Q COSTA RICA — A 22-year-old woman surnamed Ortiz remains at large as the primary suspect in the homicide of American Mark Walter Fleming, which took place on September 27 in Playas del Coco, Guanacaste.
On Friday, October 16, the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) arrested another woman in Desamparados for her alleged role in transporting Ortiz to San José following the crime.
Raids began at 5:00 a.m. in the areas of La Capri and San Miguel, in Desamparados. The woman arrested has been identified as Roxana Zeledón; she remains in police custody while authorities determine her legal status, according to reports from Teletica.
The investigation indicates that Ortiz, known by the alias “Panterita” and who allegedly works as an escort and is the primary suspect, had direct contact with Fleming inside an apartment belonging to the victim, located in a beachside condominium complex in Playas del Coco. Investigators hypothesize that the woman left the property alone and departed in a light vehicle.
The financial trail between Guanacaste and San José
Fleming’s credit cards were used after his death to make purchases and pay for lodging at various locations throughout Guanacaste. These transactions helped reconstruct part of the route taken by the two individuals under investigation.
The journey began in Playas del Coco, where charges were recorded following the homicide.
The suspects allegedly spent the night in Flamingo, and the last recorded transaction took place near Abangares, before they traveled toward San José.
Investigators located a vehicle of interest at the condominium complex where Zeledón resides, in Desamparados. They suspect it was used to pick up Ortiz in Guanacaste and transport her to San José.
Fleming was 74 years old, originally from California, and lived in a condominium in Playas del Coco. The OIJ ruled the death a homicide after determining that Fleming sustained multiple blows to the head with the glass jar of a blender.
The businessman had founded Fleming Metal Fabricators and served as vice president of the company—based in San Clemente, California—which specializes in the manufacturing of vehicle bodies and trailers. His social media posts also indicated an interest in sport fishing.
Authorities are investigating whether the women frequented tourist areas in Guanacaste to make contact with foreigners, and whether those interactions are related to the case. This line of inquiry emerged from sources close to the investigation.
International coverage of the homicide in Costa Rica
The murder of Fleming was also covered by Fox News, the New York Post, and the British tabloid, the Daily Mail, which published images of the primary suspect—released by the OIJ—as well as photographs of the area where the crime took place.
The British tabloid used the term “bikini killer” to refer to Ortiz.
The search remains focused on locating the suspect.
If you have any relevant information or recognize the primary suspect still at large, Costa Rican authorities urge the public to contact the OIJ’s confidential tip line at 800-800-0645.