canadian tourist killed in costa rica

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Steven Spencer Welland, 41, original from Calgary, was found stabbed to death on May 24

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A Canadian man brutally murdered in Costa Rica was a gay porn star who allegedly recorded his sex partners without their knowledge, according to a news report.

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Cops say Steven Spencer Welland, 41, a heavy hitter in the world of amateur gay porn, was gagged and then stabbed 14 times sometime on May 24th in Punteranas, Costa Rica.

Canadian porn star brutally murdered in Costa Rican gay-for-pay scam: Report Back to video

Originally from Calgary, The Western Standard reported that some online believe the renovator’s side gig in smut may have been the reason he was murdered.

The Standard said that Welland’s online handle was ‘Swell 80’ who identified himself on an online porn site as “Gay man, Webcam model, Amateur, 41y.” Some of his sex videos have racked up more than 2 million views.

But the website said some of Welland’s partners may not have known the carnal capers were being filmed. Citing online commentators, it noted that the videos claimed the men were unaware about what was going on.

One user said: “Because he records sex videos of guys without consent. It’s involuntary porn. Hot but involuntary.”

Another added: “Nearly all of his stuff was gay for pay. I guess he didn’t pay someone enough so they took it all.”

Local media described the slaying as an early-morning surprise attack that happened in the camper where he lived.

TN 8 reported: “Apparently, neighbors in the area saw a suspect leave, so they entered the property to see if everything was okay. At that moment they came across the bloody scene and notified the authorities.”

Prosecutors said that Lefevre Hernandez was detained outside the dead man’s home.

Welland was originally from Calgary, according to his obituary and attended Lord Beaverbrook High School and Mount Royal College.

He had his own renovation business before moving to Central America in 2016.

“His big heart will be missed by all of his family and friends,” his obituary said.

He is survived by parents, a brother, a sister and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

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For years, travelers have flocked to Costa Rica for its serene beaches, lush wildlife and vibrant cities.

But the Central American country has been rocked with crime in the past year, and a spike in killings and fatal accidents involving foreigners have threatened Costa Rica’s reputation as one of the safest countries in the region for tourists.

In December, The Post reported on the murder of Carla Stefaniak , a 36-year-old Miami resident who was traveling to San Jose for her birthday. Her body was discovered in a shallow grave near the Airbnb where she was staying. A security guard at the Airbnb listing has been arrested in connection with her case. Meanwhile, local authorities said the killing was sexually motivated.

Unfortunately, Stefaniak was just the latest in a string of violence against Costa Rican tourists. Two unidentified female travelers were found dead near Tortuguero National Park in August. One 31-year-old woman’s body was discovered with strangle marks around her neck, and a 25-year-old woman drowned after she was attacked by two men, reports The Chicago Tribune . Over the summer, a 19-year-old Canadian tourist was robbed and raped after a local tried to offer her a ride from San Jose to Puerto Viejo, reports The Costa Rica Star .

And in October, authorities said that Tom Cook, a 62-year-old “hippie” from Vermont, was murdered in Jaco , a surf town in Costa Rica after he went missing for two months.

Costa Rica has seen a rise in murders in 2012, and a record 603 people were killed in 2017. Meanwhile, authorities told Bloomberg that they’re forecasting an even higher number in 2018.

“There has already been damage done to the country’s image,” Security minister Michael Soto told Bloomberg.

According to the Costa Rican Tourism Board , about 3 million travelers visit the country every year. But in 2017, the number of American tourists dropped for the first time since 2009.

This could spell bad news for Costa Rica, as tourism brings in about $3.5 billion for its economy.

“These incidents infuriate us,” President Carlos Alvarado told Bloomberg, and he promised “intense work” to address the situation.

According to the US embassy website, “Crime is increasing in Costa Rica and US citizens are frequent victims … US citizens are encouraged to exercise a high level of caution and vigilance due to increasing levels of violent crime.”

And the US embassy has advised visitors to be extra cautious in the cities of Liberia, San Rafael and San Jose due to crime.

Costa Rica’s Tourism Board did not immediately return a request for comment.

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Suspected Murder of American Tourist in Costa Rica Is Latest in Rising Tide of Violence in the Country

T he disappearance of American tourist Carla Stefaniak in Costa Rica – and the grim discovery of a body in the backyard of her AirBnB – is shedding light on the growing violence in the Central American country, which had long been considered safe.

Authorities are awaiting an autopsy to confirm that the remains, found on Tuesday , are those of Stefaniak. The 36-year-old Florida resident disappeared Nov. 28 from the capital, San Jose. She had been visiting Costa Rica with her sister-in-law, April Burton, to celebrate her birthday. According to a GoFundMe, Burton left last Tuesday while Stefaniak was scheduled to fly home the following day. Although she checked in for her flight, Stefaniak never made it on board.

A week after she went missing, police confirmed they found a body in the backyard of the Airbnb where Stefaniak had been staying.

Costa Rica has garnered a reputation for being one of the safest countries in Central America, particularly for tourists. Known for its rainforest and beaches, the Central American country is sandwiched between Panama and Nicaragua.

Recently though, the murder rate in the country of 4.9 million has been on the rise, with a record-high of 603 people killed in 2017, Bloomberg reported. That’s a 63% increase compared to 10 years ago.

In August Costa Rica was in the spotlight when two female tourists were killed within a week. According to Costa Rican news site QCOSTARICA.com, a 31-year-old Spanish woman was found strangled to death near Tortuguero National Park and days later a 25-year-old Mexican tourist was drowned to death at El Carmen beach in Santa Teresa.

The brutal deaths were a huge concern to Costa Rican authorities at the time. Shortly after the murders security minister Michael Soto told Bloomberg , “There has already been damage done to the country’s image.”

