Warning for Women Visiting the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica

I'm so sorry to hear this, but thank you for posting the warning. All the best for your courageous niece.

Moolyn,
Thanks for posting the warning.
Your niece deserves much credit for carrying through with whatever is needed to try to finally bring this dangerous man to justice.

I had read about the situation on another board. But it really hit home now because I actually have met Moolyn and because I was in PV for the first time just last month. We are often lulled into a false sense of security - that it won't happen to us...

So I guess I will just echo the message to potential visitors to the Puerto Viejo area - be aware of this danger, and be prudent.

raquel

Thank you, moolyn. I hope your niece will find peace with this horror. Bless her heart.

I, too, have met moolyn and feel so bad for what her niece has gone through.
What a brave young woman her niece is to follow through and do all the paperwork involved..
Moolyn I wish her the very best. This whole thing must be very hard on your whole family.

It's so hard to accept that the authorities know who this man is and won't do anything. So terrible.

Thanks for letting everyone know about this.
And lets hope something is done about it.

I'm so sorry about your niece - I'm sure you are all very proud of her. Thanks for posting this important information.

Moolyn,

Sorry to hear about this. I hope everything works out as hard as it may be on you right now. I have asked Skip at our site, if I could repost this and a link to Fodors for this article so the word can get out to protect other females that are traveling in the area. He approved, so there is one more site going to battle for you. I think with enough people and web sites getting the word out, we can at least prevent this individual from being able to do such horrendous acts again. The best case scenario, we can bring him to justice.

God Bless,

Mike

Thank you all for your kind words and for realizing the importance of warning women visiting this area to take the simple precaution of not going to the beach on their own.

My sister-in-law wrote: "If a tourist incurred a physical injury because of dangerous currents or the unsafe practices of tour operators, hotels wouldn't think twice about warning other people. This is something potentially even more damaging and yet hotel owners are hesitant to talk about it.”

This is short-sighted if hotel owners are simply trying to protect their business interests. If my brother’s family had been warned, this most likely would not have happened to one of their three daughters and they would have continued to visit this attractive area. Now they do not ever plan to return for a holiday and they are advising all of their friends to stay away as well.

One reason that the predator has been able to continue for so long is his deliberate choice of foreign women. "Few women want to hang around long enough to press charges and subject themselves to the wretched police treatment of the situation so he keeps going." He does not wait long between attacks so the potential number of victims over the past year is staggering.

His fatal mistake may have been to unintentionally attack some Costa Rican residents. A well respected lawyer - a former judge - was moved to contact these victims about taking on this case. He is familiar with the system and hopeful that charges can soon be brought on the basis of the testimony of my niece and three other Costa Rican women. A fifth woman will come forward once the rapist is in custody; she is too afraid to act until then.

M,

Kodi brought this post to my attention this weekend.

On a personal level, let me say that I am thinking of and saying a prayer (it's my thing, as you know!) for your niece--my sister was attacked at 16 by a stranger who dragged her into the bushes right here in our own community. She had the courage to go through the system and see her attacker brought to justice and, at 50, she is very glad she did. It was not easy and the support of family meant a great deal to her.

I am also sending this thread to a group of 'gals pals' from BC who go to CR quite often. One owns property there and a couple more are thinking of retiring there. This is is a timely warning.

L

A couple years ago there was a gang rape at Manuel Antonio. The police released the perpetrators since the woman didn't stay in CR and press charges.

You have to be careful where ever you travel.

LJ, thanks for your prayers and for passing this warning along to others who might be in the Puerto Viejo area.

RBCal, thanks for sharing. It seems that this particular rapist isn't the only one who realizes that targetting foreign women can help to avoid prosecution.

Women on their own are vulnerable everywhere, not just on holidays.

I'd like to give kudos to the people on this forum calling attention to this problem as well as to fodors for allowing a discussion of this important information.

I was following this story on another forum until administration decided that it was in their best (business) interest if single women were not warned about the dangers of this specific location and consequently, started to shut down any and all discussion of this topic.

As of last week, the serial rapist is still out and about - please pay heed to this warning.

And thank YOU for topping the post. We need to keep it at the top as long as incidents are occuring. Even if there ARE no incidents, I don´t think I´ll ever feel comfortable walking alone on the beach down there again. That said, I NEVER have felt comfortable alone on a beach that was deserted.

Nothing much has changed about the situation in Puerto Viejo so my warning still stands but AM Costa Rica included an updated report in their July 4th edition, actually naming the suspect this time:

http://www.amcostarica.com/morenews2.htm

Moolyn, I could not find the article, but thanks for keeping everyone posted.
It's so hard to believe the authorities have a suspect and don't act on it.

It's also hard to believe another forum would shut down any discussion. The safety of women is so very important. It doesn't make sense to delete threads that heed a warning.

Thank you Moolyn and Thank you fodor's.

For those interested try this link
http://www.amcostarica.com/070408.htm
It is about half way down.

Fully agree that this is an important issue. The other forum did not seem to realize that the issue was not to bash PV - it has some good things going for it - or cause some type of a scare or scandal. It was just to provide information on an issue that is out there right not in order to make people aware of their surrounds and prevent them from acting in a manner that could put them at risk.

