25-Year-Old Costa Rican Man Arrested In Murder of Merritt Island Resident Sondra Elizondo
By Space Coast Daily // December 15, 2015
MEMORIAL SERVICE DECEMBER 20
UPDATE: DECEMBER 14, 2015
Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ) – the equivalent of the FBI – has arrested a 25-year-old man in the murder of Merritt Island resident Sondra Lynn Elizondo, who was stabbed 15 times in a frenzied attack because she tried to end their two year “casual relationship,” according to the Daily Mail Online.
The Daily Mail said that police in Costa Rica are developing a theory that the suspect in her murder last week then stole Elizondo’s personal belongings from their hotel room in the capital San Jose.
Following his arrest, police found several personal items belonging to Elizondo at the suspect’s home, including jewelry and clothes, sources close to the investigation have disclosed.
It’s believed the man also took cash and Elizondo’s cell phone, as well as a credit card, which he made several purchases on.
The murder suspect allegedly stole the items from the safe inside room 16 at Casa 69 – a tiny boutique hotel in San Jose in the city’s Barrio California neighborhood – as well as from Elizondo’s luggage.
CLICK HERE to see the entire story on Daily Mail Online>>>
MEMORIAL SERVICE SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY
A memorial service will be held to celebrate Elizondo’s life on Sunday, December 20 at 1 p.m. at the Wylie Baxley Funeral Home, located at 1360 N. Courtenay Parkway on Merritt Island. CLICK HERE to read Elizondo’s obituary.
ABOVE VIDEO: Sondra Elizondo was the co-founder and director of Minneapolis-based VIDA (Volunteers for Intercultural and Definitive Adventures), a nonprofit volunteer program that offers pre-medical, pre-dental and pre-veterinary college students the chance to work with local doctors, translators and guides in underserved remote areas of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Honduras and provides free care to people and their farm animals and pets.
ORIGINAL STORY: DECEMBER 12, 2015
Merritt Island’s Sondra Elizondo Stabbed, Found Dead In Costa Rican Hotel
Merritt Island resident Sondra Lynn Elizondo, 45, was found dead at a Costa Rica hotel on Wednesday afternoon according to TicoTimes.net.
Elizondo’s body was discovered by a hotel worker, and investigators from the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) said the victim had been stabbed several times.
Elizondo coordinated volunteer medical missions in Central America, and was the co-founder of Vida Volunteer, a Merritt Island-based organization that sets up mobile medical, dental and veterinary clinics in needy communities in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala.
A resident of Merritt Island for the past three years, she had two teenaged children.
ABOVE VIDEO: Sondra Elizondo was the co-founder of VIDA Volunteers and recently honored as a Doctors’ Goodwill Foundation Ambassador for her work on behalf of the underserved.
Elizondo arrived in Costa Rica on Saturday to attend meetings and was then planning to travel to Nicaragua, according to Ana Salas, communications manager for Vida Volunteer.
She said the organization had few details about Elizondo’s death and had been instructed by OIJ not to share them while the investigation is ongoing.
Salas described Elizondo as incredible, happy, very committed to helping others and the organization was devastated by the news of her death.
The VIDA Volunteer Facebook page said, “Sondra was a devoted mother, loyal friend and caring daughter. She was a great inspiration and always passionate about helping others and making a positive difference. Vida Volunteer is the legacy Sondra leaves behind and we are more committed than ever to keeping her dream alive. Sondra is survived by her two children, her parents and a brother. She will be deeply missed.
Please send your condolences to rememberingsondra@vidavolunteer.org. All messages will be forwarded to her family and loved ones.
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