No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsCrimeEx-boyfriend of woman who disappeared in Costa Rica arrested in Colorado

Ex-boyfriend of woman who disappeared in Costa Rica arrested in Colorado

Authorities in the U.S. city Denver, Colorado, arrested a U.S. man Thursday with connections to a woman who went missing in Costa Rica in 2010.

Police arrested William Ulmer at Denver International Airport as he was on his way to celebrate his honeymoon in Hawaii with his new bride, according to Fox 31 TV News. A U.S. Attorney in North Carolina charged Ulmer with five counts related to passport fraud after prosecutors alleged that he used his brother’s passport to fly to Costa Rica in March 2009 and back to the United States on Dec. 23, 2010.

Ulmer returned to the United States 18 days after his then-girlfriend, Barbara Struncova, a citizen of the Czech Republic, disappeared from the expat beach town of Tamarindo on Dec. 5, 2010.

Xinia Zamora, spokeswoman for the Judicial Investigation Police, said that missing persons case remains open.

According to Fox 31, federal prosecutors said Costa Rican investigators found blood evidence and discovered money had been withdrawn from her account the day after she went missing. Authorities have yet to identify the person who made the withdrawal.

The Tico Times previously reported that the 31-year-old Struncova went missing on Dec. 5, 2010, after returning home late from a party the night before. Struncova returned from the party at 1 a.m. on Dec. 5 to the home where she lived with Ulmer and four others.

According to sources interviewed by this newspaper, Ulmer told friends that Struncova left that same night to travel to Limón with friends. People interviewed for this story said they were unaware of any planned trip to the Caribbean.

Diana Zimmerman, one of Struncova’s friends, has blogged about her and has alleged that Ulmer, reportedly the last person to see her alive, was involved in Struncova’s disappearance, Fox 31 TV News reported.

Ulmer is expected to be sent to North Carolina soon for arraignment on passport fraud charges.

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Social Crisis Deepens Amid Political Clashes

Costa Rica is sliding into a state of structural violence fueled by political clashes, social division, and weakening institutions, according to a new National...

Rising Seas Threaten Costa Rica’s Beaches and Communities by 2030

Costa Rica’s iconic coastlines, from Limón’s Caribbean shores to Guanacaste’s Pacific beaches, face growing threats from rising sea levels driven by climate change. The...

U.S. Warns Americans to Avoid Nicaragua Amid Authoritarian Risks

The U.S. State Department is urging Americans to skip travel to Nicaragua due to increasing authoritarianism that puts tourists at risk. The Level...

Costa Rica Continues Investigation into Miller Gardner’s Death

Costa Rican authorities are still investigating the tragic death of Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, nearly...

Banana Workers’ Strike Ends in Panama After Pension Agreement

Workers at U.S.-based banana company Chiquita Brands in Panama ended their protests and road blockades on Wednesday after reaching an agreement over pension reforms....

From Bookie to “Pura Vida”: A True Costa Rica Expat Story

I recently wrote about my fear that three decades after learning Spanish, I was now slowly losing my fluency, forgetting words I had once...
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