The information acquired by Lee Zeltzer on this case
Lee Zeltzer was an (American?) expat living in Boquete at the time. Here you can read an article about him. He has since died. Lee was one of the first to go out looking for Kris and Lisanne. Lee Zeltzer confirmed on this site: "We walked the beginning on the trail to Bocas and checked out the abandoned cabins and no sign of anyone on that overgrown trail." Lee Zeltzer also interviewed the owners of Il Pianista restaurant, Doris and Giovanni, who claimed they gave the girls their dog 'Blue' for the trip. Lee Seltzer also spoke with Eileen, the German worker at the Spanish language school, who joined tour guide F. looking for the girls at their host family and the same Eileen who soon after fled Boquete. Lee Zeltzer said the following on April 4, 2014: "I spoke with Eileen at Spanish by the River in Boquete who confirmed that the girls are missing. That they told know one where they were going but they think from brochures and the internet sites they are reading they where heading toward the Quezal trail or someplace in that region of the mountains. For those not familiar with the area that is a very remote mountainous area north of the pueblo." On April 7th, 2014, Lee Zeltzer was out and about again, investigating, and he had a word with one of the volunteers searching for the two missing Dutch women in Boquete. "Phil [..] said the owner of Il Pianista, Giovanni, had spoken to the women on April 1 and told them where to catch a bus back to Boquete. This along with other rumors drove me to drive to Il Pianista. (Il Pianista at the road to the trail). Giovanni was not at the restaurant but his wife Doris was. This is what she said: Giovanni saw the women on 1 April near Don Pedro hitching toward Il Pianista. An employee at Il Pianista saw them start-up the trail between 15:00 and 15:30 PM. Blue their dog, who often follows hikers went with them. No one can remember seeing them return. Blue did return and Doris believes because of the hour they could not have gone far. She and Giovanni believe that they did return or the dog would have stayed with them. All of this information has been provided directly by them to the DIJ investigators and Sinproc." According to accounts, Giovanni explained them where to take a bus back to Boquete. And he saw them near Casa Pedro. Pedro of Casa Pedro also said that he told Kris and Lisanne where to take a bus (or taxi) back to Boquete and advised them to hike the alto lino instead of the Pianista Trail. (Read more on all this in my main blog post on this disappearance).
Lee was very interested in this case and living in Boquete, he really went out of his ways to interview people he thought could be of interest. There are also early indications that Lee was aware of the possibility of foul play. A local called El Hedonista wrote on this local information board on April 6th, 2014: "I have read reports of at least two different robberies on that Pianista trail. The last I read was that two known criminals were arrested and identified by the victims but were not kept after the victims did no show up for the trial (they were tourists and had returned to their home country). I'm quite certain I read that on this forum but it has been a while." With Lee Zeltzer replying: "Your information is correct and the authorities do have that information including names of the Perps." Lee has since died, on July 18th of 2015. He had been hospitalized in Mae Lewis hospital before his passing, but had been discharged on the day of his passing. He died of a suspected heart attack and/or pulmonary embolism at home, his friend Elizabeth Worley wrote. Lee had blogged about being soon released and updating his blog readers about the details then. They never came. Here is Lee's youtube channel. Lee's blog has been taken offline for a long time now. But the ever ingenious Juan found a way to read his old blog posts anyway, by finding a cached version online. Big thumb up as always for Juan! Lee’s own blog was boqueteguide.com. But he was an even way more active contributor to boquete.ning, which is a community forum. Ning is forum software. Below I add the most relevant updates he made on the disappearance of Kris and Lisanne. Best to document it all, before it eventually gets erased from the internet altogether. Which is something which Juan also does, all the time; we both try to sift through everything available online and offline on this case and archive and save what is important. Many newspaper articles of importance also were removed from the net over time. Luckily we screensaved some important ones. Anyway, below I add what may be of interest to you, loyal followers of this case and fellow detectives. I corrected typo's and poor translations into English. From the many hundreds of comments below these blog posts, I also selected the most interesting ones for you. Warning; as Dave commented below the blog post, all this first hand information from (mostly) the people in Boquete, make this case even more confusing: "Reading reports and updates from Lee Zeltzer, it's extraordinary how the sightings on April 1st in Boquete of the two friends are in alignment on the timings of their sightings, along with other peoples at the time. What are we to make of this massive schism between the people who were there in Boquete that day, and the word and findings of both the authorities and the recovered Camera's data?! Are these completely separate witnesses wrong in their memories, is that possible? Like so much else in the 'official' findings and record of what happened to Lisanne Froon and Kris Kremers this is an example of how contradictory the whole story is. Nearly every element in it is open for two interpretations... and there doesn't seem to be any 'Truth'. The more you learn the less you actually know."
Two Dutch women missing in Boquete
April 4, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
19 Comments
"Two young Dutch women are missing in Panama. They would stroll Tuesday near Boquete, but since then nothing more was heard of them. The 22-year-old Lisanne Froon from Amersfoort and the 21-year-old Kris Kremers from Utrecht were in Panama to learn Spanish and slept with host families, reports RTV Utrecht. According to an employee of the school where the women followed courses, the area where they went hiking is not dangerous and it is not likely that they are lost. “There is only one way up and down.” There is therefore doubt whether the women are walking; possible they are already gone. - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that in Panama a large-scale search is starting. The Dutch Ambassador Wiebe de Boer is keeping an eye on the case. Martijn Froon, the brother of Michael, has created a Facebook page, which he calls people with information [to go to]. “Even though it doesn’t seem important, all information can help.” NOS.NL If anyone has any information please contact the authorities email info@lisannekris.com."
Update: 4 April 9:09 AM: I spoke with Eileen at Spanish by the River in Boquete who confirmed that the girls are missing. That they told no one where they were going, but they think to know from brochures and the internet sites they were reading, that they where heading toward the Quezal trail or someplace in that region of the mountains. For those not familiar with the area that is a very remote mountainous area north of the pueblo.
Update 4 April 7:51 PM: SINAPROC (Civil Defense) had twenty men combing through different trails today. The Dutch ambassador is Boquete [Wiebe de Boer] called in a helicopter. Tomorrow the search will continue. Sinaproc has called in help from the Bocas side to comb through the northern side of the mountains and trails there.
Veronica O'Shea says on April 4, 2014 at 7:12 am
Beautiful young ladies, and no doubt, someone besides me thought so too. This follows on the wonderful report Lee wrote on the state of crime in Panama and Boquete. I do hope someone is looking hard at the host’s house, as they may have been the last people to have seen these girls before they went missing. Odd, though, that a Google search of these two women’s name shows up only on this website. I hope that doesn’t mean that the story came from Lee or someone closely associated with Lee, because they know more than they should.
Guy says on April 4, 2014 at 7:50 am: I assume there has been a search party up there? There are people that own dogs in the area that can track the scent. If you want it done right you need to get some people with dogs up there. Quickly.
Lee says on April 4, 2014 at 8:40 am: Veronica O’Shea (a ka jodie johansson) you are amazing you would accuse me of making this up. Get a life.
Jay says on April 4, 2014 at 12:33 PM: Veronica: Actually, this story has also been posted on Americans Living in Panama as well as the facebook page of the brother of one of the girls. To cast aspersions on the host of this site is pretty far out there. The publicity on these disappearances is needed and might well help in finding them.
Jay says on April 4, 2014 at 12:33 PM: Veronica: Actually, this story has also been posted on Americans Living in Panama as well as the facebook page of the brother of one of the girls. To cast aspersions on the host of this site is pretty far out there. The publicity on these disappearances is needed and might well help in finding them.
Vanessa says on April 5, 2014 at 11:13 am: I’m from Chiriqui. Never, never have I heard of people going missing. Within the community as a whole in Chiriqui, as long I remember we have not had people going missing. I don’t understand? We do have the Costa Rica border called La frontera were last time I checked in 2012, police patrol was a joke.
Lee says on April 5, 2014 at 12:19 PM: Vannesa, sadly it has happened before since I have been here. At least once, with a young English visitor. To my knowledge he has never been found.
Samantha says on April 6, 2014 at 7:42 PM: Alex Humphrey went missing August 2009 http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/03/alex-humphrey-missing-panama
Denver Humphrey says on April 10, 2014 at 9:08 am: Alex Humphrey, a single English traveller age 29 went missing in Aug 2009 in Boquete. The circumstances are chillingly familiar. Local denial that ‘nothing like this has ever happened here’. Sinaproc came in and found nothing. Alex is still missing, no body has been found. Foul play is suspected. Someone there knows what happened to him as they know what has happened to these two girls. Perhaps the Dutch Authorities should compare notes with the British Ambassador who was involved at the time in Panama and see if this time searches and interviews with local people could be more effective. My thoughts are with the two girls and their families. Everyone please help. Denver Humphrey – Alex’s fatherShirley says on April 20, 2014 at 11:19 am: Having law enforcement in the family, I tend to agree, someone should be taking a long hard look at “Lee” or wherever those two girls were staying. In any investigation, it should always start there. Doesn’t mean he was involved, but it should be investigated. Stories of hosts being paid money or drugs in such countries for tourists gone missing is true and not uncommon, especially in an area as Panama.
Lee says on April 20, 2014 at 11:23 am: Dear Shirley, you mean because I wrote about the tragedy I am suspect? Feel free to investigate me as much as you wish, maybe I should never have helped inform the community. Amazing!
One day earlier, Lee had written about crime in Boquete and Panama, referring to the title of Dostoevsky's famous novel as well as highlighting the corruption and uselessness of the Panamanian prosecution. Screensaves are from Juan.
One day earlier, Lee had written about crime in Boquete and Panama, referring to the title of Dostoevsky's famous novel as well as highlighting the corruption and uselessness of the Panamanian prosecution. Screensaves are from Juan.
Crime and Punishment in Panama
April 3, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
21 Comments
"This is not meant to be a doctoral dissertation, I did one of those once. This is meant as a simple bit of information about the criminal justice system in Panama written by a non authority from anecdotal observations. It is relevant only because we who live here, live out the anecdotes when we encounter a crime and see the lack of punishment. [..] Over the years Europe has made changes to Civil Law adding such concepts as innocent until proven guilty; not so in Panama. Panama has an old Civil Code, under the criminal law you are presumed guilty unless proven innocent. This very concept when correctly employed means that police and prosecutors should have a very strong case to arrest anyone. In Panama this seems to have gone to extreme that unless the police witness a crime it is virtually impossible to have someone arrested. This scores a lot of points for the criminals, particularly white-collar crime, which is seemly beyond comprehension in Panama. I want to focus on what seems to be a growing issue in all of Panama, violent crime. This past week there was an armed robbery at Fletes Chevales in Boquete, something unheard of in the past. There was one more murder in David, this one of an eighty year old radio reporter who recently denounced gang violence on his program. Gangs are growing in Panama, gang violence is growing and there are reasons; immunity with impunity. The governor of the Provence of Chiriqui has announced a curfew for minors in an effort to curtail increasing problems. “An overnight curfew for minors has been introduced in Chiriqui following the murder of a journalist on Monday morning April 1. Ramon Cano was shot in the head at close range outside his home. According to police sources, reports La Prensa, both Cano and his wife were tied up and beaten by masked men. A full police hunt for the killers is underway, with all police leave canceled to keep the force at full strength, says Chiriquí Police Chief Julio Lasso. In the afternoon Chiriquí Governor Rita Sittón de Fundora issued a curfew starting the Monday night from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. to curb the high crime rate. Any minor that circulates on public roads in the province will have to be accompanied by their parents or guardians,” said Sittón de Fundora. The governor condemned the violence that led to the death of the journalist” Newsroom Panama
One reason to try prevention is that minors are almost never prosecuted under the law in Panama. A minor can kill and will too often walk away. Politically connected people are virtually free of prosecution in Panama. Those who threaten prosecutors can escape prosecution. Here, too often the Criminal is more powerful than the law; reminiscent of Al Capone is old Chicago. Many might remember the armed robbery near Coronado that prompted the creation of an organization, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, (NHN) in the beach area. In that robbery people were beaten and robbed in a hotel. Despite a photo of one of the perpetrators taken with a stolen Iphone and sent up to iCloud, the prosecutor refused to do anything. Later the NHN group involved the National government. Meetings were held and the community and was told action would be taken. They were told the prosecutor would be fired and replaced, they arrested the alleged perpetrators and then… Here is a quote from a recent email from the NHN group, bolding is from the email, not me. “The icing on the cake for NHN members was the announcement that despite the Attorney General’s promises of serious action – and our filing of a lawsuit against him – the prosecutor in San Carlos was not fired or removed from his post – his punishment was three days suspension without pay! [..] The DIJ often does not show up when called, or if they do show up, they perform a perfunctory investigation, and any evidence taken at the scene is either lost or discarded by the prosecutor – as in the case of two Canadians attacked and robbed at gunpoint in their home in Coronado – they had to walk to the police, then to the DIJ as the robbers stole their car – and then the fingerprints they insisted the DIJ take were mysteriously lost and the case closed by the prosecutor in San Carlos without any investigation. It is not just foreigners who are being attacked, or feel this way – Panamanian members tell us they don’t report crimes to the DIJ as they know nothing will be done. Even wealthy Panamanians are being targeted.” Crime and criminals do not discriminate on victims. Those who feel empowered to criminal behavior look for the soft targets with assets that can be taken with relative impunity. Unless caught in the act they are likely to never be arrested. If arrested they can too often buy their freedom before, after or during prosecution. Only those with no money and really bad luck spend time in prison in Panama. We are living in an increasingly violent world and short of a police state we are going to see more crime in Boquete.
Yilka Downey says on April 3, 2014 at 11:45 am: This is sad. At a robbery/rape several years ago in Jaramillo, the police arrive on foot and one of the policemen arrived on a Taxi. Do they have vehicles? The crime rate will climb as Boquete becomes a tourist destination and shed its historic reason for being “the place to grow good coffee”. Change and crime go hand in hand as the word spreads that there is wealth in any place. Good report, Mr. Seltzer, I am glad you took the time to let us know that Panama is becoming “no man’s land”.
Dottie says on April 3, 2014 at 12:05 PM: Lee, this is definitely a problem here – and the ladrones don’t focus on “wealthy” gringos or wealthy Panamanians either. Even people of modest means and possessions can be targeted. [..] Because the modest house across the street from me had been robbed THREE TIMES in the recent past.
Harry Iglesias says on April 3, 2014 at 1:25 PM: There is no denying that violent crime is on the rise in Panama (unless of course you are the Minister of Security – Jose Raul Mulino -, who tends to deliver a message from time to time saying that crime rates are significantly dropping), and such phenomenon applies to the entire country, regardless of how remote or away it might be from places like Panama City or Colon. [..] And the problem is not the legal system in Panama but rather, in a nutshell, it is a result of pure laziness, corruption, lack of resources and lack of skilled and knowledgeable people in the prosecuting and judging side of things. White collar crime runs freely because of corruption of course and there is not much more to say in regards to that. There are no convictions in Panama for these crimes as a general rule and when we do come across an exception, the guy happens to be, when convicted, living in some other country where there is no extradition. (I am a Panamanian attorney).
Lee says on April 3, 2014 at 3:00 PM: I should add that here in Boquete it has been impossible to get people arrested even when they are caught with the stolen goods. It is very frustrating.
Floyd R. Turbo says on April 3, 2014 at 4:01 PM: Unfortunately the surreal legal system allows lot of collateral damage. Fairly Earls, the thrice convicted pedophile had a denunciation filed against him for a violent unprovoked attack in Boquete. He should have been brought to justice then, when his fraudulent passport would have been expose. Three years later he was arrested and deported by the US marshals, after being turned in by an America’s Most Wanted viewer for being a fugitive felony bail jumper. The local authorities did nothing. Not likely this sociopath left the children here unmolested. Additionally, he was involved in several frauds. All because of a system that doesn’t appear to protect the local citizenry much. Basically “WTF”! How bad do you have to be to get stopped. And then there is Ozzie and Wild Bill. I guess it is OK to be a bad guy here, not much accountability. All three of these criminals were stopped by major US citizens pressure, only after they wreaked unmentionable havoc after a considerable period of time.
Matt says on April 3, 2014 at 5:48 PM: Unfortunately I was robbed and shot four months ago in a taxi by three guys. This happen in Panama City right in Paitilla.
DMLblane says on April 3, 2014 at 6:09 PM: Crime comes and increases with the disparity of wealth. The government of Panama is in hock up to its eyeballs with a half built canal and huge infrastructure needs and no income to run municipalities which are growing and in trouble because there is no municipal planning for either the short or long range.
Update on the two missing in BoqueteApril 5, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer32 Comment
"Since originally copying an article from a Dutch newspaper about two young women missing in Boquete I have tried to learn more and want to keep the community informed. Yesterday morning I spoke to Eileen at Spanish on the River, the school they were attending. They were not staying at the school but in the homes of host families. Those host families reported them missing. No one knows for sure where they went. Apparently they were supposed to meet a guide for hike at the Il Pianista trail but never arrived. I have not spoken to the guide so I cannot confirm that information. Yesterday, 4 April, SINAPROC had twenty people searching trails for the missing women, many volunteers searched also with little coordination or information. The Dutch government brought in a helicopter to search also. The DIJ, a part of the police, is also conducting a search of a different type. Today, 5 April SINAPROC is continuing and added search parties on the Bocas side of the mountains. The Dutch government is bringing in an investigator and Alto al Crimen has put their detective on the case. There is no evidence the women ever made it out on a hike, nor is there any evidence of foul play. The investigators are going to try and trace from the time they left to go hiking. This is becoming both investigation and search at this time. Hopefully the women will turn up unharmed and are just out of touch (not making contact). I expect further reports from Alto al Crimen as this progresses and will update as I have new information. If anyone has any information PLEASE, email to altoalcrimenboquete@gmail.com thank you."