Thanks again Moolyn.

raquel

Kodi, I'm sorry that my link didn't work. Raquel, thank you so much for providing the correct one!

Some of the information I provided earlier was incorrect. The rapist was previously sentenced to a longer term but only ended up serving about half the time. This type of thing happens here as well.

I also don't understand why the other board doesn't want women to get the truth so they can avoid a dangerous situation. Nobody ever suggested that Puerto Viejo be boycotted. All women going there need do is avoid deserted beaches when they are on their own. Thank you Fodors for allowing this crucial warning to stand!

On the positive side, the overextended Costa Rican judicial system is hard at work on this case and some local hotels actually are warning their female guests. I even heard about a policeman who approached a woman on the beach alone and told her it was not a good idea for her to be there by herself. Local residents are actively trying to do something about the situation even though the culprit is said to have connections and seems to be related to almost everyone in the area.

A young woman who recently visited Puerto Viejo on her own sent me a report of her stay. She had asked on another board whether PV was a safe place for a woman on her own and had booked after being assured it was safe, even though some of the men assuring her were locals who were well aware of the rapist preying on foreign women but chose not to disclose this information for whatever reasons.

After discovering the truth, the young woman contacted the hotel where she was staying, Tierra de Suenos, right beside Playa Chiquita. The owners, Angie and Brendan, were so open and honest that she decided to go ahead with her trip, even though they offered to refund her money if she no longer wanted to go. They even offered her the use of their dogs to take along with her when she left the hotel. Forewarned and forearmed, she made sure that she was never on the beach alone and was able to have a wonderful and safe trip.

She wrote:

I found out exactly where he lived, what he looked like, etc. I guess his mom has moved in with him, so that is part of the reason he has been laying low, along with the pressure of the community. Most people of the area seem to think he will be "taken out" fairly soon. And the reason he has not been "taken out" yet is due to dad being the drug king guy.

The Playa Chiquita community (is annoyed) that he has disturbed the community the way that he has and they are quite frustrated about it.

I am continuing to put the word out regarding (the other board’s) unwillingness to keep their forums honest.....

So once again, many thanks to Fodors for operating a board where people actually can get the truth before they go and have a safe holiday as a result of simply being aware.

Moolyn, thanks for the update, and thanks to the woman who sent you the update. That was great of her to do so.
Also great to hear the owners of the hotel were so honest and open.

Still so hard to believe this guy is on the loose.

The young woman I quoted in my last update sent me another message about an attack that occured the week after she returned home. Fortunately, this attack didn't have the outcome the preditor expected but it serves to show that he will keep on trying.


The rapist struck again......The owners of the place where I stayed...Tierra de Suenos.....emailed me to update me....the week after I returned he attacked another woman! But this time he attacked the wrong woman! She has her blackbelt in karate and kicked the ____ out of him. She got away after leaving her mark on him. I guess she beat him up pretty bad.....but Angie and Brendan told me that since this girl did not know about the history of the rapist, she left the next day as planned. But I guess they are trying to get her to come back to testify since she saw him and also left quite a few marks on him!

Pretty crazy, huh?

Thought you would want to know.....let everyone know!

Good for her!! I'm so glad she was able to fight him off.

When will this end? What if this woman had not been a black belt?

I can't believe the authorities are not doing something...
What an aweful thing to be going on , and many are totally unaware of it.

Let's hope they do something soon.

moonlyn, I am sad and sickened to hear what happened to your niece, and I am inspired by her courage and strength. I hope they catch this guy soon.

Does anyone have any updates on this situation?

There's a story in this week's Tico Times:

http://www.ticotimes.net/topstory.htm

Molly, the rapist is still on the loose but he's a coward who will not attack women unless they are on their own.

Things are proceeding slowly within the justice system in regards to the women pressing charges. There are some positive developments but nothing I can share at this point.

Rader, thanks for sharing the Tico Times article. This will help people to understand the overall situation in Puerto Viejo.

This link is to the story of the week but anyone reading this after the story has changed can search the Tico Times archives.

Thanks Moonlyn - I am traveling to the area next month with my soon-to-be husband and was hoping something had changed for the better in this situation. I will just have to be careful. Like it has been said previously, many thanks to everyone who has spread the word on these types of issues; keeping travelers aware of dangerous situations is SO important and greatly appreciated.

Moolyn;
I am so sorry to hear about your niece and I hope and pray that she can get through this difficult time peacefully.

I had not heard about the problems down there with rape-- other crimes, yes, but not rape. I have been there about 11 times and most recently in February. However, I did have an incident myself with someone who I am sure had intended to rape me. At the time I was 48 years old. It was 8 years ago.

My husband went fishing for a day and a half in another part of C.R. and I was happy to stay at the Villas del Caribe and wait for his return. They knew me well there and I was comfortable and happy to read and relax. It is the only time I have ever been alone in that area and I would never be alone on the beach or even on the road ever again.

The perpetrator was not local but was from another country in Central America and had lived in Puerto Viejo for a few years at that point. He was a man who was hanging out in a little roadside restaurant owned by a French woman which is not there anymore and either is she. My husband and I had eaten there a number of times and had been friendly with the owner.

