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

[Elainera]

Finding Carla

Family still waiting for confirmation.

ETA.
UPDATE!!!
12/4/18 00:15



“Around noon We were informed that “something happened” from authorities, while the media went crazy.

We were aware of more details of things then we are allowed to share.
We were informed that the authorities were going to let us now ASAP of what exactly happened, however 12hrs later they are still investigating and we are waiting for that phone call of any sort of real confirmation. The wait is the most painful experience of anxiety.”

That poor family. What a nightmare. I hope they get answers soon.

 

[Mica]

How convenient. The security cameras were “damaged.”

Google translated..

Temen que cuerpo hallado en Escazú sea de venezolana desaparecida | Crhoy.com

En el Airbnb donde se hospedó le dijeron a su hermano que las cámaras de seguridad estaban dañadas y no saben si se fue del lugar en un taxi o en un Uber.

On the Airbnb where he stayed, his brother was told that the security cameras were damaged and they do not know if he left the place in a taxi or an Uber.

 

[Mica]

Finding Carla



UPDATE!!!
12/4/18 00:15

Greg here,
Carlos and I had absolutely the worst day today, an absolutely emotional roller coaster that we would never wish upon or worst enemies.

Other brother Mario was able to get the FBI to move full force today with new evidence and leads gathered last night.

Around noon We were informed that “something happened” from authorities, while the media went crazy. I cancelled my flight to stay here from the development.

We were aware of more details of things then we are allowed to share.

We were informed that the authorities were going to let us now ASAP of what exactly happened, however 12hrs later they are still investigating and we are waiting for that phone call of any sort of real confirmation. The wait is the most painful experience of anxiety.

Carla’s dad has joined us today, and we have meetings very early in the morning. Praying that we get some news to share, as all of you are eager to know as well as the nation.

Thank you to the media for being patient with us today as we had to go quiet to keep our heads sane, and of course thank you for everyone real support all across the board.

Goodnight everyone! Seems like this is the first night Carlos and I will actually get 5hrs of sleep!

 

[Hatfield]

Digging a big hole is not so easy, in the woods there are dense tree roots, rocks, whatever. It often needs a crew of strong men, a backhoe, dynamite to get tree roots out. Plus this guy might have been both in a panic and lazy.

Exactly.
This could explain why the body was not fully buried deep down. I live in an area where it is almost impossible to dig a large deep hole. We often buy larger trees at a nursery and I will put them in myself with a root ball about 3 feet diamater and no matter where I dig I will hit large rocks. And what can happen is you get the hole started and work at it for a long time and then you hit a large rock or a large tree root and you are faced with a decision. Do you start a new hole all over again in a new area and try again or do you try to keep working at digging out the large rock you hit. Sometimes that large rock ends up being a large boulder the size of a volkswagon and so its impossible to get through the rock without a jackhammer to break the rock apart.

So this could explain why the perp(s) didnt do a better job digging a larger deeper hole to conceal the body.

In that semi tropical climate area I would bet large tree roots would be a common problem down there. And possibly large rocks as well like I deal with in my yard.

 

[zecats]

Exactly.
This could explain why the body was not fully buried deep down. I live in an area where it is almost impossible to dig a large deep hole. We often buy larger trees at a nursery and I will put them in myself with a root ball about 3 feet diamater and no matter where I dig I will hit large rocks. And what can happen is you get the hole started and work at it for a long time and then you hit a large rock or a large tree root and you are faced with a decision. Do you start a new hole all over again in a new area and try again or do you try to keep working at digging out the large rock you hit. Sometimes that large rock ends up being a small boulder the size of a volkswagon and so its impossible to get through the rock without a jackhammer to break the rock apart.

So this could explain why the perp(s) didnt do a better job digging a larger deeper hole to conceal the body.

In that semi tropical climate area I would bet large tree roots would be a common problem down there. And possibly large rocks as well like I deal with in my yard.

