A heart-wrenching tragedy has shaken Costa Rica as 29-year-old Instagram model and devoted mother Yuliana Castillo Sánchez was fatally shot on her way to her daughter’s birthday party.
The incident occurred in Granadilla, a district in the San José province, leaving a community stunned and grieving... Continue reading here ▶
Yuliana, known to her 13,000 Instagram followers for her vibrant presence, was much more than a social media figure. She was a loving mother to two children: her eight-year-old daughter and four-year-old son.
According to local reports from La Nación, CRHoy, and La Teja, she was filled with excitement to celebrate her daughter’s birthday—a day that took a tragic turn.
As she waited for an Uber to take her to the party, witnesses say Yuliana got into a dispute with two men on a motorcycle. The confrontation escalated when one of the men pulled out a gun and shot her.
The assailants fled the scene, and Yuliana was pronounced dead shortly after. Authorities are still investigating the motive for the argument, and no arrests have been made. Police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Yuliana’s death has devastated her family. Her mother, Yesenia Sánchez, recounted how her daughter was en route to a joyous occasion when her life was senselessly cut short. Family members describe Yuliana as a fiercely independent woman who worked tirelessly to provide for her children.
“She gave her children the best of herself,” a grieving relative told La Teja. “Everything she did was for them—she worked hard to ensure they had a good life.”
This tragedy has left a deep void, especially for her young children, who must now grow up without their mother. Across Costa Rica, an outpouring of sorrow and calls for justice resonate as authorities continue their investigation.
