Catalina Espinoza ("La Osa")
Age 2819 May 2025
Orotina, Alajuela (Costa Rica)
Shot
Catalina was shot dead while parked at a bus stop by two assailants riding a motorcycle. Her mother Doña Gabriela, who was with her at the time, survived.
The woman who was murdered last night, Monday, in the La Ceiba area of Orotina was on Route 27 when the perpetrators drove by and shot her several times.
This incident was initially attended to by Costa Rican Red Cross (CRC) personnel, who arrived at the scene but found the victim already lifeless.
The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) confirmed that the victim's surname was Espinoza and was 28 years old.
She was the target of several gunshots fired by two men traveling on a motorcycle.
In addition, judicial officers observed that the woman had gunshot wounds to her neck, one of her shoulders, and her chest.
Various posts on social media and local media indicate that the woman was a well-known local trans person, known as “The Bear.”
After determining the young woman's injuries and collecting the bullet casings left at the scene, the OIJ removed the body for transport to the Judicial Morgue.
At the time she was killed Catalina was starting to work as a taxi driver. As she had received a call from a client to pick him up where she was murdered it is reasonable to suggest that this client was implicated in her murder.
As for the reason they came to that bus stop, located at the entrance to La Ceiba in Orotina, Doña Gabriela explained that it was because Catalina was working as an informal taxi driver, using a car she had recently purchased on credit, and had received a call from a client who asked her to pick her up there.
"Then she came by the house and called me. She said, 'Mommy, can you go with me on a trip to Cebadilla?' Because she didn't have a license and I did. So I told her it was okay and I went with her," the woman said.
Once there, Catalina parked her car and got out while talking on the phone with the alleged client. At that moment, she was intercepted by the two gunmen who shot her.
Doña Gabriela said they need a lot of help right now to say their final goodbyes to Catalina, so any donation will be a blessing to her family.
https://www.amprensa.com/2025/05/victima-de-homicidio-en-ruta-27-es-una-mujer-trans
https://www.teletica.com/sucesos/mujer-es-acribillada-a-balazos-en-orotina_384986
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcQAcHkvAkI
