'I don't need to prove myself to anybody': Husband of free diver whose body was pulled from the sea speaks out about why he didn't search for his missing wife

• Body found off coast identified as missing 50-year-old Rebecca Weiss 
  
• Police said Alan Weiss is not a person of interest in the case
• Alan said anyone who knows them knows he would never kill his wife
  
• Mother says her daughter found out her husband had a girlfriend before she disappeared
  
• Was reported missing one week ago after she failed to return home
• Her car and clothes were found near resort at Palos Verdes Peninsula

By Rachel Quigley

Published: 16:57 EST, 21 August 2012 | Updated: 17:24 EST, 21 August 2012

The husband of the free diver whose body was pulled from the ocean on Saturday after she went missing has spoken out publicly for the first time to defend himself, insisting he has nothing to do with his wife's death.

Alan Weiss told KTLA he was devastated over his wife Rebecca's death and though he was aware of the suspicion surrounding his involvement, he feels he does not have to prove himself to anyone.

'I've left the house a few times and every time I leave the house, I'm kind of afraid of who I might walk into,' he said.

Divers found the 50-year-old's body in a cove about 200 yards from the shore of Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles County, a week after she disappeared after allegedly going free diving on her own.

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Weiss' mother, with the support of family members excluding Weiss' husband, had been canvassing the area relentlessly with her 50-year-old daughter’s picture since she first disappeared.

Police said they are investigating both Weiss' death and an apparent drowning in the same area.

An autopsy is being conducted to try and discern the cause of death.

Mr Weiss told sheriff's detectives he last saw his wife driving away from their Marina del Rey home wearing a wetsuit and that Mrs Weiss was an experienced free-diver.

Mrs Weiss' mother and brother were near the resort passing out fliers when the body was found.

By 2.15pm the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner launched an investigation at the scene, according to Lt. Larry Diet, accompanying homicide investigators who were present when the body was pulled from the water.

Police had been searching for Mrs Weiss after she did not return home from a believed solo diving expedition at a location her husband described as being the couple's favorite location.

Homicide detectives had interviewed her husband and said he has been cooperating so far with the investigation and is not named a suspect.

But investigators say unusual circumstances related to her disappearance have led them to reclassify the case from a missing person investigation to a homicide.

Her mother told KTLA 5 that her daughter confided in her shortly before she disappeared that she suspected her 60-year-old husband was engaged in an extramarital relationship.

Vilma Causey said: 'My daughter told me that she found it on the computer... He has a girlfriend.'

As well as this, she said that while they are doing everything they can to find her daughter - including passing out flyers in the area - Mr Weiss had done nothing to help, which the family think is strange.

She said of Mr Weiss behavior: 'Very bad, very strange. That is not the reaction of a person that has somebody missing that is close to you.

'Was she the only one on the beach to swim? Especially at that resort? No one saw her? No one saw her?'

Mrs Causey also revealed her daughter's cell phone and keys are missing, but her credit cards and driving license were found.

Her brother Bob Causey also said it is hard to believe something could have gone wrong.

'My sister is a strong swimmer, and she was wearing a wetsuit, according to my brother-in-law.'

Mr Causey said: 'So it would have to be something out of the extraordinary for something to happen to her out there.'

The couple were married 20 years and seemed happy, according to friends, who said they traveled the world and enjoyed their diving hobby together.

Mrs Weiss co-owned two grocery businesses with her husband.

Her mother said: 'There has to be somebody who must have seen. This is not an isolated place. This is a resort. There should have been people.'

Her clothes and other belongings were found near her BMW X5, which was parked at the Terennea resort on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The Palos Verdes beauty spot, which is about a 22 mile drive south from her home in Marina Del Rey, is renowned for being very challenging, even to those with considerable expertise.

A review of the area on California Diving News warns divers about the dangers of entry and exit.

It reads: ‘The two main entry points, Long Point and Marineland Cove require experience, skill and some luck entering over the slippery boulders and constantly changing cobble beach.

‘A favorite entry point can be washed away with the next high tide. Watch the sets of waves. Small steps are required to enter and exit the water to avoid falls.’

A Coast Guard helicopter, a response boat and a cutter were joined by a Baywatch Cabrillo crew and an LASD helicopter in an overnight search.

Four divers with Baywatch Marina Del Rey have began sub-surface searches on Sunday and carried on yesterday.

According to Shareen Ghabrial, who lives above the search area, a sheriff's deputy at Vanderlip Park told neighbors that the woman was a frequent snorkeler.

'On that first night ... it was quite a sight,' she told Marina Del Rey Patch.

'Our homes here were fully illuminated by the helicopters and the frantic sounds of the workers in their boats directly below us. It was very busy here and very intense.

'That had continued through the night with just a short break of silence in the early morning.'

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