Source: Andrey Camacho Jimenez, PZNoticias

After five years and three trials, the fate of United States citizen Ann Patton Bender has been decided in Costa Rica.

She was found innocent of all charges, and is free to go on with her life and attempt to pursue the lawyer whom she claims absconded with her fortune.

In her last statement before the judges at her final hearing on Friday, September 4th, 2015 before today’s resolution, Ms. Bender said, in almost a whisper, that she had lost the love of her life, her beloved husband, her home and all her household goods, her jewels, all her money. Ms. Bender pleaded with the court to: “please, let me keep my freedom.”

Many in the U.S. expat community in Costa Rica rejoiced along with Ms. Bender, believing that justice was served at last. Others are not so convinced due to the manner in which the case unfolded.

48 Hours “Paradise Lost”

The U.S. CBS television network has been updating this case over the last two years on its investigative news program 48 Hours. Here is a portion of their most recent update:

After four years and two trials, there [was] perhaps no way Ann [could] prepare herself for the verdict: guilty of murder.

 

Last February, nine months after Ann Bender was convicted of murdering her husband, an appeals court overturned that decision. Their finding: the prosecution’s evidence was insufficient proof of murder.

 

Ann was released from prison. She told “48 Hours” she barely survived her time behind bars. But her ordeal is not over yet. The court ordered a third trial.

 

Sadly, her boyfriend who had fought so hard to bring attention to her case died of natural causes while she in was in prison.