Two Arrested in Killing of American Surfer Kurt Van Dyke in Costa Rica

Costa Rican investigators have arrested two people in the February killing of Kurt Van Dyke. He was the 66-year-old American surfer and Puerto Viejo hotel owner found dead in his home near Cahuita on Valentine’s Day. The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) detained a 31-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man today. The arrests came during three raids in the Guápiles area of Limón. Both are suspects in an aggravated homicide investigation. Both were handed over to prosecutors, who will decide whether to seek charges or precautionary measures. Neither has been charged. Investigators now say the attack was not the random robbery it first appeared to be. According to the OIJ’s preliminary findings, the suspects allegedly planned the assault to obtain the PINs of bank cards linked to Van Dyke’s hotel. The woman was in the home on the morning of Feb. 14 and was initially reported as a survivor of the attack. OIJ deputy director Vladimir Muñoz said she had a direct personal relationship with Van Dyke. Investigators allege she helped the attackers get into the house. Muñoz said Gutiérrez entered the home with two other men who have not yet been identified. According to his account, the group used violence to try to force Van Dyke to give up his card PINs. When that failed, Muñoz said, they beat and tortured him. Van Dyke was found under a bed with apparent stab wounds and signs of asphyxia. The OIJ received the report at about 10:50 a.m. that Saturday. Investigators also allege that the group staged the theft of the woman’s car to hide her role. The vehicle was later found undamaged in the Atlantic region, which the OIJ considers evidence supporting her alleged participation. Agents seized cell phones and a vehicle believed to have carried Gutiérrez and the two other men to the scene. Muñoz said two more people remain to be arrested in the case. Van Dyke grew up in Santa Cruz, California. He came to Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean in the 1980s, drawn by Salsa Brava, the powerful reef break off Puerto Viejo. Known in surfing circles as “King,” he was a nephew of Hawaii big-wave pioneer Fred Van Dyke. For decades he ran Hotel Puerto Viejo, a regular stop for traveling surfers. His death drew international coverage. It also led the Costa Rican Hotel Chamber and local tourism leaders to voice concern about the region’s image. Tourism Minister William Rodríguez offered condolences at the time and said Costa Rica remains a safe destination. The Public Ministry is expected to request precautionary measures in the coming days, which could include pretrial detention. The OIJ has not identified the two remaining suspects. Anyone with information can contact the agency’s confidential line at 800-8000-645.