In October, the body of 62-year-old Vermont-native Thomas Cook was found in a shallow grave after he was being reported missing for weeks, Fox News reported. Cook had retired and was living in a small town outside of San Jose. Police are investigating his cause of death.

The recent string of homicides might have financial consequences for the country as well. Tourism makes up a large portion of the nation’s economy.

Bloomberg reported that Costa Rica had nearly 3 million tourists visit the country in 2017, with almost half the visitors coming from the U.S. and Canada. In 2017 alone tourism brought in $3.9 billion for the economy, according to the tourism chamber.

According to the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Travel & Tourism Office, Costa Rica ranked 15th among international destinations for Americans, with more than 1 million visiting in 2017. However, tourism dipped in 2017 as the number of American visitors declined for the first time since 2009.

While officials have not stated a reason for the decline in American tourism, it comes as there is a spike in crime in the country. According to InSight Crime , a nonprofit news organization that focuses on crime in Latin America, in the first six months of 2018, Costa Rica registered 302 homicides, an increase of 29 during the same period the previous year. Officials from the Judicial Investigation Agency (Organismo de Investigación Judicial) project that 2018 will break 2017’s record with an estimated 625 homicides.

But despite the rise in murders, Costa Rica is still one of the safest country in the region. The homicide rate as of 2017 was 12.1 out of 100,000, according to data compiled by InSight Crime. That’s still lower than the murder rate in other top destinations for American tourists like Mexico, 22.5; the Dominican Republic, 14.9; and Jamaica, 55.7.

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American among six tortured, shot and burned in massacre at Costa Rica cattle and coffee farm

The 61-year-old was in the process of selling his property for $1.8m to be closer to family in the us, article bookmarked.

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An American cattle and coffee farmer found dead with his five farm hands at a ranch in Costa Rica had been trying to sell his property to return to the United States and be closer to family.

Stephen Paul Sandusky, 61, was a United States citizen and Costa Rica resident, according to the US Embassy in the Central American country.

The former Florida resident retired to a farm in Llano Bonito de Buenos Aires de Puntarenas, about 200km south east of San Jose.

He listed the property for $1.8m in 2019 to return to the US, but the Covid pandemic hit and left it on the market for the past two years without a buyer, listing agent Diego Quesada told The Independent.

“He wanted to go back to his family and he wanted to go back to the States,” Mr Quesada said.

Mr Sandusky first bought the property 25 years ago before expanding it in 2005 and deciding to sell in 2019, Mr Quesada said. The divorced father of two had been in the country since the late 1990s, according to Q Costa Rica .

“Since then and after the pandemic started he didn’t lower the price of the property, and so far the listing was active and still looking to sell,” Mr Quesada said. “He was a very nice guy.”

He moved to Costa Rica to begin farming because he “wanted to live in peace”, his lawyer Jorge Enrique Infante told Q Costa Rica .

“He was a very noble, kind, and generous person. He told me that he wanted to learn agriculture and that is why he bought the farm. He started with cattle and then he realized that he had a small profit,” Mr Infante told the outlet. “Years ago we stopped having a professional relationship but about a year ago I ran into him in a supermarket and we were talking. Yes, he told me that they robbed him a lot”.

Authorities suspect robbery was the motive behind the massacre, which left all six victims either doused in gas, burned or shot. The Costa Ricans killed were Daniel Quesada Cascante, 44, his wife Alina Villarevia, 41, and their son, Daniel Quesada, 20. Susan Zúñiga Rodriguez, 40, and Borbón Muñoz, 38, were also killed, according to TV Sur .

Mr Sandusky hired Mr Quesada for maintenance on a vehicle, and Mr Quesada’s family along with their friends joined for the trip, according to ACHR Noticias .

Police suspect several gunmen went to the farm to rob the property as several tools and items missing from the house were presumed to be stolen, the outlet reported.

The house was also heavily damaged with broken windows and a burned truck, where some of the bodies were found.

Don Eladio Quesada told ACHR Noticias that he found the bodies on Sunday.

"We walked in and found my son’s body fully burned, the scene with the women around the car, it was hard to find all the bodies burned and wrapped in tires and some with shots," he said.

He had travelled to the property after his family failed to return home, Mr Quesada’s sister told TV Sur.

"Daniel always went with (his father) César because he was also a mechanic and they worked together; Alina was going to accompany them because they say it is a very beautiful place," she told the broadcaster.

Mr Sandusky’s farm had been for sale since 2019, and locals claimed he had been attacked on previous occasions but was loved among the local community, according to Le Teja .

Mr Sandusky’s farm was listed for US$1.8 million on Chirripo Real Estate . It is on 70 hectares of pasture with 20 hectares of coffee plantation, and rolling hills for livestock pasture and a variety of fruit trees surrounding the single-storey home.

The US Embassy would not release further details on Mr Sandusky due to privacy concerns, according to the Associated Press.

Costa Rica is considered the least violent nation in Central America with a homicide rate of 11 per 100,000 people each year. By comparison, the US homicide rate in 2019 was 5 per 100,000 people, according to the most recent figures from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

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Costa Rican Authorities Say Suspected Murder of U.S. Tourist Was 'Sexually' Motivated

Costa Rican authorities said Wednesday that the suspected murder of a 36-year-old American tourist was sexually motivated, and announced they had a suspect in custody.

The search for Florida resident Carla Stefaniak came to an end Monday when police announced they found a body in the backyard of the Airbnb where she had stayed with her sister-in-law for a birthday vacation in San Antonio de Escazú, just outside the capital city of San Jose. Stefaniak was last heard from on the evening of Nov. 27 — the day before her scheduled flight home — but then disappeared, according to a GoFundMe set up by family members.

