of attitude going to help her now that her husband has apparently committed suicide?

BOESKY: Oh, I really feel for her, because going through a divorce when you have a child is hard enough. And it`s very difficult, obviously, when it`s being broadcast all over the media.

But to have someone make a suicide attempt and hear someone made a completed suicide is devastating. And I think for her, she`s going to be going through a lot of feelings of guilt. Is there something she could have done? Is it a reaction to some of the troubles that they have had? If she prodded him to do the show.

And so I think it`s going to be really challenging. And for her, she`s going to need to get help for her daughter, but she`s also going to need to get help for herself, because what often happens is the parent is so busy taking care of the child, they don`t take care of themselves, and then the child suffers that way.

DIMOND: Right.

A.J. Hammer, let`s bring you back in here. Talk to me about the domestic violence that Taylor reported and the fact -- didn`t I hear that there were other women in this man`s life who also alleged the same treatment?

HAMMER: There were some other allegations. And Taylor had given an interview where she talked about the fact that there was shoving and pushing going on, and that she felt mentally abused as well.

And even Russell Armstrong, for his part, said yes, there were things that went on that didn`t represent necessarily who we were. His attorney represented to me when I spoke with him this afternoon that perhaps alcohol was involved in those instances. But this sounds like it was very much part of this marriage that was not working out.

And I should point out that I was told by the attorney today, Diane, that Russell did not want this marriage to end. Taylor filed for divorce. This is not what Russell wanted at all.

DIMOND: Oh. And when there was talk about problems with alcohol, on whose part, A.J.?

HAMMER: Well, what was alleged was that when there was some shoving and pushing and shouting, and this alleged abuse going on, is that perhaps there was drinking involved at that time. As couples have a couple of drinks, maybe get a little drunk, that these sort of things were happening then and not matter of course for their relationship.

DIMOND: Right.

Mark Eiglarsh, we were talking about this before the break. You know that there may in fact be a move to file some lawsuits. His own attorney is saying it was the program`s fault that he was driven to this point.

Talk to me more about that. Who would file such a lawsuit? I don`t think it would be Taylor Armstrong. She`s still on the Bravo program.

EIGLARSH: First, I don`t think it`s going to be a challenge finding a lawyer who`s looking to file a lawsuit against deep-pocket Bravo or anyone else they can hold accountable for this death other than their own client. First of all.

Second of all, I would think that a lawsuit like this is completely meritless. It indicts reality TV, when the reality is that this guy`s own mental defects and/or challenges in his life really drove him to the breaking point. It`s not being shown to the world that did it, it`s him.

DIMOND: Yes.

You know, Mark, I did write a book about reality television and one particular couple. But in it I discovered some contracts that reality television has these cast members sign.

And I`ll tell you what, they sign away the world. They even agree to allow the network to "humiliate" them and "embarrass" them. That`s a quote from the contract. So --

EIGLARSH: And they put a gun to their head when they signed the contract, and there`s a gun offset to make them do it. No.

These are grown adults. And we cannot point the finger at anyone other than ourselves if we`re putting ourselves in that position.

DIMOND: Well, and as Dr. Drew has said -- and I quoted him in the book -- "It is the narcissistic personality that seeks out being on these reality television shows." So take that for what it`s worth.

You know, tweets from Taylor Armstrong`s "Beverly Hills Housewives" family have been pouring in all day. Fellow cast mate Adrienne Maloof tweeted, "My heart goes out to Taylor Armstrong and Kennedy during this devastating time. You will be in my thoughts and in prayers."

"Beverly Hills Housewife" Camille Grammer tweeted, "My sympathy and condolences go out to Taylor and Kennedy. My thoughts and prayers are with them."

And this tweet from Andy Cohen. He is Bravo`s executive vice president of original programming and development. He is the man who developed this whole series of "The Housewives of" -- fill in the blank.

He said, "I am so very sad about today`s news. My prayers thoughts are with Taylor Armstrong and her family."

