By Wendy Anders

This article has been updated to include new information from police sources:

Yesterday, two separate murders of women in Guanacaste have kept police and investigators very busy, and the local community very concerned.

The first, apparently a lover’s quarrel between two Nicaraguans, occurred in the presence of at least two other people outside a supermarket in Villarreal, Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, according to the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ).

The OIJ describes the murder as occurring when the couple approaches a supermarket in the presence of two other people, and, when the man embraces his lover, she collapses from knife stabs in the back and chest. Keylin Zapata Munguía, the victim, was declared dead at the scene of the crime by the Red Cross.

Around 3pm today the suspect, a Mr. Chavarría, who agents had been searching for since yesterday after he fled the scene of the crime on foot, was found walking “calmly” around Tamarindo and did not resist arrest, said the OIJ. He was turned into the Santa Cruz police officials for processing. No history of aggression has been found in the case.

The second murder occurred last night around 10pm in Belen de Carrillo, Guanacaste, according to the OIJ. A Nicaraguan woman, Libia Vicente Avendaño, who returned home with her daughter from a trip to San José was shot twice on the left side of her chest by her romantic partner, a 48-year old man, and died in her home, reported the OIJ in a live interview today. The aggressor turned himself in to the authorities and claimed that he acted in self-defence after Avendaño threatened him with a knife. A knife was found under her dead body at the scene of the crime, reported the OIJ.

Neighbours of Avendaño reported to officials that there was a history of aggression and violence of Avendaño against her male partner in the couple’s home. Last night they heard the couple arguing after Avendaño returned home. The couple’s daughter had gone out when the shooting occurred. Neighbours reported hearing two gun shots which prompted them to call the police.

Both cases are still under investigation.