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department’s General Director Walter Espinoza confirmed the arrest of 32-year-old Bismarck Espinosa Martinez, according to ABC-7 in Tampa and other outlets. Authorities said Espinosa Martinez worked as a security guard at the complex where Stefaniak was staying, and lived in the apartment next to Stefaniak’s. Authorities also said Stefaniak was killed inside her apartment before her partially nude body was dumped 1,000 feet from the Airbnb , according to the Orlando Sentinel and other outlets.

NEW: Photos shared by Costa Rican authorities show the suspect in the murder of Carla Stefaniak in custody. He’s been identified as 32 year-old Bismark Espinosa Martinez of Nicaragua. He was a security guard at the building where Carla was staying. pic.twitter.com/ZUljl0ARZP — Frank Guzman (@fguzmanon7) December 4, 2018

The official cause of death was a stab wound to the neck, authorities said. Stefaniak was also reportedly stabbed in the arms and suffered blunt trauma to the head. Police added that the crime was “sexually” motivated.

Authorities said Espinosa Martinez originally told police he helped Stefaniak pack her luggage into a taxi at around 5 a.m. on Nov. 28 but then changed his story, leading police to follow up. They added that Espinosa Martinez, a Nicaraguan native living in Costa Rica since June, is still considered a suspect and that the investigation is ongoing.

“The person detained for the homicide was near her, had chances to commit the act and became a suspect through all our investigation.” Espinoza said.

Stefaniak’s family confirmed her death on Facebook . According to the page “Finding Carla”, set up when Stefaniak was still considered missing, her father identified her body on Wednesday night shortly before midnight.

“It’s now official,” the post said. “Words cannot express the devastation within her family and friends. We want the world to know that we will never forget Carla. We will never forget the joy she brought into our lives, how much she made us laugh. We will always be with her and we know she will always be with us. May God bless her soul.”

The family said they will continue to post updates on the investigation and “continue asking questions about the involvement of others in Carla’s murder.”

“We will make sure this case is not closed like many others in Costa Rica.” the family posted.

Federico Jenkin, the attorney representing the owner of the Airbnb, released a statement to ABC Action News announcing they were cooperating with authorities and closing the villa as police continue their investigation. According to Jenkin, Villa Le Mas has been in operation since 2013 and received thousands of guests.

“We are deeply saddened and devastated by the tragic events that occurred last week,” the statement said. “The owners are fully cooperating with the authorities in the investigation and we hope that once the facts are determined, the perpetrator is brought to justice. While the investigation is ongoing, and since the focus of the owners is the comfort of our guests, the facility has been temporarily closed.”

The villa, still available to view on Trip Advisor, has mostly favorable reviews, but some called their stay a “nightmare” and “terrible.”

The murder rate in the country of 4.9 million has been on the rise, with a record-high of 603 people killed in 2017, Bloomberg reported. That’s a 63% increase compared to 10 years ago.

According to the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Travel & Tourism Office, Costa Rica ranked 15th among international destinations for Americans, with more than 1 million visiting in 2017. However, tourism dipped in 2017 as the number of American visitors declined for the first time since 2009.

“Crime is increasing in Costa Rica and U.S. citizens are frequent victims,” the U.S Embassy in Costa Rica said . “U.S. citizens are encouraged to exercise a high level of caution and vigilance due to increasing levels of violent crime.”

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Multiple People 'Organized' Killing of Fla. Woman Celebrating Birthday in Costa Rica: Family

Carla Stefaniak, 36, was killed while vacationing in Costa Rica in November

The family of a Florida woman found dead in Costa Rica believes that multiple people are responsible for her death.

Carla Stefaniak, 36, was on vacation in Costa Rica in late November. She was set to return home on November 28 — her birthday. She checked into her flight online, but never boarded the plane. On the day before her disappearance, she texted her sister-in-law and said that conditions were “pretty sketchy” at the resort where she was staying.

Her partially-buried body was found in a wooded area near her resort, covered in plastic bags. An autopsy found that she died as a result of head injuries , but also suffered multiple stab wounds on her neck.

A security guard working the property surrounding the Airbnb where Stefaniak was staying was arrested in connection to her death.

According to General Director of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department Walter Espinoza, the security guard, 32-year-old Bismarck Espinosa Martinez, became a suspect after allegedly contradicting his story regarding Stefaniak’s whereabouts to police. Espinoza said that Martinez’ alleged “motive is sexual.”

Espinoza also alleged that Martinez has been living in Costa Rica for the past several years illegally.

Martinez was not immediately charged after his arrest and authorities announced he was being held on a preventive sentence and would spend several months in prison. It is not clear if he has been charged yet.

There are no details at this time as to whether or not Martinez has a lawyer or has entered a plea.

But on December 13, Stefaniak’s family wrote on a Facebook page launched after her disappearance that sources involved in the investigation have told them more than one person was likely involved in her death.

“In fact, the doubt extends to that there may be up to three or four possible people involved,” Stefaniak’s family wrote on Dec. 13 . “We have been saying this since day 1. This was organized by more than one person as soon as Carla booked the place.”

• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

After she disappeared, Stefaniak had no online or social media presence.

“Carla’s clothes, iPhone and other electronics were found,” the family wrote. “This is consistent with with our initial suspicions and communications with Costa Rican authorities that whoever abducted Carla turned her electronics off and the last digital footprint was at the AirBnb location.”

No other suspects are currently in custody. Costa Rican authorities are continuing to investigate the case.

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A Canadian teacher has been killed in what is believed to have been a violent robbery in Costa Rica.

citynews.ca / Bruce McCallum, 58, who taught at Albert Campbell Collegiate in Scarborough, was found dead around 4:30 a.m. last Sunday in the southern Caribbean town of Puerto Viejo, Limón. He had suffered multiple stab wounds.