The restaurant was close to the Villas-- less than a kilometer-- and easy for me to walk or ride my bike to have dinner there while my Husband was briefly away.

One early evening after I arrived at the restaurant while it was still light out there was one of those sudden tropical storms and it was relentless. I waited it out which led me into the night time. The road is pitch dark with only the rare occasional dim light--as I am sure you know. I had a small flashlight.

When the storm slowed down to a drizzle I decided to leave as I was very uncomfortable there at the restaurant alone. Later I read in the Lonely Planet guide that women should NEVER walk on that road alone. The woman who owned the restaurant insisted that the odd young man who sort of worked there walk me back. I insisted that I didn't want anyone to walk me back that I could handle it on my own. He had been staring at me and I felt uncomfortable. So I left but when I turned around he was behind me and he caught up to me. He knew that I was married. "Where is your husband?", he kept saying, as I was picking up speed and by now at a slow trot. "Why are you running, are you afraid of me"?, he said, trying to force me to hold his hand. By the way, the area there is called Playa Chaquita, as you know. Not long before you get to the Villas there is a path through the jungle onto the beach. He tried to drag me to that path and insisted how much nicer it would be to walk on the beach. It is not a pleasant path even in the daylight and there was no moon that night. It's rocky and muddy. I was quite afraid by this point. Not a soul around and it was darker than dark out.

I broke away and ran to the Villas with him running behind me. The Villas always has an armed security guard sitting in the front at night. The perp. knew that and stopped chasing me right before the entrance to the villas. I ran to my room.

The next day I told the people at the front desk but they couldn't have cared less and acted as if it was commonplace. My husband was coming home that afternoon. We went to the French woman's restaurant that evening (not to eat!) and the man was there. My husband-- a big guy, threatened him. The woman said that I had made the whole thing up and that I only wished he would attack me. Not a shocking response because there are people like that in this world.

We skipped the following year and have been back there probably 4 or 5 more times. I think it's a fun area for young people who stick together and are smart and careful but for us, we feel that we are finished with Puerto Viejo as we are older now and long for other locales. I never walked to or from the beach alone again.

I have met wonderful people down there. People who are looking for a life off the beaten path. Good people who are trying to make a living who are being robbed, often. It's not an easy life. It is a very beautiful little place with a big dark side.

God bless you and your niece. I hope that this man is brought to justice. I am not saying that it's the same man that tried to attack me but I do think that criminals can get lost in a place like that and it's not uncommon.

Molly, local people in Puerto Viejo are well aware of the situation so ask when you’re there and you’ll get the latest information. Then you can report back to us!

As long as you don’t wander around on your own, you should be perfectly safe. Puerto Viejo is one of the most beautiful parts of Costa Rica so stay close to your soon-to-be husband and enjoy your vacation.

Marie, thanks for sharing your story. I have read it several times. It sounds like you were very fortunate. As you write so accurately about Puerto Viejo, “It is a very beautiful little place with a big dark side.”

There has been a long history of oppression, drug trafficking and police corruption in this area that helps explain the dark part. But local people are now expressing concern and hopefully will be able to bring about changes without destroying the positive aspects. All we can do is warm other women who are travelling there not to go places on their own. This is wise advice anywhere in Latin America.

My niece is doing very well, considering. Although she doesn’t yet want to talk about her experience, she has a loving support group and she is part of the group of Costa Rican women proactively building a case within their own justice system.

Amazing story. . .and something I've always "felt" was probably true. My husband got out-of-distance ahead of my on his bicycle one time and I didn't speak to him for 2 hours! When I did . . .whoa baby! LOL

It has always just seemed to me very possible in that location. Jungle right next to the road, etc.

I meant to say "out of sight distance". . .makes more sense!

Let's keep this at the top. Is there any more recent info available? Two of us, females, are heading that way in February. Thanks to all who have shared this sad story - and made your fellow travelers safer.

This is a very very sad story, I am sorry for anyone who has been affected, and important for people to know about who are traveling to this area.

But I don't think it's quite fair to say that women should not travel on their own in all of Latin America just because there is a known serial rapist operating in this one specific location.

cactushugger, I will try to post an update within a few days. I know that there has been progress and setbacks but am not sure how much I can share because of the upcoming court case.

suze, I'm sorry if I gave the impression that women should not travel to Latin America or even to Puerto Viejo on their own as the problem I wrote about is very specific and can be avoided as others have written.

Please don't visit the beaches in Puerto Viejo alone, day or night, if you are a woman. This warning applies even to women who are traveling with others as Raquel pointed out. After all, my niece was there with her family and simply headed in the wrong direction when she tried to catch up to her mother and sisters. She wouldn't have attempted this had she been made aware of the specific danger. Hopefully, sharing her experience will prevent others from undergoing this trauma.

Here is an update courtesy of my sister-in-law in Costa Rica:

"I recently made contact with the government agency that looks into issues of violence against women. There have been other reports about violence in the same area so they are looking into it. The problem in the area seems to be corruption of a few key members in the police force. That's what I hear from residents not from the authorities.

Basically nothing has been happening with the case. There is flooding in the area right now so tourism is down. However, our "summer" is coming soon and women tourists are just as unlikely to be warned or protected as ever."