And it was probably still dark and I wonder if it was still raining.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Here is a timeline of the last time Stefaniak's was heard from:

Tuesday, Nov. 27:
Burton returned to the U.S. on Tuesday, but Stefaniak planned to stay an extra day to celebrate her birthday.

11:30 a.m.: Stefaniak dropped Burton off at the Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose and then returned their rental car to the Thrifty Car Rental.

12:23 p.m.: She took an Uber to a hostel located near the airport. Her Uber driver offered to take her on a tour of the city, and she agreed.

1:04 p.m.: Stefaniak arrived to the Villa Buena Vista in San Jose and took about 30 to 50 minutes to change at the hostel while the driver waited. She paid the driver cash to take her around, and she sent photos to family of her out and about town, where she bought a purse and earrings.

Around 4 or 5 p.m.: The driver dropped her off back at the villa.

6:30 p.m.: Stefaniak sent Burton photo of where she was staying, telling her she planned to go to a jazz cafe.

6:55 p.m.: She sent a message to a WhatsApp group chat with friends, stating that it was raining heavily and that the power had gone out, describing the situation as "Super Sketchy."

7:30 p.m.: Stefaniak Facetimed with a friend until about 9 p.m., telling him that she was considering going to a jazz club but that she was too tired.

8:20 p.m.: Still talking on the phone, Stefaniak texted a group chat on WhatsApp, "I want to go out but I'm dead tired." .

9 p.m.: Her phone then died, ending the FaceTime call. That was the last time anyone had contact with her.

Wednesday, Nov. 28

12:17 a.m.: T-Mobile records show that Stefaniak's phone connected to the internet for a short time around 12:17 a.m.

5:10 a.m.: The guards at the hostel told the family that she checked out with her belongings just after 5 a.m., but her flight wasn't scheduled to take off until 1:30 p.m., her family said, adding that it was unlikely she would check out early for no reason. There were no security cameras on the property or street to verify the hostel guards' claim.

8:30 a.m.: The Uber driver who drove Stefaniak the day before told the family that she had asked him to pick her up the next morning at 8:30 a.m. to take her to a shopping center, but she never showed up.

1:30 p.m.: Stefaniak's flight back to the U.S. was scheduled to leave at 1:30 p.m. She checked into her flight on her phone but never made it. It is unclear what time she checked in for her flight.

Carla Stefaniak: Timeline leading up to disappearance of Florida woman in Costa Rica

No mention here of asking for a water bottle.

 

[JerseyGirl]

I'm really upset at our US Embassy in Costa Rica who would not open up an investigation until the family arrived and forced them to investigate.

 

[Hatfield]

I just remembered, years ago, I went to Barbados to meet friends who were there already. I was housed in an isolated part of the resort. The taxi driver who brought from the airport that night, hesitated to leave, made me very uncomfortable, acted too familiar. As soon as he was out I called the desk and asked them to change my room to the main building, which was done.

Good move on your part. I try to learn from these cases as much as we can. Your move was a smart one. When things dont feel right then it could very well be a sign to ourselves that we should listen to.

I once booked a motel in a city that I had never been to before. From the carefully taken online pictures of the place it looked like a nice normal motel. When we pulled up to check into the place it was in a scary looking area and I couldnt believe my eyes. There was a guy literally carrying a TV from a small building and hurrily putting it in his car and pulled away. I'm not sure if he actually stole the TV but it sure looked like it. That was enough for me to go to the front desk and tell the owner I am not checking in afterall and even though I lost some money to hold the room I gladly let him keep my money and was glad to drive away. I wasnt about to argue for all my money back and I drove around the nice city and found a much safer motel in the area. Its the last time I will blindly book a motel without doing much more research on where to stay.

 

[GraceG]

This is an interesting twist. Is it normally difficult for someone in Venezuela to get a visa to leave the country?

