Death of Two U.S. Teens in Costa Rica Leaves Many Questions Unanswered
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: A trip to a Caribbean beach town turned deadly for two young American women. Their tragic deaths have left family and friends grieving and a lot of questions unanswered. Here with more is CNN's Ed Garsten.</s>ED GARSTEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Police say, the bodies of the two 19-year-old women were discovered along this highway, about 90 miles from the Costa Rican capital of San Jose. The sport utility vehicle they were traveling in was found just outside San Jose, apparently set on fire. The women were identified as Emily Howell (ph) of Lexington, Kentucky, a student at Antioch College, in Costa Rica since January on a photography project. And a former classmate, Emily Eagen of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who, her mother said, just wanted to see the world.</s>SHIRLEY EAGEN, VICTIM'S MOTHER: We really would have preferred that she stayed back here, but she wanted to go and this was here semester fling. She took a semester off school and she was going to travel. She said it's beautiful down there.</s>GARSTEN: At Antioch College, near Dayton, Ohio, the mood was heavy after students and faculty were told of the deaths.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, just a lot of sadness because it's a person that I know.</s>GARSTEN: The dean of students said more must be learned about the deaths of both women before any conclusions could be drawn.</s>SCOTT WARREN, ANTIOCH COLLEGE: It looks like a homicide, and there is no speculation about motive or other circumstances. We have been focusing our energy and our efforts on trying to support the families and the friends and trying to respond as a community.</s>GARSTEN: According to police, the two women were each shot several times. One body was found nude, the other partially nude. Authorities say credit cards and other items were found near the bodies. Emily Eagen's mother said her daughter had no qualms about her safety in Costa Rica.</s>EAGEN: I know Emily had checked the background on this country, and I -- she may not have pulled up the State Department report, but she said there wasn't anything in it.</s>GARSTEN: As soon as the State Department OKs it, the Eagens will travel to Costa Rica to bring their daughter's body home. A private memorial service for Emily Howell was held Tuesday night. Ed Garsten, CNN, reporting.