COSTA RICA · SECURITY
Key Facts
- —What is happening Costa Rica’s judicial police detained a woman in Desamparados on Friday, 16 October, over the 27 September killing of a US man in a Playas del Coco condominium; the main suspect remains at large.
- —Why it matters The case involves an American in Guanacaste’s beach tourism area, where the United States supplies more than half of all visitors, and investigators say cameras and the victim’s bank cards led them to the suspects.
- —The numbers The victim’s age is given as 72 or 74, the main suspect is 22, and 1,288,001 US visitors arrived from January to September 2026, about 56% of all arrivals.
- —Who is who The OIJ is Costa Rica’s judicial police, and interim deputy director Vladimir Muñoz named the main suspect, a woman surnamed Ortiz, 22, still at large; the woman detained is surnamed Zeledón.
- —What to watch No hearing, formal charges or detention order for the detained woman has been announced, and the search for Ortiz continues through the OIJ’s confidential tip line.
- —Power Index Costa Rica ranks 9th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 36.5 points (October 2026 edition).
- —What it means for you The State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, exercise increased caution, and warns that violent crime affects tourists; the advisory also cites robberies at short-term rental properties.
Costa Rica’s judicial police detained a woman on Friday over the killing of a US man at a Guanacaste beach condominium. The main suspect, a 22-year-old woman, remains at large.
Costa Rica detains one woman over the killing of a US citizen at a luxury condominium in Playas del Coco, Guanacaste. The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), the country’s judicial police, made the arrest in dawn raids on Friday, 16 October.
She is suspected of helping the main suspect, a 22-year-old woman surnamed Ortiz, who is still at large. Americans make up most visitors to Costa Rica, so the case draws attention in the United States.
What Investigators Say Happened
The victim, a US citizen surnamed Fleming, died on Sunday, 27 September, in a condominium in Sardinal de Carrillo, Playas del Coco. Costa Rican outlets give his age as both 72 and 74.
Security cameras show him entering the building with a woman at about 4:50 p.m., Diario Extra and La Teja reported. She left alone about two hours later, and investigators say he had head injuries from blows with a blunt object.
By Monday, 12 October, the OIJ had published video and photos of the woman and asked for public help, Teletica reported. Investigators say she left in a light vehicle towards San José.
Why Costa Rica Detains the Second Woman
Prosecutors and the OIJ raided two homes in Desamparados, a district of San José province, from about 5:00 a.m., La Nación reported. One home is in La Capri and the other in San Miguel, La Teja said.
A woman surnamed Zeledón was detained at a condominium in San Miguel, La Teja and CRHoy reported. Investigators allege she picked up Ortiz after the killing and drove her to shops and a cash machine.
Ortiz was not at the La Capri address. Vladimir Muñoz, the OIJ’s interim deputy director, named her as the main suspect and released a clearer photo, La Teja reported.
Bank Cards and the Possible Motive
Investigators are examining the theft and later use of the victim’s bank cards as a possible motive, Teletica and La Nación reported. Teletica listed presumed card purchases at supermarkets in Playas del Coco and Brasilito, a Flamingo hotel and an Abangares store.
What It Means for US Readers
The US State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, exercise increased caution, in an advisory issued on 2 April 2026. It says petty crime is common and violent crime also affects tourists, including homicide.
The advisory also reports robberies at short-term rentals and says tourist police at beaches such as Flamingo offer limited help. Related guides: Costa Rica travel costs for US visitors and Costa Rican people and daily life.
The Costa Rican Tourism Institute counted 1,288,001 US visitors from January to September 2026, La Nación reported. That is about 56% of 2,310,320 arrivals, and the United States and Canada together supply 66%.
No outlet reports a US Embassy statement on this case. No court has ruled on guilt, and both women are suspects.
What Is Not Known
Outlets give the victim’s age as 72 and as 74, and none says when or by whom his body was found. The coverage cites no autopsy report on the cause of death.
No formal charges, hearing date or detention order has been reported for the detained woman. La Nación’s early report said neither identity was public, while later reports give only the surnames Ortiz and Zeledón.
Where Ortiz is, and how she knew the victim, is unknown. Only La Teja reports that the OIJ calls her an alleged companion whom he had contacted.
What Comes Next
No hearing or pretrial-detention request for the detained woman has been reported yet. The OIJ keeps asking for tips on Ortiz through its confidential line, 800-8000-645.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in Playas del Coco?
A US citizen surnamed Fleming died on Sunday, 27 September, in a condominium in Playas del Coco. Costa Rican outlets give his age as 72 or 74.
Who has been detained?
The OIJ detained a woman surnamed Zeledón on Friday, 16 October, in San Miguel de Desamparados. Investigators allege she helped the main suspect travel after the killing.
Who is the main suspect?
The OIJ named a 22-year-old woman surnamed Ortiz as the main suspect. She was not at the address raided on 16 October and remains at large.
What is the possible motive?
Investigators are examining the theft and use of the victim’s bank cards as a possible motive. No court has established a motive.
Is Costa Rica safe for US travellers?
The State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, exercise increased caution, in an advisory issued on 2 April 2026. It says violent crime also affects tourists.
Sources: La Nación, 16 October; La Teja, 16 October (OIJ remarks by Vladimir Muñoz); CRHoy, detention; CRHoy, the detained woman; Teletica, raids; Teletica, card use; Diario Extra, detention; Diario Extra, manhunt; La Teja, 13 October; La Nación, tourism arrivals (Costa Rican Tourism Institute data); US State Department, Costa Rica advisory (all accessed 16 October 2026).