Update 5 April 2:00 PM: I just received a telephone call asking for people who can help search for the two missing women now. SINAPROC needs more boots on the ground in the area of Il Pianista Trail now. There are several teams there now and they believe there is credible evidence the women are lost in that area. If you can hike and can help please proceed to Il Pianista trailhead now. thank you, take water and don’t get lost.
Update 5 April 5:00 PM: The search at Il Pianista was not successful. SINAPROC and volunteers are meeting as I write at the CEFATI to discuss options for 6 April. Once decisions are made I will post them here and on
Ricardo Gancedo Villarreal says on April 5, 2014 at 3:12 PM: My mom use to live and grow at “cerro punta, volcan, etc. as a child (she is right now) 82 years and live in Panama city (retired) told that sometime persons that goes hiking (climbing) “Volcan Baru” gets lost and never seen again. As far as World War II, when europeans (leaving the horrors of the war) came up to “high lands” (cerro punta, volcan, boquete, “nueva suiza”) seeking the good climate and new opportunities, a person for example from Germany would never be seen again. Even a person from Panama who gets into the trailing and passages could fall and maybe some wild animal (you maybe right it's not common but there were pumas and what people over there call “tigres”) are some of the ones you have to we aware and take care. The passages to climbing up to the top of Volcan can also be inaccessible, people could get lost and they also have to care about the rivers. When it begins to rain, water goes from the heights (top) down and later becomes a “crecida” or water at full speed (cabeza de agua) and it can rip off horses, people and whatever is in it s path. So I hope these beautiful girls get found but for the people in general (specially alien ones), you have to be careful of the wild and surroundings, it is not a home backyard.
Suzanne Miller Moreno says on April 5, 2014 at 4:29 PM: Lee have you met the guide yet? Is he from Boquete? Cannot say more now until I find out if was a local from here or one not from this area. Please this could be important.
Cheryl Stuebing says on April 5, 2014 at 6:56 PM: Finally someone is communicating to the public… Thanks Lee We’ll follow along. Praying for the girls to be found unharmed.
Anya Spielberg says on April 5, 2014 at 8:13 PM: The guide in question’s name is Feliciano from Jaramillo Central. He is my husband’s uncle. They never showed up for their hike with him so he initiated the missing person process.
Ingrid Lommers says on April 5, 2014 at 10:29 PM: Just one correction: It is NOT that they were going to meet a guide at the trail and the guide never showed up. They were going to hike a bit (just going a bit up and a bit down for the time they would like it… and making sure to be only hiking in daylight)… . that is what we recommended. And actually, from what Pedro from Casa Pedro says, we should not discard that they never made it to the Pianista Trail and after Casa Pedro wanted to go back home and that we don’t know what happened from that moment. It is also possible that Pedro saw some other girls and that our girls never started ANY hike.
Ingrid Lommers says on April 5, 2014 at 10:34 PM: Staff member from our school, together with the guide, Feliciano, found out at 8:00 am Wednesday, that the girls were not at their host families house. They did not sleep there. At 8:00 am a tour with Feliciano would start at our school and they were not there at the indicated time they headed to the house to check it out. Although there are people that are sure to have seen them on the Pianista Trail as well… it is so hard .. people are not sure that they recognize them.. they cannot discard anything almost…
Wayne Crawford says on April 6, 2014 at 8:34 am: How many attractive 6’3″ blondes does anyone see…anywhere? Seems like they would be very hard to forget if, indeed, anyone saw them along the way.
Patty Miranda says on April 7, 2014 at 12:32 PM: I am from Boquete, and live in Chicago now. I am confused, as to why the news (TVN Noticias) are indicating that the students went to Hike the Volcano. The Pianista Trail is different, as far as I understand. Also if the students were missing, how come the host family was not the first one to report them missing. I just hope those 2 girls are OK. My mother is a host mom for students that visit from Habla Ya, and any time that the students go out, my mom tries to ask them where they are going. Boquete is not like it used to be.
Lee says on April 7, 2014 at 12:34 PM: They were seen at Il Pianista by the a person working there at between 3 and 3:30 PM April 1st. The host families did report them missing on 2 April when they were not back.
Stephen Kaczor says on April 7, 2014 at 3:55 PM: I understand, but its hard to get lost between the trail and the bus stop. I was hoping they were just lost in the wilderness and, like you Lee, I hope they did not hitch a ride. With so many people visiting Boquete from all over the world, they could be anywhere if that is what happened. Hope and pray they find their way home safe. In the meantime, I pick up every hitchhiking tourist I come across and hope all you other good people do the same, to get our visitors down the road safely.
Dennis says on April 9, 2014 at 5:02 PM: Strange story so far. April 1st they have been seen in a restaurant having breakfast with 2 men, later they go for a hike and have been seen by Giovanni who lives at the road towards the entrance and the dog follows them and comes back after a short while (about 3 PM). Pedro sees them resting near his house, in both cases they looked tired. What about the taxid river who supposed to have them dropped of at the park entrance? Did he remember the time? Why go make a hike at that time if you have an appointment with a guide the next day at 8 am? What about the old trail between Palo alto and Bajo mono? Could they have entered that trail? Like I understand there is a connection over the hilltop instead of coming back down to the village? Also one or two taxi drivers supposed to have seen them walking down towards Boquete looking for a ride (according to an other page). How long have they been in Panama, to know the dangers to go hike in the park unprepared? Anything known about the type of phones they carried (traceable yes or no? To check if they made calls before they disappeared). Does one of the 2 smoke so in case they got lost they could make a fire at night? Why did they tell them to wait for a bus? From what I know they ride only a couple of times a day in that area. Nobody phoned a taxi or gave them a number to call a taxi to pick them up? Like I know the taxi drivers in Panama, they give their phone number to any blond foreign girl telling to call if they need a taxi. I live close to Boquete and been around the back area over there only a few times. But some think just don't rhyme here. Has anybody more info on these topics’Lee says on April 9, 2014 at 5:07 PM: Dennis, there are more questions than answers right now. There is no authoritative source for information so we who are trying to piece things together are taking all the pieces we can gather. I hope the DIJ or investigator for the embassy or Alto al Crimen has a more complete picture.
alejandrabonifacio says on April 10, 2014 at 4:01 am: Hello to all. I live in Holland, but grew up In South America. This is disturbing. The way the information has been given from the very first moment and the feeling we all get when we compare the information and the sources. I want to believe that the Panamanian Police and the community are getting along serious with these case, but I also understand that people (witnesses) might be under pressure because you don't want to loose your beloved tourists. [..] Scumbags are everywhere in this world and they fucked it up for a few, who are fair, who are happy to have visitors from other countries, who are nice and kind and come to spend their money on your place and to help you.
Dennis says on April 10, 2014 at 1:25 PM: "A man with a Scandinavian name has seen 3 girls that day between the fair and the northern bridge walking towards Palo Alto, one was remarkably tall with glasses on, one with a backpack and one with an aluminium water bottle, all dressed in shorts and all mainly blond. Time unknown. Maybe the girls were there with a friend, if yes who is this 3rd girl? If these girls are not the Dutch girls, did they maybe go to the park? Does Alto al crimen have access to camera's in public places? I don't know if I'm right, but I think there are cameras at the bridge across the river near the feria and in the park, can anybody ask to check? To know if there were 2 groups of girls hiking that day or the 2 Dutch have been seen with a friend? Either way, this 3rd girl or this group should tell the police where they went in order to avoid mistakes.Lee says on April 10, 2014 at 1:30 PM: Dennis, If you can provide the contact information for the man I will pass the information to the investigator.
Dennis says on April 11, 2014 at 9:03 am: I like to know if there is a list of personal item they took from their room and/or school? Also I like to know where did they search the roads already for missing items?
Lee says on April 11, 2014 at 9:41 am: Dennis, to my knowledge all their belongings were left in the houses. I have no other information.
Dora says on April 11, 2014 at 4:54 PM: Dennis, It’s reported that one of the girls has her passport with her, one left hers at the hostel/host family. According to that same report their wallets were left behind and not certain what else they did take with them.
V says on April 14, 2014 at 8:52 PM: If they went hiking they would have shown up already. The authorities in panama are hiding something. They wouldn’t let the Dutch help them search. I still think everybody is looking in the wrong direction. If they took a ride from a bad person they could be in Colombia by now!! It is possible that they are abducted and that they know it in Panama but don’t want it in the media. Bad for the economy!! So they just set up a smoke screen. I’m getting freaking mad reading all of this nonsense!!
Lee says on April 14, 2014 at 8:59 PM: V, It was suggested in the today's press conference that they were abducted and that is why they have not been found. It is just something no one wants to discuss despite the fact it is being investigated as a kidnapping at this time. Do not expect police anyplace to leak anything to the media except what they want publicized.
V says on April 14, 2014 at 10:01 PM: Yes and that's what gets me mad. Even their families believe it! The minute I heard 2 girls went missing I knew they were not lost in the woods. With 2 big crime countries next to panama I can't shake the feeling that the girls where in a wrong place at the wrong time. I truly hope this bad intuition gets proven wrong.
alejandrabonifacioAlejandra says on April 15, 2014 at 1:38 am: I agree with you. And I’m sorry but this is exactly what I thought after three days since they were reported missing. I agree with this smoke screen and it’s totally unfair to their families, but also to the Panamanians. There are things going on in your country that people in Europe are even not aware of. But they happen! I hope for your entire community that these things stop one day. They should be having the time of their lives being there, learning Spanish, helping people, that’s one of the the main reasons why people travel. I was born in South America and I know when people are talking b********!
Brit says on June 24, 2014 at 5:44 am: As of last Thursday two shoes (both different) and bones were found along with personal belongings of the girls. They did DNA testing on the bones and they came up as Lisanne Froons of Amersfoort (close to where I live). Sadly they think the girls got lost and drown along the riverside. So far no foul play has been suspected as of yet. It can be expected that Kris had the same fate. One of the shoes was an exclusive shoe belonging to Perry Sport here in Holland (Nederland).
Sunday Search information for missing women
Sunday Search information for missing women
April 5, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer 3 Comments
"SINAPROC will make their own announcement but I can share this information. There is now credible evidence from Alto al Crimen and other sources that the women were at the Spanish by the River School in Palmira at 1 PM April 1. They discussed going to hike on the Il Pianista trail. They took a taxi to the area of the trail. They were sighted by people about 1:30 PM at the trail. The trail has been searched all the way the continental divide. SINAPROC has people searching from the Bocas side. Tomorrow people will be searching on the flanks of the trail. A group of experienced guides from the local guide companies will be meeting at 7:30 AM at the office of Boquete Outdoor Adventures in Plaza Los Establos. If and only if you have experience in jungle search and rescue you are welcome to join them. They are concerned about loosing other people in the search.
A summary update from La Prensa
April 5, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer 3 Comments
"A reward of 2 thousand 500 dollars has been offered for information leading to the whereabouts of the two Dutch tourists who are missing in Boquete since last Tuesday. Ingrid Lommers, Manager of Spanish at Locations, school of Spanish where they took classes Lisanne Froon and Kris Kremers, 22 and 21 years is making a tour of different Chiriqui radio stations to publicize this information. Today, explained Lommers, relatives of the tourists will arrive in Panama on a flight from Holland. Since yesterday, the tourist search has focused on the path the Pianista, one of the last places where were seen. Inhabitants of Boquete commented on that yesterday, officers of the Judicial investigation direction reviewed various commercial security cameras to collect evidence. Arturo Alvarado, director of the national system of Civil Protection (Sinaproc), confirmed that Sinaproc has group of 20 rescue workers in the area. Meanwhile, through the Boquete Internet site (boquetening.com) has volunteer groups organizing to expand areas of search in the place where they were seen for the last time girls. In addition, the Minister of public security, José Raúl Mulino confirmed that officials of the national air service conducted aerial searches for the tourists.
Joy says on April 7, 2014 at 12:20 am: We are increasingly living in a very unsafe world. I’m afraid such beautiful women could be targeted in terrible ways. And people can get away with this also. Sometimes their own protect them. Hiking may not be safe, maybe not anywhere.
Elsa says on April 7, 2014 at 3:52 am: Hiking in a foreign country and thrusting the natives is crazy. Young people take dangerous chances.
Bruce says on April 7, 2014 at 10:08 am: Rather alarmist I think. Especially, “thrusting” the “natives.” Really incredible!
Lee says on April 7, 2014 at 10:17 am: Bruce the fact they were hitching a ride in itself is alarmist.
Jose says on April 10, 2014 at 4:12 am: I agree 200% with Elsa comment!!!!!
Update: missing Dutch tourists
April 7, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
17 Comments
"This morning I had a word with one of the volunteers searching for the two missing Dutch women in Boquete. Phil advised me that the search had moved out from Il Pianista back to town. He said the owner of Il Pianista, Giovani, had spoken to the women on April 1 and told them where to catch a bus back to Boquete. This along with other rumors drove me to drive to Il Pianista. Giovani was not at the restaurant but his wife Doris was. This is what she said. Giovani saw the women on 1 April near Don Pedro hitching toward Il Pianista. An employee at Il Pianista saw them start-up the trail between 3:00 and 3:30 PM. Blue their dog, who often follows hikers went with them. No one can remember seeing them return. Blue did return and Doris believes because of the hour they could not have gone far. She and Gionvani believe that they did return or the dog would have stayed with them. All of this information has been provided directly by them to the DIJ investigators and Sinproc. There is no current search at Il Pianista. Although I have been told that Sinproc is searching in another area. Based upon the days of searching where they were last seen and finding nothing this search is now becoming a criminal investigation. Perhaps the offer of $2,500 for information leading to their discovery will bring some information.
Update April 7 11:18AM: I received this information since writing from Jan-Albert Hootsen, Mexico and central America Correspondent from Dutch newspaper Trouw: "I spoke to Pedro Capón of Casa Pedro earlier today, he said he saw the girls on Tuesday afternoon, pointed out the Tierra Lino hiking route to them and saw them shortly after. He said they were very tired, and that he told them how to catch a bus back to Boquete. He said that’s when he last saw them.” We do not know a time sequence yet but this could be why people think they returned or tried to return to Boquete. I do hope they were not hitching.
Keith says on April 7, 2014 at 10:02 am: Lee, perhaps you could also talk to Pedro of Casa Pedro, who also was reported as having seen and spoken with the women.
Lee says on April 7, 2014 at 10:16 am: Keith that is where Giovani saw them hitching in route to Il Pianista
Maru says on April 7, 2014 at 11:39 am: I saw the same girls minutes before walking by Il Piansta and yes, they looked pretty tired and sweaty.
Guy says on April 7, 2014 at 12:01 PM: Hitchhiking? That could be the trouble right there….
Skywriter908 says on April 7, 2014 at 12:52 PM: In case that was the trouble, I hope the police investigation has spread to David, Panama City and over the nearby border to Costa Rica.
Keith says on April 7, 2014 at 2:07 PM: Are there any trails or foot paths leading down towards town from the Alto Lino area that the young women may have taken?
Sylvia says on April 7, 2014 at 6:07 PM: Read this on FB: “My girlfriend and I visited Boquete about a year ago. We planned to hike the pianista trail, but our hostel recommended us not to go further than the tree line because there had been some robberies further on the trail lately. At the beginning of the trail we were warned again by a local farmer. A pretty big dog from a house at the beginning of the trail joined us all the way up until the tree line. However, we didn’t go further, into the jungle, because of the warnings. One year later the trail might be considered to be safe again (I don’t know), however it surprises me that I don’t read anything about its (dangerous) status from only one year ago.”
Eloise says on April 7, 2014 at 6:14 PM: We just hiked to Il Pianista today and were an hour from the mountain top in the forest/jungle. There were people searching the trail, loads actually, we came across a lot of groups, military people as well. We had the pleasure of blue’s company from the main road until we returned (11am till 4.30 PM). But although the dog followed us most part, it did went along with some other people when we came across the search groups. Later, when we would meet again, we called for him and he would stay with us again. Whether the dog returned or not, would not be a strong point. We walked a great part in the woods, only got 1 turn wrong. There was a search party coming up from the trail below, and we thought that they told us to take the other way. Our Spanish isn’t great, so later the trail got really steep and muddy, I thought it was too slippery so stressed my bf to return. When back at the junction, we saw there was a clear mark on the stone, pointing us the other way. To us, the trail was clearly marked (just missed that spot), and even in the middle of nowhere, there were still houses on the mountain. On our way back, the Dutch news channel was interviewing the guide and a local, so they interviewed us about the trail. They’ll do a big item on it tomorrow. We looked for the girls or any signs, but we can’t shake the feeling that they didn’t even go into the woods, but if, it would be weird to get lost or not found by now. I’m also thinking about the story I read about 1 of them wearing a skirt. I don’t imagine they would wear skirts with hiking boots to go hiking, but maybe just sandals. If that’s the case, it would make it very plausible that they just went on from the restaurant but returned quickly because the path gets rough (rocks muddy) from that point. Just our 2 cents, if we can assist in anything, let me know!Ingrid Lommers says on April 9, 2014 at 10:00 am: Hi Eloise; no, nobody ever saw them in a skirt. They were also wearing their hiking boots when they left from here and their sandals are still here so not very plausible they were walking with sandals.
