Q COSTARICA — Search efforts that had gripped the community of Pérez Zeledón and Costa Rican authorities came to a tragic end.
The Cruz Roja (Costa Rican Red Cross) confirmed the discovery of a woman’s body in the Barú area, bearing no vital signs. The body’s characteristics matched those of 30-year-old U.S. citizen Ashley Phillips.
The young woman had been missing since June 3rd in the zona sur, the southern part of the country, following a tragic accident caused by weather conditions. The incident occurred near the popular Nauyaca waterfalls, a major tourist attraction in the region.
According to reports from the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), Phillips often went to the riverbanks to practice yoga and enjoy nature. It was there that a violent flash flood—a sudden and dangerous surge in the river’s flow caused by heavy rains in the upper reaches—caught her by surprise and swept her away.
The formal alert for the disappearance of the young American woman was filed on June 7 by the owner of the lodging where Ashley was staying, who noticed that the tourist had left the residence and had not returned.
From that moment on, the OIJ released her photograph and requested the public’s support, while rescue teams deployed an intense operation in the complex and inhospitable conditions of the Barú River.
After more than a week of intense search efforts, rescue personnel located the young woman’s remains on June 17. Due to the immense force of the river’s current in the preceding days, the body was found trapped among logs and branches on the riverbank.
The body was recovered by rescuers in the afternoon and immediately handed over to the OIJ, the judicial entity in charge of carrying out the corresponding procedures and the autopsy to officially determine the cause of death, although everything points to accidental drowning.
The Pérez Zeledón Fire Department confirmed the discovery of a body in an advanced state of decomposition in the riverbed near the Nauyaca waterfalls, the area where the search for American tourist Ashley Phillips was underway.
Diplomatic Reaction and a Family’s Grief
The case raised international concerns. When asked about the tragedy, the United States Embassy in Costa Rica issued an official statement emphasizing that the safety of its citizens abroad is the highest priority for the U.S. government.
The embassy also provided assistance to the victim’s family to help them understand local legal procedures, while maintaining strict confidentiality for privacy reasons.
Meanwhile, Phillips’ family confirmed her death through a heartbreaking message posted on a GoFundMe platform, where they had initially sought support for the search efforts.
In the same statement, the family described Ashley as an adventurous woman who loved to travel, be in nature, and care for animals. They also expressed their deep gratitude for the outpouring of support, prayers, and donations from the global and local community, while noting that they are continuing to make the necessary arrangements and fundraising efforts to repatriate her body.
Finally, they indicated that the additional funds raised will be used for preparations for the ceremony in her honor and to create a meaningful tribute to perpetuate his memory.