Thank you Moonlyn. Do you know if all of the attacks have been on the beach? How about women biking down to Manzanillo or hiking in the jungle? The more info that's out there the safer we can keep ourselves.

I want to thank you all for posting this information. I am a female in my 30's and was minutes away from booking a solo trip to Puerto Viejo to spend some time chilling on the beach and relaxing by myself. I decided to check the forum to get some suggestions and this was the top posting. Talk about signs! Looks like I better explore some other options.

cactushugger, since you are going with somebody else, you should be fine if you stick together. I don't know whether the other places you mention are safe. Talk to the staff where you are staying and ask other locals, especially women, as they will have up to date information about the situation and can give you better advice than I can offer.

I know that the rapist tried to leave the country at least once but was turned back by customs officials in Spain.

raceloughren, this is not a wise destination if your priority is to spend time on the beach on your own. I'm glad that you read this warning before booking.

Here is a recent Tico Times article about this case.

8 | NEWS | THE TICO TIMES – May 1, 2009

The Rapes Are Real, But Prosecution Elusive

Although several women can name Puerto Viejo serial rapist, legal obstacles remain

By Meagan Robertson Tico Times Staff

A local man charged with having raped two women and suspected of assaulting several others, including a 16-year-old girl, continues to walk the streets and beaches of the Caribbean town of Puerto Viejo, according to victims and locals.

All thirteen Puerto Viejo residents interviewed by The Tico Times for this story believe this one man is the rapist, although most refused to have their names used for fear of reprisals, from the man’s powerful family or the suspect himself. One, said it was too risky to talk too much in a small town. “He’s a big guy, he’s scary, and he knows where we live,” she said.

Each of the attacks took place around the same location and under similar circumstances between 2003 and today. In each, the rapist used the same strategy: He approached the victims from behind while walking along an isolated stretch of beach on Playa Chiquita, covered their heads with a bag and choked them. Only one victim has claimed to have actually seen his face. In several of these cases, the victims have said, the rapist asked the same questions and made the same threats. He has also been very careful not to leave any physical evidence, using a condom and gloves during the assaults.

Similar Circumstances

The suspect was sentenced in 1997 to 13 years in prison for rape, but was released for good behavior after having served only six years. And when a Chilean woman who was attacked on the beach in 2003 named him as the attacker, he served an additional eight months in prison pending trial. At the trial, the judges ruled that the evidence was inconclusive, and he was released. Since then, at least five more women have reported rapes or attempted rapes under similar circumstances.

A Nicaraguan woman who was attacked declined to press charges against this man because she was certain her aggressor would kill her, according to residents. Another, “Beth,” a U.S. citizen living in Puerto Viejo, was raped in August 2007 and named the same man as her attacker.

According to Beth, a further traumatizing element of the rapist’s attack consisted of his asking questions and making threats. “He asked me my name, where I was from and where I hid my money,” she said. “Then he told me he was going to kill me, but rape me first.”

She has decided to come forward and tell her story, so that it may push the judicial system to resolve her case and make further investigations into rape cases in the area and Costa Rica in general.

Seven months later, in March 2008, two more women claimed they were raped, both within a week of each other. The first of these victims was a 16-yearold girl who was visiting the area with her parents when she was attacked in the middle of the day in the same spot as Beth. Her parents rushed her back to San José for medical examinations, and although it was
determined that she had been raped, no physical evidence linking the suspect to the crime was found.

Though reluctant to share the traumatic experience at first, the 16-year-old opened up when she and Beth met last week to discuss their cases. According to Beth, when she first spoke to the young victim and described her own experience, the girl kept repeating “the same thing happened to (me).”

Five days after the attack on the girl, a Brazilian woman, “Clara,” was walking the same stretch of beach. She was attacked from behind in the same way as the others. When attacked, she struggled as best she could, though she was thrown to the ground. According to her friend and legal adviser, “Oscar,” the attacker pinned her down and tried to pry her legs open. She struggled so violently that he gave up and ran away, taking with him the sole valuable she had on her: her wedding ring.

Later that night she picked the suspect out of a line-up and recounted what had happened to the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ). The suspect was in jail for 24 hours and then released pending trial, with some restrictions: He is required to appear before the court every 15 days and prohibited from approaching the victim.

Oscar is an experienced lawyer, and is helping both Clara and Beth pursue their cases, although he is reluctant to become officially involved for fear of being targeted. He says the difficulty with Clara’s case is that, after the facts were investigated, the prosecutors decided to charge the suspect with robbery instead of attempted rape since he ultimately only made off with the ring.

“He was in prison for rape not robbery. He doesn’t have a history of robbery, he has a history of rape,” said a frustrated Beth. “And why would you rob someone on the beach
who only has a towel and a book?”

On May 13 Clara will have the opportunity to present her case in front of three judges at a hearing in Bribrí. She plans to tell the entire story and appeal for them to change the charge.

Pursuit of Justice

Oscar is suggesting that Clara and Beth combine their cases and present them to the judges because he believes that unless the similarity of the attacks is pointed out, Beth’s case will likely go nowhere.

According to the OIJ in Bribrí, Beth’s case was dismissed for lack of evidence. However, one new piece of evidence that may help push Beth’s case forward was her discovery that a phone call was made from her cell phone, stolen by the rapist, to the suspect’s mother the day she was raped.