Mark Eiglarsh, back to you. Legally, what kind of impact do you think that this suicide will have on the show? And I ask you that because I heard from some sources left over from the book days that they might now just start abandoning this "Housewives" series idea altogether.

EIGLARSH: No chance. First of all, all the attention that they`re getting will drive up ratings. And it`s all about getting eyeballs to the show. That`s number one. Even though they`re publicly saying this is terrible and tragic, they love the attention for their shows.

Secondly, the only value is going to be the nuisance value on the lawsuit. They`re not going to have to write a big check at all on this one. So I don`t think we`re going to see the end of this or any reality show anytime soon.

DIMOND: Yes. And I think you`re right about liking the attention. They liked the attention when the Salahis went to the White House as well.

All right. We`re going to take a break here, folks.

I`m Diane Dimond, sitting in for Dr. Drew.

We`ll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIANNE DELAWTER, FRIEND OF ROBYN GARDNER: I believe that Gary was a friend of Robyn`s previous to this for a couple of years. So it`s not like you`re just meeting some stranger and going away.

She was going through a difficult time, and, you know, the opportunity presented itself. We`re finding out that Gary can be very gregarious in convincing people to do things. And I just think that with everything that was going on in her life, she just -- she said yes, sure, I`ll go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIMOND: Bad decision.

I`m Diane Dimond, sitting in for the doc tonight.

Tonight, the latest on the missing American beauty, Robyn Gardner, who vanished in Aruba.

A judge has ordered Gary Giordano, a suspect, to remain in custody for the next 16 days as the prosecution gathers more evidence. So, are charges against this man imminent?

This case mirrors that of Natalee Holloway, of course, the young girl who disappeared in Aruba in 2005. And just like Natalee, the body of Robyn Gardner has not been found. And that makes it harder for the prosecution to build a case against Gary Giordano.

Listen here to what Aruban authorities think about this case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL LOPEZ, ATTORNEY FOR GARY GIORDANO: The judge has instructed for longer detention for 16 days.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sixteen?

LOPEZ: Yes. Too many open questions as yet. Not going into details now.

TACO STEIN, ARUBA SOLICITOR GENERAL: Because it was the alias (ph), one can say that. But it`s not yet the moment to declare victory, of course. We have to do our job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIMOND: It`s deja vu all over again with this case.

Let`s get straight out to my guest here, Richard Forester, Robyn Gardner`s boyfriend. And from Maryland, "NANCY GRACE" producer Rupa Mikkilineni.

Rupa, let me start with you.

Any new developments coming out of Aruba today? I know that you`re standing in front of the suspect`s house. But what did we hear from Aruba today?

RUPA MIKKILINENI, PRODUCER, "NANCY GRACE": Absolutely. There`s actually a bit more news in Aruba and a lot more activity going on in Aruba right now than today in Maryland.

Basically, prosecutors are waiting for the evidence that was processed or taken from this home behind me. This is Gary Giordano`s home.

So they`re hoping that some of this evidence will provide more information. But right now they`ve got 16 days. They`re waiting for this information to be processed.

Also, they are also starting a new search either tomorrow or the day after. They are organizing a new search. It`s going to be a land search, Diane, on the southernmost tip of the island of Aruba.

This will be a concentric circle, is how they`ve described it. They`re expanding outward from the Baby Beach area. Again, looking at the land areas.

They`re hoping to get cadaver dogs in there, search teams, whatever they can do. And that`ll begin either tomorrow or the day after.

DIMOND: Richard, let me bring you in here real quickly here. I know that you don`t believe the snorkeling -- she went snorkeling and got pulled out to sea excuse that the man has given. But what do you make of the fact that they`re keeping him for 16 more days? Does this make you think that this is the man who did something against her?

RICHARD FORESTER, ROBYN GARDNER`S BOYFRIEND: Well, I mean, I can`t say whether he did or not. I`m relieved that they believe that they have some leads. And they`re going to do their job and find out whether or not he was involved.

