Primary suspect in murder of elderly American rancher may have fled to Panama

September 8^th, 2015 (ICR News) The primary suspect in the murder of an elderly Cuban-American rancher whose dismembered remains were found inside a steel barrel on his property over the weekend may have fled across the border into Panama, according to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ).

The suspect is believed to be a Nicaraguan national, according to authorities, who earlier speculated that the man had fled to Nicaragua.  Authorities have not released any additional information as to the suspect’s identity.

The victim, identified as Rafael Machada Velásquez, lived in Coloradito de Corredores, in El Carmen de Ciudad Neilly, near the border with Panama.

Machada lived alone and was reported missing by a friend on Friday.

Machada had reportedly held Costa Rican residency for some 40 years.  He routinely traveled back and forth to Miami, leaving his ranch in the charge of several foreign workers, mostly Nicaraguans.

Machado “had a ranch and hired foreigners as workers, with whom he apparently had constant personal problems,” the OIJ told the EFE news agency.

The man’s ranch was located just 8 kilometers from the Panamanian border.

EFE contributed to this report.