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

[tiffkinsadder]

Waiting to hear. That poor family. Prayers.

 

[moonriverfarm]

Third world subterfuge. You could not pay me to travel as a single woman these days.

 

[soap mama]

So the cops said there was bio fluid in the room
But the owner atty said the room was already cleaned and rented out. That they only found a soft drink and toothpaste tube after Carla was gone
So now we know her luggage wasn’t in the room

 

[zecats]

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.

RBBM
So a potential crime scene was occupied by other guests? And other guests stayed in a room where possible blood was found? Just incredible. IMO

 

[GraceG]

So the cops said there was bio fluid in the room
But the owner atty said the room was already cleaned and rented out. That they only found a soft drink and toothpaste tube after Carla was gone
So now we know her luggage wasn’t in the room

The blood may not be visible to the naked eye. Even with an attempt to clean I bet luminol would light that place up nicely. Unless every surface in the room where the deed was done is cleaned, it's going to be hard to eliminate all the trace evidence. Luminol traces often get found behind things like the trim at the foot of the walls or other inaccessible surfaces that are hard to clean without leaving other evidence that there's been a thorough cleaning.

 

[Satchie]

RBBM
So a potential crime scene was occupied by other guests? And other guests stayed in a room where possible blood was found? Just incredible. IMO

She disappeared that night, her room was occupied the next day. She hadn't even been reported missing yet, why is it incredible?

 

[whitelilac]

Since the guard lives on the property, the luggage is likely hidden somewhere on the property?

 

[Satchie]

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.

We don't really know that, we don't know what was going on behind the scenes.

However, it's very important for family or friends to get directly and urgently involved whenever a loved one goes missing.

For example, in the Millard murders in Canada, Laura Babcock's disappearance wasn't investigated as a possible homicide because no one was particularly concerned, except an ex-boyfriend, and he contacted police weeks later. Whereas Tim Bosma's wife and entire family insisted he'd been abducted within hours.

 

[Satchie]

Third world subterfuge. You could not pay me to travel as a single woman these days.

I'm curious to know where you live. No murders there?

 

[Rob774]

Such a sad case.

Poor woman thought she was safe, all the while the vultures were circling. I know the sister in law has to be beside herself right now. Hopefully, this will bring more awareness of how unsafe these island paradises can be. Shame on our Embassy for dragging their feet. Sound like it might not have mattered to save her life. But quick actions might have preserved the crime scene.

 

[JerseyGirl]

They family knew something was off about the guard’s story, so they checked her work computer for Uber receipts there were two from Nov. 27, the trip from the airport and the trip around downtown. Nothing showed a trip at 5 a.m.

Then the guard’s story changed. It wasn’t an Uber, she called a taxi.

So, the family contacted T-Mobile. The only activity they saw outside of known calls was a small spike in data around 12 a.m. A spike similar to someone shutting off a phone.

Florida woman Carla Stefaniak still missing in Costa Rica as grim details arise

 

[soap mama]

Yikes everyone, calm down, quit snarking on member posts.
And for the record, yes I would feel safer alone in an Air BnB innthe US than in Central America. Js

 

[zecats]

She disappeared that night, her room was occupied the next day. She hadn't even been reported missing yet, why is it incredible?

It was reported fairly quickly that she was missing and that she had gotten into an unknown vehicle at 5am instead of the 8-8:30am Uber she had requested. Family didn't hear from her after 8-9pm the evening before and she didn't turn up at the airport. No one knew exactly what happened. Seems incredible to me preservation of evidence wasn't given a thought just in case she was harmed. Perhaps hindsight makes it easier to feel this way, but if I was the person who stayed there after her and knew what we know now, I'd be a tad bit uncomfortable.

 

[Satchie]

Such a sad case.

Poor woman thought she was safe, all the while the vultures were circling. I know the sister in law has to be beside herself right now. Hopefully, this will bring more awareness of how unsafe these island paradises can be. Shame on our Embassy for dragging their feet. Sound like it might not have mattered to save her life. But quick actions might have preserved the crime scene.

