Costa Rican authorities have launched an investigation into the death of American adult film actress Natalia Rae, 33, who was found unresponsive in an apartment in San José last week.

Rae, whose legal name was Kowalchuk, was an adult model and AVN/CAM star known for her work on MyFreeCams. Originally from Arizona and living in Texas, she was vacationing in Costa Rica at the time of her death.

According to the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ), the case began around 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, when Rae’s roommate called 911 after finding her unconscious in their apartment in a high-rise building in the Sabana district.

Red Cross paramedics responded but were unable to revive Rae, who was declared dead at the scene. Judicial police then took over the investigation.

Agents from OIJ’s Ocular Inspections and Evidence Collection Section (SIORI) reported that Rae’s body showed no visible signs of violence. Her remains were transferred to the Judicial Morgue in Heredia province, where an autopsy was performed. Officials said they are awaiting toxicology and forensic test results to determine the official cause of death.

On Thursday, September 4, Rae’s body was released from the morgue to a funeral home designated by her family. Investigators confirmed the case remains open pending the final forensic report.

News of Rae’s death quickly spread after her sister shared the announcement in a post on Rae’s X (formerly Twitter) account: “While on vacation, living her best life as always, my light of a sister passed away.”

Her sister added that the family now faces the challenge of repatriating Rae’s remains to the United States. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help cover funeral and transportation expenses. As of Tuesday, the fundraiser had collected more than $27,000 toward its $35,000 goal. “Anything you can contribute will help a lot to give her the service she deserves,” the post read.

Before her career as a cam model, Rae worked as a flight attendant for United, American, Delta, and Alaska Airlines. She also worked as a spa owner, a bartender at strip clubs, and a hair and makeup stylist during LA Fashion Week. She transitioned to adult entertainment full-time in 2019.

The U.S. Embassy outlined the assistance it provides when an American citizen dies in Costa Rica. While the embassy does not cover funeral or repatriation costs, consular officials can assist families in coordinating with local authorities, provide lists of funeral homes, and issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, which serves as a U.S. equivalent of a death certificate. Families are not required to travel to Costa Rica, as embassy staff can manage arrangements on their behalf.

For more information, the embassy can be reached at +506-2519-2590 or +506-2519-2093, with an after-hours emergency line available at +506-2519-2000.

Rae’s death comes amid a series of recent tragedies involving U.S. public figures in Costa Rica. In July, actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, drowned while swimming off Playa Grande on the country’s Caribbean coast.

As Costa Rica’s criminal investigative agency under the Supreme Court of Justice, the OIJ holds nationwide police authority and conducts criminal investigations throughout the country.