Oliver Meißner, a 30-year old German tourist who checked into a small beachfront in Costa Rica two weeks ago, was found dead in his cabin on Monday morning.

According to a recent news report by Alexander Mendez of daily tabloid Diario Extra, hotel staff had seen Mr. Meißner alive for the last time on Saturday night.

Mr. Mendez explained that hotel staff knocked on the cabin door over the weekend to offer their German guest a bite to eat, but they weren’t sure if he had gone out to enjoy the beach without leaving the key and never returned. Concerned about this disappearance, they dialed 911.

Officers from Fuerza Publica, the national police force of Costa Rica, arrived on scene and knocked on the cabin door one last time to announce their presence and explain why they were about to enter. In the absence of a response, the officers opened the door and were hit by a strong smell of decay.

Inside, Mr. Meißner was found in the bathroom, specifically lying naked on the shower floor next to the drain, with a pillow and scotch tape by his side. The officers also noticed the ashed remnants of a small fire that had been set not far from where Mr. Meißner was found.

The hotel staff were saddened to learn of the demise of their guest, whom they described as a very nice and jovial person. The preliminary report by the officers cited unknown causes of death, and the strange paraphernalia found near Mr. Meißner does not help to make a determination without the intervention of forensic investigators.

The incident took place at Cabinas La Tortuga, located in Paquita, near Quepos in the Puntarenas province. This Pacific coastal town has become very popular among European tourists visiting Costa Rica in recent years.