Jean Francois Leroy says on April 9, 2014 at 10:17 am: Good morning, I have a suggestion and that what i would do as a parent and i think that it would increase by 50% the chances to find them faster: I would print 10.000 reward posters offering $15.000 reward in Spanish and put it on each corner/ trees of the area, from David/ Boquete/ Bocas Del Toro and PAnama City Buses terminals…
Keith says on April 9, 2014 at 9:19 PM: A media broadcast announcement of a $10,000 reward could be productive. The story is on the national news daily and there is awareness even in the Capital. TVs and smartphones are everywhere. News of a reward would spread in a flash.
Lee says on April 10, 2014 at 1:16 PM: KSR dogs have been offered from both the US and the Netherlands, but only the police or government can request them and to my knowledge they have not.
Anita Willemse says on April 11, 2014 at 7:44 am: Does the police do their utmost to look for the two men that the girls were talking with that last day at breakfast? Why do they not contact the police? Everybody in Panama and certainly two young men know about the disappearance!
Some new information on missing girls
"I cannot attest any of this is 100% real, but the following has been reported to me in the past few minutes. It seems that both Lisanne Froon and Kris Kremers had breakfast in “Restaurante Nelvis”/Boquete, the morning of Tuesday April 1st, 2014 together with two unknown young men. The police urgently request information about the identity of these two men. Second: Two helicopters have headed up into the mountains to allegedly investigate a weak iPhone signal coming from the Bocas side of the mountains, this according to a local radio station. Third: Despite press reports that Sinaproc has abandoned their search, Sinaproc has requested the community provide lunches for twenty five searchers today. They are already being delivered by the expat community. If I learn more I will post it.
Comments
Ingrid Lommers says on April 9, 2014 at 9:51 am: That day they had breakfast at their host family; no doubt about that at all.
Joshua says on April 9, 2014 at 10:09 am: Quite a bit of helicopter activity overhead today, they look to be based down the road in Alto Boquete. 1 military heli and 2 private heli's coming and going.
Cheryl stuebing says on April 9, 2014 at 10:21 am: So it’s not true if they had breakfast with their host family. Could it have been lunch? And do you know what Nationality the young men were?
Wietske says on April 9, 2014 at 10:27 am: Maybe they just sat down with the two guys? Just for a coffee?
Doug says on April 9, 2014 at 10:42 am: Lee, unless you meant “cellphone” instead of “iPhone”, I’d guess that it couldn’t be related. If the women had cellphones (and it’s hard to imagine anyone under age 30 not having one), they probably wouldn’t be unlocked or “cracked” iPhones that would work in Panama. As an android user, I haven’t experienced those issues, and I’m relying partly on a post you did on the subject a few weeks ago. It’s probably completely moot anyhow, as without some sort of battery backup any type of phone they might have had should be long ago drained of power, I would think. Surely the authorities have already determined whether these women had cellphones and have pursued any leads that could be associated with that information.
Lee says on April 9, 2014 at 11:08 am: Doug, I am only repeating the information I was given without changing anything. My iphone would not last a week unless it was turned off most of the time.
Dora says on April 10, 2014 at 1:26 am: Turns out it was lunch and not breakfast. They think the girls were approached by two men during this lunch.
MEA says on April 10, 2014 at 1:43 am: *** RECTIFICATION *** URGENT REQUEST FOR INFORMATION! The Panamanian police urgently require information as follows: It appears now that both Lisanne Froon and Kris Kremers had lunch at “Restaurante Nelvis” in Boquete around noon on Monday, March 31st. While at the restaurant, the girls were approached by two unknown young men who started a conversation with them. The police urgently request information about the identity of these two young men. If you have any information or knowledge about their identity please send this information to info@lisannekris.com. Thank you very much for your help.
Lee says on April 10, 2014 at 9:29 am: The information that two women were seen on the Il Pianista trail came from an indigenous woman living up the trail. As some might know Alto al Crimen has been using our investigator to help locate the two missing Dutch women. He has already put in several days following all leads and we would like to have him continue.
olinda moore says on April 10, 2014 at 3:56 PM: I thing Boquete need to call all the men and make different groups and send them in different direction, Boquete is small valley and you can walk in one day all around it, the men in there go hunting all time so be sure they check all the houses or room they found in the way somebody has to know about them; be sure to go in groups of five in different directions ..God help them..
Some new information on missing girlsApril 9, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
31 Comments
"I cannot attest any of this is 100% real, but the following has been reported to me in the past few minutes. It seems that both Lisanne Froon and Kris Kremers had breakfast in “Restaurante Nelvis”/Boquete, the morning of Tuesday April 1st, 2014 together with two unknown young men. The police urgently request information about the identity of these two men. Second: Two helicopters have headed up into the mountains to allegedly investigate a weak iPhone signal coming from the Bocas side of the mountains, this according to a local radio station. Third: Despite press reports that Sinaproc has abandoned their search, Sinaproc has requested the community provide lunches for twenty five searchers today. They are already being delivered by the expat community. If I learn more I will post it.
Comments
Ingrid Lommers says on April 9, 2014 at 9:51 am: That day they had breakfast at their host family; no doubt about that at all.
Joshua says on April 9, 2014 at 10:09 am: Quite a bit of helicopter activity overhead today, they look to be based down the road in Alto Boquete. 1 military heli and 2 private heli's coming and going.
Cheryl stuebing says on April 9, 2014 at 10:21 am: So it’s not true if they had breakfast with their host family. Could it have been lunch? And do you know what Nationality the young men were?
Wietske says on April 9, 2014 at 10:27 am: Maybe they just sat down with the two guys? Just for a coffee?
Doug says on April 9, 2014 at 10:42 am: Lee, unless you meant “cellphone” instead of “iPhone”, I’d guess that it couldn’t be related. If the women had cellphones (and it’s hard to imagine anyone under age 30 not having one), they probably wouldn’t be unlocked or “cracked” iPhones that would work in Panama. As an android user, I haven’t experienced those issues, and I’m relying partly on a post you did on the subject a few weeks ago. It’s probably completely moot anyhow, as without some sort of battery backup any type of phone they might have had should be long ago drained of power, I would think. Surely the authorities have already determined whether these women had cellphones and have pursued any leads that could be associated with that information.
Lee says on April 9, 2014 at 11:08 am: Doug, I am only repeating the information I was given without changing anything. My iphone would not last a week unless it was turned off most of the time.
Dora says on April 10, 2014 at 1:26 am: Turns out it was lunch and not breakfast. They think the girls were approached by two men during this lunch.
MEA says on April 10, 2014 at 1:43 am: *** RECTIFICATION *** URGENT REQUEST FOR INFORMATION! The Panamanian police urgently require information as follows: It appears now that both Lisanne Froon and Kris Kremers had lunch at “Restaurante Nelvis” in Boquete around noon on Monday, March 31st. While at the restaurant, the girls were approached by two unknown young men who started a conversation with them. The police urgently request information about the identity of these two young men. If you have any information or knowledge about their identity please send this information to info@lisannekris.com. Thank you very much for your help.
Lee says on April 10, 2014 at 9:29 am: The information that two women were seen on the Il Pianista trail came from an indigenous woman living up the trail. As some might know Alto al Crimen has been using our investigator to help locate the two missing Dutch women. He has already put in several days following all leads and we would like to have him continue.
olinda moore says on April 10, 2014 at 3:56 PM: I thing Boquete need to call all the men and make different groups and send them in different direction, Boquete is small valley and you can walk in one day all around it, the men in there go hunting all time so be sure they check all the houses or room they found in the way somebody has to know about them; be sure to go in groups of five in different directions ..God help them..
The search and investigation of the two Dutch women is continuing
April 10, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
9 Comments
"I wish I had any news to report regarding the search for the missing women; I do not. Alto al Crimen, the local crime prevention organization has been active paying for its investigator and others to first search and now investigate the disappearance. With the possibility that there is more to this than them being lost on a trail, this has become more important. Those of us who live here know leaving this in the hands of the local police is unlikely to resolve anything. Alto al Crimen is a not for profit foundation and works on donations it has no other source of funding. Alto al Crimen is asking for money so they might continue to use the local investigator. They believe he has the highest probability of uncovering something useful on what is becomeing a cold trail. This is their request. “As some might know Alto al Crimen has been using our investigator to help locate the two missing Dutch women. He has already put in several days following all leads and we would like to have him continue. It is out belief he has the highest probability of locating them since he has local connections and knowledge. He is continuing but we need more money to keep him on the job. This is a request for donations. If you can help please drop any donations at Mail Box Etc Box 13112 in an envelope marked Alto al Crimen. Checks need to be made to: Fundacion Alto al Crimen. Based on experience with the investigator who I know personally I believe this is the best opportunity to find the women. I know that he is following several leads but each one takes time and his time costs money.Comments
Lee says on April 10, 2014 at 1:55 PM: Caesar has met with all the parties several times. The ambassador and the families are in communication. That is the best I can say. I believe they do not recognize this is not the Netherlands and are putting much faith in the police here. I do not wish to speak ill of the police, they will do the best they can, but they cannot pay informants and do things AAC does to resolve crimes.
harry says on April 10, 2014 at 3:00 PM: Lee, In the opinion off AAC, Did the girls finish the hike? I gues thats the most important question that should be answered first.
Lee says on April 10, 2014 at 3:07 PM: Sadly there are not enough facts to have an educated opinion, too many conflicting stories and nothing hard which is why it’s needs someone to follow through.
Martín E. Ferrara O'Donnell says: I want you to know I am the investigator who is on the case, I am independent and the Alto al Crimen Foundation is one of my clients, but this time I have been working on the case for three days, free of charge, since I am interested that the Dutch young people appear and there is also a report of my work done, within the investigation file, in the Boquete office, that is, they already have my report to continue investigating ... I am collecting funds and I already have a donation, which I will use for the expenses of the investigation, I have not been collecting anything for three days and I will not do it, if some money remains after paying the car rental expenses, gasoline , cell phone and others then I will see if something touches me, but for me the important thing is to locate the Dutch girls. [..] In order for young women to know in my research, they leave the El Pianista path, the investigation continues and certain information that I have must be verified or discarded, that's why the money is needed, not so much to pay me, but to pay for the expenses of the investigation. I think that young women are alive, since no body has been found, so it is important not to stop searching for them and for information that can help them find them, time is the most important thing.
April 11, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
From La Prensa on the search for the missing women
April 11, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer 16 Comments
"The article below is from La Prensa in Panama. I can add nothing new except to say I am glad they finally brought in some KSR dogs. It is significant that they have closed the trails up the volcano for now. “10/04/2014 – As part of the search for two missing Dutch women, Lisanne Froon, 22, and Kris Krömers, 21, who disappeared 10 days ago, the civil defense agency Sinaproc has decided to close access to the trails leading to Volcán Baru. Sinaproc Director Arturo Alvarado said that the decision was made because rescuers are using dogs, and that they will not be able to do their job if people are using the trails. The search is focused on Volcán Baru, and in addition to the dogs teams are using two helicopters to look for the women. The official said that President Ricardo Martinelli has given instructions for the search to continue until the women are located. He also said that tourists should not hike in the area without an experienced guide. “We warn tourists not come alone to these mountainous areas because they don’t know the area,” he said.” This is direct from La Prensa 11 April 2014.
Phyllis Eig says on April 11, 2014 at 12:01 PM: I am delighted and thrilled to know that “someone” in this country has finally taken “crime” seriously. WE, all of us ex-pats, regardless of where we live from the beaches on to the mountains need to make our voices heard – loud and clear- that we need to feel protected by the local police which we are not at this point.
Delmar says on April 11, 2014 at 1:47 PM: Too bad it took so many lost days, before this action was initiated!
Pennyinparadise says on April 11, 2014 at 1:54 PM: For months I have been warning people about the MIBO graphics appearing all over bus stops, culverts and fences around Boquete. This is DEFINITELY gang marking. Also, tennis shoes flung over electric wires running across roads is a traditional gang marketing technique in the US….there’s now a string on the Alto Jaramillo road. I have been told today about two disturbing things…..recently a young Panamanian male was found beaten to death and left beside the river (gang activity??). And, a group of about 20 teenagers, dressed in all black, carrying two (not one, but two) machetes each were seen walking up the road near Casona del Cuzco restaurant (if you recall, several months ago there were two attacks on gringos walking in that area). This group was out in the open in broad daylight, with their machetes and black clothing…where were they headed? Did the police know about them? What is going on in Boquete???? Since most of us do not read Spanish language newspapers, don’t listen to local TV or radio…we are not aware of what is going on right under our noses. And now, with Mark Heyer gone from Alto al Crimen, what can we do to stay safe?
Lee says on April 11, 2014 at 2:23 PM: The issue of the “gang related death of the 22 year old” conflicts with the local newspaper accounts that say it was a drowning. Stay calm!
Charlotte Summers says on April 11, 2014 at 6:22 PM: The tennis shoes on the electric wires means the same thing here. It marks gang territory. For the longest time there was one on the main road in the Alto Boquete area as well. Penny has a point. Stop telling people to “calm down” for bringing up pertinent issues that don’t suit the expat real estate interests. You can’t address issues by hiding or ignoring them.
Lee says on April 12, 2014 at 8:03 am: There is graffiti “MIBO” spray painted along the new road to David. I have seen is south of Dolega. I have no idea what it means. There is no question, there are gangs in David and also no question that since the new highway has been completed we have seen some of them committing crimes in Boquete.
Allan says on April 12, 2014 at 11:24 am: Lee, Can you or someone do a timeline on the investigation of the missing Dutch girls as to their last being seen, or last whereabouts? I would think that this could help in the public being aware, and being able to offer more information, as usually someone has seen something who is not being asked or has yet to come forward. It is too bad that Panama law enforcement does not have a TIPS line or program in order for the public to call in. Thanks for your updates on the disappearance of these two young women.
Lee says on April 12, 2014 at 11:34 am: Allan I wish I could do a timeline, the problem is there are so many sightings that conflict it is impossible without doing all the interviews, that is happening now. It should have been done 10 days ago.
The Dude Abides says on April 12, 2014 at 11:40 PM: I’m curious why they’re focusing on Volcano Baru again. That was the initial knee jerk reaction, which seemed pretty ridiculous at that time because everything seems to indicate they had the Baru hike scheduled with a guide for Saturday, days later, and nothing found indicates they went to Volcan Baru. Most tourists don’t seem to go on that hike without a guide. Hopefully they’re focusing on more than that area with the Dogs. Very true, lots of conflicting info out there right now. Hoping for the best…
Allan says on April 13, 2014 at 3:52 PM: I too, am still hoping for the best. According to disappearance/missing person experts on persons lost or last seen in remote areas, mountains, wilderness, or parks, at the discovery of a disappearance event, there is a good amount of media publicity. After a period of ten days however, the publicity stops, the searches stop, and the investigation curtails. Nothing more substantive will occur. If so in this case, we have reached the time frame of such a scenario. However according to experts, this may be there are some things that search and rescue personnel can still do. In many cases, the lost person or persons can yet be found in areas that have been searched thoroughly or searched many times. The lost person(s) can and are able to show up in such searched areas after the fact. Secondary searches, then are still of value. Personal articles, clothing bits, and shoes can be found which may not have been sighted before. In many disappearances of these type of profiles, the disappearance event happened very quickly. The hours of 2 PM -6 PM are most common for this kind of disappearance. People who are lost can possibly “turn up” in areas that were frequently searched and around water.
Suzanne Miller Moreno says on April 8, 2014 at 3:12 PM: I am unhappy to report the death of a young man Friday who was robbed of $300 by gang members here. I will be able to tell more about this after the forensic report which the policia will give tomorrow. He was beaten to death with rocks and died a horrible death. This is all I can say as I knew him when he was 14 and had always been a great help to me with bathing and rough housing with Tigger who loved him very much as I did. I will add more information when I am up to it as I am very upset right now. He was a good boy who loved his mother and worked hard to help her. This was a local gang known to the police here. Perhaps someone should have a talk with the four who are in jail, plus the other two girls involved.
14 days of frustration and now...April 14, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
143 Comments
It has been fourteen days since Lisanne and Kris went missing in Boquete Panama. They did not leave much of a trail to follow. For two weeks Senaproc the search and rescue group from the government with assistance of the border police, national police and many private citizens from Boquete have searched the mountains where it was reported they might have been on 1 April. They used helicopters, they used dogs and mostly many people. As of the time of this writing nothing has been found. At 10:30AM today Sinaproc will have a news conference and I am sure they will announce that the search is done but the investigation will continue. Unless I am wrong the investigation by the authorities will also quietly wind down unless real progress is made soon. That leaves private investigators and the public. There is currently a $2,500 reward posted for information leading to finding the women. The local group Alto al Crimen has solicited more funds from a very giving Boquete community and will continue investigating as long as funds allow. This is beyond frustrating to all of us on the periphery. Despite all their efforts communication from SINAPROC with the community has been limited. There are innumerable rumors and there is not much information flowing. Now that it will be a focused “criminal” investigation expect less information unless it is resolved. I was sent these photos last night by a man in the Netherlands, they appear to be from late March in Bocas del Toro. He also sent the names of their male friends, that and the photos have been passed on to the investigators. Out of this tragedy there are two lessons, one for tourists and locals alike. We live on the edge of a huge tropical forest that extends from Boquete to the Caribbean and into Costa Rica. Unless you know your route you can get lost. If you do get lost and no one knows where you went finding you may be impossible. Don’t count on your cell phone there are no towers out there. The second is a plea to Sinaproc. Boquete is an activist community of people who care. The people who made you hundreds of lunches, people who rode trails on their horses, people who marched up and down in the mountains and those who donated money. We, the community, need more communication in this type of tragedy, not just press conferences but daily information and a resource that can coordinate volunteers. We want to help and time is of the essence.
