HomeTopicsCrimeCanadian longtime expat goes missing in Costa Rica under 'strange' circumstances

Canadian longtime expat goes missing in Costa Rica under ‘strange’ circumstances

Update, Sat. Jan 24, 1:40 p.m.:

Four days have passed since the “strange” disappearance of well-known Canadian expat and nationalized Costa Rican Ryan Piercy, 45, and police, family members and colleagues continue to maintain guarded silence over the case. In one of few public comments on the investigation, Judicial Investigation Police Director Francisco Segura told Channel 7’s Telenoticias on Thursday:

We’ve got to wait to see what we get out of the interviews with relatives. … We don’t know if he disappeared alone, or if he was disappeared. … Those are questions that happen in reality. … The fact that the vehicle appeared abandoned could have been any of a number of things. However, the OIJ is investigating.

The Tico Times will update this story as soon as any new developments emerge. If you have any information to share about Ryan or the case, please write to Tico Times editor David Boddiger at dboddiger@ticotimes.net.

Original story continues here:

Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) and the Canadian Embassy in San José confirmed to The Tico Times that they are investigating the disappearance of a Canadian citizen who was last seen on Tuesday.

Police discovered an abandoned car with its doors open on the side of the road along Route 32 Tuesday evening. The car is registered to the missing man, Ryan Piercy, 45, OIJ Director Francisco Segura said Wednesday morning. Piercy’s wife told police that her husband left for work in the morning but that she hadn’t been able to contact him since.

Segura called the disappearance “extremely strange.”

The Tico Times
The Tico Times

Piercy, a businessman, is a Canadian native and nationalized Costa Rican. He also is manager at the Association of Residents of Costa Rica, an organization that aids expats in the residency process here. He had no police record, the OIJ director added.

Michael Martin, a representative of the Canadian Embassy in San José’s political and economic section, said that the embassy is in contact with Piercy’s family to offer consular assistance and act as a liaison with local authorities to help obtain information on the case. Martin would not supply additional details, citing the Canadian Privacy Act.

This story is developing. Follow wordpress-257819-2837440.cloudwaysapps.com for updates.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Suspends Investigation Into Who Ordered Roberto Samcam’s Murder

Costa Rica’s prosecutor’s office has suspended its investigation into who ordered the 2025 killing of retired Nicaraguan military officer Roberto Samcam, an outspoken critic...

Costa Rica’s Lesser-Known Juan Castro Blanco Park Prepares for Tourists

Construction is underway on new visitor facilities at Juan Castro Blanco National Park, a lesser-known protected area in northern Costa Rica, as officials work...

Camera Traps Track Jaguars in Costa Rica’s Tortuguero

Camera traps installed along Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast have identified 11 individual jaguars in and around Tortuguero National Park, offering researchers a closer look...

Costa Rica’s OIJ Warns of Motorcycle Groups Blocking Roads and Attacking Drivers

Packs of motorcyclists performing stunts, blocking traffic and in some cases assaulting drivers who confront them have become a serious problem, an OIJ traffic crimes chief warned.

Dollar Holds as Central Bank Warns US Rates Could Push It Higher

The dollar has eased from its early-October high, but Central Bank President Róger Madrigal warns a widening US rate gap could lift it again.

Francisco Cerúndolo Falls in Shanghai as Breakthrough 2026 Season Faces Another Test

Francisco Cerúndolo's run at the Shanghai Masters ended Sunday with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 loss to Czech player Jakub Menšík, bringing another early finish...

Pandora Closes All Five Stores in Costa Rica, Leaving Shoppers With Questions

Jewelry retailer Pandora has closed all five of its stores in Costa Rica, leaving customers wondering whether the popular Danish brand plans to reopen...

Bukele and Colombia’s President Expected at Costa Rica Prison Opening

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella are expected to attend the Oct. 14 inauguration of Costa Rica's new maximum-security...

Costa Rica’s Prison Population Hits Record Ahead of Mega-Prison Opening

Costa Rica held a record 21,173 adults in prison as of Oct. 7, up 42% since 2022, as the government prepares to open its 5,100-bed CACCO maximum-security prison.
Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel