On Sunday morning, a jolly group of five people from San Isidro de El General (Perez Zeledon), set off to help a gringo friend of theirs in nearby Buenos Aires de Puntarenas. There were apparently several pieces of farm machinery in need of repair, and 44-year old Quesada Cascante was just the mechanic for the job. With him was his wife, their son, and another couple along to help with the repairs, and enjoy a Sunday outing. All were found dead and charred on Sunday night at 12:30 PM, on the American’s farm, Llano Bonito de Buenos Aires. Three had been shot in the head, including farm owner, Stephen Paul Sandusky. Many had gunshot wounds to other parts of their bodies.
Llano Bonito is a private property, on a private road in Buenos Aires. The owner Sandusky (61), was said to have been quiet, kind and had moved there from the US several years ago to enjoy his golden years on his farm. He was apparently well-liked by the locals, according to neighbors. Yet his property was discovered on Sunday night, in complete disorder, as though thieves had ransacked it looking for things of value, or perhaps drugs. Six people were assassinated, then torched. One man was found dead, crouched behind the tire of a pick-up truck, doused in chemical accelerant, but not burned. The investigating officers also suspect some had been tortured, but that is not confirmed as yet.
The names of the deceased are as follows:
Quesada Cascante (44), his wife Villarevia Rivera (41), their son Quesada Villarevia (20), and their two friends Zuniga Rodriguez (40), Borbon Munoz (39), and Sandusky (61). It was originally reported that a youngster had also been killed, but that was contradicted by the latest OIJ criminal report.
Three partially burned vehicles were also discovered, plus several 4x4s, and a pick-up truck with a burned body in the truck bed.
Apparently when friends and neighbors of Quesada and wife were unable to reach the couple on Sunday afternoon, and they still had not returned home that night, the friends set out for Buenos Aires to find them. What they found was a grizzly mass murder crime scene with six dead people, three shot in the head, and all bearing signs of violence prior to death. Then they were set on fire. Authorities suspect the motive was robbery, based on a broken window and items strewn all over the house as though it had been pillaged.
The bodies have been taken to the morgue for forensic analysis, which is always more challenging in cases of burn victims. A neighbor of Sandusky commented that to him it looked like a revenge killing, perhaps by a narco-trafficking gang who were short-changed or robbed. The area of Puntarenas has been in the news frequently for drug gang violence in recent years. This violence has included several murders, often the result of gang wars and grudges.
Costa Rica’s murder rate is holding steady this year, with a murder total of 333 – 74 of them in Puntarenas. This rate is down from 2020, when the murder total was 569.
The American Embassy is not releasing details of Sandusky’s murder, pending notification of his family. This multiple murder comes as a shock to all expats, and a reminder to maintain vigilance, especially as we enter the holiday season

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