CommentsCynthia Mulder says on April 14, 2014 at 10:16 am: We had the pleasure to meet the girls in Taboga Island some time before their disappearance, they were visiting our beach cafe alone for the day before heading up to Boquete area. We still hold hope they can be found somehow – we need to not forget and follow all leads. Thank you for keeping us all informed.
Joshua says on April 14, 2014 at 11:03 am: It is of course important to eliminate potential leads, but a large publicized search of the mountains puts on a much bigger show to appease the public and politicians than actually engaging in a focused investigation. Having helicopters flying in circles and a bunch of people in bright uniforms crawling through the mountains at least gives the impression of trying as opposed to thoroughly questioning taxis and bus drivers that are known to work the area as well as criminal elements that operate in the region. Panama DIJ definitely isn’t known for their success (let alone earnest effort) in solving crimes. With that said, if it was a Panamanian that disappeared, they wouldn’t have lifted a finger unless the family was powerful and wealthy. I actually personally spoke with two high-ranking officials and asked about some specific information that was conveyed regarding the girls leaving the area that could have resulted in a more focused criminal investigation. One of the officials didn’t even seem to know anything about it and the other completely dismissed it.
Donna says on April 14, 2014 at 11:42 am: This is so tragic. I know the areas around there can be treacherous. That said, two young, good looking girls, alone, remote area, etc., makes a good possibility for the human trafficking trade to be notified. They were seen in other areas of Panama first, and could have been followed for a while. I pray not, but many young travellers disappear without a trace. God be with them.
allan says on April 14, 2014 at 12:36 PM: Donna, in the possibility that you talk about, you are correct that the girls would have been followed, stalked, studied, and perhaps, casual contact even made with them. Such people are predators and do not make moves unless risks have been greatly minimized. Such crimes are not based on impulse; but with a careful study of benefits and risks. That being said if this possibility is genuine, then the subjects could be anywhere in the world at this moment as the human trafficking network is well organized, clandestine, systematic, and sophisticated. The girls are probably also alive in this possibility. However, no matter the degree of sophistry, criminal networks can make mistakes if such a possibility should be the case. The pressures of divulging information is immense in such groups despite their bonding mechanisms to keep secrets.
Hans Lebuser says on April 14, 2014 at 12:45 PM: If it’s true what Doris of Il Pianista restaurant said that the girls were last seen at about 3 – 3:30 PM going on the Pianista trail with the restaurant’s dog (the dog came back but not the girls, at least nobody saw them coming back) this leaves the following conclusions: When hiking in that terrain you won’t cover more than 2 miles per hour, probably much less. The girls only had 3 – 3.5 hours until nightfall, and it’s safe to assume that they would have turned back at about half time. That results in a possible distance traveled of no more than 2 – 3 miles which would have restricted the search area to a rather small circle indeed. Since nothing has been found there in that relatively small area one has to assume that they returned from the hike without being seen, and then were picked up by somebody who took them God knows where….with the recent surge of gang crime in Panama one has to expect the worst…although I hate to think of it….
Dennis says on April 14, 2014 at 10:40 PM: Whoever was involved most likely had a car. As I mentioned before, in case they are kidnapped by opportunists they probably know the area and took off with the girls towards Jarramillo alto and into nomansland towards Caldera, which should be included in the search area I think. If it was an act of organized crime the police has to check radio towers for phone calls starting around midday until late at night and the page from wayz*(*that's a webpage where police checkpoint are reported). (Most likely organized gangs, send somebody ahead to check police checkpoints and phone their info to the others who took the girls. Together with the the things I mentioned before, these are one of the options left to check.
deb says on April 15, 2014 at 8:09 am: The girls left their wallets and passports in the room where they were staying. Providing that is even true, then how could they get very far, if they had just taken off with these guys?? Maybe these girls were picked up against their will, the movie “Taken” comes to mind. And I certainly hope this isn’t the case, this is so strange. I feel so bad for the parents too, not knowing where they are or what has happened, it would drive you nuts.
Ed says on April 16, 2014 at 11:27 am: Maybe I should sell my house, hire a Spanish translator and a few Blackwater guys or whatever their companies name is now and get these girls back. Obviously they have been kidnapped probably for the sex trade or some local pleasure. Maybe Panamese locals are helping, but the government surely is not. I just feel these girls are in agony right now.
Esther says on April 16, 2014 at 12:00 PM: Unfortunately I have found too much information on the Internet, in which young children, adolescents and young adults have become victims in Boquete.
Ed says on April 16, 2014 at 11:27 am: Maybe I should sell my house, hire a Spanish translator and a few Blackwater guys or whatever their companies name is now and get these girls back. Obviously they have been kidnapped probably for the sex trade or some local pleasure. Maybe Panamese locals are helping, but the government surely is not. I just feel these girls are in agony right now.
Esther says on April 16, 2014 at 12:00 PM: Unfortunately I have found too much information on the Internet, in which young children, adolescents and young adults have become victims in Boquete.
Dennes says on April 17, 2014: Still no information about the red truck? Or the private detective involved? Or the girls' mobile phone data….? It’s so scarily quiet suddenly!! I can’t even concentrate on my work, the thoughts that those girls are in agony this right moment haunts my mind every second! If possible please update…..
Ed says on April 17, 2014 at 7:16 am: Dennes, I have no further information. Dutch “journalists” just post headlines when they get any, they do no investigation whatsoever themselves (probably doesn’t make any money). I mentioned a couple of times (on the sites of Dutch newspapers) to trace their mobile activity but do not know if this has been done. I read on this site that they are investigating internet activity by the girls but that seems useless. A phone trace will help but I do not even know if they were carrying their phones. Seems the family of the girls are cash poor since it seems to me more can be done. It is a horrible situation for these girls. Pretty sure they are alive but it is all speculation from my side. But a lot of time has past since they disappeared. Personally I think they have been watched maybe in Bocas, followed and been abducted not for trade but for someones personal pleasure. All speculation again from my part.
deb says on April 17, 2014 at 7:18 am: I agree Dennes, things have just gone so quiet, it makes you wonder if they are even doing anything or just swept it under the rug. Time is critical. I think of them everyday and hoping and praying that they will be found. Day before yesterday there was a post on the ning about tonight having a service for the girls to honor and remember them. Then yesterday I went back to look at it and the post is not there now??? Parents had put it there. What’s with that?? Said they were going back to Holland. I wouldn’t leave until I found my daughter or son. I would do whatever it takes to find them and get answers.
Hans says on April 17, 2014 at 9:30 PM: We went to the so-called memorial service (or service to honor the missing girls) for Lisanne and Kris at the catholic church in Boquete today, and we left very frustrated and disappointed because the service was anything but a memorial….the missing girls were mentioned only briefly at the beginning, there were no photos or anything else to remind the assembled community of the alleged purpose…it turned out to be just a normal Easter service. I have the feeling that the church just exploited this opportunity to show a full church (which they otherwise rarely have) to the TV cameras…it was shameful…
Dennes says on April 18, 2014 at 2:18 am: Something else: What about the people (locals) in Panama who live in area’s where human/woman trafficking takes place. I mean I can’t believe they’re not aware of buildings where girls, probably mostly at night, are brought in. And maybe out for transport. And where other men (unknown by the locals) go, are brought in, come out after a short visit. These area’s have to be known by a lot of locals! It seems to me it wouldn’t be so difficult for them to point them out to undercover detectives/police officers and receive a reward if these girls are found… Even an anonymous note will do! The feeling that these girls can still be found with the right amount of pressure from the right people makes me feel desperate they haven’t been recovered yet! Writing this makes me sad…..can’t believe this is happening!
Lee says on April 18, 2014 at 7:42 am: Dennes, Just because someone says human trafficking occurs here does not mean it is true. This is a small town in a large sparsely inhabited district. If human trafficking does take place here, it is unlikely the victims are here. If they are they are in some remote area. The police and private investigators who do know this community would indeed have some awareness and they would have been found. If there is trafficking it is more probable the victims would be long gone from Boquete within hours.
Dennes says on April 18, 2014 at 8:50 am: Actually I do believe, if abduction is the case, that the girls are indeed long gone from Boquete by now. I don’t believe Boquete is a breeding ground at all so don’t misunderstand me, but I thought, since you’ve been in Boquete for a long period, maybe you knew what it is like in the bigger places like Panama City or David for example.
Lee says on April 18, 2014 at 9:13 am: Dennes, one of the biggest obstacles in this case was the long delay between them going missing and any alarm. They did not tell anyone their plans and it was the next day before their host families suspected and reported a problem. My guess now, after all the searching, is they were out of here into Costa Rica or Panama City before people started looking for them. I have no more evidence for my theory than for another but at this point in retrospect I do not know what else to think.
Esther says on April 18, 2014 at 10:47 am: On Monday, March 31 2014 a 65 year old American woman was found completely naked and apparently raped in the area of Los Abanicos of David, in the Western province of Chiriqui, Republic of Panama. The foreign woman was discovered by residents of that community near the water tank. The residents notified the police who responded to the scene. They used their patrol car to transport the victim to the Rafael Hernández regional hospital in David, and later she was transferred to the José Domingo de Obaldía Children’s and Maternal hospital. She is in delicate condition. (Siglo)
deb says on April 19, 2014 at 12:53 PM: I think what is so sad and heart breaking, is if those girls were abducted and used for sex slaves or whatever else these sick people do that kidnap people. And where ever they may be that they are wondering if they will ever be found. They are on my mind everyday. After this much time are they even still trying to find them. I know the parents said that before they left to go back home that the people involved in the search would still do what they could to find them. I say would you trust that really after you have left. Unless you have parents staying in your face and demanding they do their job and bring in the right people, I just can’t see anyone doing anything.
Lee says on April 18, 2014 at 7:42 am: Dennes, Just because someone says human trafficking occurs here does not mean it is true. This is a small town in a large sparsely inhabited district. If human trafficking does take place here, it is unlikely the victims are here. If they are they are in some remote area. The police and private investigators who do know this community would indeed have some awareness and they would have been found. If there is trafficking it is more probable the victims would be long gone from Boquete within hours.
Dennes says on April 18, 2014 at 8:50 am: Actually I do believe, if abduction is the case, that the girls are indeed long gone from Boquete by now. I don’t believe Boquete is a breeding ground at all so don’t misunderstand me, but I thought, since you’ve been in Boquete for a long period, maybe you knew what it is like in the bigger places like Panama City or David for example.
Lee says on April 18, 2014 at 9:13 am: Dennes, one of the biggest obstacles in this case was the long delay between them going missing and any alarm. They did not tell anyone their plans and it was the next day before their host families suspected and reported a problem. My guess now, after all the searching, is they were out of here into Costa Rica or Panama City before people started looking for them. I have no more evidence for my theory than for another but at this point in retrospect I do not know what else to think.
Esther says on April 18, 2014 at 10:47 am: On Monday, March 31 2014 a 65 year old American woman was found completely naked and apparently raped in the area of Los Abanicos of David, in the Western province of Chiriqui, Republic of Panama. The foreign woman was discovered by residents of that community near the water tank. The residents notified the police who responded to the scene. They used their patrol car to transport the victim to the Rafael Hernández regional hospital in David, and later she was transferred to the José Domingo de Obaldía Children’s and Maternal hospital. She is in delicate condition. (Siglo)
deb says on April 19, 2014 at 12:53 PM: I think what is so sad and heart breaking, is if those girls were abducted and used for sex slaves or whatever else these sick people do that kidnap people. And where ever they may be that they are wondering if they will ever be found. They are on my mind everyday. After this much time are they even still trying to find them. I know the parents said that before they left to go back home that the people involved in the search would still do what they could to find them. I say would you trust that really after you have left. Unless you have parents staying in your face and demanding they do their job and bring in the right people, I just can’t see anyone doing anything.
Lee says on April 22, 2014 at 6:05 PM: I am embarrassed to say the truth. The election in Panama is on 4 May and most media is focused on the various political scandals that are unfolding here. With no new news from the government there is no new news for the media.
Nathan says on April 24, 2014 at 7:47 PM: It would be great if the family can gather enough money for the possible kidnappers to hand them over, or for the thugs to turn on each other / speak up. If they are fallen in the hands of human traffickers (which is in my mind the worst possible scenario, even worse than death), should 100.000€ be enough to buy them out?
Concerned says on April 28, 2014 at 7:02 am: Hi Dennes and Nathan, I don’t believe they can be bought back, unless under-cover. Selling them openly would mean admitting to kidnapping them and up to now no-one has claimed their abduction. So some one would have to track down the kidnappers and try to buy them pretending to be a trafficker him/herself.
Dennis says on April 28, 2014 at 10:26 am: They might have accepted a ride voluntairly and turned into a opportunity crime. There is another road out off Boquete, from Palo Alto/Alto jaramillo towards Caldera, and I suggested over a week ago to include that area in the search,but nobody tells what areas have been included in the search. So it's also lack off information what slows down the case. I tried to contact the police in Holland but didn't get any reply.
Lee says on April 28, 2014 at 11:10 am: There are two government teams working. I met with the local group last week.
Nathan says on April 28, 2014 at 11:22 am: Ed, if there’s more than one person involved in this, then I think there’s a chance one of them (or someone who knows more) will talk with rewards of $20.000+. So I really hope the foundation will be a success and a portion of it will be reserved for the reward.
Ed says on April 28, 2014 at 11:38 am: This case of Wild Bill Holbert in Bocas was solved because family and friends wondered what happened to especially 1 woman who disappeared. A case like this one is very hard to solve if you have no leads or suspects. Wild Bill Holbert betted on hopes that no-one would ever look for the people he killed and he was wrong. This case seems far more complicated because as far as I know they have been no suspects. The local cab/taxi company would be a start looking for one. If it were locals they might start to brag about it amongst friends after a few beers and then indeed a 20K reward might help. But also I would look for delivery companies who had to be in that area that day. And of course these two local guys they met in some bar.
Dennis says on April 29, 2014 at 12:57 am: It doesn't say anything about a Dutch police unit, although it is said that they might be asked to help or offered to help. For now the search is done by 1 or 2 PI's and digital by a homicide team. Anyway, they don't give any info on the progress or personal items they carried or the exact locations of the search. At the press conference they showed a map, but it was never is published.
Ed says on April 29, 2014 at 1:08 am: today it says in the newspaper that family (brother and uncle) of Lisanne Froon were on Dutch TV (Monday April 28th 2014) explaining what they want to do with the funds they are trying to gather. With the money they will (just like some of you have said) place billboards and newspaper adds trying to get information from the Panamanian people, hoping someone will start to talk.
Nathan says on April 29, 2014 at 7:03 am: The brother said yesterday On P&W they were last seen (last known sight) at Casa Pedro (Ave Bueno Aires). This road does lead to Palo Alto on the other side.
Margje Bloem says on April 29, 2014 at 9:02 am: People who have information can always send it (even anonymous if they like) to info@lisannekris.com. I hope so people will come forward and tell what they know. [..] The reward for the golden tip is now 30.000 dollar, so it is much more money!!!! So anybody who knows something, please step forward!!!
Ed says on April 29, 2014 at 12:51 PM: Lisannes brother also said that there are like 3000 houses in the area that are gated or enclosed. So if the girls are taken there it is only possible to have a look with some kind of court order I guess. Just like this guy in California (Garrido) holding Jaycee Dugard for 18 years in his back yard. Maybe they should use drones equipped with cameras to inspect these gated mansions where these US expats are living, make a couple of aerial photos
Dennis says on April 28, 2014 at 10:26 am: They might have accepted a ride voluntairly and turned into a opportunity crime. There is another road out off Boquete, from Palo Alto/Alto jaramillo towards Caldera, and I suggested over a week ago to include that area in the search,but nobody tells what areas have been included in the search. So it's also lack off information what slows down the case. I tried to contact the police in Holland but didn't get any reply.
Lee says on April 28, 2014 at 11:10 am: There are two government teams working. I met with the local group last week.
Nathan says on April 28, 2014 at 11:22 am: Ed, if there’s more than one person involved in this, then I think there’s a chance one of them (or someone who knows more) will talk with rewards of $20.000+. So I really hope the foundation will be a success and a portion of it will be reserved for the reward.
Ed says on April 28, 2014 at 11:38 am: This case of Wild Bill Holbert in Bocas was solved because family and friends wondered what happened to especially 1 woman who disappeared. A case like this one is very hard to solve if you have no leads or suspects. Wild Bill Holbert betted on hopes that no-one would ever look for the people he killed and he was wrong. This case seems far more complicated because as far as I know they have been no suspects. The local cab/taxi company would be a start looking for one. If it were locals they might start to brag about it amongst friends after a few beers and then indeed a 20K reward might help. But also I would look for delivery companies who had to be in that area that day. And of course these two local guys they met in some bar.