“The problem is that with rape cases, it is always difficult to accumulate solid evidence,” said one OIJ official. “Especially serial rapists, who are very careful not to leave anything linking them to the crime.”

He said that all the women raped said the suspect’s voice was that of a black man, but “that doesn’t prove anything to a judge, because people can alter their voices.”

Despite the entire town being upset about the rapes, residents say it is hard to accuse someone who is a part of that community.

“It’s a small community,” said Beth. “You see the person who raped you, you see the father, and you just don’t want to believe he did this to you, it’s just too hard. Many people are raped in this world but not many see the rapist afterwards. I didn’t want to believe it was him.”

Oscar emphasized that despite the horror of the situation, having suspicions isn’t enough. In his experience, he said very few rape cases make it past the investigation stage because of lack of evidence.

“(Allegations have) to be backed up by evidence,” he said. “And after such long periods of time, evidence losses its integrity.”

Judicial officials agree with Oscar, and admit that despite having strong suspicions about the same man, they cannot act without substantial evidence.

“I think the most prominent factor is that all the rapes were committed the same way,” said one. “Therefore, if we figure out one of the cases, it should link the suspect to all of them.”

This is precisely what Oscar hopes Beth and Clara can do.

“I strongly believe that if the women unite their cases and present them in such a manner to the judges, the rapist will be convicted and put in jail,” said Oscar.

Beth, a year and a half after her traumatic experience, is still waiting for that to happen.

“I have hope,” she said. “I have hope that I’ll have closure and he’ll go away to jail. …
He’s still a human being but he deserves to be punished. And he will.”

Fighting Back: “Beth,” a victim of a rape near the Caribbean town of Puerto Viejo, is determined to seek justice.

Caribbean Rape Statistics Not the Country’s Highest

While Puerto Viejo has gained a reputation as a dangerous spot, locals claim this reputation is unwarranted. Crime statistics appear to back them up. According a 2008 preliminary survey completed by the Costa Rican Justice Ministry comparing the number of rapes
and attempted rapes in different parts of the country, the Caribbean coast’s numbers
were not out of the ordinary. Alajuela, northwest of San José, ranked number one in the country with just under 200 rapes and attempted rapes, while San Carlos, a canton in north-central Costa Rica and the Puntarenas, the principal central Pacific city, were both just below
150 for year 2008. Limón had 78 rapes or attempted rapes the same year.

“Anyone could go to any community in this country and make a sensational story out of crime,” said Colin Brownlee, who owns the Hotel Banana Azul in Playa Negra, near Puerto Viejo.

– Meagan Robertson

Good post, moolyn. I read that while we were there and intended to post it myself and forgot. Thanks! It's an interesting read, hope there will be some resolution and get that guy out of there.

Finally I can report some positive news which I learned before holidays but needed to have confirmed. These details may not all be totally correct but the important thing is that the Puerto Viejo rapist is presently behind bars!

What I have been told is that, after attempting to leave the country at least once, the rapist started changing his methods and altering his appearance. He also began moving his location to beaches other than Playa Chaquita and his level of violence began escalating, as had been feared.

In May, he attacked a young woman using a knife. He beat her up and cut her but fortunately she escaped without being raped or seriously injured. She clearly saw her attacker and was able to pick him out of a police lineup. She bravely filed charges. Currently he is in jail it is hoped that he will remain there until the court case.

He has been jailed and released before, however, so it is still wise for women not to visit any of the Puerto Viejo beaches unacompanied.

The National Women’s Association, a powerful voice in Costa Rica, has become interested in this situation and is lending their support.

I'm sorry it happened to another woman but thank God they guy has been caught!! Thanks for the update and please continue to keep us posted.

Very good news. Let's hope he stays there so he can't hurt any other women.

I contacted a woman who posted about the rapist on Trip Advisor because she lives in Puerto Viejo and obviously has much better access to information than I do. She responded and gave me permission to share what she wrote.

My impression is that, now that the rapist is behind bars, Puerto Viejo is once again a lovely place to visit, as long as reasonable caution is observed.

Hi Moolyn,

Your facts are 95% accurate and he is still in Jail. We are all very relieved! It looks as if he'll be there for a long time now.

Costa Rican law is strange. Part of the problem with keeping him in custody before (besides a lack of solid evidence) is the rule that a judge has to be involved within 3 days of arrest in order to keep the criminal in custody. We do not have a judge in the area and due to the location and time constraints... he kept getting released. It was horribly frustrating!

Two of his victims are good friend of mine. They have worked tirelessly to make sure he stays locked up.

I live in Playa Chiquita across the road from his family’s residence.

Many people confuse his brother for him (they look very much alike) and that may be why some folks have thought he was trying to change his appearance. His brother is a very nice person, and is welcome in our home anytime.

We do not have a lot of violent crime here, but from dusk to sun up, it is never a good idea to walk the beaches alone. Man or woman! Robbery is the most frequent problem/concern.

Most of the time my daughters and I feel pretty safe.

I spoke with a member of the family the other day. He said that the family is paying for counselling for Rolando... the rapist... to help him overcome his mental illness. I for one hope it works!

