Authorities in Costa Rica say that a body has been found on the Airbnb property where missing Florida woman, Carla Stefaniak was staying.
Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) tells Scripps station ABC Action News that the body was buried in a mountainous area located in the back of the property, less than 200 feet away from where the 36-year-old had been staying. OIJ agents had been searching the area with specialized dogs.
At this time, authorities have not been able to confirm that the body is Stefaniak.
In Spanish, Walter Espinoza, the Director General of the OIJ said, “the body was in a state of decomposition, but the preliminary observation does verify the body is a woman.”
In a press conference on Monday, Espinoza said that biological fluids consistent with blood were discovered inside the Airbnb property. The blood has been sent to labs for testing.
The body cannot be positively identified by officials until an autopsy is performed.
Stefaniak hasn't been seen or heard from since Tuesday, November 27.
She traveled to Costa Rica with her sister-in-law, April Burton, on November 22 to celebrate her birthday. Burton flew back on November 27. Stefaniak had plans to return to the United States on November 28, bound for Florida, but never arrived for her flight.
According to Burton, the last thing they knew about Stefaniak was that she was inside her Airbnb in San Antonio de Escazú on the night of the 27th.
Stefaniak's brother flew down to Costa Rica on Friday to search for his sister. Her father is currently on a flight down to Costa Rica that left Monday afternoon.
