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Published on
Saturday, October 31, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Criminal Court
of Guanacaste Province on Friday ordered
one year of pretrial detention for a
22-year-old woman, so-called Bikini
Killer, identified by the surname Ortiz,
who is suspected of murdering a
74-year-old U.S. citizen identified by
the surname Fleming, the Prosecutor's
Office announced. The case attracted international
media attention, with reports published by Britain's Daily
Mail and U.S. outlets Fox News and the
New York Post. The Daily Mail
popularized the nickname 'Bikini Killer'
for the suspect, referring to the
clothing she wore in surveillance
footage. According to
investigators, Ortiz is believed to have
been the last person with Fleming before
his death. She is being investigated on
suspicion of aggravated homicide, the
Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. Ortiz is the main
suspect in Fleming's murder. He was found dead
Sept. 27 in his apartment at a
condominium complex where he lived
in Coco Beach, Guanacaste Province. The OIJ said the
killing occurred at approximately 4:50
p.m. Fleming died from head injuries.
Investigators said
Fleming met Ortiz through social media,
and the two arranged a date.
Reportedly,
Fleming agreed to meet Ortiz during the
day in a public area near Coco Beach. He
later drove her to her apartment in his vehicle.
Investigators
suspect an altercation occurred after
the two spent some time together in the
apartment. Ortiz allegedly struck
Fleming with a blender jar, causing his
death.
According to
investigators, Ortiz then fled the
apartment and met a second female
suspect, identified by the surname
Zeledón, who allegedly helped her leave
the scene.
According to the description accompanying the video, Ortiz was wearing sandals, blue denim shorts and a white bikini-style top with chain-like decorative accessories around the neckline. Zeledón was wearing a pink dress and white sandals.
Investigators
suspect Zeledón helped Ortiz after the
killing. Zeledón was
arrested Oct. 16 in San José
Province. A judge later
ordered three months of pretrial
detention for her on suspicion of being
an accomplice in Fleming's murder.
"The investigation
suggests that the possible motive for
the murder was robbery, as Ortiz
allegedly stole three high-value Rolex
watches, each worth more than $25,000,"
OIJ Deputy Director Vladimir Muñoz said.
"Furthermore, investigators suspect that
Ortiz stole several of the victim's
international credit cards, which were
presumably used to make purchases at
various stores."
The U.S. Embassy
in Costa Rica provides guidance and
assistance to families of American
citizens who die abroad. Available
services vary depending on whether
relatives are traveling with the
deceased and whether the individual was
visiting or living in Costa Rica.
“The Consular
Section can provide information on
funeral homes that arrange local burials
or prepare remains for shipment to the
United States,” the embassy states on
its website. “The Consular
Section also issues a Consular Report of
Death Abroad, serving as a U.S. death
certificate for legal purposes.”
The embassy notes that it does not pay funeral, burial or repatriation expenses for Americans who die overseas. However, family members are not required to travel to Costa Rica to handle the arrangements. Embassy personnel can assist by coordinating with local authorities and service providers on their behalf.
For additional
information, the U.S. Embassy can be reached
at 506-2519-2590 or 506-2519-2093. An
after-hours emergency line is available at
506-2519-2000.
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