Brother of missing British journalist in Frankfurt Marathon campaign

Brother of British journalist – Michael Dixon, who vanished six years ago in Costa Rica – running Frankfurt marathon to help missing persons charity

Saturday (18 October) marked the 6th anniversary of Michael’s disappearance in the seaside holiday town of Tamarindo.

Evidence indicates he was the victim of violent crime.

But Costa Rica authorities and British police did little to investigate. They’ve now given up on the case, despite the family’s long-standing appeals for assistance.

“I’m going to run in Frankfurt to raise money for Missing People because families can only rely on themselves, or on charities like this, if their loved ones go missing abroad,” David Dixon, Michael’s brother said.

“Michael’s case was grossly mishandled. So I’m also running to raise awareness of the issue. The British government needs better procedures to protect people when they travel.”

The Frankfurt Marathon takes place in Germany on 25 October.

Missing People is a registered charity in London, where David lives. Sponsors can donate via JustGiving.

Michael, who worked as editor of a US business magazine, walked out of his hotel one evening in Tamarindo and never came back.

Some 45,000 British people a year go to Costa Rica, considered a safe destination.

But at least 20 foreign nationals disappeared or were murdered in the country in past six years, prompting official UK and US travel warnings.

“It’s never too late for someone to come forward if they know what happened to my son,” Lynn Dixon, Michael’s mother said.

“Things sometimes feel normal after all this time. But then, every day, I realise that nothing is normal. I don’t want anybody else to go through what we’re going through.”