Body of Missing 19-Year-Old Found in Guanacaste; Suspected Killer Detained
Marcela Alexandra Hernández López, missing since late March, was discovered buried and burned, leading to the arrest of 45-year-old suspect.
The body of 19-year-old Marcela Alexandra Hernández López, who had been missing for over two weeks, was discovered on April 5, 2025, semi-buried and burned at a farm in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
The discovery was made by the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) after an intensive search that began following her disappearance report on March 27. Hernández was last seen on February 23 in Las Brisas de La Cruz.
Following her disappearance, family members, including her aunt Rosa Hernández, had actively circulated photos and information in hopes of locating her.
Upon the discovery of her remains, Rosa Hernández shared a poignant message expressing everlasting love for her niece.
OIJ spokesperson, Michael Soto, confirmed that an exhaustive investigation led authorities to the location of the body.
The main suspect in the case is a 45-year-old Nicaraguan man named Tinoco, who reportedly had a relationship with Hernández and was living at the farm where her body was found.
He has been detained and is awaiting processing through the public prosecutor's office.
The cause of death has not yet been disclosed, and the body has been sent to the forensic medical service for further examination.
The OIJ has indicated that efforts to solve the case were thorough and commenced in various locations, including Pijiji de Bagaces, where the missing person investigation was launched.
This incident highlights an alarming trend in Costa Rica, where, within the first three months of 2025, 14 femicides have been reported, marking an increase in violence against women.
The director of the OIJ, Randall Zúñiga, via social media, referenced the distressing rate of femicides, emphasizing a call for social awareness and action.
Hernández was a student in her final year of high school and lived with her father, leaving her family devastated by her untimely death.
The discovery was made by the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) after an intensive search that began following her disappearance report on March 27. Hernández was last seen on February 23 in Las Brisas de La Cruz.
Following her disappearance, family members, including her aunt Rosa Hernández, had actively circulated photos and information in hopes of locating her.
Upon the discovery of her remains, Rosa Hernández shared a poignant message expressing everlasting love for her niece.
OIJ spokesperson, Michael Soto, confirmed that an exhaustive investigation led authorities to the location of the body.
The main suspect in the case is a 45-year-old Nicaraguan man named Tinoco, who reportedly had a relationship with Hernández and was living at the farm where her body was found.
He has been detained and is awaiting processing through the public prosecutor's office.
The cause of death has not yet been disclosed, and the body has been sent to the forensic medical service for further examination.
The OIJ has indicated that efforts to solve the case were thorough and commenced in various locations, including Pijiji de Bagaces, where the missing person investigation was launched.
This incident highlights an alarming trend in Costa Rica, where, within the first three months of 2025, 14 femicides have been reported, marking an increase in violence against women.
The director of the OIJ, Randall Zúñiga, via social media, referenced the distressing rate of femicides, emphasizing a call for social awareness and action.
Hernández was a student in her final year of high school and lived with her father, leaving her family devastated by her untimely death.
