No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsCrimeSearch continues for missing man eaten by crocodiles in Costa Rica

Search continues for missing man eaten by crocodiles in Costa Rica

Update, Thursday, May 1, 2014: Human head found in Costa Rica river likely belongs to Nicaraguan man attacked by crocodiles

Clothing recovered at the scene has led officials to say victim likely entered the river from the shore, but witnesses on the bridge still claim Jirón jumped. 

Original story continues here: 

The Costa Rican Red Cross is continuing their search this morning for the remains of 32-year-old Nicaraguan Omar de Jesús Jirón, who was devoured by crocodiles in the Tárcoles River near the Pacific beach town Jacó. The five-person team has so far been unsuccessful in their search, which began Tuesday night.

Details of how Jirón ended up in the crocodile-filled river remain murky as the police, Red Cross and Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) all issued conflicting reports.

According to the Jim Batres, assistant director of the Red Cross, witnesses at the scene saw the intoxicated Jirón escorted from the bridge early Tuesday evening by police. Witnesses said he went to a bar and returned to the bridge at approximately 5:12 p.m. He then jumped off the bridge into the river, according to the Red Cross.

Two members of the tourism police were on the opposite side of the bridge when Jirón entered the river. Because of their distance, neither officer was able to see how Jirón entered the river, but when they arrived closer to the scene, they saw Jirón being eaten by crocodiles.

The OIJ press office said Jirón did not leap off the bridge, but got off a bus at the end of the bridge and walked to the riverbank to go swimming. OIJ officials said Jirón had been fired from a construction job for drinking at work and was likely intoxicated when he entered the river.

The daily La Nación reported this version of events Tuesday night, citing a man described as Jirón’s friend and former co-worker, who the newspaper said was with the missing man when the tragedy happened.

The Tico Times has obtained a photo of the moment Jirón was attacked, but has chosen not to publish it. The photo, taken Tuesday evening, graphically shows Jirón being attacked and dismembered by at least six crocodiles.

 

Correction 2 p.m. May 1: OIJ officials revised their previous statement that Jirón was 22-years-old. They now say he was 32.

This story is in development. Follow updates at wordpress-257819-2837440.cloudwaysapps.com

 

Trending Now

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...

Panama Vows Constitutional Action Amid Worsening Bocas del Toro Unrest

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino announced Thursday that he will take “constitutional measures” to stop the wave of protests and road blockades affecting the...

OIJ Warns: Costa Rica Now a Key Warehouse for Drug Lords

Costa Rica’s recent drug busts, with tons of cocaine and marijuana seized across the country, shine a harsh light on its deepening role in...

Why Costa Rica Feels Like a Safe Haven for This Longtime Expat

If someone asked me to sum up why I live in Costa Rica in 5 words or less, my answer could well be: “It...

Panama Regains Control of Bocas del Toro After Violent Protests

Panama’s government has regained control of Bocas del Toro province after months of violent anti-government protests sparked by pension reforms, officials announced. The unrest,...

Costa Rica’s Film Festival Kicks Off with a New Vision

San José is lighting up for the 13th Costa Rica International Film Festival (CRFIC), running June 19–29, 2025, with filmmaker Patricia Velásquez Guzmán taking...
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