Surf legend's girlfriend said he was killed in a robbery. Authorities now suspect her in his murder

Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times on Nov 13, 2026

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California surfing legend Kurt Van Dyke's murder, initially reported as a home invasion in which his girlfriend had been zip-tied, sent shock waves through the surf community earlier this year.

Now, Costa Rican authorities say evidence points to multiple suspects — including Van Dyke's 31-year-old girlfriend, who was identified only by her last name, Arroyo.

Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency announced this week that it arrested Arroyo and a 34-year-old man with the last name Gutiérrez on suspicion of participating in his murder following an operation in Roxana, Pococí, during which it raided three homes, according to Teletica.

Van Dyke was found dead under a bed in his home in Hone Creek, Cahuita, Talamanca on Feb. 14, He suffered stab wounds and had signs of asphyxiation, according to the Tico Times, a Costa Rican newspaper.

At first, signs pointed to a home invasion.

When Costa Rican authorities arrived, Van Dyke and Arroyo appeared to have been confined in a single room by two armed male assailants, SURFER reported. Arroyo reportedly told police the men had restrained her with zip ties and stolen valuables. Initial reports by local news, citing police, said her car, a 2013 Hyundai Elantra, had also been stolen.

The car was later found undamaged, according to Diario Extra, which also reported that investigators are still looking for two other men in connection with the attack.

Van Dyke, 66, was a Santa Cruz native who owned a hostel in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

He was from a prominent surfing family. His father, Gene Van Dyke, pioneered the sport in Northern California in the 1950s. His mother, Betty, who died in 2021 at 88, was one of the first female competitive surfing champions in the world.

—Times staff writer Sandra McDonald contributed to this report.