Authorities are investigating the killing of a U.S. man in Nosara, a beach in the northwestern Guanacaste province, said Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) spokeswoman Margarita Morales.
She said Carl David Brainard was last seen Monday by his gardener, who entered the house Wednesday to look for him after detecting a foul odor coming through the window.
Brainard’s body was discovered in thebathroom of his house in Esperanza de Nosara, where he lived alone, with his hands and feet tied and a shirt pulled over his head. He appeared to have been strangled, Morales said.
Brainard, 72, was originally from the U.S. state of Michigan and had lived in Nosara for various years, Morales said.
Nosara residents told The Tico Times he worked for Nosara Real Estate and owned the smoothie shop Juice Lab next door.
His car, a 2001 silver Toyota 4-Runner with the Costa Rican license plate number 558094 is missing, suggesting theft as a motive,Morales said.
Brainard’s body was transported to the San José judicial morgue and investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy.