Dennis says on April 29, 2014 at 12:57 am: It doesn't say anything about a Dutch police unit, although it is said that they might be asked to help or offered to help. For now the search is done by 1 or 2 PI's and digital by a homicide team. Anyway, they don't give any info on the progress or personal items they carried or the exact locations of the search. At the press conference they showed a map, but it was never is published.
Ed says on April 29, 2014 at 1:08 am: today it says in the newspaper that family (brother and uncle) of Lisanne Froon were on Dutch TV (Monday April 28th 2014) explaining what they want to do with the funds they are trying to gather. With the money they will (just like some of you have said) place billboards and newspaper adds trying to get information from the Panamanian people, hoping someone will start to talk.
Nathan says on April 29, 2014 at 7:03 am: The brother said yesterday On P&W they were last seen (last known sight) at Casa Pedro (Ave Bueno Aires). This road does lead to Palo Alto on the other side.
Margje Bloem says on April 29, 2014 at 9:02 am: People who have information can always send it (even anonymous if they like) to info@lisannekris.com. I hope so people will come forward and tell what they know. [..] The reward for the golden tip is now 30.000 dollar, so it is much more money!!!! So anybody who knows something, please step forward!!!
Ed says on April 29, 2014 at 12:51 PM: Lisannes brother also said that there are like 3000 houses in the area that are gated or enclosed. So if the girls are taken there it is only possible to have a look with some kind of court order I guess. Just like this guy in California (Garrido) holding Jaycee Dugard for 18 years in his back yard. Maybe they should use drones equipped with cameras to inspect these gated mansions where these US expats are living, make a couple of aerial photos
Lee says on April 29, 2014 at 1:27 PM: Geography here is interesting. Boquete is the end of the road, the other end of the road goes to David which is a large city and then to wide open frontier with Costa Rica or east into the rest of Panama. There are too many houses to search and as in most of the world a judge requires probable cause to issue a warrant for a search. Reality is that if a large reward is offered with immunity and more than one person is aware of what happened that person might step forward. I do not see much else working unless the police have some solid leads they are following.
Ed says on May 10, 2014 at 1:18 PM: Personally I don’t believe the girls are still alive. I suspect a US expat is behind this. They should look for registered US sex offenders who settled in Panama. Someone who has been convicted in the US and moved to Panama to continue his career. They might have trusted a US national, got into his car and were taken inside his compound.
Dennis says on May 11, 2014 at 9:04 am: Anybody heard something about some arrests being made on Friday?
Dennes says on June 27, 2014 at 2:05 am: Pfffffff………..and now it’s all over………. what a drama!!!
Ed says on June 27, 2014 at 2:19 am: well, I like to see what they find on the phones. We do not know what exactly happened. An accident at the river seems likely, but they had to lose their way first. I am very curious if they can get information from their phones that would give us some insight if they indeed lost their way.
Dennes says on June 27, 2014 at 5:12 am: I can’t believe these girls were lost! They were not so stupid to go off the track, and if so, they wouldn’t hike for days through the impenetrable jungle to find the way out. My opinion is: it's more likely they have been abducted for human trafficking or organ trade, and meanwhile there was so much attention for these girls that possible perpetrators just “had” to get rid off them. But something else I wonders about: The owner of a little shop told the police that he had seen the girls waiting for a taxi to go to Boquete because it was too late to go for a hike on the Pianista trail, if so, it suggests they didn’t go up the hill at all? Problem with all information is that’s so conflicting!
Ed says on June 27, 2014 at 5:29 am: yeah I thought the same for a long time that they were last seen waiting for a taxi but there are multiple witnesses that have seen the girls go up the Il Pianista trail after they waited for a taxi. So apparently they changed their mind and they went up the trail I believe around 16:00 or so. Like Lee Zeltzer wrote somewhere: they have been seen going up the trail but no-one has seen them come down. So this whole theory of organ trade is just too far fetched. Then you have to assume they were abducted by a car, killed and then dragged back into the woods. Certainly somebody would have seen that. I think it is pretty clear they went up the trail and never came back down. What exactly happened is the big question. But they are not in a hurry informing us what they found on the phones. It has been remarked that mobile phones don’t work there. But what if these women are abducted and taken to David or somewhere else.then there should be a trail of their phones even if they didn’t make any calls. Has this been investigated
Dennes says on June 27, 2014 at 6:01 am: Leaves the question: can you get really lost over there? Seems it’s only one way up and possibly the same way back. If you go off the trail ok, you can get easy lost, but these were not the kind of girls for stupid actions. I can’t believe they are lost at all. In my opinion they have met someone else! The fact that there’s no evidence found yet on the bones/remains says nothing to me!
Marita says on June 27, 2014 at 10:58 am: What I have read about the Continental Divide: it seems to me absolutely a place where you can get lost. And then north of that divide, the streams stream in fact in the opposite direction, it must be possible to make mistakes there. Because when you get lost, you know: go to a river (you need it also because of drinking the water) and follow the stream. But north of the divide, following the stream brings you deeper in the jungle.. What I do not understand: why did nobody of the police realize that? Because the search in April and later in May with the Dutch dogs were not up north of the Continental divide. That’s what I can’t understand.
"Dear Boquete Friends, We, the families of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon, most urgently want to insure the search for our missing daughters continues without any delays or interruptions, even though we now have to temporarily return to Holland. Please be advised we plan to return periodically to Boquete and thus have set up detailed arrangements for both public and private sources to continue fully with the search and investigation in our absence. We deeply appreciate the warmth, sympathy and support of the Boquete community. We do fully understand that a lot off people here are more than willing to help us as we have received many offers of financial and other forms of support. We have not had the opportunity to thank all of you individually but please accept our sincere thanks we are expressing herein. To insure that all the help is fully coordinated and to be sure it all is effectively directed towards the goal of the safe return of our daughters , we are setting up a special local bank account for donations to help keep the search going, paying private investigators, paying the the expenses of conducting searches, posting notices and posters and to do anything and everything that may be necessary to keep the attention of the media, authorities and the public focused on the case of kris and Lisanne. In this regard, we are very happy with the ideas and thoughts we have received from you the local community. However, to be sure that all is done with families full knowledge and approval, we would like to be advised in advance so that you as a donor and/or volunteer can be sure of the family’s approval. In this way we hope to avoid having confusion, conflicts and misunderstandings. It is our desire that all efforts are thus coordinated through a single source to avoid doing things twice, delay, wasted effort and expense. To coordinate these efforts we have requested, Bob Edwards, to be our direct contact in Boquete and the Dutch Ambassador in Panama City, the Honorable Wiebe J. de Boer, for all official contacts. We will be in constant contact with them, including video conferences. We have been assured of full and complete cooperation by Caesar Sherrard of Alto Crimen and the local Police authorities. The Dutch Ambassador has likewise been promised the continuing full cooperation of the Panamanian government by President Martinelli and by the National Police. You can reach Bob Edwards at: rogerbob@mac.com and Ambassador Wiebe J. de Boer at pan@minbuz.nl. As Kris and Lisanne’s families we will keep in close and constant touch with any and all of the developments in the search and investigation in Boquete. As stated above we will return to Panama periodically and/or as needed to keep the the government, public , police and media attention fully focused on the case until our girls are located and returned. Thanks for your thoughts, prayers and support.Yours sincerely,
Hans Kremers and Roelie Grit, parents of Kris Kremers
Peter and Dini Froon, parents of Lisanne Froon."
Comments
Skywriter908 says on April 23, 2014 at 3:16 PM: Panama Newsroom reported this morning that the investigation has been taken over here by The Homicide Unit prosecutors and Specialized Prosecutor’s Organized Crime Office.Concerned parent says on April 23, 2014 at 8:04 PM: Anyone with young daughters can’t help but feel deep sympathy for the families, suggest looking at taxi drivers in area known to travel in pairs who probably took the girls. They probably were tired & let their guards down, then it was too late when they realized what the drivers had in mind. Also look for taxis who suddenly took their cars out of service or who have unexplained marks on their faces.
Dennes says on June 27, 2014 at 2:05 am: Pfffffff………..and now it’s all over………. what a drama!!!
Ed says on June 27, 2014 at 2:19 am: well, I like to see what they find on the phones. We do not know what exactly happened. An accident at the river seems likely, but they had to lose their way first. I am very curious if they can get information from their phones that would give us some insight if they indeed lost their way.
Dennes says on June 27, 2014 at 5:12 am: I can’t believe these girls were lost! They were not so stupid to go off the track, and if so, they wouldn’t hike for days through the impenetrable jungle to find the way out. My opinion is: it's more likely they have been abducted for human trafficking or organ trade, and meanwhile there was so much attention for these girls that possible perpetrators just “had” to get rid off them. But something else I wonders about: The owner of a little shop told the police that he had seen the girls waiting for a taxi to go to Boquete because it was too late to go for a hike on the Pianista trail, if so, it suggests they didn’t go up the hill at all? Problem with all information is that’s so conflicting!
Ed says on June 27, 2014 at 5:29 am: yeah I thought the same for a long time that they were last seen waiting for a taxi but there are multiple witnesses that have seen the girls go up the Il Pianista trail after they waited for a taxi. So apparently they changed their mind and they went up the trail I believe around 16:00 or so. Like Lee Zeltzer wrote somewhere: they have been seen going up the trail but no-one has seen them come down. So this whole theory of organ trade is just too far fetched. Then you have to assume they were abducted by a car, killed and then dragged back into the woods. Certainly somebody would have seen that. I think it is pretty clear they went up the trail and never came back down. What exactly happened is the big question. But they are not in a hurry informing us what they found on the phones. It has been remarked that mobile phones don’t work there. But what if these women are abducted and taken to David or somewhere else.then there should be a trail of their phones even if they didn’t make any calls. Has this been investigated
Dennes says on June 27, 2014 at 6:01 am: Leaves the question: can you get really lost over there? Seems it’s only one way up and possibly the same way back. If you go off the trail ok, you can get easy lost, but these were not the kind of girls for stupid actions. I can’t believe they are lost at all. In my opinion they have met someone else! The fact that there’s no evidence found yet on the bones/remains says nothing to me!
Marita says on June 27, 2014 at 10:58 am: What I have read about the Continental Divide: it seems to me absolutely a place where you can get lost. And then north of that divide, the streams stream in fact in the opposite direction, it must be possible to make mistakes there. Because when you get lost, you know: go to a river (you need it also because of drinking the water) and follow the stream. But north of the divide, following the stream brings you deeper in the jungle.. What I do not understand: why did nobody of the police realize that? Because the search in April and later in May with the Dutch dogs were not up north of the Continental divide. That’s what I can’t understand.
Message from the families of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon
April 19, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
4 Comments
"Dear Boquete Friends, We, the families of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon, most urgently want to insure the search for our missing daughters continues without any delays or interruptions, even though we now have to temporarily return to Holland. Please be advised we plan to return periodically to Boquete and thus have set up detailed arrangements for both public and private sources to continue fully with the search and investigation in our absence. We deeply appreciate the warmth, sympathy and support of the Boquete community. We do fully understand that a lot off people here are more than willing to help us as we have received many offers of financial and other forms of support. We have not had the opportunity to thank all of you individually but please accept our sincere thanks we are expressing herein. To insure that all the help is fully coordinated and to be sure it all is effectively directed towards the goal of the safe return of our daughters , we are setting up a special local bank account for donations to help keep the search going, paying private investigators, paying the the expenses of conducting searches, posting notices and posters and to do anything and everything that may be necessary to keep the attention of the media, authorities and the public focused on the case of kris and Lisanne. In this regard, we are very happy with the ideas and thoughts we have received from you the local community. However, to be sure that all is done with families full knowledge and approval, we would like to be advised in advance so that you as a donor and/or volunteer can be sure of the family’s approval. In this way we hope to avoid having confusion, conflicts and misunderstandings. It is our desire that all efforts are thus coordinated through a single source to avoid doing things twice, delay, wasted effort and expense. To coordinate these efforts we have requested, Bob Edwards, to be our direct contact in Boquete and the Dutch Ambassador in Panama City, the Honorable Wiebe J. de Boer, for all official contacts. We will be in constant contact with them, including video conferences. We have been assured of full and complete cooperation by Caesar Sherrard of Alto Crimen and the local Police authorities. The Dutch Ambassador has likewise been promised the continuing full cooperation of the Panamanian government by President Martinelli and by the National Police. You can reach Bob Edwards at: rogerbob@mac.com and Ambassador Wiebe J. de Boer at pan@minbuz.nl. As Kris and Lisanne’s families we will keep in close and constant touch with any and all of the developments in the search and investigation in Boquete. As stated above we will return to Panama periodically and/or as needed to keep the the government, public , police and media attention fully focused on the case until our girls are located and returned. Thanks for your thoughts, prayers and support.Hans Kremers and Roelie Grit, parents of Kris Kremers
Peter and Dini Froon, parents of Lisanne Froon."
Comments
Skywriter908 says on April 23, 2014 at 3:16 PM: Panama Newsroom reported this morning that the investigation has been taken over here by The Homicide Unit prosecutors and Specialized Prosecutor’s Organized Crime Office.Concerned parent says on April 23, 2014 at 8:04 PM: Anyone with young daughters can’t help but feel deep sympathy for the families, suggest looking at taxi drivers in area known to travel in pairs who probably took the girls. They probably were tired & let their guards down, then it was too late when they realized what the drivers had in mind. Also look for taxis who suddenly took their cars out of service or who have unexplained marks on their faces.
Bbonner says on April 24, 2014 at 7:21 PM: These tourists have no business in Chirqui or Bocas del Toro. They raped a 65 year old gringa last month and left her naked next to the water tower. They killed the gringo tour operator recently on the boat ramp in Bocas Del Toro and now these girls have been abducted. Panama id dangerous but the interior is no place for unarmed people especially women. There needs to be international warnings so people will vacation in more secure locations.
Dennis says on April 24, 2014 at 10:00 PM: About the red truck. It could be a mack or International semitorpedo because the front wheel is ahead of the door and the hood is open. Can anybody confirm the location where it's taken? It looks like it's further away from Boquete because at the beginning of the film you can see on left background a high mountain which could be the volcano, also the road has no steep sides and bush as in the north part off Boquete, Looks more like the “ruta sur” to me. Also i guess they are looking more for a pickup truck with boble cab?
Nathan says on April 25, 2014 at 5:16 PM: I blame the (idiot) man that just told them to take a cab. Didn’t he have a safe cab number or something? Was it too much trouble to drive them himself? Or has he something to do with it? He was the last person AND the second last person that saw and spoke to them. In The Netherlands that makes you subject to further scrutiny/investigation. This case makes me so sick, I think about it every day what has happened to these girls. I feel so sorry for the parents, they are good and loving people, you can see that right away. I hope whoever is responsible for this will get his punishment one day, be it in this life or whatever follows. (I don’t believe in god, but in this case I do hope there’s a hell for those kind of people).
Lee says on April 25, 2014 at 5:34 PM: Nathan, He told them where to get the bus. He did not see what they did after that. He was not wrong, if they had taken the bus they would have arrived in town.
Soul Mate says on April 25, 2014 at 9:48 PM: Maybe they did take the bus back and got picked up in town. Maybe they are kept for private pleasure in a basement somewhere in the area.
Dennis says on April 26, 2014 at 1:43 am: It's all stupid,.Wait in front of a house and before you get into a taxi call a friend to tell the licence plate while the driver hears you, so he knows his ID is known,and even before you leave town make appointments to pick you up and phone numbers from the one who is coming to pick you up,
Time to get a grip on realityApril 25, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
14 Comments
"I have been working hard to update people on whatever news is available on the missing Dutch girls, Kris and Lisanne. The tragedy of their disappearance has made headlines around the world. It is big news and bigger news here in Boquete because despite some recent panic this is not a common occurrence here. To my knowledge the last person to go missing in Boquete was Alex Humphrey in 2009. “Alexander (Alex) Humphrey has been missing in Panama since 14 August 2009 – last seen at Hostal Vearon in Boquete, Chiriqui Province, near the Costa Rican border.” Again, this is not a common occurrence here. There is no way I am trying to discount the events, the loss and the unknown outcome of the investigations. I want to point out three important elements to help prevent a repeat of the tragedy. First, when this recent event happened the Boquete community mobilized, tour guides dropped their tours and searched, people made lunches for searchers, people donated money and resources. We did this because we care, but there was literally no trail, only guesses. The lost women never returned, but it took time to find out they were missing and that time lost, made any search more difficult. Too many people forget that despite the fact they are on a holiday, this is still the very real world. Second, there is crime in Boquete. There is more crime than before the expat invasion. In the past years as expats and tourists came to Boquete the difference in disposable income between the new arrivals and the majority of the local population, augmented by the naivety of the new residents created the perfect opportunity for crime to blossom. Before the US invasion of Panama in 1989 the drug business in Panama moved product through the country but Panama itself had little visible domestic drug crime. Now, drugs are the prime motivator for violent crime in Panama as in all of the Americas, north, south and central. Boquete has become an easier target now. The new highway from Boquete to David makes escape faster and unless a crime is reported early, the police have little chance of doing much of anything. All candidates for Alcalde have promised to work to resolve this problem if elected. Despite this increase in crime Boquete is safer than anyplace I have ever lived before. Third, Boquete is not Disneyland. This is the wild west of Panama. There is a huge expanse of tropical rainforest extending from Boquete to the Caribbean and from Boquete into Costa Rica. If someone goes hiking they can get lost. If someone is lost or taken, there is no easy way to find them. This reality check is for residents and tourists alike. It is a dangerous world out there, everywhere. If you do not take some precautions you too can end up a statistic.
