It has been reported that Eliezer Márquez Navedo of Ceiba, Puerto Rico has admitted to rating and killing the pregnant Sarah Kuszak. He is being held in the detection center in Fajardo.

What happened to Sara Kuszak is horrific. I believe the monstrous animal who murdered her and her unborn child should rot in hell. However, I do have to react to this article that portarys Puerto Rico as only a crime-infested island. There are heinous crimes EVERYWHERE, especially in the United States. To name a few, the BTK killer murdered an entire Hispanic family, including two small children. More than two dozen serial killers in the last decades have surfaced (Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer). More child murderers are coming forth (Kaylee's mother ) I have only mentioned crimes against humans, but I am sure there have been terrible brutal attacks on animals as well.

So, Don't you think it is unfair to generalize and focus solely on the handful of bad seeds that every country has. I am still waiting for a crime- free country to move into. When you can name it for me, count me in. Every decent, law-abiding Puerto Rican citizen I've commented Ms. Kuszac's unfortunate, and heart-wrenching fate to have expressed disgust, and sympathy for her, her unborn child and family. PLEASE DO NOT FALL INTO UNFAIR GENERALIZATIONS! Many tourists have been very happy here and we have a considerable number of tourists who have chosen this island as their permanent residence. I would not dare say that United States is unfit to live in because of all the serial killers it produces, so please take heed of what you say. You may offend many decent citizens here who wouldn't hurt a fly.

Hi Ilsa - I appreciate your comments, but I can assure you I am not speaking about the decent, law abiding Puerto Ricans. I am referring to those among them, and the situation itself, that has lead to Puerto Rico having "the highest murder rate" of all US states and/or territories. This is more of a political issue than it is a statement of the Puerto Rican people themselves.

For clarification, the "fact" is that you can move to ANY other US state and have a "lower" chance of being murdered. This does not mean murders do not occur elsewhere. It does mean they happen "less often" per capita.

This is the 2nd tourist murder within the last year, something that was almost completely unheard of before. It's time to recognize this trend early, and not hide it.

The decent law abiding citizens are going to feel direct economic impact if the already struggling tourism industry takes a further hit because of increased media attention on events like these. And you can imagine what happens in times of greater economic struggles...

So this is not about "generalizations". It's about "statistics" and concerns that we should share about this country, rather than just an opportunity to consider it a freak accident and offer our condolences to the family.

Another perspective on Puerto Rico here.

Quote:

Yes it is so safe that it's elite citizens want to live in walled communities surrounded by 24 hour security. Yes, it is so safe that those that don't live in a secure community must place bars over every possible entrance to their houses. Yes it is so safe that the ex-Director of the power company needed 3 full-time body guards. Yes, it is such an excellent place that most of the bathrooms in our public beaches are either broken or locked. Yes our beaches are so excellent that they look like trash dumps.

Hi,
I do agree with you in that it is more of a political problem than anything else. Something drastic must be done to keep these predators from harming innocent people. If politicians, instead of increasing their already 5-6 figure salaries, would invest in more protective strategies and generate more jobs for the unemployed and idle more innocent lives would be spared.
Local journalists and political analysts have commented about this in their reports, but nothing has seemed to change. I cannot predict what economic repercussion Puerto Rico’s Tourism Industry will suffer as a result of this brutal crime. What I do know is that these high-ranking politicians who are getting wealthier by the minute while the middle-class citizens are left to suffer the total social, financial and political impact of their incompetence and mediocrity, have to be dismissed from office.
Nevertheless, I believe there is a general decadence in human value and a total disregard for fellowship worldwide. I do not think it is a problem in Puerto Rico alone. Crimes against children world wide were virtually unheard of and now it seems to be the “soup of the day”.
Ms. Kuszak’s killer confessed to police that his attack on Kuszak was random. He had been waiting to get his “claws” on any potential easy target. In fact, two young girls, 13, have come forward to tell how this same predator tried forcing one to his car and managed to get the other in, but she kicked him as hard as she could and escaped from the vehicle that would have sealed her fate. Had these two adolescents come forward before with their tale, most probably this individual would have been apprehended by police and today, Ms. Kuszak would be alive. Why they chose to keep quiet is a mystery. It is too late for the if’s now and too late for Ms. Kuszak and her family, but I hope this does serve as a wake-up call before any tourist or local person becomes another statistic. It is sad that Ms. Kuszak had to end up in the hands of this monster and I am sure our citizens are grieving for that. I know our condolences to the family will not begin to make amends or take away the pain they feel, but if it’s any consolation, this individual has begun his “hell” in prison already. May Sara Kuszak and her little angel rest in peace!

