![]() "If greater security measures are set in place as a result of these circumstances, then the family feels Carla's death wasn't in vain," said Gordon.įox 13 reached out to the owners of the villa, however, they did not immediately respond. While the lawsuit will not bring her back, they hope their fight can prevent something this tragedy from happening again. Stefaniak's family said more action should be taken. The Villa Le Mas has been removed from the platform." We have also been in contact with Costa Rican and American law enforcement authorities, and we are standing by to support their investigation, as justice must be served quickly. We reached out to provide support to them during this unimaginably difficult time. "Our hearts are broken for Carla’s family, friends, and loved ones. ![]() In light of the lawsuit, Airbnb said in a statement to Fox 13: "The error lies in facilitating and allowing the opportunity for the crime to occur," said Gordon. Gordon said Martinez was also handed master keys to all the rentals and given free roam of the property, putting guests in danger. "Yet he was provided with his own apartment directly next to where Carla was staying." He wasn't even authorized to be employed," said Gordon. He certainly wasn't properly licensed as a security guard. "The security guard was not even legally authorized to be in Costa Rica, he was in the county illegally. The family believes Bismark Espinosa Martinez's background was not properly looked into. The lawsuit also takes aim at the security guard accused of killing Stefaniak. The family's attorney believes negative reviews could have been removed from the Airbnb listing. Yet interestingly enough, there didn't appear to be the same negative reviews on Airbnb," said Jack Gordon, the family's lawyer. ![]() ![]() Authorities confirmed her identity the next day and took Martinez into custody on December 4."A simple Google search was able to demonstrate there were a number of negative reviews, complaints that were made about this particular resort, about these particular owners and about this particular staff at the resort. A few days later, on December 3, authorities found a body near her Airbnb. Meanwhile, the family continues their search for answers with a social media presence using the hashtag #JusticeforCarla.įamily of Florida woman murdered in Costa Rica suing Airbnb, Costa Rican resort where she stayedĪBC Action News was the first to report Stefaniak's disappearance on November 28. But he won’t reveal if it’s Martinez or someone else. “We do know there is a DNA match of one person," he said. Rivera Cheves says one of the most crucial pieces of evidence is new DNA results. We reached out to the OIJ for comment but have not heard back. So far Costa Rican authorities, known as the Organismo de Investigación Judicial, have only charged Martinez. Those tourists moving into the room on the same day Stefaniak was scheduled to check-out he says. In such a manner that other foreign tourists were hosted in the same room as if nothing had happened," said Rivera Cheves. Specifically, for Rivera Cheves, how quickly it was cleaned of blood. The body would have been moved from the second floor and the length of about four football fields to the wooded area where she was discovered. Stefaniak weighed approximately 195 pounds, he says. Stefaniaks family sued Airbnb last year, claiming it did not conduct a background check on Martinez, who they say immigrated to Costa Rica illegally. “For one person to move her from the room where the crime happened to the other place-which is over 400 yards away- is quite a bit complicated, right? because the body shows no signs of being dragged," he said. A witness testified that Martinez had confessed to the murder, and police said he lied, saying Stefaniak had left the resort on Nov. ![]() He's sharing evidence he insists supports long-held family claims.Ĭarla Stefaniak: Body found in Costa Rica identified by family as missing Florida woman “We are considering that there could be at least five suspects that participated in the crime to cover up this heinous murder," said Rivera Cheves through a video interview. He believes Martinez couldn’t have been the only one involved. We spoke exclusively with Joseph Rivera Cheves, he's the family’s attorney in Costa Rica. Investigators arrested security guard Bismark Martinez. We’re getting a never-seen-before look inside the criminal investigation into Carla Stefaniak's murder.Ĭosta Rican police found her body half-buried near an Airbnb she was renting. The man convicted in her killing received 16 years in prison. A Florida tourist was murdered in Costa Rica, and now her family's attorney told ABC Action News about crucial new evidence in the high profile tragedy. Carla Stefaniak was killed while celebrating her birthday in Costa Rica in Nov. ![]()
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