A shocking twist has emerged in the murder of a legendary California surfer who was found dead in his Costa Rican home nine months ago, with police now accusing the woman who claimed to have survived the terrifying attack of helping arrange the crime.
Kurt Van Dyke, 66, was found dead beneath a bed at a residence in Hone Creek, near the popular beach town of Puerto Viejo, on February 14, 2026. His body showed signs of suffocation and multiple stab wounds.
At the time, his much younger girlfriend told investigators a chilling story.
The woman, identified only by her last name, Arroyo, claimed she had been showering when armed intruders stormed the home, threatened the couple and restrained her with zip ties.
She alleged that the attackers killed Van Dyke before escaping with valuables and a vehicle.
But nearly nine months later, investigators say the deadly encounter may have been part of an elaborate scheme involving someone Van Dyke trusted.
On Thursday, November 12, Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency arrested Arroyo, 31, and a 34-year-old man identified as Gutiérrez on suspicion of participating in Van Dyke’s murder.
The arrests followed coordinated raids on three properties in Limón province, where investigators seized cellphones, a vehicle and other potential evidence.
Authorities now allege that Arroyo, who was romantically involved with Van Dyke at the time of his death, helped the attackers gain access to his home.
According to investigators, Gutiérrez and two additional men allegedly entered the property as part of a plan to obtain banking access codes connected to Van Dyke’s hotel business.
When the attackers failed to obtain the information, authorities believe they subjected Van Dyke to violence that ultimately caused his death.
Investigators also suspect that the reported theft of a vehicle from the property was staged to support the robbery account. The car was later recovered without damage, according to Costa Rican officials.
The latest findings represent a stunning development in a case that originally appeared to involve a deadly home invasion.
Van Dyke was far from an ordinary vacationer. Born into a prominent Santa Cruz surfing family, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Gene, a surfing pioneer, and his mother, Betty, who helped advance women’s participation in the sport.
He first traveled to Costa Rica in 1983 and eventually established himself along the country’s Caribbean coast, where he owned the well-known Hotel Puerto Viejo for decades.
His remarkable ability to conquer the powerful Salsa Brava waves earned him the nickname “King,” making him a respected figure among surfers and residents.
Following his death, his brother, Peter Van Dyke, remembered him as a generous man who was always willing to help others.
“Kurt would never hurt anybody, and he was always there when you needed him,” Peter told the San Francisco Chronicle.
The killing stunned the tight-knit surfing community and raised concerns among residents of the popular tourist destination.
Now, with Van Dyke’s former girlfriend among those arrested, the investigation has taken an extraordinary turn.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the killing and identify other suspected participants. As of the latest confirmed reports, Arroyo and Gutiérrez had been detained but had not been formally charged. Both remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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