Two nursing professionals were found dead inside a vehicle parked in front of Playa Uvita, located in the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica. According to a news report filed by Daniel Chinchilla Salazar of daily tabloid Diario Extra, the deceased have been identified as Jonathan Granados Ureña and Fiorella Castro Flores. Preliminary reports by forensic agents from the Office of Judicial Investigations (Spanish initials: OIJ), a possible cause of death seems to be carbon monoxide poisoning.

The couple were found on Saturday morning by Mr. Granados’ father, who became concerned when his son, who had explained that he planned to spend time with a friend in Playa Uvita on Friday night, was not home on Saturday morning and was not answering his mobile phone. The father went to the beach and found his son unresponsive in the driver’s seat; Ms. Castro was in the rear seat of the Hyundai Terracan. Mr. Granados’ father broke the windows of the car to gain entry; alas, both nurses had already passed away.

Mr. Granados lived in Heredia, where he worked at a clinic. Ms. Castro was in the practical stage of her nursing education and lived in Perez Zeledon with her two children. Those who were closed to the dearly departed indicate that the couple was not romantically involved.

When Mr. Granados’ father arrived at the beach, he noticed that the vehicle’s engine was running, and the air conditioning unit was on. Forensic agents from OIJ did not find evidence that would suggest the deaths were incidental since there were no connections from the exhaust to the interior of the vehicle.

A similar case occurred last year, when a couple was found lifeless in a love motel located between Tres Rios and Cartago. In that particular incident, the couple had left their vehicle running in the garage that is adjacent to the bedroom, which is a privacy feature of many love motels in Costa Rica; they were found by motel staff members hours later. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is a byproduct of vehicle exhaust, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and initially non-irritating, it is very difficult for people to detect.