1. If you are going into the wilderness be sure someone who is remaining behind knows where you are going and when you plan to return.2. Although it might not work in the wilderness take a charged cell phone, take appropriate clothes and take water.
3. Do not hitchhike. I cannot emphasize this enough. In the recent case I was told the ladies were hitching, this is a high risk behavior.
4. Don’t flash money, I see people haul out rolls of $20 bills, dumb. Criminals are opportunistic.
5. If you live here follow all the ideas on the Alto al Crimen website and repeated seminars to secure your home. Look at the homes of your Panamanian neighbors, they have burglar bars, they must know something you don’t.
This is a great place to visit and a great place to live but as I have written many times before don’t check your brains at the airport; it’s a jungle out there.
Comments
Randy Higgins says on April 25, 2014 at 2:00 PM: If there is anyone that can jerk someone back into reality, it is this writer. Nice to read something that is not politically correct. This is a very sad event, especially for the parents, and we continue to hope that there has been some sort of misunderstanding, but, we all need to remember that it is a very dangerous world out there.
4sarge says on April 25, 2014 at 2:13 PM: Great Common Sense Post – Bad things sometimes happen to Good People. This might not be PC but 2 very attractive naïve Blond girls may have become targets of unscrupulous (men) people. Not everyone uses the same value or morals that we are accustomed to.
Jane Derry says on April 25, 2014 at 10:15 PM: An unpopular subject, for sure, but there are Expats in Boquete who use illegal drugs, and these drugs have to come from somewhere. Purchasing drugs supports drug producers, smugglers, dealers, drug war violence and all of the other unsavoury activities and people that go along with this criminal lifestyle. If a person is using an illegal substance, they are supporting criminal activity. Marijuana and cocaine command a high price, above and beyond the money they cost.
Yilka Mendoza says on April 26, 2014 at 9:58 am: you have a fellow American in panama that told 48 hours that any crime in panama is solved by him cause he is the only “expert” He rattled off a bunch of titles, pulled out a bunch of non existent credentials, but the show believed him. See what that expert can do. He said he caught wild bill, put him to the test.
Lisanne and Kris are still missing
Kris and Lisanne an update today
Six weeks of search and investigation
Comments
Tray says on May 16, 2014 at 3:10 PM: My boss just said the news is stating the bodies have been found. So sad
May 11, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
5 Comments
"I have had hundreds of people comment and make suggestions about the ongoing search for Lisanne and Kris. I have no substantial information to report as of this time but I have a sense there will be some new information coming soon. A Dutch newspaper has reported that the parents of Lisanne are now in Panama. Apparently the authorities have some news and will tell them when they arrive. When I know more I will write about it here.
Comments
Yotzi says on May 11, 2014 at 9:31 am: The parents of Lisanne Froon have traveled to Panama for the first time, after having heard from the authorities in Panama that there was news. Which developments exactly, the couple can not say. Yesterday at Schiphol before leaving the tension could be read on the faces of the parents. Shortly after their arrival, the couple will be informed about the state of affairs. The couple also want to see with their own eyes where their daughter disappeared. The two families had earlier told the authorities of their grave disappointment that after one month of searching, no sign of their daughters had been found. In response to this criticism, a new team was set up to deal with this disappearance. It‘s the first time they travel to Panama and they never made such a long journey. They are therefore during their stay assisted by Lisanne's uncle, former policeman Jan Rigter, and his wife. An interpreter is also provided for the couple.
joy says on May 11, 2014 at 9:51 am: With no trace…doesn’t sound like an accident maybe but dogs should have found them.
Comments
Yotzi says on May 11, 2014 at 9:31 am: The parents of Lisanne Froon have traveled to Panama for the first time, after having heard from the authorities in Panama that there was news. Which developments exactly, the couple can not say. Yesterday at Schiphol before leaving the tension could be read on the faces of the parents. Shortly after their arrival, the couple will be informed about the state of affairs. The couple also want to see with their own eyes where their daughter disappeared. The two families had earlier told the authorities of their grave disappointment that after one month of searching, no sign of their daughters had been found. In response to this criticism, a new team was set up to deal with this disappearance. It‘s the first time they travel to Panama and they never made such a long journey. They are therefore during their stay assisted by Lisanne's uncle, former policeman Jan Rigter, and his wife. An interpreter is also provided for the couple.
joy says on May 11, 2014 at 9:51 am: With no trace…doesn’t sound like an accident maybe but dogs should have found them.
Kris and Lisanne an update todayMay 12, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
12 Comments
"I have just returned from a press conference with the parents of Lisanne Froon, one of the two Dutch women missing in Boquete since 1 April. Panamanian television, many radio stations and print press were present as the parents of Lisanne spoke. They expressed their thanks to all who have been helping in the search for both ladies. Their plea is not to forget and to keep looking. The $30,000 reward is now publicized to all of Panama and with the one Dutch Television station that came to Boquete also. There are no new developments, but leads are coming in and being followed. The investigation is still very much alive and the plea made today is for more information. There is still great hope that both lost women are alive and can be found with the correct information. So if you have information make a contact with the number or email on the poster. This will not be the police and you can keep your name private if you wish.
Comments
Jasmin says on May 13, 2014 at 6:53 am: Please note that the reward is now 40,000 USD and that there is a new online poster and video in Spanish with updated info…
allan says on May 13, 2014 at 8:44 am: I understand from the television coverage this morning, that the parents may initiate another search on the trail or a bit off-trail. This would be a good idea, if only to rule out the “lost” scenario. It is not infrequent with “lost” folks in the outdoors situation, that evidence can be found or “pop up” even after the areas have been thoroughly searched before.
Marita says on May 13, 2014 at 10:51 am: Is the police in Panama doing anything seriously? Or is there no money, no know-how or is it not possible to undertake anything against the organised crime in Panama? People in the Netherlands have the idea that the police in Panama is doing nothing seriously anymore……that would be terrible and a free card for organised gangs to do what they want and as they like.
Lee says on May 13, 2014 at 12:20 PM: Marita, I cannot speak for the police. I can say with some knowledge that the investigation is being continued by professionals not on the government payroll. The problem is that since there is no trail to follow all leads, rumors and possibilities are being followed.
Comments
Jasmin says on May 13, 2014 at 6:53 am: Please note that the reward is now 40,000 USD and that there is a new online poster and video in Spanish with updated info…
allan says on May 13, 2014 at 8:44 am: I understand from the television coverage this morning, that the parents may initiate another search on the trail or a bit off-trail. This would be a good idea, if only to rule out the “lost” scenario. It is not infrequent with “lost” folks in the outdoors situation, that evidence can be found or “pop up” even after the areas have been thoroughly searched before.
Marita says on May 13, 2014 at 10:51 am: Is the police in Panama doing anything seriously? Or is there no money, no know-how or is it not possible to undertake anything against the organised crime in Panama? People in the Netherlands have the idea that the police in Panama is doing nothing seriously anymore……that would be terrible and a free card for organised gangs to do what they want and as they like.
Lee says on May 13, 2014 at 12:20 PM: Marita, I cannot speak for the police. I can say with some knowledge that the investigation is being continued by professionals not on the government payroll. The problem is that since there is no trail to follow all leads, rumors and possibilities are being followed.
Concerned says on May 14, 2014 at 6:30 am: Lee, do you know in what language Giovanni spoke to the girls when advising them how to continue their hike? According to some clients of Il Pianista, he can only speak Italian and Spanish. And the girls were not able to speak Spanish, only Dutch and English.
Yotzi says on May 15, 2014 at 9:28 am: I think that for important things they have no money, knowhow etc, but they sure have money for big Ford Explorer Police vehicles. Sorry, they have no money, just keep borrowing and countries just keep giving !! Please find these girls, have the Netherlands sent some professionals
Yotzi says on May 15, 2014 at 9:28 am: I think that for important things they have no money, knowhow etc, but they sure have money for big Ford Explorer Police vehicles. Sorry, they have no money, just keep borrowing and countries just keep giving !! Please find these girls, have the Netherlands sent some professionals
Six weeks of search and investigationMay 15, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
11 Comments
"There are rumors and helicopters flying around Boquete today and I want to do a recap with the most recent information I have on the search for Kris and Lisanne, the two lost Dutch women. Lisanne and Kris, students at Spanish by the River, were first reported missing April 1, most likely about 18 hours after they disappeared. The delay came because their absence was not noticed until they were not with their host families in the morning after they went missing. It was reported they went for a hike on the Il Pianista trail in Boquete. Search parties of both Sinaproc, the government search and rescue and private parties scoured the area for days. The government of Panama added resources and helicopters to the search. After about two weeks the search was change to a criminal investigation. Neither search nor investigation has yet resolved the question, where re the women. Many leads were offered, none resulted in discovery of the lost women. This Monday the parents of Lisanne Froon came to Boquete and held a news conference for the Panamanian Media. This resulted in increased exposure for the disappearance and emphasized a reward now totaling 40,000USD for safe return of the women. By Wednesday there was a great deal of increased activity including the helicopters and rumors that one of the women has been found. As of 7:30 PM Wednesday I was able to confirm that no one has been found. It is clear the investigators think the women are still in this area and the search is back. If any one knows anything please contact the people listed on the poster below. All of use in Boquete are hoping for a positive outcome to this tragedy. It seems that the media has done a good job reaching the Spanish speaking audience, the rest of us need to keep our eyes open for clues. A footnote: Comments made on this blog from all over the world have criticized the government of Panama for not putting enough resources into this search. I am not with the government so I cannot say exactly what hey have done but I can say this much. The search was off to late start because the women were not considered missing until the morning after they disappeared, this was not the fault of anyone. The search began immediately with many individuals, tour guides, horse mounted citizens and Sinaproc. The government offered all available resources needed for the search. When it became a criminal investigation the government augmented the local investigators with additional people from the capital. Two private investigators one hired by the parents and one paid by the community have been working on this case for weeks. In the case of the investigator often used by Alto al Crimen since the first day. Much information was gathered but nothing that so far has resolved the situation. People have gone missing twice in this area in the years I have been here and the cases are very different. Second that the rain forest they allegedly entered is thousands of square kilometers in size from Boquete to the Caribbean and into Costa Rica. If indeed they are lost they could be lost in a vast wilderness. If foul play was involved they could be anyplace in the world by now, the border to Costa Rica is porous and open to smugglers of all kinds. There never were many clues and all that I have heard were passed to investigators and to my knowledge pursued. I do not know what may have motivated the new initiative, perhaps the reward money perhaps other new clues I am not aware of. There is no reason to say the government has not done their job, they have to the best of their ability in a difficult circumstance. The same for the many non government volunteers who have searched, donated money and donated resources in the effort to resolve this horrific event.
Comments
Tray says on May 16, 2014 at 3:10 PM: My boss just said the news is stating the bodies have been found. So sad
Lee says on May 16, 2014 at 3:12 PM: If so they appeared miraculously. As of 12:30 PM I was told there were no bodies. Many rumors, no facts.
Some disturbing news in the searchMay 16, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
79 Comments
"Two newspapers La Estrella and El Siglo have reported a blouse belonging to one of the missing dutch women has been fund at an unreported location on private property. The used the word Guia, Spanish for Guide and said the Guia was not cooperative. In addition it has been reported in the newspaper La Critica that two decomposing bodies have been found in a remote area in Bocas del Toro. They will be recovering those as yet unidentified bodies today. La Critica. Taken without further information neither of these events is a coherent or complete story and it is dangerous to draw conclusions.
Update: May 16 12:35 PM: both stories are false rumors. The clothing was not from the missing women and the police have said the story about two bodies in Bocas del Toro is false.
CommentsConcerned says on May 16, 2014 at 11:57 am: I have read that the parents denied that the shirt belongs to one of the girls. (The shirt should not have been presented as “the shirt of the girls”! “Prenda de vestir de las holandesas”). I have also read the article in El Siglo.…two members of the search party smelled a strong but pleasant smell. It appeared to be the scent/perfume of a woman. 15 minutes later they heard a noise like a metal drum was being hit by another object. This lasted a bit less than 1 minute…When the sound stopped, there was a loud shouting voice… Unless someone is pulling the leg of the search party deep in the jungle or the search party has a strong nose for smelling female scent. Either way, the parents and family of Kris and Lisanne deserve much respect and ought to be respected. In my opinion, this article shows much disrespect.
Ed says on June 9, 2014 at 3:41 am: yesterday the AD (Dutch newspaper) came with a story about the girls being a victim of organ trade. The story is based on “local sources” who want to stay anonymous. The story has quite some detail of how a “taxi” in which they were abducted looks like, how they were treated (with knock-out spray) and where they were taken and where the bodies were dumped. The family and research team say they do not have any information on this and there is no information if anything is done with this claim. When I google about the organ trade in this area of the world there indeed seems to be a problem with this where prices up to 200.000$ are paid by “potential clients / patients”. That they were abducted in a car that looked like a taxi in which they entered voluntarily is the sort of scenario many do expect has happened. I do not know if they will look for bodies around the site that is claimed to be the burial area. If this story is true that would be pretty horrific. That patients are willing to pay these kind of amounts for an organ is disturbing since they must know that people get hurt and they don’t give a damn. What a world this has become ….
Lee Zeltzer says on June 9, 2014 at 6:44 am: Ed, the newspaper story is FALSE tabloid journalism at its worst. See this.
jim and nena says on June 9, 2014 at 9:10 PM: The reported story may be false but the trafficking in organs is very real and just across the border. http://insidecostarica.com/2013/12/30/united-nations-costa-rica-fighting-organ-drug-trafficking/ Stop dismissing this issue as urban legend and do some searching on your own. Put “costa rican organ trafficking” into your favorite web search engine and look at the results.
Ed says on June 15, 2014 at 11:38 am: It is puzzling that they found their bag in or at the Rio Culubre. On April the 1-st, between 14:30 and 15:00, the girls allegedly have said that they were tired and wanted to get back to Boquete. The bag with their phones and some money would suggest they did not go back to Boquete, rather headed back north anyway. That seems not very likely since Boquete being at a latitude of 8.5N would mean it would getting dark at about 18:00 so they wouldn’t have much time left. Maybe they were using the sun for their orientation and headed the wrong way since at a latitude 8.5N it would be pretty hard to say what is north or south, but that seems far fetched. So either they were forced to go back in the woods in a northward direction or the bag with their belongings is planted in the Rio Culubre on purpuse to be found by investigators to confuse the investigation. [..] In the case the girls have been taken in the direction of David first I would think this should be visible in their phone records (but I am no expert on this). Doubt we will hear about it in the media. Since I always understood their phones were still in their apartment. But apparently not. Probably for the sake of the investigation we are only told a fraction of what they know. But I am optimistic that this case will be solved at some point.
Lee Zeltzer says on June 15, 2014 at 1:55 PM: Ed, with no further facts I hate to draw conclusions but I agree with you.
allan says on June 16, 2014 at 9:52 am: Good points, Ed. From what I understand, the girls were tired but were also tired of waiting for a bus or taxi to return to their room, so they went to the El Pianista Restaurante for refreshments and rest. While there, they inquired about the El Pianista Trail and apparently rejuvenated, they decided to go on a short hike on it, understanding that they could turn around easily on the first legs of it. This trail is easy to follow until it hits the treeline is my understanding. After that, and continuing on, you can get disoriented… Comments from other hikers is that you possibly can get mixed up and when you think you are returning back on the Trail to the Boquete area, instead you are continuing on it to the Continental Divide. The nature of the Continental Divide is that the rivers to the west of it, flow toward the Pacific or west, whereas east of the Divide, the rivers flow downward east to the Caribbean or Atlantic Ocean. The backpack was found on the eastern side of the Divide. Hence, it had to be lost or placed on the eastern side.
Dennis says on June 16, 2014 at 10:20 am: Very good point, search in the valleys between Bajo Mono ,Palo alto and the points 8°52;53.93″ 82°24;24,93″ and from that point to where the backpack was found..here's a link where you can see the point with the name Romero and you'll see the river goes to its origin at the other side to Bajo Mono. Also a friend said that returning from Bajo Mono on the trail you can go left to the entrance of the trail around the top of the hill, but also to the left heading north to the continental divide. And in the forest in the shadow from the volcano it gets dark between 5.30 PM end 6.00 PM because from there the sun sets directly behind the volcano and you will lose all orientation.
