US Embassy in Costa Rica and FBI is already alerted. She showed no sign of online presence since 11/27 at 8 pm. She had a flight the next day (11/28) at 1 pm, but she never showed up. She was staying at a villa she found on airbnb. "Last time we heard from her was 11/27 around 8 pm. It had gathered some $11,200 by the time authorities announced her death. ![]() In Stefaniak wrote in her final communication to Burton that she was experiencing a power outage at the Airbnb and may have felt unsafe, writing "It's pretty sketchy here," as BBC News reported.Ī GoFundMe account started on Stefaniak's behalf plead for financial help in getting to the bottom of the young woman's disappearance. Costa Rican officials told ABC Action News that the body, which also appeared to have stab wounds, was still awaiting forensic identification, a process in which the FBI would assist.īurton had previously warned that Stefaniak may have been kidnapped as an Uber driver who was scheduled to drive her to the airport said she had taken another car there. Martinez was reportedly staying in the room next to Stefaniak and gave contradictory statements when questioned by police. Espinoza previously said that blood had been found on the property, where Martinez worked as a security guard. Walter Espinoza, head of the country's Judicial Investigation Department, told reporters that Stefaniak was killed by a blunt force trauma to the head and that 32-year-old Bismarck Espinosa Martinez has been arrested, according to NBC. The case took a dark turn when a partially-concealed body was recovered near the Airbnb on Monday, but authorities waited for the results of an autopsy before revealing the identity. Stefaniak dropped Burton off at the airport on November 27 and checked in to, but never boarded, her own flight the following day. Wednesday, but her Uber records don't show a transaction.Authorities have confirmed that a Florida woman who disappeared last week while vacationing was killed.Ĭosta Rican authorities announced Tuesday that a body recently found near the Airbnb was identified as 36-year-old Carla Stefaniak of Hallandale Beach, who was reportedly visiting the Central American country to celebrate her birthday alongside her sister-in-law April Burton. The owner of Stefaniak's Airbnb said she was last seen getting in an Uber at around 5 a.m. The pair had planned to stay in beach towns, and they posted photos and video to social media documenting their trip. Stefaniak's sister-in-law, April Burton, flew with her, but Burton flew back one day early. ![]() But she had not been heard from since last Tuesday. Stefaniak traveled to Costa Rica to celebrate her birthday, leaving on Thanksgiving Day. Officials say he had the time and space to commit the crime and became a suspect because of the investigation, after testimony he first gave was not compatible to the rest of the evidence. Investigators say blood was found in his apartment and that testimony he gave did not match with CCTV footage and other witness statements. He reportedly lived in the room next to where Stefaniak was staying. On Tuesday, Costa Rican officials arrested 32-year-old Bismarck Espinosa Martinez, a guard at the Villa Buena Vista resort near San Jose. TAMPA, Florida - The father of a Florida woman who went missing while celebrating her 36th birthday in Costa Rica has identified her body, which was found near the villa she rented.Ī posting on the "Finding Carla " Facebook page says Costa Rican authorities allowed the family to view her body, which was found Monday half-buried and covered in plastic near the Airbnb villa that Carla Stefaniak, of Miami Beach, had rented last month.Īn autopsy found stab wounds on her arms and neck, and the cause of death was determined to be a blow to the head.
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