A United States citizen was taken into police custody late this afternoon, Wednesday, September 27, near the southern mountain town of Pérez Zeledón.

The detention occurred shortly after police at around 4 p.m unearthed the body of a woman who is preliminarily presumed to be the man’s wife. The body was found partially buried about 500 meters from their rural home, according to a press conference by the Costa Rican Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ).

The couple’s property is a farm of about 200 hectares (about 494 acres) in Desamparados de Pejibaye, located an hour from the center of Pérez Zeledón.

 

Local police were given information about the body yesterday, and today sent experts to investigate the property and extract the body with care in order to preserve evidence.

According to reports on Channel 7 Telenoticias, preliminary evidence shows the woman could have been buried more than a week ago. Police said details regarding the woman would be available possibly tomorrow after she is inspected by forensic experts.

It also appears the man and his wife (no nationality yet reported) divided their time between Belize and Costa Rica, and police have requested assistance from Belize on the investigation.