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Asia Pacific

• Papua New Guinea: Tourist from U.S. gang raped while boyfriend tied to a tree
• Manila Phillipines: Alleged corruption of airport officials planting bullets in luggage to extort bribes from passengers
• Malaysia: Four tourists deported for posing nude on Mount Kinabalu, sacred area
• Phillipines: Islamists threaten to execute German hostage on Friday if ransom not paid
• Kuala Lumpur: Man Killed, tourists injured in tourist district from grenade explosion
• Australia: Tourist from UK rescued after being imprisoned, beat, and raped over two months
• Australia: Four tourists from U.S., pilot killed in plane crash
• Australia: British Backpacker dies from knife wounds while trying to assist fellow Briton
• Melbourne Australia: Flesh-Eating Bacteria Spreading due to Mosquito Bites
• Australia: German tourist killed in outback driving down wrong side of the road
• Tourist from UK,Canada Killed in robbery Bahamas, family attacked with machete
• U.S. expat with legal problems found murdered in Grand Bahama
• Bahamas: two tourists robbed at gunpoint of personal items and rental car
• Bahamas: according to attorney, if violence continues cruise lines may pull out
• Elderly Canadian tourist injured in shark attack in the Bahamas
• Hamilton Bermuda: Canadian Tourist Injured in rental scooter accident
• Bermuda: U.S. tourist killed in diving accident
• Bermuda: Tourist from London dies in bike accident
• U.S. tourist injured in bike accident, Bermuda
• Bermuda, Tourist's purse snatched while cycling

Border Crossings

• Border Security United States (Report)
• Mexico: ISIS may be operating near U.S. border
• Switzerland to curtail immigration
• Unrest in disupted area causes closures of some Kyrgyz-Tajik border crossings
• Germany: city bracing for increased prostitution on border with France
• Rio de Janeiro Brazil: Tourist shot, killed by police on favela tour under investigation
• Brazil: Tourist river runner from UK murdered and dumped in Amazon River
• Brazil: Tourist from Europe assaulted, raped while on cycling tour
• Sao Paulo Brazil: Modalities of Cell Phone Theft on the streets (Video)
• Brazil Yellow Fever Alert, worst outbreak in decades
• Edmonton, Canada: Stabbing attack on officer, truck incident possible terrorism
• Canada: Search called off for missing Irish Expat, last seen jumping off bridge
• Revelstoke Canada: German tourist killed while heli-skiing
• British Columbia - FIVE Tourists from u.k. die in whale watching expedition

Canary Islands

• Canary Islands, Spain: Tourist from Ireland murdered
• Canary Islands: Five Killed, hundreds evacuated Tenerife from major storms
• Canary Islands: Dutch tourist dies while scuba diving
• Canary Islands: British tourist detained after pouring boiling water on pedestrians
• Canary Islands: British tourist killed while walking, hit by vehicle
• Dominican Republic: Topless Tourist Killed in accident (video)
• Dominica: Cruise line sued by tourist for broken ankle in zipline accident off ship
• Hell in Cuba for one former Expat
• Three Americans, Canadian detained for exhibitionism while filming scenes for pornographic movie in public
• Trinidad: Tourist from U.S dies in car crash, wife in serious condition
• Chile: Mudslide kills tourist, others near Corcovado National Park
• Santiago, Chile: Tourist dies heart attack, unable to get medical attention because of protests against Uber, Cabify
• Tourist dies in kayak accident in Chile, founder of North Face
• Tourist from Belgium dies from burns after falling into geyser in Atacama Chile
• 7.9 MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE NEAR ILLAPEL CHILE
• China: Passengers upset over delayed flight open emergency exits, takeoff aborted
• Xiamen China: Woman cuts in line to bathroom, beaten with brick by tourist
• Hong Kong: Protests, Civil Unrest Continues
• China investigating Canadian expat couple for suspected theft of military, intelligence information
• China: City Quarantined After Death from Plague

Civil Unrest

• Nicaragua: Tourist Industry in Shambles
• Saudi Arabia, Bahrain: Tensions Rise After Execution of Cleric, 46 others for terrorism offenses
• Civil Unrest breaks out Guadalajara Mexico after police operation
• Protests in Santiago Chile, police clash with students
• Medellin, Colombia: Two Foreign Tourists Poisoned with Scopolamine, One Dead
• Colombia: Tourist from Belgium run over by vehicle, serious head trauma
• Colombia: ELN Guerrilla group claims kidnapped Russian killed when trying to escape
• Tourist alleges she was raped in Cartagena Colombia
• ISIS Unveils US Kill List, Florida connection
• Demonstrations break out in Sao Paulo Brazil against World Cup
• Violence continues in southern Russia during Olympic preparations
• Five members of Médecins Sans Frontières kidnapped by unknown Syrian group
• Costa Rica: Tourists Victims of Armed Robbery in National Park
• Costa Rica: Tourists from U.S. Killed in Plane Crash
• Surfer from U.S. attacked by crocodile in Costa Rica
• Tourist from U.S. files rape charges in Costa Rica
• Cruise Ship Prepares for potential Pirate Attack
• Various Scenarios in Which Cruise Ships could be attacked by terrorists
• Cozumel Mexico: Cruise Ship Denied Access, carrying passenger with possible exposure to Ebola
• U.K.: Freak Accident, passenger killed aboard cruise ship Marco Polo
• American remains missing after intentionally going overboard on cruise ship
• Sound Sample of Sonic Warfare Diplomats are hearing in Cuba
• Cuba: Canadian Tourist Detained for flying drone, released after nearly two weeks in jail
• Visiting Cuba? Watch out for these scams