Dennis says on June 16, 2014 at 2:16 PM: It is said that if the taxi driver dropped the girls of at 13.00 and saw the girls going up entering the trail than it is strange that people saw them at 15.00 or 15.30 tired near Casa Pedro and afterwards going up to the trail to enter for the second time and very late.The girls asked at Casa Pedro how to go back to town.
allan says on June 16, 2014 at 3:08 PM: Ed, here are some links… which describes the girls entering the trail later in the afternoon… La Prensa stated on April 6, that the girls were last seen on the El Pianista Trail. This next link is from Lee’s blog on April 7 in which the owner of El Pianista Restaurante saw the girls hitchhiking toward his restaurant. Later, an employee at El Pianista saw them start up the trail between 1500-1530. The restaurant dog, Blue, accompanied them. Ms. Lommers posted on her Facebook account, I believe, or in response to the article “Two Dutch Women are Missing in Panama,” on April 6, that she had attended a press conference/ community update and stated that: “Yes we went to the meeting and Police, (with) Sinaproc, representations of embassies, etc (and all) talked about the conclusions they can draw and basically from what I heard, they think that all the tips that they verified lead to the idea that they DID go on the Pianista trail.” Thus, the Panamanian authorities were convinced that the girls did go on the trail. Ms. Lommers also posted that: “They sat on the side of the road to go back to Boquete, not on the side of the road which would lead to El Pianista. They sat for a long time on the road waiting for a bus or a taxi. They (were) not seen (as to) what they finally did.” She added, “Nobody saw them get on a bus or in a taxi.” Another individual stated the same, that the girls were last seen entering the trail.
Ed says on June 16, 2014 at 3:13 PM: I checked the timeline again. 1) in the morning they went to a school who organized their charity work where they checked out the internet for information on the Il Pianista Trail
2) 11:00 the leave that location
3) 13:00 sighting of the girls near another school were they were supposed to go to do the charity work the next week. At that time they are walking in the direction of the centre of Boquete
4) 13:30 they talk with a boss off a guesthouse and ask him the way to the Il Pianista trail
5) he apparently points them not to the Il Pianista but to some other path that goes to a location with a great view over the area.
6) after 1 hour (between 14:30 and 15:00) they are back at this guesthouse and told the man they were tired and asked him advise if they needed to take a bus or a taxi to get back. He advises to take a taxi and sees the girls standing at the side of the road for a while but he does not know if the girls walked back to Boquete or back up into the mountains.
7) after that there are some witnesses claiming sightings of the girls between 15:00 and 16:00 at or near the Il Pianista trail. After that there are no sightings.
If you walk along the Rio Pianista to the north (where I assume the Pianista trail is at) then it is only 3 kilometers (or about 2 miles) to the watershed. Going over the watershed to the north you will see the rivers streaming in a northward direction instead of a southward direction. That could explain they would continue to walk in the wrong direction. Also because the orientation of the sun will be confusing for people who are used to a latitude of 53N they could have continued in a wrong direction the next day. It makes sense.
Concerned says on June 17, 2014 at 8:31 am: Hi Ed and Dennis, I have done much hiking myself and studying maps and descriptions, it seems that you virtually cannot go wrong once you reach the divide. Having climbed all the way up, all you need to do is turn around and descend. According to reports, at the divide, you can clearly see the path starting to descend towards the east. So one should be able to conclude that the highest point has been reached. And then there’s something else. Looking towards the west, you should be able to see the valley of Boquete with its buildings and houses, whereas towards the east, there is only pristine vegetation. Then there is another point one could use for orientation: the Baru Volcano. I don’t know what to think, how the backpack got where it has been found. Either the girls have been taken away by force or they knowingly decided to proceed towards the east, perhaps because the descending path seemed so inviting and something went wrong after that.
allan says on June 17, 2014 at 9:01 am: The search and rescue teams from the Netherlands started using their dogs back around May 25. Initially, the dogs seemed to pick up a scent and some progress seemed to be made. A second team of dogs was then used to augment findings. This second team and any others apparently could not find any scent or additional scent to continue a “hot” search. This was not reported in the media specifically but be deduced from the statements of the regional director of the Panamanian National Civil Protection in Chiriqui. He was reported to have said that the Dutch canine teams did not find any sort of a trail of the girls. Here is this link from Don Winner as originally reported by TVN News. However, searchers before were focused on the trail and areas near Boquete, and not past the Continental Divide. The area that is being searched now, apparently had not been searched before as the search and rescue teams are citing the dense vegetation and terrain as extremely difficult to navigate through. They did not comment about this area before, which implies that they had not searched this far over the Divide, if at all.
Ed says on June 17, 2014 at 9:02 am: I found some information about the Il Pianista trail here: “But guests who hiked the Il Pianista independently weren’t impressed: it was muddy, difficult to navigate and the Continental Divide wasn’t obvious.” So that does sound like getting lost is not out of the question. [..] Surprising that they did not think about this continental divide before. That would be the first thing you would think about when you are familiar with that trail I would think. On the one hand I believe no one really believed they went up to the Il Pianista trail because of the reports that they wanted to get back to town, being tired etc.. On the other hand: if they started looking for them anyway in that area then it is just stupid not to assume they went over the divide. If you start looking for them in the woods you would have to include this possibility. I never seen it be mentioned in the media.
allan says on June 19, 2014 at 8:34 PM: According to TVN News this evening, Thursday, June 19, a local searcher from Alta Romero located different pairs of shoes, some reported with bone fragments inside, and some other bone remains along with what the searcher who found these remains told reporters was a pelvic girdle remain near the area where the backpack was found days earlier. This gentleman was interviewed by TVN on location. The terrain is reported to be very difficult to navigate. The immediate search area is understood to be an area of fast moving water rapids and very strong currents which has been built up in the last several weeks by the ongoing rainy season. This area is just up from where the backpack was found lodged in branches when it was found by a local woman either bathing or doing laundry chores. The news telecast also stated that the parents of one of the girls confirmed at least one pair of the shoes that were found as belonging to their daughter. Previous statements by authorities have already suggested that rising water levels along the river may have caused flash flooding in which they may have been caught up in. Further investigation may shed some light as to what may have been the cause of death in each person, if the remains are positively identified.
allan says on June 20, 2014 at 9:03 am: In addition, there was very thick cloud cover which hampered search efforts initially in the area, see link here. They don’t call these “cloud-forests” for nothing. Such thick and dense clouds can hinder seeing such landmarks as guides for direction, as has been suggested that they should have been able to see and recognize. This cloud cover or fog, can also obscure trail markings in which the girls could have been going around in circles as well as traveling far, far deeper than anyone could have imagined. It appears that a “perfect storm” of events, coincidences, and occurrences had befallen the girls in which they became absolutely lost, disoriented, confused, and in panic. I do not know what kind of experience that the girls had in an outdoor element. Paranormal sources suggest that one of the girls perished first, and then the other. The Special Prosecutor has speculated both could have been drowned simultaneously in a flash flood or swift current event. To be sure, any violent trauma to bone or skeletal remains will be carefully examined and ruled out. On another note, the young Dutch men who had been seen with the women, I believe over lunch, on the last day before they disappeared, have been interviewed again in Holland. They had been cleared initially back in April by Dutch Police. Panamanian authorities though wanted to ask them some further questions. The young men stated that the girls were talking about and planning to hike the El Pianista Trail later that day. This further confirms the girls’ intent to go on the Trail. News item: The Dutch friend from Bocas had contact with Lisanne through whatsapp on April 1st: His last contact was the day before they went missing… about a fire in a hostel in Panama City [Lisanne asked Cornelis if they were ok]… but we (the boys) were staying in another hostel. I asked her how her home stay was in Boquete, but we never received a reply, says Cornelis. The identity of the two unknown men in Boquete remains a mistery. The 2 Dutch boys (Edwin Cornelis and Bas van Lieshout) were already in Panama City that day. Apparently they had travelled there directly from Bocas.
Concerned says on June 22, 2014 at 9:18 am: The Panamanians searched during the first searches in April along the divide and a piece behind it, towards Bocas. Apparently they have also been to Alto Romero.
allan says on June 22, 2014 at 10:23 am: You are right. Ed and Dennis, an additional link shows that the El Pianista Trail was searched up to the Divide and a bit past on the other side. This was dated April 5…. some two-three days after the missing report of the girls, search and rescue teams had conducted searches to the Divide from the Boquete side and to some degree past the Divide on the Bocas side. It is not known whether searchers originally made it to the Alto Romero area, however. There are no prior reports that I am aware of. In addition, reports of the unnavigable terrain were not reported until searchers asked local inhabitants to search the area in recent days. This implies that this area had not been looked over. In addition, the person that found the backpack initially either he or she or another was said to have walked about fifteen hours to Boquete from the area of Romero to inform authorities of the find. It is known that the hike back from the Divide on the Pianista Trail is about two hours or so on the way back to its start. The shoes and bone fragments and skeleton remains were found later in the week, some six hours walk up from Romero in an earlier post and link that I submitted. This location of added findings would be then, using deduction, some nine hours from Boquete, or seven-eight hours from the trailhead near the El Pianista Restaurante. If it is said that the hike to the Divide from the start of the trail takes about three hours, then it would take another 4-5 hours to where the bone fragments were found from the Divide by a local. I hope this travel information makes sense. The point is, it is rough and tedious going from the Divide to the Alto Romero area with it taking about eleven-twelve hours hike from the Divide and suggests a larger area to search than the Boquete side.allan says on June 22, 2014 at 10:50 am: Concerned, thanks for the link that showed the Dutch boys in Panama City on April 1….and not in Boquete. Then who were the two young men that Lisanne and Kris were seen with at breakfast at Restaurante Nelvis in Boquete, on the morning of April 1? This is an unsettling development in my mind. It leads to other possibilities. The media and Police initially have stated that they were Costa Rican. They were not the Dutch young men as you pointed out. If they were Costa Rican as the media reported, then they must have spoken to the girls in fairly good English, as the girls knew only very little Spanish, and the alleged Costa Ricans obviously knew no Dutch. Obviously, the personnel working at Restaurante Nelvis needs to inform the authorities of who these young men might have been… Costa Rican, or not,… English speakers, or not. The Costa Rican accent is a little different from that of Panama and can be discerned by Panamanian hearers. This also leaves some speculation open. I understand that the girls flew into San Jose, Costa Rica from the Netherlands and took a bus to Bocas enroute eventually to Boquete. That they then met two Costa Rican young men for breakfast before eventually going on a hike or more, later in the day. This is another connection to Costa Rica. The local Police that I know personally all state that Costa Rica is known for its human trafficking capability. This includes human trafficking of all kinds. This leads me back to an original story of April 14 which a jungle expert concluded that the disappearance of the girls was a result of a third party. Is the evidence then that is being found, lost or placed as you suggested earlier? The girls still could have been lost in a strange sequence of unfortunate events. But there are more questions than answers, yet to be given.
Ed says on June 22, 2014 at 11:05 am: good information again, Allan. Do you have a link to a map with Alto Romero on it? On the map given by Concerned it seems to be close to a great meander in the Rio Changuinola, however still miles away from the Rio Culubre. I understand from your writings that they were not too far away from the divide. Still what I understand the nights can be very cold in that area. heavy rain, fog maybe. very dangerous situation when you are not prepared. Will have to wait for all the analysis the coming months.
Ed says on June 22, 2014 at 11:05 am: good information again, Allan. Do you have a link to a map with Alto Romero on it? On the map given by Concerned it seems to be close to a great meander in the Rio Changuinola, however still miles away from the Rio Culubre. I understand from your writings that they were not too far away from the divide. Still what I understand the nights can be very cold in that area. heavy rain, fog maybe. very dangerous situation when you are not prepared. Will have to wait for all the analysis the coming months.
Ed says on June 22, 2014 at 12:18 PM: I have never been there but I would think the trail is along the Rio Pianista: https://wego.here.com/?map=8.82648,-82.44088,14,normal If you zoom out this map above Boquete you see 3 rivers. The middle one is Rio Pianista.allan says on June 22, 2014 at 12:45 PM: I initially was very struck by this disappearing event. I experienced a good amount of angst for the girls and empathy for those around them. I looked over similar scenarios on the internet and came across the Missing:411 books by Dave Paulides. I ordered the whole series and have nearly read two of the three. There are several similarities in the 411 books that are consistent with this case. If you are not familiar with these books, they explore an increasing trend in the North American wilds and especially National Parks in which people are disappearing right under people’s noses, so to speak. Many of them are never found. The year 2013 saw a dramatic increase in this sort of thing, claims Paulides. The year 2014 is showing an increase over 2013. In more than a few cases in these 411 books, some evidence shows up after the fact of repeated searches. Such evidence is sparse… a bone here, a fragment there, and maybe a decent skeletal remain or two, along with lost articles of clothing…usually, always…shoes. Interestingly, the same similarity seems to be repeating here. Another similarity is that the “lost” when they are found, dead or alive, are nearly always found much farther away than searchers, many of whom are professionally trained or experienced in this area, had ever conceived of. This is another striking similarity. This is why many search and rescue folks exploring the same trends in North America scratch their heads in the light of such similar patterns and sense that something much bigger is going on. You can read one of these books yourself, and come up with the same conclusions as they do perhaps. If this is a third party involvement of a criminal enterprise, they are well connected and well protected. However, they may have made a large mistake in underestimating the public reaction, which is now worldwide. This is far too close for comfort in such networks. Someone will have to pay for indiscretion where discretion is extremely and highly valued.
Concerned says on June 23, 2014 at 4:29 am: What keeps me puzzled is how did their remains and backpack get where they were found. To reach that place up north (it is far from Alto Romero), the easiest way is to walk a piece ALONG the divide (many km) and then turn right (cross the divide). The hardest way is to cross the divide immediately at the top of the Pianista trail and then walk north. Why is that harder? Because the terrain there has much relief. So one would have to climb up and down several times in pristine jungle (and cross several rivlets) in order to reach the Rio Culubre. It is much easier to remain on the divide, follow it and then descend near the Culubre. People that are lost, would not climb up and down so many times, they would reach dwellings for instance at Alto Romero before doing that. Then there is something else: according to the map with the red lines, along the divide there are pastures and cattle. Where there is cattle, there are humans. So, I am not yet convinced about the similarities between this disappearance and the ones in North America. In those National Parks there are no meadows or pastures or grazing cattle. Felines, insects and other animals can clear away many human remains and transport them kilometres away. But they would never take the trouble to transport a back pack. Much too big, much to heavy and not interesting to transport. I might be very wrong, and to be honest, I hope that I am. But if someone is responsible for their decease, then they must be found. They must be brought to justice and I hope that they will be punished properly.
Ed says on June 24, 2014 at 3:48 am: Yes this is also what I understood that the back pack was initially found somewhere where the Rio Changuinola and the Rio Culubre merge and that the back pack was actually found at the Rio Culubre. It then seems unlikely that they initially got an accident in the Rio Chnaguinola and end up upstream in the Rio Culubre. There is a dam in the Rio Changuinola so I do not know if it is possible that when the water is high items could actually move upstream.
Aernout says on July 20, 2014 at 5:30 am: Panama is not located on the southern hemisphere, but on the northern hemisphere. Both girls may have had trouble navigating by the sun, being this close to the equator.
False information
"Back in March I had the opportunity to meet Millo Vasquez, then a candidate for Alcalde of the Boquete District. On 4 May, he was elected by almost a majority of voters in the District, a far larger percentage than our new President. Today I was able to talk with him again over breakfast. [..] Our meeting started with a discussion of the two lost Dutch women. Sr Millo will not be in office until 1 July, but he wanted to express his concern and assure the people of the Netherlands that if this investigation continues until when he is in office he will support what ever is necessary. He also wants to lead a discussion about making the many known hiking trails in the Boquete District safer for tourists. As we discussed in March our new mayor realizes tourism is important to Boquete and this lesson of people lost has not gone unnoticed. Sr. Millo has a community approach to problem solving and wants to involve those interested in finding solutions. This includes marking trails, having a tourist center where people can find information on guides and safe procedures before they go out into the wild. Our discussion continued in to crime prevention in general and our new mayor is open to work with and communicate with the entire community to help reduce crime in Boquete. Expect that newly appointed corregadores will have some more training in crime prevention and that the community will have more voice with the police. The mayor controls the police in the District.
Comments
mike says on June 13, 2014 at 12:14 PM: Let’s hope he can do something about the recent rise in crime.From what I’ve seen of the police department , they aren’t going to be a lot of help. That’s not quite the way it sounded in the brochure. With the finish of the David/Boquete road, the David gangs are right where we were afraid they would be— HERE !
Ed says on June 24, 2014 at 3:48 am: Yes this is also what I understood that the back pack was initially found somewhere where the Rio Changuinola and the Rio Culubre merge and that the back pack was actually found at the Rio Culubre. It then seems unlikely that they initially got an accident in the Rio Chnaguinola and end up upstream in the Rio Culubre. There is a dam in the Rio Changuinola so I do not know if it is possible that when the water is high items could actually move upstream.
Aernout says on July 20, 2014 at 5:30 am: Panama is not located on the southern hemisphere, but on the northern hemisphere. Both girls may have had trouble navigating by the sun, being this close to the equator.
False informationMay 16, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
5 Comments
"This is important enough to post and have out to twitter and subscribed people. Both stories in La Critica and El Siglo cited in my earlier post are false rumors. The clothing found was not from the missing women and the police have said the story about two bodies in Bocas del Toro is also false. There is still no new information about the two missing Dutch women beyond rumors.
Comments
lindajof says on May 16, 2014 at 1:20 PM: Well perhaps then there is still some hope?
Comments
lindajof says on May 16, 2014 at 1:20 PM: Well perhaps then there is still some hope?
