TAMPA, Fla. — The remains of Carla Stefaniak, 36, are back in Tampa Bay.
Nearly one week after friends and family took off for an international search for answers, Friday night marks a heartbreaking end to the vacation mystery.
Stefaniak's friend is brought home the Tampa Bay woman's ashes.
Carla Stefaniak: Body found in Costa Rica identified by family as missing Florida woman
Carla Stefaniak: Timeline leading up to disappearance of Florida woman in Costa Rica
Costa Rican authorities finally allow family to identify body as Tampa native Carla Stefaniak
Security guard detained, body found in Costa Rica believed to be missing FL woman Carla Stefaniak
Carla Stefaniak: Body found on property in Costa Rica where missing Florida woman was staying
The 36-year-old was killed was gruesomely killed while vacationing in Costa Rica, where she went to celebrate her birthday with her sister-in-law in Costa Rica.
Her body was located roughly 1,000 feet away from where she had been staying, authorities say.
A security guard for the Airbnb where Stefaniak was staying has been arrested in the case. An autopsy showed multiple stab wounds to the "neck and upper extremities," as well as blunt force trauma to the head, said Walter Espinoza, a spokesman for Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department.
