All evidence indicates that the dead body found under the Rio Sucio bridge on Route 32 (San Jose-Limon) is the Italian citizen that went missing on May 14, Stefano Calandrelli.

The body was badly decomposed and this complicated the proper identification of the same through traditional measures such as fingerprints; however, other characteristics of the body as well as items found along with it, make the authorities and family members believe it is Calandrelli; in fact, family members and friends made several posts on social media since Sunday night mourning the death of the Italian businessman. The Judiciary Investigative Police (OIJ) clarified that DNA testing and dental records will be required to be 100% sure of the identity of the body.

Some of the evidence found includes a white Polo shirt that has the initials SC engraved as well as pants and a belt that match the clothes he was last seen wearing. His glasses were also found in the search conducted Friday where the police arrested 5 suspects.

The 5 people detained are three men of last names Cerdas Sanchez (38 years-old), Rivas Suazo (22), Makenzy Banton (20) and two women one of last name Vega Badilla (19) and Smith Smith (24).

OIJ is still investigating the circumstances surrounding this murder, however, they explained that so far it seems that the last time Calandrelli was seen alive he was going to meet with Katherine Tatiana Smith, one of the suspects, for personal reasons. Smith rented out the house searched by the police in San Joaquin de Flores, Heredia and where they found traces of blood and other evidence linked to the Italian.

Smith and the rest of the suspects are part of a gang that contacts and attracts the victims with the purpose of blackmailing them and/or rob them, however, they usually don’t kill them. Authorities are investigating why things escalated with Calandrelli. Smith is a suspect in a another case currently under investigation and that involved the temporary disappearance of the victim.