Tomayko Is Finally A Free Woman
Cherlyn Tomayko is a
free woman today after
spending 8 months in
Costa Rica's women's
prison, El Buen Pastor,
after a decision by the
Sala Constitucional
(Constitutional Court)
or Sala IV as it is
often referred to.
Tomayko was being in
Costa Rica after
Interpol detained her on
a FBI warrant for
international parental
kidnapping.
The US woman, now a
naturalized Costa Rican,
was awarded refugee
status on Wednesday.
However, a Heredia court
decided not to give her
her freedom, referring
the decision to the
constitutional court.
On Friday, the
constitutional court
ordered the immediate
release of the woman,
who, under Costa Rican
law cannot now be
extradited because of
her refugee status.
Tomayko came to Costa
Rica illegally with her
children fleeing spousal
abuse. She since
remarried to a Costa
Rican, obtained her
naturalized citizenship
and the couple have two
children from the
marriage.
In December 1996, a U.S.
judge gave joint custody
of a daughter,
Alexandria Camille
Cyprian, to Tomayko and
her ex-boyfriend Robert
Cyprian, with the
condition that
Alexandria live in
Tarrant County, Texas.
Tomayko moved to Costa
Rica the following year
with Alexandria, then 7,
and another daughter.
Costa Rica's ministra de
Seguridad Pública,
Janina Del Vecchio, said
that Tomayko's domestic
violence complaints were
taken into account in
considering her refugee
claim and granting her
status on Wednesday, to
the annoyance of US
Embassy officials who on
the same day of
cancelled plans for the
donation of an aircraft
to the Seguridad
ministry the following
day.
Costa Rican president,
Oscar Arias, said he
viewed the case as a
human rights issue and
called Tomayko's release
"wonderful news."
The U.S. Embassy San
José, however, called
Tomayko's release
"disappointing."
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