Dominican Republic

• Galapagos Islands, Ecuador: U.S. Tourist Lost, Found Safe via 911 Service
• Vilcabamba, Ecuador: Tourist Brutally Beaten, Robbed on popular hiking trail
• Guayaquil, Ecuador: U.S. Citizen Murdered, body riddled with bullets by gunman on motorcycle
• International Airport Guayaquil, Ecuador: Expect flight suspensions due to maintenance
• Amazon Ecuador: Group of tourists lost for more than week, found alive
• Egypt: Three foreign tourists stabbed by suspected IS militants at hotel
• Egypt: Security Forces fire on Tourists, killing at least 12
• German Tourist Killed in Shark Attack in Egypt
• Cairo Egypt Explosive Device Explodes Ramsis Square, Injuries Reported
• Egypt: Suspect arrested in rape of foreign tourist

El Salvador

• El Salvador a precarious destination for tourists
• Four Poles injured in car accident in Kazakhstan
• Kazakh tourist warned against travel to Kyrgyzstan resorts after plague outbreak
• Dutch traveler dies in motorcycle accident in central Kazakhstan
• Two Czech climbers rescued from mountain in western Georgia
• Georgia: Three Armenian travelers injured in road accident near Teleti
• Paris France: Anti-Government Protests Intensified
• Florence Italy: Tourist struck by falling debris from famous church, killed
• Greece: Tourist from UK savagely attacked by wild dogs while hiking, killed
• Mallorca, Spain: Teen Tourist from Scotland Allegedly Gang Raped on Beach
• Italy: Four Immigrants Arrested in Rape of Polish tourist

Expatriate Arrested

• Expat in Ecuador Arrested and extradited to U.S. for attempted murder
• Cuenca Ecuador: U.S. Expatriate detained, wanted by FBI in U.S. for Sex Crimes
• Thailand: 22 elderly expats detained for playing bridge, suspected of gambling
• U.S. Expat detained Peru for Sexual exploitation, trafficking, sex tourism

Expatriate attacked

• Expat in Ecuador Brutally Attacked, victim of hate crime, get out of our country
• Thailand: Expat killed in bee attack
• Ballenita, Ecuador: Expat victim of home invasion, threatened with a knife
• Thailand: U.S. expat english teacher victim of sexual assault

Expatriate Dies

• Expat from Italy dies in Ecuador after apparently being hit by a boat while swimming
• Expat in Ecuador dies after home invasion
• Ecuador: Swiss National Dies in Vehicle Accident
• Health Planning and Strategies for those aging, advice for families: Aging Bravely: Shut Up and Stop Your Whining Paperback

Expatriate Kidnapped

• Three charged in Kidnapping of U.S. expatriate in Loja Ecuador
• Mexico: Rich or Poor, you may be a target of kidnapping
• Ecuador: Victims of Kidnapping for Ransom, share their story
• U.S. Expat kidnapped for ransom in Vilcabamba Ecuador, rescued, suspects include one American
• Ecuador: U.S. Expat Couple, Victim of Kidnapping

Expatriate Killed

• Beirut, Lebanon: Uber Driver Suspected in Killing of British Woman
• Mexico: Canadian found murdered in La Paz residence

Expatriate Missing

• Expat Missing Salinas, Ecuador
• Costa Rica: Investigation of missing U.S. expat broadens, may have been real estate related
• U.S. expat still missing Costa Rica
• Ecuador: Missing U.S. expat in Cotacachi

Expatriate raped

• Saudi Arabia: Asian maid kidnapped and raped in a desert camp
• India: Bangladeshi teen kidnapped and raped in India
• India: Journalist, 23, gang raped in Mumbai
• Norwegian rape victim sentenced to 16 months in prison for charges stemming from her attack
• Nepalese woman raped near Indian construction site

Expatriate Robbed

• Gang targeting expats, tourists in Vilcabamba Ecuador detained
• Ecuador: Expat Couple victim of home invasion second time in two weeks
• Two foreign students robbed near British university

Expatriate Suicide

• New York: Two members of Iranian rock band murdered by former band member
• Kuwait: Sir Lankan expat tries to commit suicide at her sponsor's home
• Malaysia: Indonesian couple found dead in field in possible suicide
• Asian expat commits suicide in the Kuwait
• Bahrain: Indian expat kills wife, then himself

Expatriate Warning

• Expat's home burgled in Salinas Ecuador
• Canadian Expat Brutally Murdered in Mexico
• Spain: Thousands of British expats duped into buying illegally built properties, now have hope
• Ecuador: expat couple victims of home invasion

Expatriates

• One Expat's thoughts on how life abroad is ruining her daughter's life
• What it is like being an expat, why we do it
• Five Overseas Retirement Destinations, the good and the bad
• France: Anti-Semitism contributing to migration of Jewish Frenchmen to New York

Expatriates Attacked

• Mexico: Expat from Canada beaten and strangled with camera cord
• Riyadh Saudi Arabia: thousands of Afican migrants involved in clashes with vigilantes, police
• Tajik train assaulted by armed group in Russia
• American ship attacked by pirates off the coast of Nigeria

Expatriates Injured

• U.S. Contract Worker Killed, one injured at gas station shooting
• One Arabian expat killed in quad bike accident at Qatari resort, another injured
• Bombing at Iranian Embassy in Beirut kills at least 23
• Migrant boat from Africa capsizes in the Mediterranean, hundreds left in the sea

Expatriates Kidnapped

• Libya: Authorities searching for Canadian, Italians abducted near border with Algeria
• Two foreign crew members kidnapped from oil tanker near Nigerian coast
• French government reveals the kidnapping of two journalists in Syria

