 |
COSTA RICA |
| |
Search Continues For Missing Brit in Costa
Rica
The family of missing British journalist,
Michael Dixon, continues to search for him
following his disappearance in Costa Rica.
Michael was reported missing over two weeks
ago in Tamarindo, Guanacaste, where he was
on holiday.
Costa Rica is a popular holiday destination
for millions of tourists each year. Despite
its reputation of being a relatively safe
country in Central American terms, Michael’s
disappearance is the latest in a string of
incidents in the Guanacaste region.
David Gimelfarb went missing there in August
this year and has yet to be found. Craig
Snell, a US expatriate, disappeared in
February 2009, also in Guanacaste. And
several years ago Australian Brendan Dobbins
went missing. Forensic experts were able to
identify him from remains found.
Michael’s disappearance has been widely
reported in the Costa Rican press and the
international media – including the BBC, Sky
News, La Nación and PR Newswire. A Facebook
group set up to help find Michael now has
over 1,500 members: Help Find Michael Dixon
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=165326214690#/groups/edit.php?members&gid=165326214690
Group members have successfully alerted the
media to Michael’s disappearance and gained
valuable support from locals in Tamarindo,
who are distributing flyers in the town.
Timeline so far:
* 18 October: Michael checks into the Villas
Macondo at 3 pm
* 19 October: Michael is reportedly seen
leaving his hotel in the early morning
* 21 October: Hotel calls local police to
tell them Michael is missing and checks the
local hospitals
* 21 October: Foreign Office receives report
from the hotel that Michael is missing
* 26 October: Michael’s family and
colleagues become concerned after he fails
to turn up for work. Colleagues gain access
to Michael’s email and find a message in his
mailbox dated 21 October from the Villas
Macondo hotel, expressing concern that
Michael has disappeared
* 26 October: Police search Michael’s hotel
room and find the majority of his belongings
intact
* 29 October: Members of Michael’s family
start to arrive in Costa Rica
* 31 October: Searches begin by boat and
plane
Many different unconfirmed theories are
being put forward about Michael’s
whereabouts, but his family members are
keeping an open mind, especially since
concerns have been raised over the accuracy
of the October 19 morning sighting. As a
result, Michael’s family is anxious to find
out about his movements on the evening of
Sunday 18th October.
David Dixon, Michael’s brother, commented,
“We are working with Costa Rican
authorities, the British Foreign Office and
the Red Cross to find Michael, but we would
appreciate information from local people in
Tamarindo who may have seen him in the town,
especially on Sunday 18th October or Monday
19th October.”
Anybody with information is asked to contact
the numbers below. All calls will be treated
confidentially.
- Scott Simpson - (+506) 8896-4120
- OIJ (Costa Rican judicial authority) -
(+506) 8865-7629 OR (+506) 2681-4062
- Hotline - (+507) 836-5065
- Email: findmichaeldixon@gmail.com |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
