When it turned out that the story he originally told us was different and not compatible with the evidence we'd found,' said Walter Espinoza, head of the country's Judicial Investigation Department. TAMPA, Florida - The family of a Florida woman is asking for answers after she went missing during her vacation to Costa Rica. Stefaniak, a dual Venezuelan-American citizen. On a five-day vacation to Costa Rica in November to celebrate her 36th birthday, Ms. 'He was in close proximity to her, he had the means to commit the crime, and he emerged as a suspect as a consequence of our investigation. Carla Stefaniak did everything right, her best friend said. Her brother flew to Costa Rica last week to assist authorities in the search. However, her body found near the hotel suffered blunt force trauma and had a bruise on her neck.Ĭosta Rican authorities also now say it appears she may have been sexually assaulted.īismark Espinoza Martínez, 32, has been arrested in connection with the murder.Īuthorities in Costa Rica, Martinez is from Nicaragua and worked as a security guard at the vacation rental property where Stefaniak was staying. Stefaniak's family and friends, who live in Tampa, had not heard from her since she texted them from her Airbnb rental Tuesday night to say the power was going in and out. They went there to celebrate Stefaniak's 36th birthday.īurton returned November 27 because of a prior engagement with her husband. Stefaniak and April Burton, Stefaniak's sister-in-law, traveled to Costa Rica Thanksgiving weekend. The 36-year-old woman was due to return home November 28, but never made her flight. Her sister-in-law flew home early, and said Stefaniak decided to stay the extra day in an. I never imagined having to see you like that. Carla Stefaniak, 36, has not been seen since her birthday trip last week with her sister-in-law. It’s terrible,” Caicedo said as he broke down in tears. Identifying a body in the state of decomposition, with the marks that the murderer that hurt you left on your body when he ended your time in this world. Later Wednesday Caicedo described the horror of having to identify his daughter's body in the morgue at a news conference. May God bless her soul,' the Facebook page for Stefaniak stated. We will always be with her and we know she will always be with us. We will never forget the joy she brought into our lives, how much she made us laugh. We want the world to know that we will never forget Carla. 'Words cannot express the devastation within her family and friends. In a Facebook post that was published early Wednesday morning, Carla Stefaniak's father, Carlos Caicedo, was said to have identified her body to investigators late Tuesday evening. LINK: Flyer released by Costa Rica authorities.LINK: GoFundMe page to assist in search.RELATED: Arrest Made in Costa Rica Body May be Tampa Woman Who Went Missing In one of her last messages back home, Carla Stefaniak, a 36-year-old insurance agent from Hallandale Beach, commented on the sketchy atmosphere at her rented Airbnb apartment in a secluded.Bismark Espinoza Martínez charged with the murder of Carla Stefaniak.

The family of former Tampa resident Carla Stefaniak, who disappeared while vacationing in Costa Rica, says a body found on Monday is hers. He is believed to have lived in Costa Rica since June.Īn autopsy revealed that Stefaniak suffered a blunt force wound to the head and cuts on the neck and arms.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 Stefaniak had rented last month.TAMPA, Fla. The department said Wednesday that Espinosa Martinez, a Nicaraguan immigrant, was working as a security guard at the complex despite lacking the proper documents to be in Costa Rica. Investigators said blood was found in his nearby apartment. The country's Judicial Investigation Department said it identified her using fingerprints.Ĭosta Rican officials arrested 32-year-old Bismark Espinosa Martinez, a guard at the Villa Buena Vista resort near the Costa Rican capital after he contradicted himself in statements to police.

The Miami Beach woman went missing on a trip to celebrate her 36th birthday.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - Investigators say a body found near an Airbnb rental in Costa Rica has been identified as that of Carla Stefaniak of Florida. Body of missing American tourist found in Costa Rica: as seen on Action News at 4 p.m., December 5, 2018

Carla stefaniak missing costa rica