On February 14, 2026, Kurt Van Dyke was murdered in his home in Costa Rica. Now, his girlfriend and a second suspect have been arrested by Costa Rican authorities on suspicion of participating in his killing.
Van Dyke, a 66-year-old American citizen, was a well-known part of the global surfing community. He ran a hotel in Cahuita called Puerto Viejo, which was frequented by surfers. The Van Dykes are a surfing family. Kurt’s mother, Betty Van Dyke, was part of an early group of female surf pioneers while his father, Gene, was a staple in early Northern California lineups.
Kurt Van Dyke was found dead at home, the victim of what initially appeared to be a robbery. According to reports, he was strangled and stabbed before his body was hidden beneath a bed. When officials first responded to the scene, Van Dyke’s girlfriend, who escaped without any serious injuries, was there.
At the time, officials believed that two men entered the home with a gun, restrained the woman with zip ties, killed Van Dyke, stole various objects from inside the house, then stole Van Dyke’s girlfriend’s car, a 2013 Hyundai Elantra, to escape.
Now, however, Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), has placed Van Dyke’s girlfriend — who has only been identified by her last name, Arroyo — under arrest on suspicion of aiding the killer or killers.
Teletica, a news outlet based in San Jose, Costa Rica, reported that Arroyo was arrested, as well as a 34-year-old man with the last name Gutiérrez. The arrests were made after the OIJ raided three homes as part of an investigation into the killing.
