No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaMichigan fugitive John Saatio to be extradited Saturday

Michigan fugitive John Saatio to be extradited Saturday

After escaping from authorities on two separate occasions, U.S. fugitive John Wesley Saatio won’t have a third chance to run free in Costa Rica.

Costa Rican Security Minister Gustavo Mata announced that Saatio will be extradited Saturday when authorities will put him on a commercial flight out of Juan Santamaría International Airport accompanied by U.S. Marshals.

Saatio was recaptured Tuesday in Desamparados, south of San José, after escaping through a ventilation duct in the immigration detention center in Hatillo where he had been held since June 3.

The 35-year-old fugitive from Michigan was initially aprehended by police in the popular Central Pacific beach town of Jacó earlier this month on an order from Interpol. Saatio faces a lengthy prison sentence in the U.S. for charges of home invasion, destruction of police property, and violating probation.

He escaped last year while police were transporting him to jail after his arraignment in Houghton, Michigan.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Rescues Endangered Amphibians and Turtles in Store Bust

The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), through its Specialized Section Against Environmental Crimes, carried out an operation at a store in Vázquez de Coronado, San...

US and Panama Begin Joint Exercises to Protect Panama Canal

US forces teamed up with Panamanian police for fresh military drills focused on safeguarding the Panama Canal, starting amid ongoing debates about foreign influence...

US Visa Cost Increase for Travelers and Workers Under New Law

United States President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into law on July 4, introducing a new surcharge for most non-immigrant US...

Algal Bloom Detected in Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya

A noticeable change in watercolor has been reported across several zones of the Gulf of Nicoya and coastal areas adjacent to the Nicoya Peninsula....

Rural Costa Rica Adopts Ecosystem-Based Approach to Climate Resilience

As climate change intensifies, rural communities across Costa Rica are taking concrete steps to reduce risks and adapt to increasing climate pressures. With support...

Costa Rican Economists Raise Alarm Over U.S. Cash Transfer Tax

In 2026, the U.S. government will impose a 1% tax on cash remittances sent from the United States to Latin America. Electronic transfers will...
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