This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46447955
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Carla Stefaniak: Man held in US tourist's death in Costa Rica | Carla Stefaniak: Man held in US tourist's death in Costa Rica |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A body found near a Costa Rica Airbnb has reportedly been identified as the remains of a US tourist who went missing last week. | A body found near a Costa Rica Airbnb has reportedly been identified as the remains of a US tourist who went missing last week. |
Carla Stefaniak disappeared on 28 November during a trip to celebrate her 36th birthday. | Carla Stefaniak disappeared on 28 November during a trip to celebrate her 36th birthday. |
Walter Espinoza, head of Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department, was quoted by AP news agency as saying the Florida woman had died of head trauma. | Walter Espinoza, head of Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department, was quoted by AP news agency as saying the Florida woman had died of head trauma. |
He said a security guard at the property had been arrested. | He said a security guard at the property had been arrested. |
The Nicaraguan suspect, 32-year-old Bismarck Espinosa Martinez, had been in the room next door to Ms Stefaniak, and made conflicting statements to police, said officials. | |
Investigators earlier said the body was found buried in a mountainous area barely 200ft (60 metres) from Ms Stefaniak's Airbnb accommodation. | Investigators earlier said the body was found buried in a mountainous area barely 200ft (60 metres) from Ms Stefaniak's Airbnb accommodation. |
Tracker dogs had discovered the remains partially buried in plastic bags, NBC News quoted investigating agency spokeswoman Marisel Rodríguez Solís as saying. | Tracker dogs had discovered the remains partially buried in plastic bags, NBC News quoted investigating agency spokeswoman Marisel Rodríguez Solís as saying. |
Investigators told a press conference that what appears to be blood was discovered inside the property in the San Antonio de Escazu neighbourhood. | Investigators told a press conference that what appears to be blood was discovered inside the property in the San Antonio de Escazu neighbourhood. |
Ms Stefaniak, who was born in Venezuela but has lived in Miami since 2000, travelled to Costa Rica with her sister-in-law, April Burton, on 22 November. | |
Ms Burton flew back on 27 November. Ms Stefaniak had planned to fly back to the US the following day but never arrived for her flight. | Ms Burton flew back on 27 November. Ms Stefaniak had planned to fly back to the US the following day but never arrived for her flight. |
On the eve of her departure, she texted Ms Burton to say it was raining hard and there was a power cut at the property. | On the eve of her departure, she texted Ms Burton to say it was raining hard and there was a power cut at the property. |
"It's pretty sketchy here," Ms Stefaniak had written in the message. | "It's pretty sketchy here," Ms Stefaniak had written in the message. |
Guards at the apartment complex had claimed the missing woman left early in an Uber to catch her flight. | Guards at the apartment complex had claimed the missing woman left early in an Uber to catch her flight. |
Ms Stefaniak's loved ones went to Costa Rica to look for her. | Ms Stefaniak's loved ones went to Costa Rica to look for her. |
On Tuesday, a family friend said they had waited all day outside the morgue to identify the body, only to be turned away by officials who maintained investigators needed more time. | On Tuesday, a family friend said they had waited all day outside the morgue to identify the body, only to be turned away by officials who maintained investigators needed more time. |
Bugra Demirel told the BBC: "It's a horrible wait, and every single minute that Costa Rican officials are not showing the body is just a tremendous amount of pain on the family." | Bugra Demirel told the BBC: "It's a horrible wait, and every single minute that Costa Rican officials are not showing the body is just a tremendous amount of pain on the family." |