Expatriates Killed

• Expat/Tourist Gunned Down in Mexico
• Expat dies after hit on his motorcycle in Manta Ecuador
• Elderly Expat Couple from Canada found Murdered in Mexico
• Qatar: More than 400 expats from Nepal died at building sites for World Cup 2022
• Marseille France: Two women stabbed to death train station, terror attack
• Marseille, France: Four U.S. Students victims of acid attack at train station
• Paris France: Two American Tourists targeted in jewelry heist
• France: Anti-terror police patrolling Alpine Ski Villages
• Germany: Drunken U.S. Tourist Assaulted for alleged Nazi Salute
• Germany: Two Chinese tourists arrested for making Hitler salute
• German tourist town asks for help, problems posed by crime among refugees
• GERMANY: Interior Minister warns more than 500 Islamic militants present
• Germans tolds to stockpile food and water in event of national emergency
• Greece: Tourist from U.S. beaten, killed on Greek island (July 2017)
• Greece: German Tourist Missing in Sitia
• Athens Greece: thousands protest in streets in protests of far-right Golden Dawn Party
• Pakistani migrant robbed and raped in Greece
• Hapuna Hawaii: Man bitten on arm by shark
• Hawaii: Kayak fisherman killed in shark attack
• Hawaii: Search for missing hiker in Haleakala Crater continues
• Hawaii: Several beaches near Honolulu closed after spill contaminates water
• India: Tourist dies after fall of 30 feet while taking picture of temple
• Goa India: Tourists alerted to cases of spiked drinks
• India: Tourist From Britain Molested on Train by Drunken Passengers
• INDIA: 22 Airports warned of possible terror attack
• INDIA WARNING: Foreign female tourists advised not to wear skirts for their own safety
• Bali: Brit and Asuusie Jailed for brutal killing of police officer
• Jakarta Indonesia: Suicide Attacks, gun battles continue, Starbucks closes all locations in country
• Indonesia: Embassy issues alert for potential threats against U.S. interests
• Indonesia: Tourists still missing after boat sinks
• Bali: Dog Culling Effort, supposedly to protect tourism business
• Tel Aviv Israel: Tourist from U.S. stabbed to death in terror attack
• Jerusalem: Bloodiest attack in years killing three U.S. and one British citizen at synagogue
• Israel: Ecuadorian dies from injuries in terrorist attack
• German Tourist Missing in Samaria Israel
• Israel: Spate of Attacks on Catholic Churches before Pope's visit
• Italy: Tourist gang raped, boyfriend badly beaten on popular beach
• Rome Italy: Romanian arrested as suspect in robbery, beating, rape of Australian tourist
• Italy: Major Train Crash Kills at least 27, injures dozens
• Japan: Ghost follows man into taxi (Video)
• Japan: Tsunami alert - 7.0 earthquake
• Japan: Hikers perish in volcanic eruption, Mount Ontake (Video)
• Japan: number of cases of syphilis increase 40 percent

journalists

• Turkish photographer kidnapped by jihadi rebel group in Syria
• Radical opposition forces in Syria execute Iraqi journalist
• Syria: Two journalists from Sweden abducted when trying to leave the country
• Aid Worker from UK dies in Kenya from Malaria

Latin America

• Tourist Detained for Trafficking in Protected Spiders in Cusco, Peru
• Huaraz, Peru: Canadian/U.S. Dual Citizen missing for month, hostel under investigation
• Ecuador: Tourist stranded after refusing to mule a package back to Malaysia

Mediterranean

• Cyprus: Drunk Russian Tourist alleges attacked in ambulance
• Russian drowns in rough seas off the coast of Cyprus
• 21 Nations across the Middle East declare Polio emergency
• Malta: Two foreigners arrested for assaulting police officers
• Israel: Hiker airlifted after stepping on land mine planted in abandoned building
• Mexico: Tourist from U.S. murdered by cartel while hiking
• Mysterious Death of Man after drinking soft drink in Mexicali Mexico
• Trying to Contact Friends or Family in Mexico after Earthquake, possible solutions
• Deadly Earthquake Shakes Mexico

Middle East

• Dubai: Tourist arrested, jailed three months for using profanity at airport
• Dubai: Tourist thought going to hotel for sex, robbed and filmed by Nigerian crooks
• Turkey: German tourists killed, injured in bus accident
• Turkey Alert: Families of U.S. Consulate (Istanbul) ordered to leave over safety concerns

Natural Disaster

• Nepal: Hundreds of tourists rescued by elephants in flooded safari park
• American nationals among killed in Philippines after massive typhoon
• Hundreds feared dead after supertyphoon hits the Philippines
• Nepal: 12 trekkers killed in snowstorm, avalanche in Himalayas, 100 still missing
• Gorkha, Nepal: French Tourist missing, swept away by river
• Nepal: U.S. Tourist dies after being swept away on river

New Zealand

• New Zealand: Missing Hiker from U.S. found safe
• New Zealand: Dutch Tourist Missing
• New Zealand: Search on for Missing Dutch Tourist
• Tauranga New Zealand: Man arrested after attempting to steal vehicles from tourists at camp site
• New Zealand: Tourist Killed on unlit rural Queenstown road

North America

• California/Mexico border: Cal. couple hiking lost for five days in desert found alive
• Miami, Florida: Five positive for Zika including three tourists
• Grand Canyon: Tour Guide Still Missing, search continues
• Cat Missing on Flight from United Arab Emirates to New York
• Los Angeles Region U.S.: New Aggressive Mosquito Found, capable of transmitting viruses

North Korea

• China concerned over treatment of its citizens detained in North Korea
• North Korea: American tourist arrested, sentenced to 15 years of 'compulsory labor'
• Japanese tourist dies while snorkeling in Guam
• Four New Zealanders killed in car crash in Samoa
• Elderly Japanese tourist drowns while diving off the coast of Guam
• Mariana Islands: Resort employee accused of raping Korean tourist
• New Zealand woman nearly killed by parasite picked up from salad in Fiji
• Pakistan: warning of possible attacks by Taliban on tourists in mountain climbing area
• Czech tourists on video alive after being abducted in Pakistan
• Jeep drives into ravine in Pakistan, killing two foreigners and injuring four more
• At least 18 government employees killed in Pakistan bus bomb attack
• Pakistan: South African businessman kidnapped in Lahore before boarding plane home
• Tourist From France Collapses, Dies on Downtown Street Cusco, Peru
• Lima Peru: Horrific Tourist Bus Accident kills at least nine (video)
• Peru: At Least 72 dead in flash floods, landslides, mudslides