I can`t say whether or not he was. It sure appears that way, but we have to let the investigators do their job and go from there.

DIMOND: You are a patient man, Richard. Stand by.

When we come back, folks, more on "Vanished in Aruba." Is this another Natalee Holloway case? Well, somebody thinks it is.

And later, the latest on Casey Anthony`s book deal. How much will she get for that?

I`m Diane Dimond, sitting in tonight for the doc.

You`re watching DR. DREW.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIMOND (voice-over): A 35-year-old beauty in a vulnerable state. A 50-year-old man with an alleged history of violence. FBI joining the search. Mystery in the Caribbean. Where is Robyn Gardner?

And later, Casey Anthony first talk of million dollar interviews now reports of her six figure book deal. Will it really name Little Caylee`s father? All as the clock ticks on Casey`s return to Orlando. Home sweet home or a lynch mob waiting to happen?

Plus, the parents of America`s most hated mom speak out. George and Cindy Anthony breaking their silence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIMOND (on-camera): Welcome back. I`m Diane Dimond sitting in tonight for Dr. Drew. We`re continuing our discussion now about missing American, Robyn Gardner, who vanished almost two weeks ago in Aruba. Person of interest, Gary Giordano, was ordered this week to remain in an Aruban jail for another 16 days while police investigate. Police say there are apparent gaps in time between when witnesses saw this pair on the beach and the timeline Giordano gave when he reported Gardner missing.

We`re back now with Robyn`s boyfriend, Richard Forester, and also joining us now is Christina Jones, Robyn`s roommate. Welcome to both of you. Christina, get us up to date here. I had the impression that she just sort of met this fellow online, and it was a lark, she went to Aruba. But, you say that he was in her life for quite a while. Tell me about that.

CHRISTINA JONES, ROBYN`S GARDNER`S ROOMMATE: This isn`t just some random guy that she met online. This is someone that she`s known for over a year and a half, and they have formed some type of friendship. So, she didn`t just meet some guy and hop on a plane and decide to go away with a random stranger. That`s for sure.

DIMOND: Now, you were her roommate. You are her roommate. What did she tell you about this man, Gary? What kind of guy is he?

JONES: It`s kind of strange, because she never really said anything good about him and never anything intentionally bad.

DIMOND: Really?

JONES: She just always kind of spoke about him in passing, and then, at times, would say that he was a little bit threatening towards her when she declined to go on a cruise with him. But, it`s strange because she never said, you know, this is my guy friend. We`re going to go catch a beer. We`re going to go -- he makes me laugh.

She just kind of brought him up, said she will go and meet him here and there, maybe a couple times a month on and off, and -- you know, and then, she decided to go to Aruba with him knowing that he had a criminal record. And, it`s --

DIMOND: Oh, my.

JONES: Yes.

DIMOND: Richard Forester, comment here on this conversation. This has to make you feel awful. I mean, you thought you had a relationship with this woman.

RICHARD FORESTER, ROBYN`S GARDNER`S BOYFRIEND: Well, it does make me feel awful. And, I did have a very good relationship with her. But that`s really, you know, that`s not the point here. The point here is we`ve gone through all of that. The point here is, you know, let`s find Robyn. She and I keep, you know, keep hope that she`s out there. When he comes back, and she and I can talk about that. The whole point here is to find her now.

DIMOND: Richard, do you have any plans to go to Aruba to help? I`m thinking of how Natalee Holloway`s mother said I got to be there. I got to go. Do you feel like that?

FORESTER: Well, certainly, at times, I do feel like that. And, but you know, at times, too, I feel like I`m doing a service by keeping the media involved and keeping her name with the forefront here. I don`t want to go and interfere with any sort of investigation or search. If asked to go, you know, I`ll do whatever I have to and whatever I can do.

