Police said they also found stains that were compatible with blood where she was staying.
A body has been found in the search for a missing Florida woman who disappeared during her birthday trip in Costa Rica.
The body, which was wrapped in plastic, was found Monday in a wooded area in the San Jose neighborhood of San Antonio de Escazu, near where 36-year-old Carla Stefaniak was last seen last week, according to CBS News.
Judicial Investigator Director Walter Espinoza confirmed the remains were a woman’s during a press conference Monday. The body has not been identified as Stefaniak, however.
Stefaniak, of Hallandale Beach, had traveled to the country with her sister-in-law, April Burton, last week, but Burton left one day before her on Tuesday, she told CBS Miami. Stefaniak never made it to her Wednesday afternoon flight.
Espinoza added that authorities found stains in the Airbnb apartment where Stefaniak was staying that were “compatible with blood,” though they are conducting further testing.
The last anyone heard from Stefaniak was last Tuesday when she texted Burton saying the power had gone out due to a storm and that it was “pretty sketchy here.” She had also said she was thirsty and was going to ask one of the security guards outside of the Airbnb to buy her a bottle of water.
Stefaniak reportedly FaceTimed a friend around 7:30 p.m. Her phone reportedly died at about 9:00 p.m.
Friends and family grew worried when Stefaniak didn’t answer messages wishing her a happy birthday on Wednesday, CBS News reported.
Security guards at the Airbnb told Stefaniak's family that she got into an unknown car early Wednesday morning with her luggage, Fox 13 reported.
Her family said they are skeptical of that story, however. They believe she was kidnapped.
“None of us really believe this 5 a.m. story,” Burton told Fox13. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
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