Kimikins

I am the woman he attacked in May. I am the woman who fought him and saw him. I am the woman who was left for dead. I am the woman who suffered 25 stitches in my head, a hematoma, knife wounds, 6 hospital trips, and other injuries from the attack. I am the woman who could provide forensic evidence and identify him. I am the woman who had help from the locals to navigate the complicated judicial system and I stayed until he was captured. I am the woman who put him in jail for attempted murder, attempted rape, and sexual assault. I am the woman who would not rest even with serious injuries, nor would I leave the Country, until I had confirmation that he would be kept in jail until the trial. I am the woman who did this with the help of the community and the locals who stepped up to work 22 hours a day for almost 2 weeks are the reason this psychopath is looking at a 50 year sentence.

Shay, my heart goes out to you. What a terrible, terrible time you've had.
You are an extremely strong woman. What a horrible frightening time it must have been, and yet you stayed to make sure this monster was behind bars. You stayed when many would not have had the courage.

I hope you are healing from this horrible ordeal.

Take good care of yourself, and take pride in the fact that you stayed to do something that needed to be done.

Shay, you are a hero. To say thank you can never be enough.

Thank you for doing what you did Shay_F. You did the right thing for many other women, at great cost to yourself.

I just saw this on facebook, about the May attack and the subsequent events...
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=88463811446

Shay, on behalf of my niece and my family, I am immensely grateful for all that you did to put this wicked psychopath behind bars. I am so sorry for all the physical and emotional scars that you suffered at his hands; I had no idea that your were injured so seriously. Your bravery in spite of your pain spared many more women from his escalating violence. Eventually, he probably would have killed someone so you undoubtedly saved lives by your staunch efforts to make sure he was placed behind bars.

Knowing that this monster was in prison brought a measure of peace to my niece and to the other women he attacked, even though many of them never came forward as valiantly as you and the small group who also reported their attacks in the face of an unwieldy justice system. Hopefully this evil predator will now spend the rest of his life in prison.

Shay, you are a hero to me and mine and I appreciate that you shared your personal experiences with us here, in this safe place. I hope you return to read all the comments and feel the admiration we have for your courage. Thanks so much for coming forward with your story! You are in our hearts.

I thank Shay also; a very brave human being.

Shay - God Bless You. You are so very brave. Please know that the readers on this post will continue to pray for you. I so wish you did not have to suffer the way you did. You have proven how resilient we women are. I hope 2010 brings much love and happiness to you. Again, thank you for all your efforts to have this criminal removed from society.

Sadly, the bungling of the justice system continues in regards to this case - in spite of the diligent efforts of so many courageous and concerned women. My niece was informed that her file has been lost and she will probably have to testify again. I can only imagine how difficult reliving her experience will be for a teenage girl.

Even more horrific, it's possible that the attacker will be released from prison shortly, regardless of the danger he poses, especially to foreign women on vacation.

Shay and any others visiting Costa Rica or with contacts there, please continue to help keep the information posted here factual and up to date so that other women are warned about the dangers of visiting the beach on their own and avoid suffering the same traumatic experiences.

My prosecutor is Janet Mena. Please contact her and Celso Gamboa regarding linking additional cases to mine & informing them immediately of any suspicious-type events, like "lost files". Additionally, please also reach out to Antonio Calvo Vargas who is able to provide updates. Contact: 8916-6244, 2751-0135, gamboa.celso@gmail.com

Please call them and mention that you are a concerned citizen, local, or associated with the business community. It is vital to contact these people asap and show that this matter is crucial and not forgotten.


Be vigilant, stay diligent.

Thanks so much, Shay! I'll pass this information along to my sister-in-law right away in hopes that it can help.

Shay, my sister-in-law was in touch with your attorney.

My email address is moolyn@hotmail.com

I find this very powerful, witnessing victims being able to get together behind justice in this thread. Fodors is an amazing place.

I wonder if the Judge has a daughter?
How horrible! It is so sad that women have to deal with all of this, not only in CR but other areas of the world.

I have followed this story for a very long time and was both incensed and distraught by the local police's inability or indifference to catch this monster. We made different travel plans simply because of this issue and avoided the area altogether.

Thank you, Shay. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have single handedly made the world a safer place.

Shame on the legal system (in all countries) for not taking the necessary steps to keep these monsters off the streets.

The justice system has many problems to start with but it was multiplied in this case for several reasons. Everyone knew who the perpetrator was but he is the son of the local drug lord. He also selectively preyed on foreign women and it was very difficult for any of them to report the crime in a country where they didn't know the system and didn't speak the language. It is felt that the majority of his victims left Costa Rica without anyone there ever knowing of their experience. Many local businessmen didn't want tourists to know about the situation and stay away so they didn't offer warnings.

Eventually, like all criminals, this one made the mistake of attacking Costa Rican residents who look foreign and their cases were gathered together by a concerned former judge who offered his services gratis. And he also made the mistake of attacking a strong foreign woman, Shay, who stayed behind and to identify him and make sure that he was put behind bars.

I'm concerned right now about the possibility of a release soon but it seems that Shay's prosecutor and others are working diligently to make sure that this doesn't happen.

