Man Kills Wife During Conjugal Visit at Prison
José Francisco Ortiz Granados, serving a 40 year prison sentence the Cárcel de Pococí, for killing his 13 year old daughter back in 1997, decided yesterday to kill his wife as well during a conjugal visit at the prison.

María Guadalupe Córdoba Núñez, died of asphyxiation at the hands of her prisoner husband.

A prison report says that the couple entered the small room at 8:30am, one of nine rooms available to prisoners who have conjugal privileges. The room is equipped with a matrimonial bed and private bathroom. Officials say that an argument broke out during the visit, but no screams or calls for help were heard. The crime was discovered hours later when prison officials called time on the couples encounter.

Guillermo Arroyo, director of the Adaptación Social, says that Ortiz was serving 30 years for the murder of the young girl and 10 years for corrupting a minor. The murder occurred on September 11 1997 in Puente Salas de Barva de Heredia.

Maria Guadalupe married Ortiz three years ago and as usual, yesterday was making her regular visit to her husband at the prison. When prison official approached the room, they noticed an unusual silence and then found the dead woman on the bed and Ortiz sitting next to her. Ortiz told prison officials that there had been an argument and nothing more, like if nothing had happened, according to Arroyo.

The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) de Guápiles was called in to investigate the case to determine if Ortiz began the fight or he was defending himself. Ortiz was taken to hospital to examine any wounds he may have suffered during the argument, though no details of the finding of the investigation were released.

Inmates at Costa Rica's prisons who want the privilege of conjugal visits can request such and will be submitted to a number of test and a review of any history of family violence.

According to Arroyo, this is not the first case of a woman murdered during a conjugal visit. Arroyo said that in his 27 years at the Ministerio de Justicia (the government agency that runs the prison system) this is the third case. The other two occurred at the San Sebastián jail in San José and La Reforma prison in Alajuela.