U.S woman found stabbed to death in Costa Rican hotel

A U.S. woman who organized volunteer medical missions in Central America was found stabbed to death at a hotel in Costa Rica’s capital of San Jose, authorities said.

Authorities stated the body of 45-year-old Sondra Lynn was discovered on a bed in the hotel on Thursday.

The Vida Volunteer organization that the woman founded identified her as Sondra Lynn Elizondo and gave her age as 46. The group, which is based in Merritt Island, Florida, helps provide health and veterinary care in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

“Sondra’s death is a tragic loss for all of us who considered her a close friend, as well as a loss for Vida Volunteer, the underserved communities we help and everyone else who knew her,” said the group’s communications manager, Ana Salas.

In an electronic mail, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica made it clear that it was aware of the investigation into an American woman’s death and was in close contact with Costa Rican authorities.