Philippines

• Philippines: Jihadi group demands $60 million for three Western hostages (Canadian, Norwegian)
• Phillippines: HIV infections increase 25 per cent
• Phillipines: U.S. Marine charged in murder of transexual
• Portugal: Two Britons arrested for hiring birthday party kidnappers
• Portugal: Belgian tourist killed after being swept off Peniche cliff top by wave

Public Unrest

• Thailand Travel Warning, terrorism threat, border areas, protests
• Thailand: Protests to oust prime minister begins, 100,000 in streets of Bangkok
• Thailand: Travel Warning Bangkok

Puerto Rico

• Intercontinental Hotel in Puerto Rico Robbed, employee assaulted
• Puerto Rico: tourist from Minnesota died during snorkeling excursion
• Puerto Rico: Canadian man drowns after being swept to sea by strong current
• Puerto Rico: American tourist drowns while swimming at beach in San Juan
• Puerto Rico: Teenage tourist injured, sets off 'live munition' left by U.S. Navy
• Dagestan Republic, Russia: lslamic State claims killing tourist in tour group
• Thousands of Russian Tourists Stranded Abroad, Major Travel Company Goes Under
• Warning Russia: visitors electronic devices being hacked
• U.S. journalist kicked out of Russia

Shark Attack

• Brazil: Tourist Scuba Diver forearm ripped off by shark
• Australia: Man killed by shark in popular tourist destination

Solomon Islands

• Solomon Islands: Dengue outbreak kills another, continues to spread

South Africa

• Tourist from U.S. raped at national park in South Africa
• South Africa: Police discover second time in month explosives on bus from Zimbabwe
• Traveler survives fall from tourist viewpoint in South Africa

South Paciic

• Chikungunya virus arrives in Tahiti
• Ibiza, Spain: Tourist from UK arrested for alleged attempt to drown UK woman at hotel
• Tourist from Italy killed in Terror attack in Barcelona on Las Ramblas
• Barcelona Spain: Search underway for seven year old boy from UK after terrorist attack
• Spain: Three German Tourists Detained in rape of tourist in hotel
• British tourist drowns in Sri Lanka
• Australian rights activist expelled from Sri Lanka for engaging in anti-government activities
• Chinese tourist scammed by Sri Lankan tour guide
• Swiss couple robbed while on vacation in Sri Lanka

Switzerland

• Tourists flee grounded boat in Switzerland
• Switzerland: Polish citizen dies after falling onto train tracks in Lausanne
• British stuntman dies in wing-diving accident in Switzerland
• Switzerland: One American killed and four others injured in hot air balloon crash
• Switzerland: One dead, 25 injured in commuter train crash
• IED Detonated On London Underground Train, 22 Injured
• Global Terror Attacks Increase Amid Growing Fear
• Thailand: Belgian Tourist found dead on Koh Tao, 7th death of tourists in three years
• Thailand: Fake Tourist Bus Scania involved in deadly crash
• Thailand: Australian tourist killed in jet-ski collision with partner

Tourist Arrested

• Australians Detained for Alleged Cocaine Smuggling in Ecuador

Tourist Attacked

• New York City: Tourist from Italy stabbed in front of Trump Hotel while snapping pictures

Tourist Dies

• German tourist dies mountain climbing, heart attack, falls ten meters

Tourist Drowned

• Lu’um Balam, Cancun Mexico: Tourist Dead in Cavern, body still not recovered
• Roatan, Honduras: German Tourist dead
• Spain: Two Tourists from UK drown
• Nicaragua: 13 die as tourist boat capsizes in Caribbean
• Boat Capsizes in Paraguay, Brazilian Tourists Drown

Tourist Food Poisoning

• Europe: Salmonella outbreak
• UK issues Cyclospora Health Alert for Mexico (Riviera Maya coast)
• Egypt: 100 tourists from UK ill at Coral Sea Waterworld Complex, bacterial poisoning suspected
• 300 plus passengers, crew ill on Royal Caribbean cruise ship
• Thailand: British tourist survives three story fall from hotel balcony after drinking spiked beverages

Tourist Harassed

• Norwegian journalists harassed by Russian police over content of Sochi reporting
• Two members of American tour group harassed by Indian police constable
• India: Russian couple harassed by local travelers at tourist cave
• Egyptian woman harassed by man in elevator in Saudi Arabia
• United Kingdom: Foreign tourists racially abused in Chichester

Tourist Injured

• Michoacán, Mexico: Irish Tourist Murdered, girlfriend from U.S. injured in robbery by bandits

Tourist Kidnapped

• Japanese man kidnapped by armed men in Manila suburbs

Tourist Killed

• Colorado: Man sentenced to prison in murder of tourist

Tourist Missing

Tourist raped, tourist robbed.