You know, but for right now, I`ve been working a lot with the Natalee Holloway Resource Center which they`ve been phenomenal. They`ve provided us with a tip line. By the way, it`s 407-237-2295. It`s anonymous. It all goes to the FBI. It`s important to have it out there. But again, this is all to, you know, keep her name and keep the search out there and bring her home.

DIMOND: Yes. Well, it is comforting to know that the FBI is involved in this. Last time, it took them quite a while. We left everything up to the Aruban authorities, and we learned our lessons on that, I think.

You know, HLN`s Nancy Grace talked with a woman named Carrie Emerson and her teenage daughter who had contact with Giordano. Get this. Giordano wanted to take the mother and the daughter, yes, both of them, to Aruba. And you won`t believe what he said to the mother. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NANCY GRACE, HOST, NANCY GRACE SHOW: When did he finally breakdown and ask to have sex with you?

CARRIE EMERSON, SAYS GIORDANO PROPOSITIONED HER DAUGHTER: Right after I told him that, you know, that she`s not going. He says, well, I`ll make you a deal. If you go with us and you sleep with me, he says I`ll take care of you financially. I said, OK, you`ve got to be kidding. He says I`ll go you one better. He says, if you both go and you both sleep with me -- he said, I`ve always had a mother-daughter fantasy. He said, if you both sleep with me, I`ll take care of you financially the rest of your life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIMOND: Oh, my goodness. Well, at least, that woman had her wits about her. Christina, when you hear a total stranger tell you this story about Gary, what is it about your roommate that she would pick off and go off to Aruba with this man if she knew he had a criminal background, right?

JONES: I think it`s circumstantial. I think that, you know, whenever you hear domestic violence or someone having a record, you don`t know if it`s the man towards a woman or if it`s a woman towards a man. Obviously, this guy is a great liar. And I`m pretty sure he sugar-coated it enough to -- Robyn always follows her heart.

And she wouldn`t get on a plane if she knew that she`d never be coming back from Aruba. I can guarantee you that. She felt safe enough to go with him for four to five days and thought for sure she would return.

DIMOND: Let me ask you this, and if you don`t want to answer, perhaps, Richard does. Tell us about your friend. Did she have any substance abuse problems? Did she have any problems at work? Some reason why she would want to embrace this sort of fantasy side life?

JONES: I don`t know about fantasy side life. I could say that, you know, she just lost her job. And so, for anyone to lose her job, it can be a bit traumatic. And so, losing her job and that followed with maybe not having, you know, her relationship, on my part, because I do really care about Richard was like any relationship it had its struggles.

So those things, you know, all combined. It sounded like a perfect idea to go away. It`s not so much Aruba. It`s just to go away anywhere to clear your mind, to come back, to look for a new job, start a new life, you know? I think it was very innocent.

DIMOND: Well, it may not have ended so innocently. Let`s take a listen now to Gary`s former attorney, Bob Flynn. He describes Gary as someone who does not do anything erratically. Take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB FLYNN, GARY GIORDANO`S FMR ATTORNEY: He plans out his moves and plans out what he`s going to do pretty carefully and thoughtfully. And I never got the feeling that he did anything as a spur of the moment kind of thing. So, I thought calculating would be a good way of describing him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIMOND: That sort of goes with what the mother of the teenage daughter says, too. Kind of manipulating, calculating. Richard, I`m sure that you`ve looked into this man`s background. What do you think about Gary Giordano?

FORESTER: I`ve looked into it, and I hear what, you know, people are saying. So, I think what the public thinks about it. You know, it`s obviously there are some issues there. And, you know, I mean, I think what anybody rationally would think about him.

DIMOND: Do you have confidence, Richard, in the Aruban authorities? I mean, you look back to Joran Van Der Sloot days. Are you confident they`re really fully investigating this?