There is no safe place. I have come to believe that we alone are responsible for our safety. Permit me to enumerate some tips that might help tourists survive in any foreign place.

1. Dress down. Don't wear flashy jewelry that may bring unnecessary attention to yourself.
2. Stick to groups. Many of these cowards are discouraged when they see potential victims in pairs or groups of three or four.
3. DO NOT jog alone in any area. Some of these psychopaths look like the guy next door.
4. If you see a suspicious individual, stick to your gut instinct. You only have a split second to decide to run the other way and scream. Disregarding that initial signal may result in disaster.
5. Before coming to a foreign country, get acquainted with emergency numbers. 911 works for us as well.

6. Try at all costs not to get into a stranger's car. Scream, kick, claw and fight! Do not believe for a second when they say they will not harm you if you cooperate. There is no co- in this matter.
7. Learn the basic vocabulary of the country's language enough to make yourself understood in distressful situations.
8. If you need immediate help, call the police. It's better to trust a law enforcement officer than to risk your life with a stranger.
9. If you are a female and have no cell phone with you, ask a woman rather than a man for help. Puerto Ricans are generally helpful, hospitable people who are always willing to lend a helping hand.
10. Try making friends with locals who can tell you what places to avoid and give you some pointers.

To clarify the cynical statement above about Puerto Rico being "safe", the facades of Puerto Rico's houses include bars over our windows and front and back doors. It has been like this way before I moved to this island as a child about thirty years ago. Besides being a safety measure, it is also an ornamental one. The bars are not ugly-looking cell bars, but ornamental ones with an array of designs to choose from. 90% of the islands' houses are constructed in cement.

Our beaches used to be one of the most beautiful in the world. The ones in San Juan do look trashy, but who is responsible for that? We have many third-world illegal immigrants living in the San Juan area, specifically "La Perla". There is no telling for sure who is directly responsible for these acts of vandalism. I would advise tourists to visit the hilly country side to discover the island's intact beauty. I am sure they will be dazzled by its mesmerizing scenery.
In closing, Ms. Kuszak will not be forgotten. Her case will be a constant reminder of the need for reform and change in the political, social and judiciary systems.

Hi Ilsa - great insights on the political aspect. In my opinion, Puerto Rico is a very, very slow adapting, non-change oriented country. It's not the only one in the world... certainly not. However, it is one of the worst in my opinion (among those you would expect better from), and (of course) it is the focus of this blog.

Let me give you some insights into my approach. It has been reported that Tourism industry leaders are about to get ready for a PR (Public Relations) campaign. They will most likely color this as a rare/isolated instance (which it is for the time being, when defined as "tourist deaths"), and they will downplay the danger to tourists, etc, and also promote supposed counter measures that will be put in place.

This is a protective strategy for the industry. This is NOT the most effective strategy for ensuring this does not happen again and that violent crime (specifically murder) is diminished significantly in Puerto Rico. This is a "mitigation strategy" design to protect the tourism industry and the revenues it creates. This is not an effective strategy for getting the murder rate inline with even the "median" US state levels. This is not a "root cause" analysis. It's the "presentation" layer. Wrapping up the "appearances" as best as can be, while ignoring the contents of the box.

My philosophy is that change will be invoked only when "knowledge" is made fully available, and so this blog will always endeavor to hide nothing, and bring everything that comes across my desk to the surface for others to share. Will I invoke much change? Well... maybe... but only as 1 more contributor among the thousands we can start "talking out loud", making a buzz, getting the attention of the media, making it clear that real change is required... getting the attention of the politicos as VOTERS.

It may *seem* like a negative approach, but it's not. It should be considered honest, always keeping in mind that the ultimate goal is to make Puerto Rico better. And I don't believe that it can happen without the people who live here start to raise their voices in any way they know how. You're already playing a part in all this here, and I encourage you to continue.

By the way - I know this can be improved! We have every other state in the USA to review to find out why they are doing better than Puerto Rico (regarding murder rates in this instance). So we may not need an original nor a brilliant solution. We may just need to compare and contrast and borrow a solution set already working in other places.

