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Two people have been arrested over the killing of a legendary California surfer at his Costa Rica home nine months ago, according to local reports.
Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency detained a 31-year-old woman with the last name Arroyo and a 34-year-old man with the last name Gutierrez during raids on three homes in Roxana de Pococi early Thursday, according to Teletica.
Kurt Van Dyke, 66, was a Santa Cruz native and longtime Costa Rica resident who owned a hotel there.
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He was found dead beneath a bed in his Cahuita home on Feb. 14, with multiple stab wounds and signs of asphyxiation.
Van Dyke’s girlfriend, whose last name is Arroyo, told authorities two armed men entered the home, restrained her with zip ties and stole valuables.
Teletica identified the female suspect by a surname and age matching those previously reported for Van Dyke’s girlfriend.
But local cops have not confirmed whether they are the same person. Investigators have not publicly detailed the suspects’ alleged roles in the killing.
Kurt’s brother Peter told The California Post on Thursday that the family was learning about the case through news reports.
“I haven’t found out anything other than that there were several arrests, including, I believe, the girlfriend,” Peter said.
He added that he “didn’t know the girlfriend at all.”
“I can’t even come up with the word. It’s not happy, but we’re just glad that it’s over,” he said. “And it may not even be over, because there’s still, you know, the court cases and all that coming up.”
He added that his nephew is visiting him in a week, and the family expects to have more information then.
Van Dyke was well known both locally in Costa Rica and in California.
He spent decades running a modest hotel in Puerto Viejo and built a reputation as a standout surfer after arriving in the early 1980s to chase the thunderous Salsa Brava break — a run that earned him the nickname “King” along the Caribbean coast.
His father, Gene Van Dyke, was a Northern California pioneer of surfing, while his mother, Betty, helped blaze a trail for women surfers in the 1950s and ’60s.
Beyond the waves, the Van Dyke family name is rooted in agriculture, operating the longtime Van Dyke Ranch near Gilroy, known for its apricots and cherries sold at local farmers markets.
Kurt’s brother Peter revealed to The Post after the attack that he believed the killing was “more nefarious” than just a random break-in.
While he knew of a girlfriend, he didn’t know much about her and warned there were people in the area “who did not like him.”
He told The Post at the time: “There are people who like him and there are people who don’t. It was more nefarious.”
The two spoke weekly, and Peter revealed his brother had assured him “he had everything under control.” Kurt was well known both locally and in California.
He had several business partners in the region after moving to Costa Rica in the mid-1980s, according to his brother.
The town where the killing occurred is mostly considered safe, and the incident sent shockwaves through the community.