• Barcelona, Spain: Beware of Professional Pickpockets in Metro who target tourists

Tourist Scam

• Spain, France, Italy ranked worse for tourist scams in Europe
• Scotland: Crime Group Impersonating Police Officers Targeting Tourists for their Cash
• Tourist from U.S. robbed by transvestites in Mexico City
• Irish authorities uncover six-month long ATM scam in tourist town

Tourist Stories

• Orlando Florida Tourist District Hotbed for vehicle break-ins
• Thailand: Warrants issued for two U.S. tourists for theft of human body parts
• U.K. Tourist from U.S. trapped in London bookstore after it closes
• France: Fire breaks out on a ride at Disneyland Paris

Tourist Suicide

• Sousse, Tunisia: Tourist from Denmark commits suicide, jumps from hotel room
• U.S. Tourist Death Deemed Suicide in U.K.
• Russian Tourist Commits Suicide in Hotel in Dominican Republic
• Thailand: Chinese couple dead in murder-suicide at resort in Phuket
• Chinese tourist attempts suicide in Taiwan

Tourist Warning

• Knife attack on three people outside London Underground Train Station

Tourists Attacked

• Two Tourists from U.S. assaulted after withdrawing funds from ATM in Mexico City, one dead, one injured
• Nice France: Bastille Day attack kills 70

Tourists Die

• Las Vegas: Mass Shooting, dead, injured (videos)
• Honduras: Students from U.S. on medical mission perish in bus crash, numerous wounded
• White Sands National Monument, N.M.: Tourists from France die while hiking
• India: British tourists found dead in hotel, Agra

Tourists ill

• Travelers to the Caribbean warned of risk of mosquito-borne illnesses
• Indonesia: Seven Australians contract measles in Bali, tourists warned of potential spread
• Canada: Japanese tour group quarantined in hotel in Alberta over potential measles outbreak
• Indonesia: Travelers to Bali warned of risk of measles after four Australians contract the disease

Tourists Injured

• Belize: Six tourist from France involved in tourist van crash

Tourists Killed

• Mexico: Tourist bus crashes in route to Cancun, 12 killed, 30 injured, driver flees

Tourists Raped

• Sri Lanka: Foreigner arrested for sexually assaulting two French tourists
• Israel: teenager indicted in assault and attempted rape of British tourist
• Peru: German tourists assaulted, robbed, one of victims raped by masked gunmen
• British tourist raped by tribesmen in Colombia

Tourists Rescued

• Tennessee: Young Hiker Survives nearly two weeks lost in forest
• Rescue operation saves group of tourists from ship trapped in Antarctica
• Foreigners evacuated from South Sudan amid increasing factional violence
• United States: Family rescued after going missing in Nevada mountains

Tourists Robbed

• Versailles, Fraince: Chinese Tourist Guide Robbed while intervening in robbery of other tourists
• Dublin Ireland: Over 700 tourists robbed in 2014

Travel Aviation

• Coup Attempt Turkey appears to have failed

Travel Health

• Menorca Spain Hotel: Outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease

Travel News

• Editor of Touristkilled.com featured on news program for assisting tourists to be better informed
• Hurricane Otto to threaten lives and property from Panama to Honduras, El Salvador
• Some May Decide to Dump Trump and become expats in Latin America
• Heatwave Expected to Cross sections of Western Europe

Travel Weather Issues

• Driving Safety Tips when in Fog
• Australia: Bushfire threatens popular tourist area
• According to NASA El Nino could be as bad as 1998
• Turkey: Tourist from Denmark dies in Balloon mishap
• Travel Scams in Turkey
• Ankara Turkey: Germany temporarily closes embassy, fear of attack

United Kingdom

• Buckingham Palace attack: Two Suspected Terrorists Arrested
• Al-Qaeda plotting terror attacks in Britian and Europe per defence secretary
• ISIS encourages Jihadists to use random knife attacks to commit assasinations

United-States

• Active Shooter Mandalay Bay Resort (strip) Las Vegas, hundreds of police at scene, multiple injuries reported (VIDEO)
• One Dead, One Injured in rockfall from El Capitan at Yosemite National Park
• Fires Bearing down on Glacier and Yosemite National Parks
• Vietnam: Anti-China unrest targets factoriees with arson, looting
• Vietnam: Thai visitors held and their motorbikes siezed after traveling without proper documents
• Vietnam: Japanese tourist robbed of iPhone in Ho Chi Minh City
• Travel Alert: Typhoon Krosa targets Vietnam after the Philippine
• American teacher killed in car accident in Vietnam

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Vigilante Warning Issued After Triple Murder in Costa Rica

Early Monday morning, two completely burned cars appeared on a lonely street in Herradura, Puntarenas. Near the site were left several messages vowing to stop the murders and extortion in the Jaco Beach community.

Apparently, the cars would have been used during Sunday night in a triple homicide that occurred in the center of Jaco; beach where two 41-year-old Colombians and another unidentified person were murdered by subjects traveling in ski masks aboard several vehicles.

The discovery occurred at 2:20 a.m. after the Fire Department received an alert indicating that several vehicles were on fire. The cars burned completely but, near where they were, on the grass, there were three sheets with the following message:

“This goes to all those who are poisoning children’s minds by offering them drugs and money to kill innocent people, destroying the future of Costa Rica. And all those who extort innocent people.

“To those who are kidnapping girls and boys, it’s not enough to do what they do to innocent people. Stop the killings and extortion of the people of Costa Rica now.

“This goes for all those who hide, we are going to get them, if we have to pull them out from under rocks, if we have to go to hell for you, because neither your money, nor your luxury cars, nor your luxury homes will save you.

Sincerely: The people for the People

If true, the note is reminiscent of Los PEPES, an anti-Pablo Escobar death squad that killed hundreds of those associated with the drug lord in Columbia in the 1990s. It also may be just a tactic to of a rival criminal organization attempting to distance themselves from the killings in Jaco Beach.

In addition to the burned cars and messages, the authorities found a metal license plate that would be from one of the burned vehicles.

The Public Police Force is on site along with the Municipal Police of Garabito and judicial agents, who are carrying out the corresponding investigations.

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Tag: canadian tourist killed in Costa Rica

Canadian Tourist Killed in Puerto Viejo, Limon

Paquera ferry suspended “for several months”, uber moto is getting ready to start in costa rica.

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