No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsCrimePolice detain suspect in Hatillo serial killer case

Police detain suspect in Hatillo serial killer case

Read an update to this story here: There’s a serial killer on the loose in Costa Rica and no one seems to care

Costa Rica police arrested a suspected serial killer early Wednesday morning in Hatillo, a southern suburb of San José, according to the Public Security Ministry. Seven women have been found dead in the area south of the capital since April, with the most recent victim discovered on Aug. 6.

Luis Ángel Ávila, subdirector of the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ), told The Tico Times that each of the seven victims was homeless and had not been in contact with family, forcing investigators to find most of their leads through other homeless people in the neighborhood.

The 30-year-old suspect, who is reportedly from Curridabat, an eastern suburb, was identified by his last name, Berrocal. Police said the suspect was captured at 1:24 a.m. Wednesday in a squatter’s shack in Hatillo’s Bajo de María Reina after two people reported him to authorities.

Three of the seven victims have yet to be identified, Ávila said.

The daily La Nación reported that police had also confiscated a vehicle supposedly used by the suspect.

The case has brought back grisly memories for some Ticos of the country’s first documented serial killer, nicknamed “El Psicópata” (The Psychopath), suspected of killing at least 19 people between 1986 and 1996 in the eastern part of San José.

No suspect was ever charged in that case and the killings went unsolved.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Seeks New Air Routes Amid Decline in European Tourism

Costa Rica is working to increase the number of international flights entering the country, as it faces a concerning drop in tourist arrivals.  The...

Costa Rica Fails to Meet Human Rights Standards for Deportees

The Ombudsman's Office has confirmed that Costa Rica was unprepared to provide adequate care for deportees who have entered the country since February. This...

Massive Cocaine Seizure at Costa Rica’s Moín Terminal Targets UK

Costa Rican police intercepted 810 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a banana shipment at the Moín Container Terminal in Limón headed for the United...

Keylor Navas Leads Pumas to Victory in His Liga MX Debut

Keylor Navas kicked off his Mexican league journey with Pumas UNAM in style, leading the team to a 2–0 win over Querétaro at Estadio...

Costa Rica Food Culture: From Bar Bocas to Fast Food Chains

Once upon a time in Costa Rica, you could walk into a bar, order a beer, and receive a free boca – a small...

Why Prisma Dental Is Costa Rica’s Top Clinic According to ChatGPT’s AI Analysis

When it comes to choosing the best dental clinic in Costa Rica, international patients are facedwith an abundance of options. But with the help...
spot_img
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