FORESTER: I`m confident that they`re fully investigating this. I think that they probably, maybe they`ve learned, you know, more since then and how to handle these situations. I think with the cooperation of the U.S. authorities as well, you know, I`m sure -- I know they`ve all been working tirelessly to, you know, to find some sort of resolution here. I`m confident that they`ll keep doing that. And, again, you know, I keep hope and pray every day that they`re going to bring her back home.

DIMOND: Well, we send our best wishes to you and to Christina and to the family, everyone who cares about this woman. Thanks a lot for being with us.

When we come back, folks, Casey Anthony. How on earth can she fulfill terms of her probation? Can you see her getting a job, living a normal life, showing up for a nice, quiet chat with her probation officer?

Plus, her parents break their post-trial silence. Stick around.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOICE OF JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, HLN`S "ISSUES": The public is not happy about this verdict, and they would like to see Casey Anthony punished in some way, shape, or form. And anything short of that is not going to satisfy the public. So, I think this is -- I do believe this is political. Even the judge himself may not be aware of that. He may feel he`s following the letter of the law, but unconsciously, there`s got to be some feeling in there that she`s got to pay in some way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that it`s good that she`s going to go back and serve time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that (INAUDIBLE) let her be. She`s serving her time. And we should just let it be.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel that if Casey Anthony goes back to Florida, that her life will be in danger.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She committed a crime, so she should pay for it. She should stay in Florida.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIMOND: They may not be talking to their infamous daughter, Casey Anthony, but grieving grandparents, George and Cindy Anthony, will be talking to TV psychologist, Dr. Phil, and very soon. The Anthonys have agreed to an interview with Dr. Phil claiming that by going public, they might be able to quote, "help people with struggles of their own." It is scheduled to air in mid-September.

In the meantime, it`s been reported again that Casey has signed a six- figure book deal to pen her memoirs. It`s rumored Casey will reveal the name of Caylee`s father and talk about estrange relationship with her brother, Lee. You know, will anybody care after she`s been exposed as a lying, conniving mother who interfered with her daughter`s murder investigation? Remember, among other lies, she sent police on a wild goose chase to find a nanny that never existed. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DET. YURI MELICH, ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF`S OFFICE: I can`t imagine her going through this effort and lying to the point where she would walk us into a place that she didn`t work.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, that was a lie?

CASEY ANTHONY, ACCUSED OF KILLING HER DAUGHTER: That was a lie.

MELICH: I can`t imagine what would inspire her to lie at this point.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything that`s coming out of your mouth is a lie. Everything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIMOND: You know, I was there covering that trial, and even Casey Anthony`s own attorney said she is a known liar who makes up imaginary friends. So, go figure. Still with us, clinical psychologist, Lisa Boesky and former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, mark Eiglarsh. And joining us now is reporter, Donna Thomas, of the LosAngelesExaminer.com website. She broke the story of Casey`s new book deal.

Donna, welcome. You know, Casey Anthony`s attorney, Jose Baez, has completely denied your report. So, par for the course or what do you say to that?

DONNA THOMAS, REPORTER. L.A. EXAMINER.COM: Well, I mean, I`m just going by what my sources tell me. That`s all I can do. So, he can deny it. That`s fine. But I have nothing else to go by but my sources.

DIMOND: And do you have one source or more than one source on this? You pretty solid?

THOMAS: No. I talked to -- I talked to on editor that`s going to be involved in the project. And I spoke to another source. So, it`s more than just one source. It`s someone that`s actually going to be involved in the project.

DIMOND: You know, this whole story has been like walking in quick sand, I got to tell you, because we have the basis for the story is Casey Anthony`s statements. And so, we never know if they`re true or not. I have talked with a family in Massachusetts who firmly believed they are the paternal grandparents of Caylee. There are some DNA tests underway right now, but you say your sources tell you that the father is alive?

THOMAS: Yes. And I actually do know the name of what the father is, supposedly and saw pictures of him, and he does look -- I mean, I have to go within the parameters that I was given to write the story, not say certain things, but from what I saw, the named father that will be named looks a lot like Caylee.

