Costa Rica Arrests 2 in Liberia Journalist Killing
CRIME · COSTA RICA
Key Facts
- —The country Costa Rica, a Central American democracy where the OIJ (Organismo de Investigación Judicial, the judicial police) investigates homicides and other serious crime.
- —Why it matters A well-known local news presenter was shot dead near Liberia, the Guanacaste city whose airport lists 20 destinations in the United States.
- —Why now After about 11 weeks of investigation, OIJ agents raided three homes in Liberia before dawn on Tuesday 13 October.
- —What happened Two men, aged 27 and 23, were detained over the killing of Wilfredo Pizarro Bermúdez on Thursday 30 July. A third suspect is at large.
- —The numbers Three suspects, three raids, two arrests and seven shots, according to the OIJ. Pizarro was 51.
- —What it means for US readers The OIJ describes a ride requested by someone who knew the victim, not a random attack. Visitors should still use official taxis or registered ride apps.
- —Still open The motive, the role of each suspect, the third man’s whereabouts and whether a court orders pretrial detention.
Costa Rica’s judicial police arrested two men on Tuesday 13 October over the Liberia journalist killing that shook the province of Guanacaste. Wilfredo Pizarro Bermúdez, a 51-year-old regional news presenter, was shot dead near Liberia on Thursday 30 July.
Liberia is the gateway city for many US visitors, because its Guanacaste Airport lists 20 destinations in the United States. The arrests show investigators moving on a high-profile violent case in the country’s main Pacific beach region.
What Happened in Liberia on Tuesday
The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), Costa Rica’s judicial police, began three simultaneous raids at 4 a.m. local time. Agents searched two homes in barrio Corazón de Jesús, in central Liberia, and one in the Martina Bustos neighbourhood.
Two men, aged 27 and 23, were detained and handed to the Ministerio Público, the public prosecutor’s office. Teletica reported that a hearing on precautionary measures, such as pretrial detention, would follow.
A third suspect is still on the run, and on Tuesday the OIJ published his name and photograph to ask the public for help. Agents also seized mobile phones in the raids, which the OIJ press office described as evidence in the case.
The OIJ has released only the surnames and ages of the two detained men. Neither man has been convicted of any crime, and both are presumed innocent under Costa Rican law.
How the OIJ Says the Killing Happened
Vladimir Muñoz, the OIJ’s acting deputy director, said one suspect apparently knew Pizarro and asked him for a ride. Pizarro, who also worked as an informal driver, picked up three men in barrio Corazón de Jesús, according to Muñoz.
The group then travelled to Calle Coyote in Cañas Dulces, a rural district of the Liberia canton, the OIJ said. “For reasons we do not yet know, an argument broke out,” Muñoz said, adding that Pizarro was shot seven times.
The suspects then took Pizarro’s car and other belongings, according to the OIJ. The car was found abandoned in Liberia days later, and La Nación reported, citing his family, that its dashboard camera was missing.
Pizarro’s sister told Telenoticias that his wallet and cash were found beside his body. Local outlets differ on the likely motive, with Teletica citing theft of the car and La Nación a possible personal dispute.
Who Wilfredo Pizarro Was
Pizarro was well known in Liberia as a presenter of news and local stories for Guananoticias, a regional outlet in Guanacaste. La Nación reported that he had also appeared on Telenoticias, the national newscast of Channel 7.
In an earlier municipal race, Guananoticias reported, the Frente Amplio, a left-wing party, chose him as its candidate for mayor of Liberia. The outlet said he was then also vice-president of a community development association in Las Brisas.
On the day he died, Pizarro went to the beach with his mother and then went back to driving passengers, Teletica reported. His family told La Nación on Tuesday that those responsible “have to pay” for what they did to him.
What It Means for US Readers
Guanacaste Airport in Liberia lists 20 US destinations on its website, including Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Denver and New York. For many Americans heading to the Pacific beaches of Guanacaste, the city is the point of arrival.
The OIJ account describes a ride requested by someone who apparently knew the victim, not a random attack on strangers. Visitors are still wise to use official red taxis, airport shuttles or registered ride apps rather than informal drivers.
For frequent visitors and property owners, the arrests show the OIJ reaching suspects in a high-profile case within about 11 weeks. The risk is that the case stalls if the third suspect stays at large or the motive stays unclear.
The wider crime picture is set out in Costa Rica Retiree Safety: What the Numbers Show. Recent OIJ work elsewhere is covered in Costa Rica Police Raid 80 Sites in Cargo Theft Probe.
Press Safety and the Liberia Journalist Killing
The OIJ has not said whether Pizarro’s work as a presenter played any part in his death. Its public account so far centres on a requested ride, an argument and the theft of his car.
Regional outlets have followed the case closely since July, and La Teja published tributes from his friends in September. The arrests offer some reassurance to local reporters, although investigators have not publicly ruled out any motive.
What Is Not Known
The OIJ has not said who fired the shots or what role each suspect is alleged to have played. The reason for the argument is also unknown, by the OIJ’s own account.
It is not known where the third suspect is, or whether a court will order the two men held before trial. Formal charges against the detained men have not been made public.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Wilfredo Pizarro?
Wilfredo Pizarro Bermúdez, 51, was a news presenter for the regional outlet Guananoticias in Liberia, Guanacaste. He also worked as an informal driver and was shot dead on 30 July 2026.
How many people were arrested in the Liberia journalist killing?
The OIJ detained two men, aged 27 and 23, in raids on Tuesday 13 October. A third suspect is still being sought, and all three are presumed innocent.
Was the killing linked to his journalism?
The OIJ has not said so. Its account centres on a requested ride, an argument for reasons still unknown and the theft of his car.
Is Liberia, Costa Rica, safe for US visitors?
The OIJ describes a crime involving someone who apparently knew the victim, not a random attack. Visitors should use official taxis, airport shuttles or registered ride apps.
What happens next in the case?
The two men were handed to the public prosecutor’s office, and a hearing on precautionary measures such as pretrial detention is expected. The search for the third suspect continues.
Sources: La Nación · Teletica · La Teja · Guananoticias · Guananoticias (candidacy) · Guanacaste Airport destinations
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