At about 5PM Saturday night, the word came from neighbors of missing American Tandra Joy Thorbeck, that they had discovered the remains of what they thought was Thorbeck, within walking distance of her home. The body was accompanied by personal belongings of hers, making it more likely that they had indeed found Tandra’s final resting spot. The remains were found on a side road perpendicular to the road Tandra frequently used to walk her dogs. No official announcement could be made until the Organismo de Investigacion (OIJ) arrived on the scene and made a positive ID of the body.

Tandra was a 9-year resident of Perez Zeledon, who worked at a booth in the farmer’s market in town, as well as a dog sitter and house sitter for fellow Americans. The last confirmed sighting of Thorbeck was by her family who live on the same property as her house, who saw her Wednesday 11 days ago at home. Thereafter, there were many unconfirmed sightings that were followed up by authorities, but could not be confirmed. Tandra had just vanished. Security cameras in stores where she had allegedly shopped during the days she went missing, revealed no image of Tandra.

Suddenly on Friday, there was news that Tandra’s cell phone had been found discarded on the side road in Matasanos, near her home. The area was marked and cordoned off, awaiting the arrival of the OIJ on Monday. Tandra’s Tico neighbors were not content to wait for Monday, so did a search of their own farther along that same dirt road. They found Tandra’s sun hat. Continuing along the same road, neighbors were devastated to find the bones of the missing American, in very poor condition as one would expect of a body out in the elements for a dozen days. They felt sure it was Tandra based on other personal belongings found near the body. Her cell phone still had a charge, they said.

Perhaps the only uplifting aspect of this tragedy is the amazing way in which the American community rallied around Tandra’s brother Casey Bahr and his family, pulling out all the stops in their quest to find the missing American. Flyers wallpapered PZ, alerting residents to her disappearance in both English and Spanish. Interviews with her friends and family, pleading for help finding Tandra appeared in most local media. Someone offered to bring in special search horses experienced in finding lost people. A Facebook page and WhatsApp phone tree were established. Tandra’s name was on everyone’s lips for days.

An autopsy and careful forensic examination will of course be done by authorities. Details of Tandra’s prolonged disappearance remain a mystery, and a real tragedy for both her family and the community. Everyone knows that elderly folks sometimes walk off in a confused state, but this case has details which could perhaps make it more sinister.

Kudos to Tandra’s neighbors who showed such dogged determination in finding their lost friend. Former Red Cross employee Carlos Fernandez Mora told The Star on Friday, “The people will find find Tandra. Even if the Red Cross seems slow to provide search dogs or drones, there are people out looking for her, and she will be found.” It is very sad that she was not found as they had hoped

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