DIMOND: Yes. Well, you know, the family in Massachusetts, their son passed away in 2007 in a car accident. And that`s what Casey has always said the father of the child passed away in a car accident in 2007. Mark Eiglarsh, come on in here. Do you believe there really is a book deal? Is this something that would square with her being on probation?

MARK EIGLARSH, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I don`t believe any of this at all. So, let me get this straight. She`s got a book deal. She hasn`t given the interview yet, but apparently, Donna knows the name of this father, has sources, apparently. None that she can reveal conveniently. Nothing on paper to corroborate what she`s alleging. I`ll believe it when I see it, Diane.

DIMOND: Yes. Well, I`m not going to put down a reporter for keeping sources secret, because I`ve had to do that in the past.

EIGLARSH: I understand that.

DIMOND: Mark, let me ask you. Would it be prudent, though, for her to make such a deal when she`s going to be on probation, because doesn`t she have to get a job? I mean, taking a lump sum payment and letting somebody write your story, that`s not really a job, is it?

EIGLARSH: Listen, I`m not going to be one of those ones who buys this book. I think there`s going to be plenty of people buying it, unfortunately. There are people who buy the "National Enquirer" and nothing in there is real. So, you know --

DIMOND: Hey, hey, hey, hey. I read the "National Enquirer." Come on now. You got to, you know, get your information where you can.

EIGLARSH: Probably for the photos, I`m sure.

DIMOND: Hey, it`s just for the essays.

EIGLARSH: Listen, I don`t think it has anything to do with probation. You know, this book has nothing to do and will not affect her ability to serve on probation. I don`t see it.

DIMOND: I got you. OK. But your point is well taken. Lisa, let me bring you in here. So, we heard over and over again during this long trial that she is a liar, that she cannot be trusted, but the child wasn`t murdered, she drowned, but she forgot to report it. So, is that the type of person who writes a book that becomes a best-seller? Will the public embrace this book, do you think?

LISA BOESKY, PH.D., CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Well, I think word is going to spread fast when the book comes out. If it`s full of juicy details, I think people will absolutely buy it. People were glued to the TV every night for months of that trial, for years since Caylee was actually missing. But I think the book will have to have some details such as what happened that day. People want to know the truth. Whether it`s the truth or not in the book, they want to think it`s the truth. What happened to Caylee that day --

DIMOND: They want to hear Casey`s truth.

BOESKY: Well, they want -- what people want to hear, they don`t necessarily want to hear good news. They just want to hear what happened. I don`t know if it`s going to be the truth in the book, but they want to know what is the relationship with her family like. What actually happened that day? Why did she lie so much? What was really going on?

DIMOND: Why did she wait 31 days, right.

BOESKY: Exactly. And I don`t think she`s going to come clean with everything, but as long as she puts in some tidbits, that`s enough for people to buy it.

DIMOND: You think?

BOESKY: Oh, yes.

DIMOND: Hey, Donna, let me ask you this, Donna. Why did you hear that she decided to do this book? I mean, was the money that good? What kind of money are we talking about? How she --

THOMAS: Right. According -- right. According to the source, and I think that it`s a credible, reliable source, I went to wrote the article, and also, I knew about this for a little bit. I didn`t write it as soon as I found out about it. But according to the source, they believe that she`s not going to really -- I mean, I don`t think from what they said that she`s going to get into what happened the last day she saw Caylee, but they`ve said, and if you read the article, there`s enough other issues that she can discuss that people are interested in.

DIMOND: But what about the money? What about the money before we run out of time.

THOMAS: Right. My understanding is that she`s already been given a cash advance. It`s a six figure cash advance.

DIMOND: How much?

