Q COSTA RICA — Costa Rican authorities are urging families to watch for behavioral changes in children after warning that people investigated for sexual offenses against minors are often relatives, family acquaintances, or others within the victim’s immediate circle.
The warning follows a 48-year prison sentence imposed by the Heredia Criminal Court on a man identified by the surname Ávila. He was convicted of sexual offenses against two girls whose step-grandfather he was.
Prosecutors established that the offenses against one child took place between January 2021 and 2022. The crimes against the second girl occurred between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024, in La Milpa, a community in Guararí de Heredia.
The case highlights a pattern identified by Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ)—Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency. Investigators say suspected offenders frequently have an existing relationship with victims or their families. Such proximity can provide access to children without immediately raising suspicion.
Roberto Pérez, an investigator with the OIJ unit specializing in gender violence, human trafficking and migrant smuggling, said there is no single profile that applies to sexual offenders. Complaints repeatedly show, though, that suspects are known to the children or belong to their families’ social circles.
That prior trust can lower the guard of parents, guardians and other caregivers, authorities said. It can also make it easier for an offender to approach a child and conceal abusive behavior.
Official figures show the scale of the problem. The Ministerio Público—Costa Rica’s Public Prosecutor’s Office—recorded 7,409 cases of sexual abuse involving minors and people with disabilities in 2024, based on data from the Observatorio de Violencia de Género contra las Mujeres y Acceso a la Justicia (Observatory on Gender Violence Against Women and Access to Justice). Women and girls accounted for 6,227 recorded victims, while 1,182 were men or boys.
Behavioral Changes May Signal Abuse
Authorities advised caregivers to pay close attention to sudden changes in a child’s behavior. Possible warning signs include sexual knowledge or vocabulary that does not correspond with the child’s age, sexualized play, and hypersexualized conduct.
Other signs may include withdrawal, fear of particular adults, resistance to visiting certain places, and abrupt mood changes. An unexplained decline in school performance may also warrant attention.
Sleep disturbances—including recurring nightmares, insomnia, fear of sleeping or reluctance to be alone—can be another indication that something is wrong. Changes in eating habits, such as loss of appetite, rejection of previously enjoyed foods or excessive eating, may also require closer examination.
Officials cautioned that these behaviors should be treated as warning signs rather than proof of abuse. Their appearance can give responsible adults a reason to listen carefully, ask appropriate questions and seek professional or institutional assistance.
If a child discloses possible abuse, Pérez said the first response should be to listen. Adults should not leave the child to face the situation alone, particularly when the alleged offender may be someone close to the family.
The suspected abuse should then be reported to authorities so the appropriate institutions can assess the allegations and determine what protective and investigative measures are needed.
The Ávila case shows how a family relationship can be used to gain proximity to victims. For Costa Rican investigators, it also carries a wider lesson: familiarity should never replace vigilance when a child’s safety may be at risk.