GUILTY COSTA RICA - Carla Stefaniak, 36, American tourist, San Antonio de Escazú, 27 Nov 2018

[LVatty10]

How horrible. Poor Carla and her family.

I believe these are the guard's Facebook accounts:

Bismarck Josiel Espinoza Martinez

Bismarck Josiel Espinoza Martinez

Bismarck Josiel Espinoza Martinez

He doesn't appear to smile in any photos posted. He looks pretty terrifying honestly. According to the profiles, he is from Nicaragua and one profile also says he is married.

Agreed! i rarely think pictures are creepy but the look in his eyes in his fb pictures made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

 

[Elainera]

My guess is that she rejected his sexual advances. Or he raped her and had to eliminate the witness.

Most likely yes.

I agree he looks scary in his fb pictures

 

[moonriverfarm]

And he has a toddler daughter.

 

[TTF14]

It is probably not often that there is a beautiful woman staying alone there. It's like he just couldn't help himself! What a .

 

[Rob774]

So basically he was probably the guy she went and ask for water.

I hope he hit her in the head first, knocking her out so that her last moments before she died wasn't living through fear and horror.

 

[whitelilac]

It was stated this guy lived on the grounds, but in the adjacent room? Did he move into the room that night in order to be close to Carla. Did he premeditate making advances to her ?

 

[Mica]

Finding Carla

Wondering why they won’t let the family see the body?

 

[Elainera]

Finding Carla

Wondering why they won’t let the family see the body?

Wow this is very odd. Officials announced that it was her but did not speak to the family first?

 

[human]

May I ask why? Is housing, food, etc that expensive there?? Or was it in case of being kidnapped? My brother and his wife were there a year ago. They loved it there.

It is a govt requirement or was if you were moving there. I suppose they don’t want you to become a burden in their country

 

[Inthedetails]

Yep. I've unfortunately seen a lot of this lately as I'm in a forensic and medicolegal death investigation class. Decomposition can be so different depending on climate.

Welcome to WS. We could definitely use the knowledge you learn in your class here on the cases we follow.

jmo

 

[GraceG]

Finding Carla

Wondering why they won’t let the family see the body?

If they can identify her by means other than by family looking at her they will. You really don't want a loved one to view a body that's been decomposing in warm temperatures for a week. It's a picture they will never get out of their brain. Let them keep their memories of their beautiful sister and daughter. Rest in Peace Carla - your smile could light up an entire landscape.

 

[Mica]

If they can identify her by means other than by family looking at her they will. You really don't want a loved one to view a body that's been decomposing in warm temperatures for a week. It's a picture they will never get out of their brain. Let them keep their memories of their beautiful sister and daughter. Rest in Peace Carla - your smile could light up an entire landscape.

This is true. However, the family went to the morgue to ID the body.

 

[Elainera]

If they can identify her by means other than by family looking at her they will. You really don't want a loved one to view a body that's been decomposing in warm temperatures for a week. It's a picture they will never get out of their brain. Let them keep their memories of their beautiful sister and daughter. Rest in Peace Carla - your smile could light up an entire landscape.

Very true but how did the coroner id the body if they haven't gotten the dental records yet nor has anyone from the family provided a dna sample? (per family's statement posted above)

 

[Lexiintoronto]

Finding Carla

Wondering why they won’t let the family see the body?

If there is severe trauma or decomposition they may be strongly advising the family against viewing the remains. She may be unrecognizable.

The family may have been brought in to gently explain this to them and the reasons why remembering her as she was in life may be the right choice.

Speaking from personal experience.

eta: changed typo to ‘unrecognizable’

 

[Mica]

Security guard detained, body found in Costa Rica believed to be missing Fla. woman Carla Stefaniak

An autopsy was performed on the woman's body, they say that she had stab wounds around the neck and extremities and report blunt-force trauma to the head.

OIJ officials say that the body appears to be Stefaniak however, they are unable to confirm that without fingerprinting. The FBI is involved to conduct those tests, according to OIJ agents. If fingerprinting does not work, they will make a DNA and dental comparison.

 

[Mica]

Very true but how did the coroner id the body if they haven't gotten the dental records yet nor has anyone from the family provided a dna sample? (per family's statement posted above)

Yes, this is the point the family is making.

 

[Elainera]

Yes, this is the point the family is making.

Just saw in your previous post they're trying to match fingerprints now. I hadn't thought of that

 

[GuyfromCanada]

Security guard arrested in connection with slaying of South Florida woman in Costa Rica

Authorities said a 32-year-old Nicaraguan man, identified as Bismark Espinosa Martinez, has been arrested in connection with the slaying of Carla Stefaniak, 36, of Hallandale Beach.

Stefaniak's body was found Monday, half-buried and covered with plastic bags in a mountainous area behind the Airbnb where she was staying.

"While the investigation is ongoing, and since the focus of the owners is the comfort of our guests, the facility has been temporarily closed."

 

[alreetlike]

RIP Carla.

I'm not surprised the guard has been arrested; he really managed to talk himself into trouble quickly with that 5am story. Aside from that, it's crazy that such an offhand comment ("I'm going to ask the guard for some water") pointed everyone straight in the right direction. Nice one Carla.

 

[Satchie]

Security guard arrested in connection with slaying of South Florida woman in Costa Rica

Authorities said a 32-year-old Nicaraguan man, identified as Bismark Espinosa Martinez, has been arrested in connection with the slaying of Carla Stefaniak, 36, of Hallandale Beach.

Stefaniak's body was found Monday, half-buried and covered with plastic bags in a mountainous area behind the Airbnb where she was staying.

"While the investigation is ongoing, and since the focus of the owners is the comfort of our guests, the facility has been temporarily closed."

From the link above "Officials said immigration reports indicate Espinosa Martinez has an "irregular immigration status" in Costa Rica and has been in the country since June. "

I expect the owner(s) of this Airbnb are expats rather than local Costa Ricans. 'Raymond' is not a Spanish name, his written English is perfect.

So he/they hired a recent illegal immigrant from Nicaragua to be the security guard on their property? This was probably because they didn't have to pay him much, if anything. How did they even meet him? Nicaraguans are blamed for many of the crimes in CR, they're rootless and desperate men, cut off from their family and home, unable to get work anywhere.

A local Costa Rican owner would know a trusted relative or friend to stay on site.