Husband Charged With Wife's Murder
The funeral is today, two days following the discovery of the body of Mauren Hidalgo, who was reported missing last week by her husband, Luis Fernando Burgos, who was formally charged yesterday for the murder of his wife.

Burgos, who is a public defender working for the Poder Judicial (judicial courts) in San José, is claiming innocence.

Maureen, 28 years of age,  who also worked at the San José court office, was reported missing by her husband last week. Family and co-workers suspected that the woman had been a victim of a kidnapping, but no contact from alleged kidnappers or ransom was ever received.

Police began to suspect the husband. But, without a body or any trace of the what had happened to the woman, police sat patiently for the drama to unfold.

The news came early Sunday morning when a man discovered a woman's body on the side of the road near Rio Grande in the area of Atenas, west of San José. The man noticed a large number of vultures and police were called. A positive identification was made when the husband was contacted if his wife had a tattoo with the name "Fernando".

Franciso Dall'Anese, the Fiscal General, was personally present at the scene of the discovery while a forensic team gathered evidence and removed the body to the Medicatura Forense, in San Joaquín de Flores, Heredia, for a forensic examination.

The positive identification was made on Monday. The woman had been shot and beaten. The body was found inside a plastic bag and was in a state of decomposition and had been murdered.

Authorities immediately confirmed their suspicion of the husband.

Burgos attended the wake Monday night and for the first time was able to see his dead wife and met with her family. He denied any involvement in his wife's murder, telling news reporters outside the funeral home that he did not do it and would not comment further, letting his lawyer do all the talking.

Earlier in the morning he left his home as usual to go to the court building in San José. However, this morning he wasn't going to work, but, rather to ask for help in the case by his colleagues.

At 3:25pm, court office press spokesperson, Fabián Barrantes, informed that the Unidad de Apoyo de la Fiscalía General de la República had opened a file against Burgos for the murder of his wife. The order came directly from the Fiscal General de la República, Francisco Dall'Anese.

Information from the Fiscalía came that Dall'Anese had received an anonymous phone call last Thursday. The caller claimed to know that Burgos had been looking to hire someone to kill his wife.

Jorge Arturo Rojas Fonseca, was assigned the case of defending his friend and co-worker. Burgos, following his accusation, is free without any condition of bail, a situation highly irregular since the man faces a long jail sentence if convicted.

For preventive detention to be placed against an accused, three things must be present: irrevocable proof of commitment of the crime, risk of flight from the country and the possibility of hampering the investigation. Barrantes said that none of the three elements are present and at this time Burgos is free without conditions pending the advancement of the investigation.

The Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) have been piecing the puzzle together, beginning with a detailed inspection of Burgos' vehicles and his home and inspecting the three firearms owned by Burgos.

Jorge Rojas, director of the OIJ, is keeping quiet on the details of the crime. Rojas would not provide any details on the motive or any other information.

Vera Flor Mora, mother of Maureen Hidalgo, said last night that she forgives the person who killed her daughter. Vera Flor made the statement to the press after learning the news of a positive identification by the Medicatura Forense.

"If Pope John Paul II forgave the man who was in jail, why would I not forgive also", said Vera Flor to the press when asked if she would forgive the person who committed the murder.