No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchivePrison guards suspected in beating death of jailbreak ringleader

Prison guards suspected in beating death of jailbreak ringleader

President Laura Chinchilla confirmed Thursday morning that Johel Araya, leader of last month’s botched prison break, died as a result of physical injuries and not of natural causes, the daily La Nación reported. Jorge Rojas, director of the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) said that Araya’s death was caused by blunt force to the head.

Araya, 45, died on May 22 in his cell at La Reforma maximum security prison in Alajuela, northwest of San José. His death came 10 days after a failed prison break from La Reforma that resulted in the deaths of two prisoners and a guard.

On Thursday, 10 guards were named as suspects in Araya’s death and placed on administrative leave.

Two days before his death Araya submitted a document to the Sala IV, alleging beatings from guards and asking the judges of the Sala IV “to stop what is happening. They are killing me slowly.”

Chinchilla said that OIJ investigators confirmed that Araya died from physical abuse after seeing a coroner’s report. She also said efforts need to be made to combat the “negative image” of Costa Rica’s prison system.

Trending Now

Costa Rica and Panama Seek Gold Cup Glory Against North American Giants

With no Caribbean teams advancing, a Central American contingent made up of Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala heads into the quarterfinals of the...

Former Costa Rican Minister Arrested for Drug Trafficking, Faces U.S. Extradition

Costa Rica’s judicial police arrested Celso Gamboa, a former security minister and Supreme Court judge, on Monday, following a U.S. request for his extradition...

Costa Rica to Launch Electric Air Taxis for Sustainable Travel in Guanacaste

Costa Rica is poised to revolutionize its transportation landscape with the introduction of electric air taxis, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional ground travel...

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 Closing Event Bans Minors, Sparks Outrage

Costa Rica’s Pride 2025 closing event, set for June 29 at San José’s Plaza de la Democracia, was thrown into controversy when the government...

Fishing, Wildlife, and History in Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado is a magical and charming town. It’s one of the country’s hidden gems, best known for its world-class sport...

2025 Gold Cup: Honduras Advances After Dramatic Shootout, Mexico Ends Goal Drought

Honduras, with a surprising and dramatic penalty shootout victory over Panama, and Mexico, with a lackluster win against Saudi Arabia, advanced Saturday to the...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
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