FL Family Searching For Carla Stefaniak After Tampa Woman Goes Missing In Costa Rica

TAMPA, FL. (THECOUNT) — #ShareSquad: Florida woman, Carla Stefaniak, has gone missing in Costa Rica, according to justice officials in the Central American nation.

Stefaniak, 36, was reported missing Wednesday after recently traveling to Costa Rica, according to Federal investigators.

Stefaniak had reportedly been staying at a villa she discovered on popular vacation rental website Airbnb.

Her family members last heard from her at 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to a GoFundMe page. They grew concerned after she didn’t show up for a 1 p.m. flight Wednesday. source

Those who know Stefaniak alerted both the U.S. Embassy and the FBI, which they say are trying to work with local authorities to find her.

If you have any information about her disappearance, Costa Rican investigators urge you to call 800-800-0645 or use WhatsApp to call 8800-0645.

Family members took to Facebook to plead for the woman’s safe return:

I wish I never had to write this but my close friend and sister-in-law Carla Stefaniak (@Carla Margarita) just disappeared in Costa Rica. She took an @Uber around 1:00 p.m. from thrifty car rental to her Airbnb. The Uber driver waited for her for approximately 50 minutes before taking her for a tour around San Jose. She arrived back to her Airbnb between 4 and 5 p.m. Last time we heard from her was on 11/27 around 8 pm when she said it was raining crazy and power went out. She continued with “Its pretty sketchy here”. She was staying at a villa she found on @airbnb. She had a flight next day (11/28) at 1:30 pm, but she never showed up. She has shown no sign of online presence since 11/27 at 8pm. US Embassy in Costa Rica and FBI is already alerted. They have opened a missing person case and they are trying to work with local authorities. Words cannot express how shocking and devastating this is to her family and her friends. If anyone can help us with this situation, it will be highly appreciated. PLEASE SHARE #findingcarla

Desearía nunca haber tenido que escribir esto, pero mi amiga cercana, Carla Stefaniak (@Carla Margarita) desapareció en Costa Rica. Tomó un @Uber alrededor de la 1:00 p.m. desde Thrifty Car Rental hasta su Airbnb. Seguidamente el conductor de Uber la esperó durante aproximadamente 50 minutos antes de llevarla de gira por San José. Ella regresó a su Airbnb entre las 4 y 5 p.m. La última vez que supimos de ella fue el 27 NOV alrededor de las 8 pm cuando dijo que estaba lloviendo fuertemente y que se fue la electricidad. Ella se alojaba en un albergue que encontró en @airbnb. Ella debía tomar un vuelo al día siguiente (28 Nov) a la 1 pm, pero nunca se presentó. Ella no mostró signos de contacto en línea telefónica desde el 27 Nov a las 8:58pm. La embajada de Estados Unidos en Costa Rica y el FBI ya están alertados. Han abierto un caso de persona desaparecida y están tratando de trabajar con las autoridades locales. Las palabras no pueden expresar lo impactante y devastador que esto es para su familia y sus amigos. Si alguien nos puede ayudar con esta situación, será muy apreciado. source

Costa Rica is a rugged, rainforested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. Though its capital, San Jose, is home to cultural institutions like the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity. Roughly a quarter of its area is made up of protected jungle, teeming with wildlife including spider monkeys and quetzal birds, according to wikipedia.