A Dutch couple and a Nicaraguan worker have been found dead on an estate in Sardinal Puntarenas, near Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, on Monday (January 5).
Local media reported the bodies of Dutch pensioner couple Johan and Zita Snelderth Taver and Nicaraguan worker, Rivar Avenec, were found on 400 hectare- (988 acre-) estate known as Ganadera La Flecha.
Police believe the couple and worker could have been killed up to eight days ago, because the bodies – which were found bound by the hands – were in an advanced state of decomposition.
Police and sniffer dogs were seen going into the estate on Monday.
The exact cause of death will need to be determined by forensic experts, the Director of the Judicial Investigations Division, Walter Espinoza, said.
“The time of death of the people, which we estimate was between five to eight days (ago), which makes it difficult to start (the investigation). And the place where the crimes took place is very isolated. We don’t have neighbours or people whom we have found who could have noticed anything strange to this point. The place lends itself for carrying out activities without raising any doubts,” Espinoza said.
Espinoza added Dutch investigators would be arriving on Tuesday (December 5) to help with the investigations.
“We hope, this afternoon, to receive a police attaché from the Netherlands who will work with us and help in particular with the investigation because it is a little difficult for us to know who the people who were killed were, what was their story, what happened in their past, if they had any enemies or circumstances that might have somehow caused this unpleasant event. Likewise we will work in our territory. These people had been here and entered our country about eight years ago,” Espinoza said.
A worker- returning from holiday – found the bodies at the estate, according to local media.
Local media also reported no valuables were stolen from the house.
Authorities have yet to identify any suspects or motive for the crime.
According to its website, Ganadera La Flecha is a cooperative estate, consisting of residential plots of land and farmland, with 340 members mainly from the Netherlands and Belgium. (Reuters)
