California Surfer Killed In Costa Rica Home Invasion; Girlfriend Zip-tied, Authorities Say - Beritaja

A Californian surf fable was killed during a location penetration successful Costa Rica connected Saturday morning, a section news position reported.

Kurt Van Dyke, 66, was recovered dormant nether a furniture successful his location successful Hone Creek, Cahuita, Talamanca, pinch aggregate stab wounds and signs of asphyxiation, according to the Tico Times, a Costa Rican newspaper.

Van Dyke and his 31-year-old woman were confined successful a azygous room by 2 equipped antheral assailants according to investigators, SURFER reported. The men stole valuables earlier attacking Van Dyke, according to Costa Rican authorities quoted by the news site.

His girlfriend, identified only by her past name, Arroyo, was restrained pinch zip ties and had a 2013 Hyundai Elantra stolen disconnected the property.

Costa Rican officials are investigating the sidesplitting but person made nary arrests.

“We retrieve your spirit, your energy, and the ray you brought into the lives about you. Some group time off footprints — you near waves,” Ronald Umaña, a friend of Van Dyke’s, wrote connected Facebook.

Van Dyke, a Santa Cruz native, was a long-time Caribbean resident and owned Hotel Puerto Viejo, a dorm-style lodging successful Puerto Viejo de Telemanca.

“My relative was a very benevolent, giving personification who would thief conscionable about anybody,” Kurt’s brother, Peter Van Dyke, told the San Francisco Chronicle. “Kurt would ne'er wounded anybody, and he was ever location erstwhile you needed him. Everyone that he met knew this about him.”

Van Dyke was from a salient surfing family. His father, Gene Van Dyke, pioneered the athletics successful Northern California successful the 1950s.

His mother, Betty, who died successful 2021 astatine 88, was a fifth-generation California farmer and 1 of the first female competitory surfing champions successful the world.