Kansas University’s top official is asking Costa Rica’s president to continue that country’s efforts to find the murderer of slain KU student Shannon Martin.

In a letter sent Jan. 30, KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway is asking Costa Rica President Abel Pacheco to bring Martin’s murderer to justice.

¢Past stories and video reports on Martin’s death investigation.

Hemenway also asked Pacheco to instruct Costa Rican investigators to give KU officials a briefing on Martin’s murder case during an upcoming March trip to Costa Rica.

Last July, Costa Rican authorities had indicated the case would soon go to trial. However, in December, Costa Rica authorities released two suspects who had been in custody since July. One suspect who was arrested in November 2001, is still in custody.

Martin, 23, was found slain May 13, 2001. An autopsy found she had been stabbed 15 times.

Martin’s mother, Jeanette Stauffer, Topeka, has been critical of the FBI’s lack of participation in the investigation and of recent inaction in the case.

January 30, 2003

President of the Republic of Costa Rica,
Dr. Abel Pacheco de la Espriella
Casa Presidencial
Aptdo 10,089
San Jose 1000, Costa Rica

Your Excellency:

In May 2001, a University of Kansas student was murdered in Golfito, Costa Rica. Your nation and ours mourned the death of Shannon Martin, our young, promising student, a native of Topeka, Kansas. The story of her affection for your country and her love of its people and natural resources has touched many Kansans and Americans. I want to express to you our sincere gratitude for the concern and assistance the Costa Rican people and government have offered not only to Miss Martin’s family but also to the University of Kansas. The University of Kansas and the people of Costa Rica have long-standing, deep ties, and we look forward to many more years of mutual endeavors.

I also appreciate that our Kansas Congressional delegation, and in particular Senator Sam Brownback, has been closely monitoring the case. I am confident that they will, in close coordination with your government, continue to follow this matter very closely.

We have been assured by your officials and by our own U.S. Congressional offices that the crime has been fully investigated. However, the progress of the case continues to test the family’s patience. Three suspects have been arrested, but two were recently released, and this spring will mark the second year anniversary of the murder. It is imperative to the family of Shannon Martin and to us that this criminal matter be resolved and the killer be brought to justice.

I write, on behalf of the young woman’s family, to urge that all appropriate authorities pursue every available legal avenue to see that this horrible crime is solved and that justice is served. I have asked your ambassador to arrange for officials of your Organization of Judicial Investigation to provide a briefing on the status of the case to University of Kansas officials during their visit to San Jose on March 5th, 6th and 7th. The two officials are my personal assistant, Jeffery Weinberg, and Diana Carlin, dean of the graduate school and international programs.

Thank you for your urgent consideration of this matter. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Robert E. Hemenway
Chancellor

REH:lo

cc: Ambassador Jaime Daremblum
U.S. Senator Sam Brownback
U.S. Senator Pat Roberts
U.S. Representative Dennis Moore
U.S. Representative Jim Ryun