SUSPICIOUS DEATH
CASE #: 2024-157
Eric Jay Burbank
Status:
Open
Date of Death:
Date of Death:
Jurisdiction:
pun
Death Location:
PUNTARENAS PROVINCE, Costa Rica
Summary:
Suspicious death of U.S. citizen Eric Jay Burbank in Costa Rica under questionable medical and legal circumstances. Evidence suggests intentional overdose, delayed medical response, and fraudulent actions post-death by spouse Mary Elizabeth Whitehead Burbank. Family and witnesses have cooperated with both U.S. and Costa Rican authorities; investigation hindered by rapid cremation and inconsistent documentation. A denuncia has been filed and under investigation in Costa Rica awaiting a prosecuto
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Death:
On March 9, 2024, U.S. citizen Eric Jay Burbank (age 44) died under suspicious circumstances while in Costa Rica with his partner Mary Elizabeth Whitehead Burbank. Local authorities initially listed his cause of death as cardiac arrest and later as multi-organ failure, hypertension, diabetes, and testosterone therapy; however, evidence indicates those claims are inaccurate. No toxicology testing was performed despite red flags suggesting overdose. Witness Sammy confirmed that Mary purchased oxycodone and syringes the night before Eric’s death and that signs of overdose were apparent. Despite this, emergency services were delayed for nearly twenty minutes, and Eric was cremated within 12 hours without a proper forensic investigation. Following the death, Mary seized Eric’s assets, trust, life insurance, and personal property—removing his children as beneficiaries and taking approximately $500,000 in life insurance funds by claiming spousal rights and becoming trustee after his death. Multiple U.S. and Costa Rican agencies have been notified, including the U.S. Embassy in San José, Costa Rican Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalía Quepos), OATRI, OIJ, U.S. Department of State, and Cache County Sheriff’s Office in Utah. The case remains unresolved and demands further criminal and forensic review.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
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The U.S. Embassy in San José and OATRI confirmed receipt of the denuncia and began coordination with OIJ Quepos to assign a fiscal (prosecutor). U.S. authorities notified (State Department OIG, Cache County Sheriff’s Office, FBI).
Mellissa Watkins Avalos filed an official denuncia penal at the Costa Rican Consulate in Los Angeles. This formal complaint initiated the reopening of the case in Costa Rica.
Family began investigating inconsistencies in medical and legal documentation, discovering no toxicology testing was done and the autopsy findings were incomplete.
Eric’s body was cremated within 12 hours of death—without a completed toxicology report, despite suspicious circumstances. Cause of death was listed as “cardiac arrest.”
Mary returned to Utah, gained control of Eric’s trust, property, and insurance accounts, and began selling assets. She claimed millions in life insurance by asserting spousal rights.
Eric Jay Burbank was found unresponsive in Quepos, Costa Rica. Witnesses report approximately a 20-minute delay before medical help was called. He was pronounced dead later that morning.
Witness Sammy confirmed that Mary Elizabeth Whitehead Burbank purchased oxycodone and syringes from a local Costa Rican pharmacy in Quepos the 2 nights before Eric’s death.
Associated Persons
U.S. Embassy – San José, Costa Rica (American Citizen Services Unit) Verified complaint receipt and is coordinating with Costa Rican officials. E. (Other) - Living
OIJ C. (Other) - Living
OATRI (Oficina de Asuntos Técnicos de Relaciones Internacionales) Handles international coordination between Costa Rican judicial system and U.S. Embassy. C. (Other) - Living
S. E. (Person of Interest) - Living
m. W. (Person of Interest) - Living
C. P. (Sibling) - Living
Consulate of Costa Rica – Los Angeles, California Received the denuncia penal on September 12, 2025, officially entering the case into Costa Rican judicial process. C. (Other) - Living
Fiscalía de Quepos (Prosecutor’s Office) Assigned to oversee the homicide investigation following the denuncia penal. C. (Other) - Living
J. E. (Person of Interest) - Living
m. w. (Ex-spouse) - Living
C and wife A J. (Person of Interest) - Living
Case Content Disclaimer: The details on this case page are sourced from numerous locations to include family, friends, news postings and government public releases. Solve the Case, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy of any content as case pages are living documents that frequently update as case details expand.
