No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveGood Samaritan Stabbed to Death

Good Samaritan Stabbed to Death

A U.S. man who was known for giving food and money to homeless people was found stabbed to death in an apartment in Pavas, west of San José, late last month.

According to the daily La Nación, Mark Judson Watkins, 58, from Florida, was found by his driver Rafael Ángel Vargas at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 21 after a neighbor told him she heard “yells and blows.”

Watkins had deep wounds in his stomach, and authorities believe the incident began in the apartment bathroom, because the bloodstains began there.Watkins was found on the living room floor, according to La Nación.

The Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) told the daily they believe the motive for the attack was robbery, as various appliances and household items were missing.

Neighbors reported that a “short and blond” woman visited Watkins almost every day, and he gave her food and money, as he did with many others.

“I had warned him to be careful because that woman is a crack addict and could get him into problems. Last Friday someone stole his microwave and bicycle, but he didn’t even complain,”Vargas said.

The woman, and three men who occasionally accompanied her to the apartment are now the principal suspects in the murder, La Nación said.

 

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s President Attacks Opponents After He keeps His Immunity

Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves lashed out at opposition lawmakers after Congress rejected a request to strip him of immunity, a step that could...

Costa Rica Approves U.S. Coast Guard Boats for 2026 Anti-Drug Operations

Lawmakers in Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly have given the green light for up to 195 U.S. Coast Guard vessels to access the country's ports...

Emiliana Arango Rises as Latin American Tennis Leader at Australian Open

For years, Latin American tennis followers have turned to a handful of familiar names when scanning Grand Slam draws for women’s singles contenders. Brazil’s...

Venezuelan Migrants Are Key to Latin America’s Economy, IOM Says

Venezuelan migrants make a “key” economic contribution to the countries where they live, undermining claims that they are merely a burden, according to a...

Costa Rica is a Leading Digital Nomad Destination in 2026

Costa Rica was given a spot among the world's leading destinations for remote workers looking ahead to 2026. According to recent Google search trends,...

US Halts Diversity Visa Program Following Deadly Campus Attacks

The United States government has stopped its diversity visa program in response to recent shootings at two top universities. Officials point to the suspect's...
Avatar
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica