Investigators said two armed intruders entered the residence and stole items, including a vehicle.
PUERTO VIEJO DE TALAMANCA, COSTA RICA — A California-born surfer who built a long life on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast was killed during what authorities described as a home invasion robbery, after two armed men entered his residence, threatened him and a woman, and fled with valuables.
Kurt Van Dyke, 66, was found dead Saturday in the Limón province area near the beach community of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, officials said. Investigators said the case is being handled as a suspected robbery while forensic specialists work to confirm the cause of death and gather evidence. The woman who was with Van Dyke survived and was not seriously hurt, authorities said, but she reported being restrained as the intruders searched the home.
Authorities said the attack unfolded while Van Dyke and his girlfriend were at the residence. Investigators with Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency said at least two men entered the home, threatened the couple and stole several items before leaving, including a vehicle. The woman later got free and alerted authorities, officials said. Van Dyke was found inside the home after the suspects left, and early findings pointed to strangulation along with stab wounds, according to investigators.
The killing shook a stretch of coastline known for surf breaks, small hotels and a mix of Costa Rican families and foreign residents who have moved there for the beaches and laid-back pace. Van Dyke was not just a visitor, friends said, but a longtime figure in the community who ran a small hotel and helped connect travelers with the area’s surf culture. News of his death spread quickly through local businesses and online surf circles, where messages described him as generous and steady, someone who remembered names and made people feel welcome.
Investigators have not announced arrests or identified suspects. Officials said the intruders were armed and used force to control the people inside the home. A preliminary review found signs consistent with asphyxiation, and investigators also reported multiple wounds that appeared to be from a knife, officials said. They ordered additional forensic work and an autopsy as part of the criminal investigation. Authorities did not release the exact value of the property taken or say whether the stolen vehicle had been recovered.
Van Dyke, a U.S. citizen, was widely known in the Puerto Viejo area as the owner of Hotel Puerto Viejo, a small property that catered to travelers and surfers. Friends said he had lived in Costa Rica for decades and had become part of the rhythm of the Caribbean coast, where people often get around by bicycle and small motorcycles and days are planned around tide charts and weather. In California, he came from a well-known surfing family, and those who knew him said he carried that background lightly, preferring conversation about waves and the next swell over stories about fame.
Authorities have released only limited details about the moments before the attack. Investigators said the woman who survived told them she was in the home when the intruders arrived and that they restrained her while they looked for items to steal. She was able to escape without serious injuries, officials said. A knife was found at the scene, investigators said, but they did not say whether it belonged to the residents or was brought by the intruders. Officials also did not say whether they believe Van Dyke tried to fight back or whether the killing happened quickly.
Local residents said the area around Puerto Viejo draws visitors for beaches, wildlife and nightlife, with a long, narrow road linking small communities along the Caribbean shore. The region’s appeal has also brought steady growth in tourism, including hostels, boutique hotels, restaurants and surf shops. Many businesses are small and family-run, and word travels fast when something goes wrong. In the hours after the death became public, some business owners said they were fielding worried calls from relatives abroad and trying to reassure travelers that the community remains focused on safety.
Officials did not describe the case as linked to a wider pattern, but the killing renewed attention on security concerns that can rise in tourist areas where cash and electronics are common. Investigators said their focus was on identifying the intruders, tracking the stolen property and establishing a clear timeline for what happened inside the residence. They said they were reviewing statements from the survivor and examining physical evidence collected at the scene. Authorities did not say whether security camera recordings were available from nearby properties or along routes leading out of the neighborhood.
Friends and neighbors described Van Dyke as someone who embraced the community and knew the coast’s daily pulse. One friend in the surf community said Van Dyke had a rare gift for putting newcomers at ease and helping them find their place, whether that meant pointing out a safe wave for beginners or offering a simple meal after a long day in the water. Another friend said the loss felt personal because Van Dyke’s hotel had become a kind of informal meeting point, where people traded stories and checked on each other during heavy rains or big swells.
Authorities said the investigation remains active, with forensic work expected to guide the next steps. Investigators said they will continue collecting witness statements, tracing the stolen vehicle and other items, and analyzing findings from the autopsy. They have not announced a court date or a public briefing, and they did not release a detailed description of the suspects beyond saying there were at least two men involved. Officials said they were asking anyone with direct information about the incident to contact investigators.
By Monday, community members were sharing condolences and planning informal gatherings to honor Van Dyke’s life near the beach areas he loved. People who knew him said his days were often simple: checking in with guests, chatting with neighbors, and keeping an eye on the ocean’s changing conditions. Others said the shock came not only from the violence of the crime, but from the feeling that a familiar, welcoming presence had been taken from a place that many consider a second home.
Officials said Van Dyke’s death is being treated as a suspected robbery, with an autopsy and evidence review underway and no arrests announced as of Tuesday. Investigators said the next milestone will be the forensic findings that confirm the cause of death and support identification of suspects.
Author note: Last updated Feb. 17, 2026.