Thomas Jeffrey Cook was found tied up and dead inside a 1.5-meter grave in Palmira de Siquirres. He went missing on August 23rd in Jacó, where he was planning to retire.
The American was wrapped in a blanket and had been dead for several weeks. The authorities were able to identify him thanks to a tattoo of roses on his back, but a dental record that arrived from the United States was also key.
The autopsy revealed that he died as a result of a homicide, but due to the conditions and the time elapsed, the exact cause of death has not been determined.
Walter Espinoza, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), pointed out that the man does not have gunshot wounds.
He was last seen in a bank where he withdrew an amount he could not get through an ATM. Apparently, Cook was going to pay a pending debt and he told this to a woman with whom he apparently had a good relationship. After the disappearance, the woman and Cook’s relatives went to the OIJ.
The authorities note that Cook visited the country in January and lived here for three months. The man fell in love with Costa Rica and returned to retire in Garabito.