She is originally FROM Venezuela but has lived in Tampa for years and if you go back to the links in this thread with comments from and about the US Embassy, it refers to her as a US Citizen. Immigration out of the country only became a huge issue after the socialist revolution of 20

I would die to know if the power went off in the general area or just at her place, her floor or her room. :/ I mean its a Rain Forrest, storms ALL THE TIME in CR, rains once a day usually. Did the storm cause the outage or did someone throw a breaker? RIP beautiful girl, hope your modeling Fabulous clothes somewhere less burdened than here.

and especially in Central America I did NOT leave my room and I had as little contact with staff as possible. As an American, and as a single female you are a greater target than you are in the States.

I'm not sure how many rooms there were, but after reading about the place and the tripadvisor reviews, I was left with the impression that there are 9 accommodations (formerly plastic surgery recovery rooms), and there are now 7 accommodations.

I kind of doubt that there were other guests, especially when she said that the place was "sketchy."

I've wondered about her comment to ask the security guard for water. I pictured the security guard at the entrance to the property, and wondered why she would feel safer walking to the entrance of the property rather than getting a water bottle from where ever it was kept in the building. I kind of picture the security guard closer to her room than the water bottles, which makes me wonder where she was, where he was, and who was watching the front entrance.

Blood was found in her room, but at this time there's no way of knowing whether that was a plastic surgery bleed in 2015 or an incident with Carla. Investigators are waiting for DNA results - no timeline.

Water may have been with soft drinks in a vending machine, which would not work without power.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

Here is a timeline of the last time Stefaniak's was heard from:

Tuesday, Nov. 27:
Burton returned to the U.S. on Tuesday, but Stefaniak planned to stay an extra day to celebrate her birthday.

11:30 a.m.: Stefaniak dropped Burton off at the Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose and then returned their rental car to the Thrifty Car Rental.

12:23 p.m.: She took an Uber to a hostel located near the airport. Her Uber driver offered to take her on a tour of the city, and she agreed.

1:04 p.m.: Stefaniak arrived to the Villa Buena Vista in San Jose and took about 30 to 50 minutes to change at the hostel while the driver waited. She paid the driver cash to take her around, and she sent photos to family of her out and about town, where she bought a purse and earrings.

Around 4 or 5 p.m.: The driver dropped her off back at the villa.

6:30 p.m.: Stefaniak sent Burton photo of where she was staying, telling her she planned to go to a jazz cafe.

6:55 p.m.: She sent a message to a WhatsApp group chat with friends, stating that it was raining heavily and that the power had gone out, describing the situation as "Super Sketchy."

7:30 p.m.: Stefaniak Facetimed with a friend until about 9 p.m., telling him that she was considering going to a jazz club but that she was too tired.

8:20 p.m.: Still talking on the phone, Stefaniak texted a group chat on WhatsApp, "I want to go out but I'm dead tired." .

9 p.m.: Her phone then died, ending the FaceTime call. That was the last time anyone had contact with her.

Wednesday, Nov. 28

12:17 a.m.: T-Mobile records show that Stefaniak's phone connected to the internet for a short time around 12:17 a.m.

5:10 a.m.: The guards at the hostel told the family that she checked out with her belongings just after 5 a.m., but her flight wasn't scheduled to take off until 1:30 p.m., her family said, adding that it was unlikely she would check out early for no reason. There were no security cameras on the property or street to verify the hostel guards' claim.

8:30 a.m.: The Uber driver who drove Stefaniak the day before told the family that she had asked him to pick her up the next morning at 8:30 a.m. to take her to a shopping center, but she never showed up.

1:30 p.m.: Stefaniak's flight back to the U.S. was scheduled to leave at 1:30 p.m. She checked into her flight on her phone but never made it. It is unclear what time she checked in for her flight.

Carla Stefaniak: Timeline leading up to disappearance of Florida woman in Costa Rica

No mention here of asking for a water bottle.

Her phone ‘dies’ at 9pm, or did the wifi router she may have been using go off with the power.

12:17 her phone briefly reconnects with the internet. Again I’m wondering if it’s the Airbnb’s wifi the phone connects to.

