Revelations in the Murder of Costa Rican National Danishka Sibaja in Knoxville
Latawyne Osborne pleads guilty to first-degree murder following brutal crime involving drug overdose and assault.
Danishka Melina Sibaja Mejía, a 22-year-old Costa Rican known as 'Tita', was murdered in Knoxville, Tennessee, in April 2024, an event that has drawn significant attention due to its shocking nature.
During a court hearing held on May 31, 2025, Latawyne Osborne pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges, receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole, thereby avoiding the death penalty.
According to the court proceedings, details emerged indicating that Osborne attempted to force Sibaja to commit a heinous act before torturing her to death.
It was reported that he ordered her to shoot a friend who was present, to which she refused.
Sibaja reportedly begged for her friend’s safety and promised not to disclose what had occurred.
This information was corroborated by testimony from a surviving male friend, who, along with his partner, had been present during the incident on the night of April 5, 2024.
The testimony revealed that three masked men, including Osborne, entered the apartment where Danishka and her friends were gathered, armed and threatening.
After subduing the group, they forced them into the basement where the horrific events unfolded.
Upon her refusal to harm her friend, the suspects allegedly forced Danishka to ingest an assortment of drugs.
Following this, a plastic bag was used to suffocate her multiple times until she lost consciousness.
Despite attempts by her friends to administer aid and call for help, Danishka succumbed to the effects of the drugs, ultimately resulting in her death.
Furthermore, it emerged that in the days leading up to her murder, Sibaja had reported a sexual assault against Osborne, filing a complaint for a rape she alleged had occurred on April 1 or 2, just one day before her death.
In a subsequent revelation during the same court hearing, a friend known as Young recounted her harrowing experience, stating that Osborne forced her to witness the violent act that led to Sibaja's death.
Young, who was eight months pregnant at the time, reported that she was shot in the head by Osborne but survived.
She expressed anguish over losing her closest friend and the trauma inflicted on her and her family during the attack.
Details from the authorities indicate that in recent weeks, violent crime has surged in various regions, with additional lethal incidents reported in Alajuelita and Guanacaste in Costa Rica.
The country has witnessed an increase in homicide rates, with a total of 361 homicides reported up to this point in 2025, raising concerns regarding public safety and violent crime trends.
The implications of these violent events are still unfolding as investigations continue across multiple jurisdictions, with local authorities striving to address the growing concerns surrounding crime and safety.
During a court hearing held on May 31, 2025, Latawyne Osborne pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges, receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole, thereby avoiding the death penalty.
According to the court proceedings, details emerged indicating that Osborne attempted to force Sibaja to commit a heinous act before torturing her to death.
It was reported that he ordered her to shoot a friend who was present, to which she refused.
Sibaja reportedly begged for her friend’s safety and promised not to disclose what had occurred.
This information was corroborated by testimony from a surviving male friend, who, along with his partner, had been present during the incident on the night of April 5, 2024.
The testimony revealed that three masked men, including Osborne, entered the apartment where Danishka and her friends were gathered, armed and threatening.
After subduing the group, they forced them into the basement where the horrific events unfolded.
Upon her refusal to harm her friend, the suspects allegedly forced Danishka to ingest an assortment of drugs.
Following this, a plastic bag was used to suffocate her multiple times until she lost consciousness.
Despite attempts by her friends to administer aid and call for help, Danishka succumbed to the effects of the drugs, ultimately resulting in her death.
Furthermore, it emerged that in the days leading up to her murder, Sibaja had reported a sexual assault against Osborne, filing a complaint for a rape she alleged had occurred on April 1 or 2, just one day before her death.
In a subsequent revelation during the same court hearing, a friend known as Young recounted her harrowing experience, stating that Osborne forced her to witness the violent act that led to Sibaja's death.
Young, who was eight months pregnant at the time, reported that she was shot in the head by Osborne but survived.
She expressed anguish over losing her closest friend and the trauma inflicted on her and her family during the attack.
Details from the authorities indicate that in recent weeks, violent crime has surged in various regions, with additional lethal incidents reported in Alajuelita and Guanacaste in Costa Rica.
The country has witnessed an increase in homicide rates, with a total of 361 homicides reported up to this point in 2025, raising concerns regarding public safety and violent crime trends.
The implications of these violent events are still unfolding as investigations continue across multiple jurisdictions, with local authorities striving to address the growing concerns surrounding crime and safety.
