Ep 390: A woman’s stay at a Costa Rica AirBnB ended in her murder. But whether the company holds any responsibility for her death is still in question. This is the Carla Stefaniak story. In November 2018, Carla Stefaniak flew to Costa Rica with her sister-in-law April Burton to celebrate her 29th birthday. Born in Venezuela and raised in South Florida, Carla was warm, adventurous and constantly in touch with her enormous extended family. When April flew home early, Carla booked one more night through Airbnb at Villa Buena Vista, an upscale gated condominium complex just outside San José — close to the airport, well reviewed, and staffed with on-site security. Then a storm rolled in, the power went out, and a FaceTime call ended abruptly at 9 p.m. Megan and Amy walk through Carla's final known hours, the account given by the overnight security guard, and the search mounted by police, volunteers and Carla's own relatives who flew down to look for her. Along the way they explore how Costa Rica's courts work, including why there are no jury trials in Costa Rica and what that means for a case like this. The second half turns to the civil side: the negligent hiring lawsuit filed in Florida, the limits of Airbnb liability when a platform merely connects travelers with hosts, and what this case should change about solo female travel safety. Sources for Today's Episode: CBS News ABC News The Washington Post Tampa Bay 28 WFTS Costa Rica Star News FOX 13 Tampa Miami Herald Credits: Written and Hosted by Amy Shlosberg and Meghan Sacks Produced by James Varga Audio Editor, Jose Alfonzo Script Editor, Abagail Belcastro Music by Dessert Media Get Even More Women&Crime Episodes: Patreon - Ad-free shows starting at $2 a month, or upgrade for $5 a month to get a new extra episode every month, as well as exclusive virtual HappyHours with Meg & Amy. Check-out other tiers for perks such as lectures, true crime book club, and more! Visit our Patreon page for more info: https://www.patreon.com/womenandcrime/ Apple Subscriptions - Exclusive episodes and ad-free regular stories are now available through Apple's podcast app for only $4.99 a month, or save with an annual membership. YouTube Memberships - Exclusive episode available on YouTube for only $4.99 a month. https://www.youtube.com/@WomenandCrime/membership/ Help is Available: If you or someone you know is in a crisis situation, or a victim of domestic, or other violence, there are many organizations that can offer support or help you in your specific situation. For direct links to these organizations please visit https://womenandcrimepodcast.com/resources/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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