THOMAS: And also, there`ll be -- well, I`m not going to discuss -- you know, it`s a six-figure cash advance. And also that she would be getting some percentage of the profits which most people get when they write a book if they get a cash advance and they get a percentage of the profit --

DIMOND: You know what, there`s a lot of people lining up to -- yes. There`s a lot of people lining up, you know, there`s federal tax lien. She may owe restitution to the state and to the police department. There are people filing lawsuits against her. So, I don`t know how much six figures it is, but she may lose it all. Anyway, thanks a lot, you guys.

Coming up, more of what Casey`s probation will require her to do. Can Casey play by the rules? She never as (ph) before. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DIMOND: Welcome back. Casey Anthony has exactly nine days to report to an Orlando court to serve out a year`s probation on check fraud charges. How will the public react to her return after leaving an Orlando jail on July 17th and supposedly partying and drinking a beer upon her release? Hey, after three years in lockup, can you blame her? Mark Eiglarsh, do you think that she`ll get much of a homecoming when she gets there? What are you anticipating?

EIGLARSH: Well, first, let`s not go to that question. Let`s step back a bit. Everyone believes that she`s going to show up to Orlando. I`m not so convinced.

DIMOND: See, me either.

EIGLARSH: Jose Baez is definitely appealing this.

DIMOND: Me either.

EIGLARSH: Go ahead.

DIMOND: Wait a minute, but she can also, from what I understand, she can turn herself in initially to any probation department in the state of Florida, but she has to serve it in Orlando.

EIGLARSH: She`s going to -- look, if the appeal is denied, she`s going to Orlando, but I`m not so convinced. My head`s not there yet. First, the appellate court has to make a finding that this wasn`t double jeopardy, that the court still had jurisdiction once her probation run.

DIMOND: But I don`t think there`s time, Marl. Do you think there`s time for that appeal court to rule?

EIGLARSH: Absolutely. All they have to do is file the notice of appeal, and then, appellate court will issue a stay, and then make their decision. I`m not convinced that this won`t be stayed. That`s my feel.

DIMOND: All right. Well, if I was a betting woman, I might put $5 down on that. Hey, Lisa, what does a young woman like this one who has never really had a long time employment, never really had to tell the truth about anything, never really had to fend for herself because she still lived at home with her daughter and parents, how does she handle, suddenly, being tossed out there into a town where she`s not particularly welcome and she doesn`t have a job?

BOESKY: Well, I have to say, I do worry about her safety. All it really takes is one angry person who doesn`t think justice was done to either throw things at her, assault her, or attack her, or kill her. So, I don`t think she`s going to have a job as a local barista in neighborhood Starbucks. I think she`s probably going to get an office job in a small place, and she may get from, you know, family friends, might have her work for them.

I think there`s going to be a loophole here where she`s not going to be out in the public. And I think, although, we would think it would be challenging for her, you know, she really surprised, I think, a lot of us that she was three years in jail, never cracked, and she was in what was close to solitary confinement.

DIMOND: Oh, yes.

BOESKY: She was in protective custody by herself 23 hours a day. If a woman can make it through that and not break, she can do anything for a year. I think the hardest will be not partying. That`s --

EIGLARSH: Let me add one point. If she is having to report to Orlando because the appellate court won`t touch this and upholds the ruling -- DIMOND: Right.

EIGLARSH: Then, all she`ll have to do is report. Then, there`ll be a motion by the defense lawyers in front of Judge Perry to transfer probation outside the jurisdiction to another location. That`s not special treatment. I do that for my clients all the time. She no longer lives in Orange County. She should transfer (ph) somewhere else.

DIMOND: This woman is like O.J. Simpson. No matter what jurisdiction she goes to, she can go to Anchorage Alaska, the media is still going to be there.

EIGLARSH: True, but Orange -- absolutely, but Orange County is like, you know, the hot bed for hatred there, you know? It`s totally different.

DIMOND: It certainly is.

Well, listen, you two, thanks a lot for sharing your insights about Casey Anthony with us. I appreciate it. Drew will be back tomorrow. I`m Diane Dimond sitting in for him tonight. Thanks for watching, everyone.

END