I live in Canada. Off the top of my head, here are a few murders in the last year:

--A tourist from Belgium arranged a ride to Vancouver and was murdered by the driver.
-A tourist from Germany was shot in the head by a drive by shooter near Banff, the man is severely disabled.
-An older couple in Vancouver were killed in their nice Vancouver home by a random attacker.
-In two separate instances, young men have roamed busy streets in downtown Toronto, killing people by running them over or shooting them.

Better not come to Canada, it's very dangerous.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Third world subterfuge. You could not pay me to travel as a single woman these days.

My blond, adventurous 21-year old daughter has been travelling around Europe (and recently, the Ukraine) since graduating college in May. She is alone with just a piece of rolling luggage and a passport. Tomorrow she leaves the EU for Thailand for 3 weeks. She's been staying in hostels, not AirBnB's, but there are a lot of women traveling the world and staying in AirBnB's and have not been a victim of crimes.

It is safe for women to travel alone, just be aware of your surroundings at ALL TIMES and double, triple and quadruple check reviews and hosts on AirBnB, Trip Advisor, HostelWorld, etc. CHECK THEM ALL! Any hint of negative feedback and that place is off the list.

On a side note, I have warned my daughters NOT to schedule any trips to Mexico, Central and South Americas. I've been preaching that for years now. The area is just too dangerous for any tourist.

 

[Cryptic]

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.

US embassies have no ability to investigate crimes occurring in a sovereign country, even if the victim is an American citizen. Rather, their powers are limited to:

- Sending a letter to the local police encouraging them to investigate the matter.
- Having retained local contractors (usually a private detective agency) "look into" the matter un-officially.

The local private detective won't have any legal authority and the amount of "looking into" they can do can vary from next to nothing to a pretty good amount depending on the country and the skills, ingenuity and police contacts that they have. In either case, getting them involved is not instantaneous. Rather, it takes time and justification.

 

[soap mama]

It was reported fairly quickly that she was missing and that she had gotten into an unknown vehicle at 5am instead of the 8-8:30am Uber she had requested. Family didn't hear from her after 8-9pm the evening before and she didn't turn up at the airport. No one knew exactly what happened. Seems incredible to me preservation of evidence wasn't given a thought just in case she was harmed. Perhaps hindsight makes it easier to feel this way, but if I was the person who stayed there after her and knew what we know now, I'd be a tad bit uncomfortable.

I’m sure the room was cleaned and ready for occupancy before she didn’t arrive from her flight, if that makes sense

 

[zecats]

I’m sure the room was cleaned and ready for occupancy before she didn’t arrive from her flight, if that makes sense

Yes it does. I get it, thanks. I was thinking about staying in that room after her that just kinda/sorta creeps me out. Like I said-hindsight.

 

[rainynights]

Ryan Hughes (@WFLARyan) | Twitter
Ryan Hughes on Twitter

Family of Carla Stefaniak to identify body near Costa Rica property where South Florida woman was last seen. Updates throughout the day on @WFLA. More details: http://wfla.com .



Trent Kelly (@TrentKellyWPLG) | Twitter
Trent Kelly on Twitter

UPDATE: Carla Stefaniak's father and brother are at Costa Rica morgue, waiting to identify body.

Owner of Airbnb where body was found says they are working with investigators, facility now shut down temporarily... #FindingCarla

(Trent Kelly added,)
South Florida family travels to Costa Rica to identify body believed to be missing woman

 

[whatsnext]

Ryan Hughes (@WFLARyan) | Twitter
Ryan Hughes on Twitter

Family of Carla Stefaniak to identify body near Costa Rica property where South Florida woman was last seen. Updates throughout the day on @WFLA. More details: http://wfla.com .

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Trent Kelly (@TrentKellyWPLG) | Twitter
Trent Kelly on Twitter

UPDATE: Carla Stefaniak's father and brother are at Costa Rica morgue, waiting to identify body.

Owner of Airbnb where body was found says they are working with investigators, facility now shut down temporarily... #FindingCarla

(Trent Kelly added,)
South Florida family travels to Costa Rica to identify body believed to be missing woman

What a horrible task they have, I wish them alot of strength .