Murder in Jaco?

What clients frequently ask and there main concern when moving or thinking of investing in Central America is how is the crime? Is it safe in Jaco? I get this all of the time because there is a reputation, which is leaving Jaco, that Jaco is a dangerous place. Now, I have lived in Jaco, as single women in a single-family home for nearly 7 years. I am always great full for my safety no matter where I live, and always take preventative measures, such as; locking car doors, not showing valuables, showing respect to locals, and not putting my self in areas where danger readily exists. I consider Jaco, now more than ever, one of the safest places on the coast and of the larger cities in general. We have 4 police forces and are a tight nit community that looks out for each other and does not tolerate crime, which brings us to the “murder of Jaco.”

The story is as follows. There is a foreign (Belgium Mechanic) who supposedly has a violent temper and had an abusive relationship with his wife for years. This wife finally left him and left him for a woman! She then moved in with this lesbian woman who was a shop owner and good citizen of the Jaco area. I a fit of jealously, which this mechanic was known for as well, in which he ordered the murder. The lesbian was shot dead closing the gate of her house, in broad view, if anyone was around, in Hermosa. It was crime of passion. The community of Jaco turned out in hundreds to participate in a walk for the justice of the murderer and the support and loss of a member of the community. For a town that gets trashed by people who don’t know it, it seems like the people here are supporting and good people who can come together. Besides the drug crime, which is criminal on criminal and usually happens in places we don’t hear of, Jaco was shocked to have a murder of an innocent woman and put full support in bringing justice. This is a good community.

The OIJ is the harder crimes unit of Police for Costa Rica, although they aren’t known for catching people who break into cars, they have a great record of finding criminals and bringing them to justice. In this case, a man who walked around town as if he was innocent, but everyone knew this isn’t the case, is know being brought to justice. Bot of the people involved, the murderer and victim, were foreigners (Belgium and Argentinian). I have heard some negative things being said about Costa Rica and Jaco because of these murders, in my eyes, a crime of passion occurred which could occur anywhere. Then the community showed a huge support while the police began a proper investigation with out jumping to conclusions or unjustly arresting people. I think we should be proud of how a sad situation brought the community a little closer, and that, at least in important areas; the judicial system is still working in Costa Rica. It is a relief to me they follow procedure and do not unjustly arrest people, in a foreign country; this can be a scary thing for foreigners. It is also nice to see such an international community where everyone who is a local has respect and the support of the community. So many “foreign destinations for living” in certain areas, hold a distinct line between foreigners and locals, tis line often times dictates higher prices for foreigners, resentment, and negative aspects. Jaco is an international town and we consider those who add to the community and stay full time, a local who is truly part of the community.

I have done consulting for developers wanting to market to North Americans in places like Ecuador (very popular in International Living) My greatest concerns in those places was that, at least for the next 15 years, you will always be the foreigner with entitlement and just more. You will always be the one to take from, because of that and to be at the mercy of unjust justice systems. They were kind and educated people, with a beautiful country and culture but Costa Rica is a special. Small, liberal yet conservative, international country, and while the prices are higher than in some of the current “hot places for people to retire,” even I, who is fluent in Spanish and has hiked with nothing but a tarp form the Caribbean to the Pacific, would not want to live. People are you connections to a place, and I can personally vouch for what a cool community Jaco is, and how they can come together when they are needed, so yay for Jaco!