No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveMother of Slain U.S. Student Seeks Funds to Pay Witnesses

Mother of Slain U.S. Student Seeks Funds to Pay Witnesses

NOTHING in bringing her daughter’smurderers to justice came easy, andnow Jeanette Stauffer is struggling tocome up with $30,000 in reward moneyto pay witnesses who were key in solvingthe slaying of U.S. student ShannonMartin three years ago.Martin was stabbed 13 times May 13,2001 while living in the southern Pacificport city of Golfito. The 23-year-oldKansas University student was in the areastudying a rare fern.In the years following her daughter’smurder, Stauffer visited Costa Rica 11times to push prosecutors to pursue thekillers. Her efforts included bringing amember of the Kansas Bureau ofInvestigation to assist in the investigation,hiring a private attorney, and offering areward for information leading to a conviction.Last November, Kattia Cruz, 29 at thetime, and Luis Alberto Castro, 33 at thetime, were found guilty of “simple homicide”and sentenced to 15 years in prison.A third suspect was absolved of allcharges (TT, Nov. 28, 2003).The prosecutor appealed the verdictand in July Cruz and Castro were sentencedto 30 years each (TT, July 2). Thisalso has been appealed.Stauffer says she wants to remaingood on her promise to the witnesses. Sheworries that their lives are at risk inGolfito and said they need money to relocatefrom the area. During the trial, witnessesreceived death threats and Staufferherself was put under 24-hour protectionby Costa Rica’s Special Support Police,an elite SWAT unit.As of this week, Stauffer had $10,000in the reward fund.Two years ago, several corporate executivesfrom the United States pledged to supplythe reward monies, however they havesince had financial losses and cannot deliveron their promise, Stauffer said.She said she and her husband aremore than $100,000 in debt from theexpenses of traveling to Costa Rica anddemanding justice. They have sold theirhouse in Topeka, Kan., and are living in asmaller house.Donations may be sent to the ShannonL. Martin Reward Fund, c/o C.R.Attorney Bernan Salazar, Bufete BernanSalazar & Asociados in San José or toThe Shannon L. Martin Reward Fund, c/oof Capital City Bank, 37th SouthwestTopeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66609, USA.

Trending Now

Heavy Rains in Costa Rica Trigger Landslides and Floods

Costa Rica faces tough conditions lately from ongoing heavy rains that have sparked deadly landslides and major flooding over the last few days. In...

Costa Rica Pesticide Use Harms Soil Life, UNA Study Finds

Costa Rica is one of the countries that uses the most agrochemicals, which has a series of negative repercussions in various areas. A recent...

Costa Rican Congressman Faces Sexual Abuse Allegations from 2006

Fabricio Alvarado, a sitting congressman and presidential hopeful for the New Republic Party, now contends with a formal complaint accusing him of sexually abusing...

Costa Rica Updates National ID Card with Enhanced Security Features

Costa Rica's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) rolled out a redesigned physical identity card today. The update focuses on better protection against fraud while keeping...

White House Calls Nobel Prize to Venezuelan Machado ‘Politics Over Peace’

The Norwegian Nobel Committee handed the 2025 Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Friday, sparking sharp words from the White...

Costa Rica’s FIFCO Sells Operations to Heineken After Vote

Shareholders of Costa Rica's Florida Ice and Farm Company, known as FIFCO, gave the green light on to sell most of their food, beverage,...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica