No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchivePolice Capture Last Fugitive From La Reforma Escape

Police Capture Last Fugitive From La Reforma Escape

The only fugitive still at large from a group of eight convicts who escaped from La Reforma prison Oct. 9 was arrested Friday in Dominical, on the southern Pacific coast, according to a statement from the Public Security Ministry.

Rafael Angel Herrera, known as “Rafa Loco,” 54, was riding a motorcycle in the Dominical, the statement said. Although he had dyed his hair and changed his appearance, police recognized him.When they approached him, he did not put up any resistance and admitted he was the man they were looking for.

Herrera was arrested and will continue serving a 45-year sentence for various crimes including rape, robbery and assault, the statement said.

All the other fugitives who broke out of La Reforma prison in Alajuela, northwest of San José, Oct. 9 have been captured except for one who was killed by police. Four of the fugitives, Johel Guillermo Araya, Alberto Martínez, Johnny Rodríguez and Freddy García –were found in a house in Guácimo, on the Caribbean slope, Oct. 24. García was killed in a shootout with police.

Another of the fugitives, Robert Clark, was arrested two days earlier at the annual Carnival festivities in the Caribbean port town of Limón (TT, Oct. 27), and escapee Victor Urbina surrendered to police Oct. 26 in Tres Rios, east of San José (TT, Nov. 3).

Most recently, Douglas Quirós, 48, was found Nov. 4 hiding out in Cartago, east of San José (TT, Nov. 10).

 

Trending Now

Costa Rica Lands Two Spots on Travel + Leisure’s 2026 Best New Hotels List

Two Costa Rican properties have earned spots on Travel + Leisure magazine's 2026 It List of the world's 100 best new hotels. The publication...

Costa Rica Sees Ongoing Spike in Digital Fraud Tied to Travel and Payments

Costa Rica’s fraud problem is moving fast online, and travel is one of the clearest targets. What used to look like isolated scams now...

Latin American hopes fade in Munich as Cerundolo falls to Zverev

Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo let an early opening slip away Friday as top seed Alexander Zverev fought back from a set down to win 5-7,...

Costa Rica Braces for Another Week of Heat with Spotty Afternoon Rain

Costa Rica is heading into a hot and mostly dry week, with the strongest heat expected in Guanacaste and only spotty afternoon rain in...

Costa Rica Rainy Season 2026 Expected to Start Unevenly and Stay Drier

Costa Rica is heading into a rainy season that may begin on schedule on the calendar, but not in the usual pattern. The Instituto...

Costa Rica Police Arrest 19 Nicaraguans in Crucitas Gold Mining Sweep

Costa Rican police detained 19 Nicaraguan nationals in irregular migratory status during operations in Crucitas de Cutris over the past week, in the latest...
Avatar

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel