Authorities in Costa Rica are investigating the killing of a well-known American surfer in what they say appears to be a violent home invasion on the country's Caribbean coast, People reports. Kurt Van Dyke, 66, a California native who had lived for decades in the Limón province and owned Hotel Puerto Viejo in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, was found dead Saturday in his home in Hone Creek, near Cahuita, according to multiple Costa Rican outlets citing the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). Investigators say at least two armed intruders entered the house while Van Dyke and his girlfriend were inside, threatened them with a gun, and confined them in a room while valuables were taken. Authorities believe the assailants then killed Van Dyke before fleeing.
A preliminary report from Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency lists the cause of death as asphyxiation, with multiple stab wounds found on his body. The AP reports he was apparently strangled. Another early report from the Fuerza Pública says Van Dyke was discovered under a bed with a sheet over his head and a knife nearby. His 31-year-old girlfriend, who was reportedly showering when the intruders arrived, told authorities she was tied up but survived without serious injuries. Security cameras captured two vehicles leaving the property, local media reported, and at least one was reportedly stolen from the property. No suspects have been arrested, and the investigation remains open.
Van Dyke, part of a surfing family BeachGrit calls "legendary" and known in the surf community as "King," was regarded as a fixture of the local scene. "My brother was a very benevolent, giving person who would help just about anybody," his brother Peter told the San Francisco Chronicle, adding that Van Dyke "would never hurt anybody." Roger Sams, who heads the Southern Caribbean Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, told La Nación the killing is likely to affect perceptions of the region, though he described the case as isolated and not directed at tourists.
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