Oregon Public Broadcasting

A Bend couple assaulted in Ecuador over the weekend have been transported to a California hospital. The victims haven’t spoken publicly about the attack, and the motive remains unknown at this time. Central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey reports.

Officials in Ecuador say Britt Leis was stabbed more than 20 times while visiting the city of Esmereldas, near the Colombian border.

His girlfriend was beaten and raped, according to state department officials.

After his surgery in Ecuador, the two were medically evacuated to the United States.

State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid says he can't comment, beyond confirming that two Americans were attacked.

Duguid does say the government does not have any current travel warnings for Ecuador, but the State Department is aware of high levels of crime in Esmereldas.

Cathy Joe Porter owns Bend Euro Moto, where Britt Leis worked.

Cathy Joe Porter: “I don’t know what the motive is and I can’t speculate on that, I know they wouldn’t purposely have gone anywhere they would have considered dangerous, or that someone would have told them to stay away from.”

Those concerned can contribute online to pay for the couple’s medical bills, and medical updates have been posted on a site originally set up as a travel blog.

Online:

http://wrongdude.com/2008/10/22/helping-britt-and-lia/

http://helpbrittandlia.com/