 

[TTF14]

7:30 p.m.: Stefaniak Facetimed with a friend until about 9 p.m., telling him that she was considering going to a jazz club but that she was too tired.

8:20 p.m.: Still talking on the phone, Stefaniak texted a group chat on WhatsApp, "I want to go out but I'm dead tired." .

9 p.m.: Her phone then died, ending the FaceTime call. That was the last time anyone had contact with her.

Wednesday, Nov. 28

12:17 a.m.: T-Mobile records show that Stefaniak's phone connected to the internet for a short time around 12:17 a.m.

RSBM.

I wonder if she did decide to go out after all and called the guards for a suggestion of a place to go....

 

[zecats]

Finding Carla facebook page Update

The family is headed to the morgue to identify the remains found yesterday. Sigh...

ETA. Can't link for some reason. See my post upthread. Post #359

 

[zecats]

Body found near missing US woman's last sighting in Costa Rica - CNN

Awaiting autopsy results to be released Tuesday (today). After reading about family going to morgue to id her (or not), this should be soon.

 

[Hatfield]

Body found near missing US woman's last sighting in Costa Rica - CNN

Awaiting autopsy results to be released Tuesday (today). After reading about family going to morgue to id her (or not), this should be soon.

I know it must be done to get positive identification but I just cannot imagine having to be a family member and ID'ng their own relative. How terrible that must be to have to do that. Most of us have never even seen a dead body unless we have been to an open casket funeral. And under these circumstances the emotions that will be present are almost unbearable. Anger at the perp(s) being the top one right now. As well as overwhelming sadness for Carla.

Many prayers for her family members and friends.

 

[zecats]

I know it must be done to get positive identification but I just cannot imagine having to be a family member and ID'ng their own relative. How terrible that must be to have to do that. Most of us have never even seen a dead body unless we have been to an open casket funeral. And under these circumstances the emotions that will be present are almost unbearable. Anger at the perp(s) being the top one right now. As well as overwhelming sadness for Carla.

Many prayers for her family members and friends.

I know right? The joy from knowing Carla was traveling and having a vacation with her SIL and celebrating her birthday, to suddenly dealing with her being missing and possibly kidnapped, then having to go ID what could be her murdered body. Emotional roller coaster, as the family has described it. Especially the SIL. I cannot fathom it.

 

[Elainera]

Some bits in this article I hadn't heard yet.

Woman’s body found near where Carla Stefaniak disappeared

"Today (Monday) we were performing several proceedings in the apartment, according to the data we had, that person was last observed. First of all, we reviewed the apartment where she stayed overnight and, after a review, we located biological fluids that are compatible with blood and are going to be subjected to revision and comparison,” he [Espinoza] explained.

The director added that a confidential tip led authorities to search the nearby woods.

The lawyer (of the property owner) added that on Wednesday the room occupied by Carla Stefaniak was cleaned and they only found a soft drink and a tube of toothpaste. “That room was (then) occupied by other guests,” he said.

Jenkins added that the guard on duty the morning of the disappearance has about 18 months of working at the hotel and lives on the property. According to Jenkins, the OIJ are interviewing the man and waiting for authority to search his room.

The lawyer added that though the hotel has an outdoor camera, the system is not working.

On Monday the hotel suspended operations, the only guest left and all reservation canceled.

 

[Elainera]

And it was probably still dark and I wonder if it was still raining.

I wonder whether the guard that came in at 6 am noticed anything odd about the night guard. Did he have wet hair for example? I would assume he would have changed his clothes already (if he was the one burying CS).

 

[TTF14]

I wonder whether the guard that came in at 6 am noticed anything odd about the night guard. Did he have wet hair for example? I would assume he would have changed his clothes already (if he was the one burying CS).

I would guess that the confidential tip came from the second guard.

 

[JerseyGirl]

On Monday the hotel suspended operations, the only guest left and all reservation canceled.

Well that explains why we couldn't find the place on AirBnB.

 

[Elainera]

I would guess that the confidential tip came from the second guard.

That's certainly possible TTF!