The Organismo de Investigacion Judicial (OIJ) announced Tuesday the capture and detention of three suspects in the case of missing American/Costa Rican, Christian Tijerino Lopez. Tijerino disappeared on February 18 in Bagaces, Guanacaste, while on his way to the beach to surf for the day. His Ford Explorer was found abandoned in front of the Bagaces School, where he had apparently run out of gasoline. There was no sign of Tijerino when his car was found, but his surfboard and extra pants were still in the car.
Tijerino (33), who lives with his family in the US and works as a systems engineer, had come to Costa Rica in December, 2019, planning to celebrate his birthday on February 24th, and reconnect with family and friends who live in Costa Rica. He was staying in a hostel in Liberia. Because he visited frequently, “Chris” as his friends called him, kept the blue Ford Explorer to take him to and from his favorite surfing locations in and around Guanacaste. His car was found two days after his disappearance.
Witnesses interviewed by authorities report having seen Chris sitting in his car in front of the school, when three men with dreadlocks approached the car, and forcibly removed him, moving him to a gray car parked nearby before leaving the scene. Tijerino also wear his hair in dreadlocks. Based on that information, police searched a nearby canal for the disappeared man, but nothing was found.

The OIJ sought the public’s help to find Tijerino. His family and friends posted messages and requests for information that would help find the missing man. Tijerino has been missing for 226 days. His family was unable to come help with the search until recently because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The OIJ has seized and searched a Tamarindo Hotel, and two private homes, one in Belen, Heredia and the other in Lindora, San Jose. They are collecting evidence in all three locations. Three suspects have been detained, with the last names of Ugarte (30), Fallas (32), and Shaw (33). The case is being considered a kidnapping, and family and friends are still hoping Chris will be found alive.

Xinia Zamora of the OIJ Press Office stated, “Our investigation has concluded that these three individuals captured Tijerino, but we have not yet been able to locate him, so our search continues.”
This is the sixth case of a missing American in 2020. All thoughts and prayers are for Tijerino’s safe return

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