You said:

"but if it’s any consolation, this individual has begun his “hell” in prison already"

I'm not quite sure he's in "Hell" just yet. If you watch the video on this blog, you'll see that he was treated to some nice take out and a bottle of orange juice on Day 1. How about some tap water and a piece of bread instead? In any event, it has been reported that "his Mother" slashed the throats of 2 children, and then served only 7 years of a 25 year sentence. So he may escape his Hell after all, unless the "other bad guys" inside decide to exact some of their own (albeit a bit hypocritical) vigilante justice.

You said: "I have come to believe that we alone are responsible for our safety"

Tax paying citizens of Puerto Rico and welcome visitors have the right to expect the government is working for them to help ensure their safety.

Regarding the "bars":

I am not Puerto Rican. I was not raised here. I can tell you that they remind me of medieval holding cells of some kind, they constantly re-enforce to me the feeling of this being a dangerous country in which they are needed, and they hold zero aesthetic value for me. In fact, I plan to write a future blog on why I believe we need to start getting rid of them! However, as the Jenius reminded me recently, I am looking through a different cultural "lens".

Regarding "trash":

I personally would not pin this on the Dominican immigrants, legal or otherwise. Watch for an upcoming blog on Puerto Ricans who are using their own neighborhoods as self-designated land fills even here on the beautiful West Coast.

You can also search for trash to find my related articles, already created.

Hi. This comment is in response to Itsa's post about generalizations. I am from the States, Chicago originally. I lived in Puerto Rico for ten years and moved to Brooklyn in 2005. While in Puerto Rico, I was kidnapped, and I am alive only because I managed to escape from their car. This happened in 1997. In spite of that, I stayed in Puerto Rico for another eight years. During those additional eight years, we lived in a beautiful home, with a beautiful yard, from which thieves stole everything that wasn't too heavy to carry. Repeatedly, in spite of the razor wire we had to place around the perimeter. If we had not had bars on every window, I'm sure you will agree that the house would have been emptied of everything but dust. So please, don't say that the bars in Puerto Rico are for decorative purposes. They're made decorative when possible, but aesthetics is a secondary consideration. When my parents first visited Puerto Rico (and I never told them about the kidnapping or thefts), they asked, "Is crime high here?" My response, defensive of the island I love: "No, no, it's not bad." Their reply: "We're not stupid. We can see the bars on every possible point of entry in every home."

I would have stayed in Puerto Rico forever, and will probably return to the island to live at some point, because in spite of it all, my friends and family are now mostly in Puerto Rico. But the crime terrifies me.

I love many aspects of Puerto Rico, and the majority of people are fabulous. I have an amazing group of friends there(and family, through my in-laws). However, I cringe every time I hear any of my Puerto Rican friends say, "Things are bad everywhere in the world. This could happen everywhere." True. These things COULD happen anywhere. But these things happen in Puerto Rico at a MUCH higher RATE than most other places, and at a higher rate than anywhere within U.S. territory. In fact, the murder rate per capita in Puerto Rico is now 4 times higher than here in New York City.

I am incensed that a great many Puerto Ricans now accept the level of crime they live with. Where is the outrage? Each and every legislator should be held accountable, with a consistent, continuous push from the Puerto Rican citizenry.

Ms. López, I see in another of your posts you again state that this could happen anywhere, that one can't generalize, things in the entire world are bad, and so on. PLEASE do not fall into this trap! Recognize, please, that the situation in Puerto Rico is intolerable! Write your legislators today and demand responsibility! Hold them accountable! Organize your neighbors! Do something!

The statistics are clear and irrefutable: The crime rate in Puerto Rico is higher than anywhere else in the U.S., and incomparably higher than that of Europe. Please, accept this and don't try to justify it by saying that things are bad everywhere. And Puerto Rican politicians are focused on nothing but the island's political status and the personal status, income and benefits they derive from their elected posts. (I was absolutely disgusted by last week's article in El Nuevo Día focusing on how fashionable the new legislators are.) I've got news, if this continues for another ten years, things will decay to such a point that even if Puerto Rico asks for statehood, the U.S. will not so much as consider the request, because the chasm between the quality of life in Puerto Rico versus that of the U.S. will be too wide to bridge.

My immediate impulse upon reading the news regarding Ms. Kuszak was to mobilize everyone I know to boycott visiting Puerto Rico as tourists. I may still do so, and with our arms linked, and with the help of the internet, we can have an effect. For example, I have three friends visiting Puerto Rico this month, and my friends and family can be mobilized to get their friends to boycott, and their friends and family, and on and on. I'll hold off while I try to cool down and think things through, but if that's the only way to get Puerto Rico's attention, and if that's the only way to inspire Puerto Rico to action, then it should be done.