Some good news to share! There has been enough solid evidence put forth in the case against the rapist to extend his inprisonment for at least another four months, a great relief!

No trial date has been set as yet but legal proceedings are moving slowly towards this end, thanks to the brave efforts of Shay and all of the other dauntless women who have come forward to testify.

Is there something we as travelers can perhaps do to help keep this rapist in jail until the trial? If we signed a petition that said we as part of the traveling community will boycott Costa Rica if this man is released, would it help to show that the word has gotten out and that this is going to affect the tourist dollars?
Maybe moonlyn or shay, who are closest to the lawyers in the case, could respond...

Unfortunately I have no recommendations other than helping to keep this thread alive. However, Shay suggested contacting Antonio Calvo Vargas in her last post and provided both telephone number and email address.

The trial is in November. He is being kept in jail until then.

Thanks, Shay! This is a relief. I've been wondering.

My niece was able to give her deposition before going on holidays.

While this is a tragedy, I hope it will not keep single women from traveling to the Caribbean coast. I have done it as a single woman and I know of a number of single women who live there. It is a beautiful place and well worth the trip. Of course, you have to be careful.

Glad to know this guy is in jail - laws are different in Costa Rica and it is sometimes tough to put someone away. Looks like whatever all of you did worked and I'm glad your niece will be able to feel that there is some justice.

The Tribunal has set the trial date for October 25th-28th. Thankfully he's been locked up this whole time awaiting trial (since May 9th, 2009).

Please feel welcomed to contact me if you want any more information.

Gratitude to all who played a part (in whatever way) for helping lock this sick saddistical bastard up.

Shay

Shay, thanks for keeping us up to date as well as everything else you have done. I am anxious to hear the outcome of this trial.

Please spread the word throughout the communities to support the women who have come forward to testify against him. This trial is open to the public/community. If you can attend, please GO to the Trial in person!

If you are unable to attend the Trial, Sylvia Cabezas has the contact info for the prosecutor (Janet Mena) and the Tribunal. Contact them! Tell them you support locking this monster up and giving him the MAXIMUM SENTENCE AND NO EARLY RELEASE FROM PRISON!!!!

(and say thanks) to Sylvia Cabezas. Her email is: CabezasSM@state.gov

Shay, my sister-in-law is in Canada at the moment but will be back in Costa Rica for the trial. My niece is determined to testify. Perhaps you will all meet.

Thank you so much for your major role in bringing this monster to trial and helping to keep him in jail in the meantime. It took the effort of many brave women to reach this point. I will email Sylvia.

Tragic! Such areas with high intensity of crimes should be spotted by the authorities. Proper action will make such cases almost nil if not zero.

Mohet You obviously have no understanding of the culture or legal issues in Costa Rica. It is very complicated. And "proper action" in other countries does not make such cases "almost nil if not zero." There are millions of people in jail in the US, for instance, but there is still crime.

First, I want to send my condolences to all affected by this freak and to pay my respects to Shay for her bravery! My large family and I are going to be staying in a villa south of Playa Chaquita in a couple of months so I thank you for your words of warning. What has the range of these attacks been? Have they all occured at playa chaquit?

jroll1, this particular rapist is now on trial and the verdict will be given on Thusday. He has been in prison for several months and hopefully will spend the rest of his life there.

Another recent thread discusses a violent attack of a different kind, Marin County Man Shot in Puerto Viejo, so please exercise caution while you are there. Nobody in your party should go out on their own, day or night. Consult local people for safety advice as they will have up to date information. Most people who visit this area have no problem but it is wise to be aware of potential local dangers, just as you would be at home.

Thank you moolyn. I really appreciate the words of warning. We will definitely be more careful then we otherwise would have. I have let everyone in my family know and we will definitely stick together.
Thanks.

I was in Puerto Viejo recently and walked alone on the beach several times. Would I avoid walking into a crowd of young men obviously having a "meeting?" Yes. Would I walk on the beach alone at night? No. Would I avoid walking on the beach during the day because I was afraid to walk alone? No.

People are killed in the northern California area every day but no one ever says,"If you are walking in Oakland, make sure you don't walk alone and never go out at night."

hsmithcr, it's very fortunate for you then that the Puerto Vielo Rapist is currently in jail and has been on trial this past week since he did not respect day or night. I for one am hoping that he will spend the rest of his life in jail!

Yes there is crime everywhere and due dilligence should be observed - even in Oakland - especially if you are a women. If there is a particular menace in a particular place who preys on tourists, thankfully we have a forum like this where warnings can be posted and anguish can be prevented.

Moolyn - I didn't mean any disrespect to you and I also hope the rapist spends a long time in jail. And it is definitely a good thing to have warnings about certain areas.

But there needs to be a balance between extreme fear and common sense caution.

I would recommend that wherever people are staying in the Puerto Viejo area, they should just ask at their lodging for advice on safety. The local people will know the latest and can advise accordingly.

hsmithcr, if you read all through this thread you will find that a consistent effott has been made to remain accurate and balanced and to offer common sense advice. People have not been advised to avoid Puerto Viejo, just warned that women should not go to the beach there on their own.

