Costa Rica Arrests Suspect in US Man’s Death
COSTA RICA · SECURITY
Key Facts
- —What is happening Costa Rica’s judicial police (the OIJ) arrested a 22-year-old woman on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, in Alajuelita, near San José, as the main suspect in the killing of US citizen Marc Fleming.
- —Why it matters Fleming was an American killed in a beach condominium in Guanacaste, Costa Rica’s north-western beach province, and the case drew wide attention in international media.
- —The numbers Fleming died on 27 September, the suspect evaded a raid on 16 October and stayed at large for almost two weeks, and his age is variously stated as 67, 72 or 74.
- —Who is who The OIJ is the judicial police; the suspect is known only by the surname Ortiz, and a second woman, surnamed Zeledón Abarca, was detained on 16 October on suspicion of helping her.
- —What to watch Prosecutors must now decide which pretrial measures to ask a judge for, such as preventive detention, and no hearing date or formal charge has been announced.
- —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 US State Department advises Americans to exercise increased caution in Costa Rica because of crime; no US Embassy statement on this case has been found.
Costa Rica has arrested the woman investigators call the main suspect in the death of an American at a beach condominium. She is accused, not convicted, and no court has ruled.
Costa Rica arrests suspect in the killing of an American man at a Pacific-coast condominium, ending a hunt of almost two weeks. The OIJ, the country’s judicial police, detained a 22-year-old woman on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, in Alajuelita, south of San José.
The victim, US citizen Marc Fleming, died on Sunday, 27 September, in a Playas del Coco condominium apartment. The woman is a suspect only, and no court has tested the evidence.
In Plain English
- OIJ: the Organismo de Investigación Judicial, Costa Rica’s judicial police, which investigates crimes and carries out raids.
- Public prosecutors (Ministerio Público): the state office that decides on charges and asks judges for pretrial measures.
- Preventive detention: jail ordered by a judge while a case is investigated, before any trial or verdict.
- Guanacaste: Costa Rica’s north-western Pacific province, known for beach towns such as Playas del Coco.
- Alajuelita: a district just south of San José, the capital, where the arrest took place.
The Arrest in Alajuelita
OIJ agents detained the woman on Tuesday in San Felipe, a neighbourhood of Alajuelita, the agency confirmed. She is identified only by the surname Ortiz, and she is 22 years old.
She had been wanted since Friday, 16 October, when agents raided a home in La Capri, Desamparados, and missed her. She stayed out of reach for almost two weeks.
Reports differ on the arrest itself. One says she was detained on a public road, another that she was found at a relative’s home in a housing complex.
Some media have given her a nickname based on clothing seen in security video. It is not used here, because she is a suspect and no court has ruled.
What Investigators Say Happened in Playas del Coco
Fleming, a US citizen reported to be from California, died on Sunday, 27 September, in a Playas del Coco condominium apartment. Reports give his age as 67, 72 or 74.
Security cameras show him entering the building at about 4:50 p.m. with a young woman, who later left alone. He was found with multiple head wounds.
Investigators’ main hypothesis is that the attack was carried out with the glass jar of a kitchen blender. No motive has been stated.
How Investigators Traced the Suspects
Investigators say Fleming’s foreign bank cards were used after the killing in Playas del Coco, Brasilito, Flamingo and Abangares. Footage from shops and a cash machine helped trace a route towards the Central Valley.
On 16 October the OIJ detained a second woman, surnamed Zeledón Abarca, in San Miguel de Desamparados. Investigators say she picked up the main suspect in Guanacaste and drove her to San José.
The OIJ released images of the main suspect in a white top and denim shorts and asked the public for tips. Whether the cards were taken, and by whom, is still being examined.
Earlier coverage reported the first arrest on 16 October in this case. The Costa Rica country page follows security and justice news across the country.
What It Means for US Readers
The US State Department’s Costa Rica advisory tells Americans to exercise increased caution because of crime. It says petty crime is the main threat to tourists, but that violent crime, including armed robbery and homicide, occurs.
The advisory adds that the Costa Rican government provides extra security resources in areas that tourists frequent. It is general guidance and does not mention this case.
No US Embassy or State Department statement on the arrest has been found. Related security news includes Costa Rica’s 478 US deportees and a US extradition request for a suspected money launderer.
For background, see who holds power in Costa Rica and the San José city page for visitors based in the capital. Neither changes the advisory, which applies to the whole country.
What Is Not Known
No formal charge, court hearing or detention order for the main suspect has been reported. The motive, how the two met and the exact cause of death have not been stated by the OIJ.
The victim’s age is reported as 67, 72 and 74, and his first name appears as both Marc and Mark. Reports also differ on how long the woman stayed in the apartment and where she was arrested.
The OIJ had not posted a release on its news page when this article was written. The account therefore rests on the agency’s statements as relayed by Costa Rican media, and allegations against both women remain unproven.
What Comes Next
Prosecutors must decide which pretrial measures to request from a judge, and a hearing before a judge would be the next step. No date has been announced.
The investigation will keep testing the card records and camera footage. A hearing or a measure does not mean guilt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been arrested in Costa Rica?
The OIJ, Costa Rica’s judicial police, arrested a 22-year-old woman surnamed Ortiz on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. She is the main suspect in the killing of US citizen Marc Fleming.
Where and when did the killing happen?
Fleming died on Sunday, 27 September 2026, in a condominium apartment in Playas del Coco, a beach town in Guanacaste. Security cameras show him entering at about 4:50 p.m. with a woman.
Has anyone been charged or convicted?
No formal charge, hearing or verdict has been reported. Both women held in the case are suspects, and prosecutors must decide which pretrial measures to seek.
Who is the second woman detained?
A woman surnamed Zeledón Abarca was detained on Friday, 16 October, in San Miguel de Desamparados. Investigators say she picked up the main suspect after the killing and drove her to San José.
Is Costa Rica safe for American visitors?
The US State Department tells Americans to exercise increased caution in Costa Rica because of crime. It says petty crime is the main threat to tourists, but violent crime, including homicide, occurs.
Sources: Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), news and police notices; US State Department, Costa Rica travel advisory (accessed 28 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief