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Wildlife

Clown Kidnapper Spotted in Santa Marta

By Arianna McKinney
04/11/13


Photo by Pinar Istek

Twelve-year-old Jonathan was on his way home from school, walking with another boy, when a black minivan with tinted windows started following them and caught up with them, driving slowly to keep pace with the boys. A man inside the van dressed as a clown reached his arm through the window and grabbed Jonathan’s shirt at his chest. “Be careful,” the boy warned the clown as he turned into the entrance of his house in Santa Marta of Nosara.

According to Jonathan’s mother, Maria Eudemia Mayorga Caravaca, she saw the van, since it remained parked in front of their house for a while as if waiting for the boy to leave the house, and a neighbor was able to write down the license plate number. Three people were in the van, including a man dressed as a clown, and later they saw the van pass by on an alternate route toward Ostional.

Jonathan’s father, Jose Isabel Carrillo Carrillo, known as “Chavelo,” said he called 911 to report the incident, which took place on Tuesday, April 2, and was told that the police had been notified and should arrive shortly. He stayed at home waiting for the police but they never arrived.

“We feel worried and nervous because now you can’t have the confidence to let your children go out to play. Even going to school can be dangerous,” Carrillo said. “This hasn’t been seen here. Here these dangers didn’t exist.”

Nosara Public Force Chief Gerardo Aguilar Aguilar acknowledged that they received a call about a clown sighting but at the time the patrol vehicle was in Nicoya and they weren’t able to locate the suspects, although he said they collaborated with police in Ostional and Santa Cruz and searched in Santa Marta, Guiones and other surrounding areas.

Nicoya Police Chief Omar Chavarria said that rumors of clown sightings have circulated for about six months, when an alert came from the sector of Playa de Coco, although he specified that the alert was based on unconfirmed reports. Calls have been received but no formal denunciation has been filed to his knowledge.

As a preventive measure, Chavarria said they have conducted an informational campaign in the schools, warning parents to always pick their children up for school and not leave them alone, and warning children not to accept offers of toys in exchange for favors such as going for a ride or getting to know them.

Also children are instructed to communicate any suspicious occurrences to an adult, a teacher or the police. Security guards at schools should also be alert to vehicles that fit the description: a large dark vehicle with people inside, including a person dressed as a clown.

 

More community news

Dredging of Nosara River Worries Santa Teresa Residents

While work on the Nosara River started on April 24 with a corresponding budget of 300 million colones ($600,000) for the first stage, under the supervision of the construction company HHB Consa, the dredging ran into two obstacles: first with the arrival of rainy season, which could affect and even detain the work, and second an area resident is doing his own dredging along part of the river’s edge, with the risk of affecting the community of Santa Teresa. 

Medical Transport Helicopter Denied Landing in San Jose

So far this year, Dr. Alejandro Gutierrez said he has transported about 10 patients to hospitals by air when an ambulance just might not be fast enough. But on April 12, the helicopter that was coming to pick up a patient with an irregular heart problem was denied landing to fuel up at Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose.

Nosara Red Cross Ranks 4th Nationally

The Nosara Red Cross announced that their auxiliary committee received recognition on March 9, placing third in Guanacaste and fourth nationally in the 2012 Annual Operative Program (PAO), out of a total of 120 Red Cross committees. Hojancha ranked first, Santa Cruz second and Moravia third.

CREAR Library in Samara Will Try to Have a National Registration

With all the space Crear Association have onsite in their library they have re-introduced the public library to the community. With a bright new sign and the doors wide open, they have drawn in dozens of new visitors, including international students at Intercultura as well as the local students at Mareas Homeschool.

Nosara’s Library Extends Hours in April

These past three months of this year have been a time of collecting the monies necessary for the budget of the library for 2013. 

Doctor Working with Red Cross Provides Better First Aid in Nosara

The Nosara Red Cross now counts on the assistance of Dr. Yennifer Jimenez, who came to live in Nosara in November and is volunteering a minimum of 20 hours per month to attend to accidents and emergency situations prior to hospitalization. 

Rebuilding Lives Has Started Since the Earthquake

With government help and donations from the community, Jeniffer Ramirez and her husband, Freddy Brenes Chaves started to rebuild their home this past Wednesday April 10.

Clown Kidnapper Spotted in Santa Marta

Twelve-year-old Jonathan was on his way home from school, walking with another boy, when a black minivan with tinted windows started following them and caught up with them, driving slowly to keep pace with the boys.

“I’m not moved by skeptics”, Alvin Rosenbaum New NCA President

Alvin Rosenbaum, who officially assumed the role of president of the Nosara Civic Association (NCA) on April 1, has built a career around defending civil rights and finding practical solutions to problems around the world as a consultant for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Bank.

Challenges Mount for Putting Samara Maritime Zone in Order

With slow progress being made on the new Samara-Carrillo regulatory plan, the situation for those who live, own property or hold concessions in the Maritime Land Zone (ZMT-Zona Marítimo Terrestre) is still unsure.

Lifeguard Workshop Being Organized In Memory of Lost Surfer Alvaro Duran Ribas

“I could either die from the pain or transform my love for him and honor his life and do something to avoid similar situations for other mothers,” said Sandra Ribas, the mother of Alvaro Duran Ribas, who disappeared in the waters of Guiones in April 2011.

Nosara Neighbors Send Letters about Robberies to Vice Minister of Security

Members of the Nosara community were disappointed by remarks apparently made by Vice Minister of Security Celso Gamboa Sanchez in response to a news program aired on Channel 7 on March 4 about thefts in Nosara, sparking a letter writing campaign to inform him of the real situation.

Domestic Violence in Nosara Case Turns into Drug Bust

When the Nosara Public Force responded to a 911 call regarding a case of domestic violence, they found much more, including drugs, firearms and half a million colones ($1000) in cash.

ADIN Named New Members and Approved Lot Donation for a Senior Citizen Center

On March 9 at 4 p.m. an extraordinary assembly was held by the Nosara Integral Development Association (ADIN) to replace some members of the board of directors. The meeting was attended by 74 neighbors, which was a good attendance in the opinion of the organizers.

Care Network Almost Ready

The Canton of Nicoya will soon be able to count on the second Care Network in the province of Guanacaste thanks to the construction of a 800-square-meter building, now about 90% complete. 

Nosara’s Firefighters Put Down 24 Fires This Dry Season

Although some people were not pleased to find the road to Ostional blocked this Saturday March 30, they had no other choice than to wait until the members of the Nosara firefighters finished their Easter weekend practicing medical, vertical rescue and firefighting training at the Rio Montaña Bridge.

Camera Took a Tour Through The Passion of Christ Parade And Easter Service By Nosara River

As the Guanacaste wind was filling the eyes of the attendants with dust on the morning of Holy Friday, tens of members of Nosara Catholic Church started walking the streets of the town slowly in celebration of resurrection of Christ.

 


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