I totally agree with your suggestion to ask for safety advice locally - wherever you go. The people of Puerto Viejo were aware of the identity of the rapist long before he was thrown in jail and were every bit as anxious as the rest of us that he be brought to justice!

There has been a great deal of testimony presented in the current trial. The verdict should be given today so hopefully I will be able to share it with you all later.

Best of luck, moolyn; hopefully justice will be served.

Thanks, volcanogirl! No news about a verdict yet but it's reassuring that so much testimony has been presented.

Unfortunately, one of the judges is ill so there won't be a verdict now until at least next Tuesday.

The judges have ruled that the Puerto Viejo rapist must serve 56 years in prison! Hopefully he will never emerge. It must be such a relief for all concerned that justice has finally been served. It has been a long struggle.

Great news, moolyn, and glad to see that the system finally worked. Is it common in CR to serve the entire term? I hope so.

volcanogirl - Sadly, Rolando Brown was released "for good behavior" after serving just half of his first rape sentence. Look how well that worked!

This time there will be NO early release! He received the the maximum 50 years for this more recent series of rapes plus an extra six years to complete his first sentence. That's all I know for now.

THANK GOD!! This is great news, thank you for keeping us up to date. I wish peace and healing for all of his victims.

And congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to make it happen.

moonlyn, I hope your niece can move towards recovery now, at least knowing he won't do this again to someone else.

Shay, I hope the same for you. Peace to you.

Moolyn, thank goodness. That is such a relief to hear he has received a good long sentence. Thank you for your efforts here to keep everyone informed
I hope your neice is doing well, and is able to put this behind her, as much as is possible.

Thank you all for your support throughout this long struggle. This thread is almost two and a half years old! At first it was just meant as a warning to women visiting Puerto Viejo but it turned into a tale of courage and the triumph of justice!

Shay passed along information received from her contact and authorized me to post it here:

Only the rape charge on another victim was accepted… for the other victims that could not see him the charges were not taken/or were dismissed….

He was convicted for the charges against you on attempted murder, attempted rape and aggravated robbery.

Just to tie up some loose ends of this long story:

There were no actual rape convictions. However the judges were very clear when they reminded Brown that there was no doubt in their minds that he had hurt many women and that the witnesses were telling the truth which is why he got such a harsh conviction for the other crimes.

My niece has been back to Puerto Viejo with a friend since then and is now more at peace. My family is relieved that the preditor is in prison and just hope that he will remain there for the full sentence as promised.

And I'm going to Costa Rica in January so hope to start a new and happier thread! Thanks again for all of your support!

moolyn - thanks for keeping us up to date on this. I am so glad that your niece went back to Puerto Viejo. A really smart move. Get rid of those ghosts! I know from one lady who lives in the area that a small group of people is meeting in various places and trying to bring some peace and tranquility just through their own thoughts and energy.

Please accept my best wishes for a wonderful trip in January.

It would be helpful, and might spur some judicial action, if this scumbag (whom everyone seems to know) had his picture published on here by a traveller. This might cause some problems for him. The only recourse for him is a civil suit to remove his pic or address the accusations. Usually rapists won't expose themselves to the public to defend their innocence and the pic and publicity will aid women in protecting themselves. There are a lot of REAL men around who do not fear a local drug kingpins pervert son I assume. How many women have to be raped beaten or even killed before someone acts?? Where I am from, rape is prevalent (as it is everywhere) but arrest and conviction of rapists is their best protection, as, if they are indentified in public and still on the loose, most family men and honorable guys would LOVE to get their hands on them. Sometimes taking the law into ones hands (in the absence of enforcement) can be to the benefit of all in the community and to those who visit. We as parents and fathers think in the terms of "What if it was my daughter??" And if it was, I pity the rapist.
If I obtain any more info (name and face) when we visit P.V. next year, you can be damn sure it is going to be posted by me because, if the C.R. justice system is ignoring this rapist they will surely ignore a foreigners accusations online so I ain't worried. Just want to give information so all residents and travellers can better protect themselves.

Blizzardcpl, indeed there was talk in the PV community and elsewhere about vigilante justice but fortunately the Costa Rican justice system worked, even though it was a long, uphill struggle on the part of concerned members of the legal system and many brave victims. Posting a photo may have inadvertently led to more tragedy as Brown has a twin brother who was innocent of any of the attacks.

hsmither, I'm glad to know that local people are meeting and attempting to restore tranquility.

Publisizing is hardly vigilanteeism, and if my twin brother was doing this, I would definitely have turned him in. We love Costa Rica, and feel proud to have friends there. We hate to see innocent people victimized by criminals and the justice system whether it be here in Ontario, Canada or Costa Rica, and as a father of 3 young ladies, this kind of story disturbs me on many levels. It leads me to beg the question, "are women truly equal in our society?".
I really believe equality and respect are goals which most of us strive for daily. Those in our society whom operate with no respect for others must sometimes be dealt with by use of force, as that is all these types understand. Sometimes these 'types' can even be leaders of whole countries.
Well I have negatively ranted on here to which I am sorry but thankful to you as well.
We sincerely wish all of you a Very, Merry Christmas and hope you all spend the holidays with someone you LOVE

So Glad Rolando Brown will be serving the rest of his life in prison!!!!! AWESOME