Brooklyn - I'm very sorry to hear about your terrible experience, but I'm very glad to know that you survived.

It seems that you share my concerns, and my assertion that this needs to be brought to the surface so that much needed action can be taken.

I am sure that in the coming months, many will blog and discuss this incident all across the Internet. It is already being carried by media across the world, and it will continue to be referenced in future stories, etc. Individuals doing travel research will definitely end up having this media coverage (because of the incident that occurred and the high crime situation) impact their decision of whether to visit here, or go to a safe destination.

If this ends up getting Puerto Rico flagged in travel advisory warnings, it will have even greater impact.

Ms. López, I have an additional comment regarding your observation on trash. An anecdote: Leaving the Montehiedra shopping center, headed back to SJ, I was driving behind a Mercedes driven by a distinguished-looking middle aged woman. The car had one of those bumper stickers saying, "Orgullo Boricua." ("Puerto Rican Pride.") At the stop light before the underpass, she tossed a Snapple bottle out of her window. Somehow it didn't break. I got out of my car, picked up the bottle, handed it to her, and said, "¿Asi demuestra su orgullo boricua?" ("That's how you show your Puerto Rican pride?") She was apparently speechless, because her mouth literally fell open, but she said nothing as she took the bottle. Yes, I realize, in retrospect, I should have been concerned about having my head blown off, but point is, this is a generalized problem not limited to social class.

Thanks for your feedback, Admin. I'm going to go ahead and notify my email list, and my friends. As you say, we need to create a buzz, and affecting the island's economy is a good way to spur action.

This in response to Brooklynindy.

I am sorry you had to go through that harrowing experience of being kidnapped. I hope you reported this to the police and gave a description of your abductor (s). One can also start fighting crimes by not keeping silent like the two teens who came across Ms. Kuszak's killer in earlier incidents and said nothing till after Ms. Kuszak's crime. I do realize that crime is extraordinarily high in P.R. and it is increasing considerably. Fortunately, I have never been a victim of a violent act or kidnapping and I can't even begin to imagine the apprehension you, and others like you must have felt while this was in progress. My heart goes out to you all.

I do have to clarify my earlier statement about the "bars". My exact words were "Besides being a safety measure, it is also an ornamental one." I did not say that these "bars" were exclusively for ornamental purposes only. The first being safety, and then aesthetics. Some might not think so, but I guess this is something cultural. I doubt that they will be eradicated any time soon as Admin seems to vouch for. Anyone can certainly voice their opinion, but frankly I do not think Puerto Ricans will rest easy leaving their homes knowing that these "safety wrought iron gates" are not protecting their houses and /or belongings.

Two of my sisters live in Chesapeake, Virginia and have had several break-ins in the neighborhood and this is a high middle to lower high class neighborhood. Some of the doors have been kicked down and windows have been forced opened. One of her Philipino neighbors woke up to get a glass from her pantry and instead she found four fingers protruding from the pantry door. She screamed and the burglar jumped out the window, apparently his point of entry. So, I would be one of the people who would keep my bars up.

You also encountered a litterbug. My neighborhood surroundings are kept clean, lawn neatly cut, houses freshly painted and I have come across people who throw their garbage on the streets. On this one ocassion I picked up the discarded Cola can and threw it in the trash can a few feet away from where it had been irresponsibly dumped. The young man looked at me and apologized. I said nothing in response and drove away.

There are many nasty people out there and yes, I will write and will try to get legislators to examen this problem more closely. Ms. Kuszak will be my reference and I will do it for her and so many others who have lost their lives through crime.

Thanks for your response, Ms. López. I'm glad to know that you'll be contacting your legislators.

I did indeed report the crime, and the CIS even had photos of the criminals, because the guys tried to use my ATH / ATM cards at multiple locations during the ordeal. I asked the investigator assigned to my case why (after one year) they had made no headway. The best he could muster was, "Los pillos aquí tienen suerte." ("Criminals here are lucky.")

Again, I appreciate your feedback, and as we try to improve the current situation, it is important not to look elsewhere to attempt to justify one's own problems.

This is the most horrible thing that could every happen to anyone.

My thoughts are with Chesh and Sara's family and friends.

The murder rate in Puerto Rico is shameful.

The New York times just published an article that references this murder, and this article is seeing increased traffic as a result:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/travel/6praccrime.html