QCOSTARICA – A report in the Diario Extra says Canadian businessman Ryan Piercy was kidnapped by an armed group, who is asking for US$500.000 dollars for his release.
The Extra says that sources close to the investigation say the kidnappers have asked Piercy’s wife to make the payment through the Bitcoin system, a payment process making it difficult for authorities to trace.
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In a statement to the press Wednesday, the director of the Organismo de Investigacion Judicial (OIJ), Franciso Segura, called the disapperance as “very strange”. The director ruled out any foul play at the scene where the vehicle was found, and denied any ransom demand.
“We got the news of an abandoned vehicle on a road near the ZurquÃ, with the doors open, a search of the owner of the vehicle leads us to a woman in La Sabana who is the wife of owner of the vehicle.
“She told us he left for work in the morning (Wednesday) and so far has not heard from him. It is a very strange disappearance, we are working to learn of the man’s whereabouts (…),” said Segura.
The police report indicates the finding of a gold coloured Nissan Tiida with license plates 818945, owned by Piercy, and in he is believed to have been travelling alone. The vehicle was found on a gravel road in the middle of a coffee plantation in San Miguel de Santo Domingo de Heredia, off Ruta 32. Police say they found a garment presumed to belong to the Canadian, which along with the entire vehilce was taken to the Complejo de Ciencias Forenses (Forensics Centre in Heredia) in search of clues of what could have happened to Piercy.
Police are asking anyone who any information about the whereabouts of Piercy to call the confidential information line at 800-8000–OIJ (800-8000-645).
This story is developing. Follow www.qcostarica-082020.mystagingwebsite.com for updates
How bizarre the media isn’t playing up on the fact that he is the director of ARCR – the Association of Residents of Costa Rica – the main organization in CR helping Expats with residency & things since he is a very prominent person in the ExPat community that many like & would be happy to help with a search (if it wasn’t a kidnapping). Heck, some may even have some “information” to pass on. They make it sound like just another one of the many gringo’s that have just disappeared in CR (I almost didn’t read the story because I’m busy this morning & just assumed what I wrote).
RainbowsInTheMundo, there is little information available to the media. Some of us who some “inside” information is unconfirmed and only heresay. For the respect of Ryan, a friend of Qcostarica and his family, we are refraining from publishing “scuttlebut”. You can be assured that we will follow up with any confirmed information as soon as we have it.
For now, our hope is that Ryan is alive, well and will be home soon!
Yes, the reports on DiarioExtra say that there has been a ransom demand of $500,000. but there has been no official confirmation. I expect that this to be the cause of the lack of specifics in most reports. If negotiations are in progress, nobody will be or should be talking.
Meantime everybody keep your eyes and ears open. You might be able to help. Ryan is fairly distintive physically with his red hair and beard.
Any thing new on Ryan’s whereabouts?