Henry says on May 17, 2014 at 10:55 PM: La Critica and El Siglo are Senasionalist dont beleve nothing abaut they
Our Mayor elect, Sr. Millo Vasquez
May 17, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
3 Comments
Comments
mike says on June 13, 2014 at 12:14 PM: Let’s hope he can do something about the recent rise in crime.From what I’ve seen of the police department , they aren’t going to be a lot of help. That’s not quite the way it sounded in the brochure. With the finish of the David/Boquete road, the David gangs are right where we were afraid they would be— HERE !
A candle light vigil in Boquete for Kris and Lisanne May 18, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
13 Comments
"As we pass six weeks of Kris and Lisanne missing Boquete held a candle light vigil to help people remember. There is still no trail, no solid clue, nothing is known as to what happened, but Boquete has not forgotten. Radio Chiriqui wanted to demonstrate to Lisanne’s parents and the world that we, the community have not forgotten so they asked people to come out on Sunday night and they did. We have not forgotten and we will continue to look and hope.
Guy says on May 18, 2014 at 8:12 PM: Some goodhearted people live here…
Concerned says on May 19, 2014 at 6:31 am: It’s nice to know that there are caring people. And indeed, never forget and keep on searching. Have any private properties been searched in the meantime? Time is running out.
Ed says on May 19, 2014 at 3:31 PM: personally I believe the young ladies are no longer with us but as you know I am just a speculator. Just read on AD.nl that the Dutch will send Dutch trained dogs to Panama to do some searching for their own. I believe the women have become victim of a human predator. I am interested in crime stories, wish I would have become a detective (in hindsight) and studied many of them. I did not come across many predators capturing two ladies at the same time. I therefor believe they trusted the man at first and have been taken to his compound. The guy who abducted them is a relatively wealthy guy. An expat maybe? Someone who likes to fish with his buddies? [..] No news other then the Dutch dogs have arrived in Panama to do some searching and some speculation that more then 1 person was involved in the girls disappearance, based on speculation I would guess. If the Dutch dogs do not find the girls you can be pretty sure they were abducted by 1 or 2 males. Eventually we will find out what happened.
Concerned says on May 20, 2014 at 5:52 am: Dutch news say that a 3rd woman has gone missing in or around Boquete, Loretta Hinman (47) from Arizona. She is missing since May 7th. Apparently, her rental car and her dog are missing too. This is disturbing news. [H.H. Loretta Hinman disappeared but later was found safe and well in the Unites States].
Lee says on May 20, 2014 at 2:32 PM: Probably unrelated, she has an overdue rented truck and was not from Boquete but lived closer to David. [..] The police have found the truck and it appears she packed and skipped town. Not at all related.
allan says on May 27, 2014 at 8:34 PM: The dogs are getting a scent. This is encouraging. In more than a few missing person cases, the dogs do not get any scent, or are confused, and do nothing. The Provincial Special Prosecutor is also on hand to assist in any legal matters in accessing private homes. This is an interesting development. In other words, if the dogs trace a scent to a private residence, the police will search the residence at once citing reasonable cause or suspicion, with the Prosecutor handling any due process issues on the spot. It appears that there is some lead or bit of information that the girls, could be held against their will and are alive in a private home or had been abducted to such a home setting, with this type of search that is going on. On television, the search teams look expectant in their demeanor compared to original search team efforts in which they looked tired and frayed in frustration. Tomorrow, they will use another dog team to support the ongoing search and apparently to continue what progress has been made. The dogs did look eager. This is according to the TVN broadcast last night, Tuesday evening.
The press, the rumors and the truth May 29, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
14 Comments
"I am not a reporter, I write a blog, but I am not a reporter, I am not on a deadline. If I learn something and feel I should share it, I write about it. If you notice I have written nothing new about the missing Dutch women, Kris and Lissane, and nothing about the allegedly missing Loretta Hinman. It is not because I am not interested, it is because despite all rumors there is nothing new to write. I never wrote about Loretta Hinman because until someone looked for her there was no reason to call her missing. When someone went to her house they discovered she had been sneaking in and out at night. It is obvious she was not missing, but was avoiding payment of obligations, like the rented truck she had.
From Boquete Ning and the person who checked on the house.
“Reply by Eduardo Horna on May 21, 2014 at 7:23 PM. I talk to next door neighbor today , he said a 2-3 people are living in the house (coming in out every 3-4 days but only at Night). Last time she was seen (a Gringa he said any way) was 2 days ago, they driven two cars, one of them is a Black truck, (I talk to Cowboy Dave already). At first was supposed to be just herself…..the neighbor said there are two women and one male, coming in and out of house………” - This was of course before the media both in Panama and the Netherlands, turned her into the third missing woman.
Der Telegraf Newsrooom Panama
Boquete is not the kidnap capital of Latin America. The tragedy of Kris and Lisanne is a tragedy. Despite a reward of $30,000, not $40,000, no solid leads have yet lead to their discovery.
La Prensa , got that wrong too. $30,000 not $40,000.
“The La Prensa reporter at the candle light procession yesterday totally misinterpreted and then misquoted Hans Kremers regarding the reward. The reporter asked him if they anticipated raising the reward from the $30,000.00 posted by the family. He replied that they did not anticipate raising it which was misinterpreted to mean it was withdraw and that is what they ended up printing in today’s La Prensa. - Such is not the case. The $30,000.00 reward from the family remains in place and in effect. Jerome van Passel, who is handling press matters for the families, has already contacted La Prensa to have them correct this misquote and to correct the information regarding the reward. “
So what we have is a press on two continents anxious for new information and willing to accept anything to fill airtime or print space. Perhaps it is better that they do it because it keeps things in the public eye, but rumors are often more dangerous than silence. The photo above is real and from La Prensa. Twelve dogs and eighteen handlers are in Boquete searching. I have not been informed if they have discovered anything. Aside from the fact they are here and searching there is nothing more to say. This is why I have been mute. There is nothing to report and I prefer not exaggerate or enhance the frustration of the reality that Kris and Lisanne are still missing.
Comments
Lilye says on May 29, 2014 at 12:51 PM: Thanks Lee. Very well done.
Terry says on May 30, 2014 at 6:48 am: I so agree.. all those rumors do not help. Good publicity yes, that will help. This article of you will help . Thanks!
Dennis says on May 30, 2014 at 8:55 PM: But how did you know about the criminal record from Loretta Hinman?
Dennis says on May 30, 2014 at 8:55 PM: But how did you know about the criminal record from Loretta Hinman?
Lorena says on June 2, 2014 at 6:34 am: Can you tell me something about this case: Agerette Alwood. She disappeared several days after Lisanne and Kris? Do you know more?
Lee says on June 2, 2014 at 4:46 PM: Lorena, I know only what I read in the newspapers. This happened in Panama City, the other end of the country.
Lee says on June 2, 2014 at 4:46 PM: Lorena, I know only what I read in the newspapers. This happened in Panama City, the other end of the country.
An important tourist brochure June 12, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
2 Comments
"Fran Hogan developed this brochure She had help with translations and is having them distributed to visitors to Boquete. With the exception of the telephone numbers to call this information applies to any traveller anyplace. Thank you Fran for doing a service to anyone who choses to read and think about the message. If you click on the brochure I will get larger.
Comments
fran hogan says on June 12, 2014 at 5:31 PM: More information is at http://safety-in-boquete-panama.weebly.com/
Information on Kris and Lisanne: Update 24 June June 23, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
5 Comments
"I cannot disclose my source for this factual information and please do not assume anything more than the facts. This being written before the press conference today. Searchers have been in the hills progressing from the backpack discovered last week. Those searchers discovered two boots, one identified as belonging to Lisanne. Human tissue, most of a foot, was discovered in that boot and the DNA has been identified as being from Lisanne. Kris’s shorts, or fabric from them has also been found. No bodies have been found, no DNA of Kris has been found. I will post more when I have more verified information.
Update from TVN News from the press conference. 23 June 2014 . Translation by me, so it might not be perfect: At a press conference with the prosecutor Bethsaida Pittí, the coroner Silvia Bandel, today confirmed Monday June 23, 2014 that the remains found are consistent with the DNA of the parents of Lissane Froon, one of the two Dutch missing since 2 April, the prosecutor said. Pittí confirmed that the remains are of Lissane. The investigation into the disappearance or the deprivation of liberty (because it was initially suspected to be a kidnapping), switches to an investigating into a crime against life and personal integrity. At least in the case of Froon because Kris Kremers still remains missing. However, the prosecutor Pittí said it is too early to determine the cause of death of Lissane; whether it was natural or traumatic, as that should be determined by medical examiners. Pittí resumes the search and will meet with the authorities in Alto Romero to see what they found. The prosecutor emphasized that Lisanne and Kris entered the path of El Pianista and nobody saw them going down and that the discovery of the backpacks forced a change of strategy. The prosecutor explained that the trail El Pianista in Boquete leads to Bocas del Toro, where they found evidence. She also explained, the path of el Pianista to Bocas del Toro crosses the river Culubre three times. She also stated that the procedure was correct and they need to go calmly to conduct the best research. Present at the conference, Jerome Van Passel, a spokesman for the families of the Netherlands, said that the Froons and Kremers are very sad and will issue a joint statement from Holland.
Tuesday 24 June 5:34 PM: I have just received confirmation that the parents of Kris have now been notified that her DNA has also been identified in remains discovered. This chapter of the tragedy is over. Now will come the investigation into just how such a thing could have happened.
Comments
Keith says om June 23, 2014 at 2:36 PM: RIP Lisanne, please share my condolences with your family and friends.
Hilda Pitti Alvarado says on June 24, 2014 at 9:47 PM: My sympathies and prayers for Kriss and Lisanne´s parents and dear ones. So sad for these news. I hope the investigative pieces of this puzzle, give us a coherent answer on how and why this happened, then preventive measures are taken in order to avoid another ordeal like this
Life as I saw it this past week June 27, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
15 Comments
"This past week showed a tragic ending to the search for Kris and Lisanne, the two missing Dutch women. Many of us in Boquete are truly upset by the outcome. A backpack found in a river on the Bocas side of the continental divide lead to the discovery of a pair of hiking boots and human tissue. The DNA testing eliminated doubt as to the fate of the women. The questions about how they wandered so far and were never discovered may never be answered. Local urban legends seem to be explaining things to the satisfaction of some. The first local urban legend was that they were kidnapped for their organs, never logical. With the discovery of some remains in a river no place near a hospital, that gossip has stopped. The current urban legend that I first read in a comment in La Critica a Panamanian tabloid, pointed at the “conejos”, the Conejos, in this case are not rabbits, but an alleged group of cannibals who live in that region. According to gossip others have disappeared and fallen prey to this mythical tribe. People here have a way of explaining everything, no matter how tragic, with an interesting story. I was interviewed by a reporter for a Dutch radio station on Tuesday and he asked how people felt about this entire event in Boquete. He asked if people were afraid, I said no. I think many people are shocked, but not afraid. At this time to my knowledge there is no evidence of foul play, no evidence of kidnapping and no evidence of conejos. There is equally no explanation of how two totally inexperienced hikers, seen at about 3:30 PM at the Il Pianista trailhead could have become so lost as to end up in a river on the wrong side of the continental divide. We may never know. The 18 hour gap from the last sighting of them until notice that these women were missing probably lead to the result. The best we can do as local residents is to try to educate tourists that the rain forest is a dangerous place and not to go hiking without a guide and to always be sure people know were you are going and when you plan to return. On the positive side of life, good music at the BCP and the new moderator of the Tuesday Talks singing at La Posada.
Comments
cynthia says on June 27, 2014 at 12:21 PM: Truly a tragic outcome for the girls, we hope a serious investigation continues.
Erin Ross says on June 27, 2014 at 11:00 PM: The locals that I came in contact with this week ALL immediately expressed their sadness and dismay about the news of Lisanne and Kris. They kept saying to me, with tears in their eyes… “triste,triste” and “Nunca en Boquete, nunca en Boquete”.
Emma says on June 30, 2014 at 6:46 am: Do you know if they could have eaten any local plants or fruits that could have influenced their minds, or played tricks on them. The reason I ask is because there was some speculation in the Dutch press that they were probably alive for a few more days after they disappeared. If so, they must have tried to eat something from forest or along the river. Do you know if you can drink the water from the river, or would that make you sick?
Lee says on June 30, 2014 at 7:39 am: Anything is possible the area is mostly virgin rain forest. The pack and boots were found some distance apart in a river. The river floods this time of the year. Based upon the information I have it is impossible to know where or when they or their parts entered the river. There are large predators in the area as well as poison snakes and plants.
Lee says on June 30, 2014 at 9:32 am: Emma, I cannot specifically tell you what is near that river but there are big cats, including Pumas and Pathers in the forest here and many snakes. There is a lot to eat if you know what to eat and I am sure things you should not eat. I have been here almost eight years and beyond finding water from the river I would not know how to survive one night in the forest. The river water would be very potable. There are over 260 species of carnivores, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae (cats)
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Leopardus
Ocelot Leopardus pardalis LC
Oncilla Leopardus tigrinus NT
Margay Leopardus wiedii LC
Genus: Puma
Jaguarundi Puma yagouaroundi LC
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Jaguar Panthera onca NT
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Urocyon
Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus LC
Genus: Speothos
Bush Dog Speothos venaticus VU
Genus: Canis
Coyote Canis latrans LC
Family: Ursidae (bears)
Genus: Tremarctos
Spectacled Bear Tremarctos ornatus VU
allan says on July 1, 2014 at 8:03 am: On a local Panamanian radio talk station, they had an animal expert who discussed what animal threats that may be present on the trails around where the girls disappeared or got lost. His summation was there was none. Only a small type of bobcat has been seen. The list of animals that are provided above are probably relegated to the Darien, known for its very dense jungle and lack of human habitat. Such exposure to humans, are the greatest threats for such animals to survive. At any rate, it is quite premature to call off further searches for bodily remains as authorities have done. It appears contrived, that as soon as both girls are respectively identified on the smallest of skeletal or tissue evidence, the case is closed without any investigation as to how the girls perished, when they might have perished, or the reconstruction of where they went, or how long that they might have survived in the area. This kind of “rush to judgment” only creates further speculation by the public, even the Panamanian public, as to what is going on when authorities had “expert jungle and mountain” searchers, yet had to beg local indigenous residents for help. Furthermore, on the maps of April 5, all the trails on the Boquete side had been searched thoroughly, and about an hour or two past the Divide on the Bocas side. On the April 14 map, nine days later, the whole area including the Alto Romero had been searched… yet later we are told that the final search area around June 15 in the same Alto Romero area, is far too dangerous for such “experts” to navigate. This is contradictory. Both Panamanian and Dutch dog teams found no scent, as well as no kind of evidence or trace of the girls on the trail which they were reported seen entering on, which has led local searchers and Government officials, on both sides, to conclude that the women had never been on the mountain. All this conflicting information is from official media sources, which is good, as it shows that the information is not tightly controlled for an official “spin” of the events. There still is no conclusive scenario or time frame of events that the officials can put together. Instead, they come up with a conclusion based on the smallest of evidence after first surmising that the girls drowned in the water bodies in the area. This did not play well as the seasonal rains were not a factor at the time of their disappearance. The bodies of the girls are now implied to be too fragmented and scattered for further search efforts… but their backpacks and shoes are quite intact! The final argument against wild animal depredation is that there are no clothing remains that are shredded, torn, consistent with such a scenario, and no very ample blood evidence which if animal depredation were involved, which would have been detected by dog teams… Yet, we have intact shoes which show no animal damage, well intact backpacks which show no damage whatsoever except for some water exposure, as well as the contents seem quite undisturbed which have human scent for carnivorous type animals to rummage through. With these type of inconsistencies, it is little wonder that there are speculations as to the fate of the girls aside from the official version which seems to be in flux whenever their credibility is challenged. Finally, when Lonely Planet put out an advisory for hikers on the El Pianista Trail, well before such a disappearing event occurred, that it is not altogether safe to travel on this trail due to robberies and hold-ups, little is mentioned about the girls possibly being accosted by such threats.
Lee says on July 1, 2014 at 9:00 am: Allan, although I agree with you more investigation should be done I want to make two points clear. The people who were robbing tourists on Il Pianista trail were known to the place and private investigators. They have never been prosecuted only because tourists never stayed around long enough to testify. They were investigated immediately. As to animals, the radio guy might be right, but I live in a more populated mountain area and we have much bigger cats here, we see dogs bearing the scars of their claws and locals hunt them because they attack cattle. As to the rest since I have no more information than you I cannot reach any conclusion other than that which has been publicly announced. None of the trails here are safe, particularly after sundown, unless you know exactly what you are doing. Since I know enough to stay off remote trails at night I have no experience to compare to the horror they would have felt if indeed they were lost in the rain forest at night.
Concerned says on July 2, 2014 at 9:16 am: According to Dutch news, Lisanne had a cold those days and couldn’t breathe well. If she ever made it to the divide, then it would have been most logical for them to turn around as soon as possible and go back home. Then there is the opinion of Burak (Manuel Burak de la Oficina de Gestión de Riesgo del Municipio de Boquete / Rescue centre of Boquete Community): Burak said that he is surprised that the girls managed to reach this area, where the indigenous found the backpack with their belongings. They would have had to walk for many hours. He is surprised because in this area there are various farming settlements. The girls could have asked for help, apparently they did not do that. We must bare in mind that two months ago, there was a severe (fuerte) drought in the area, that affected the water levels in the whole cordillera of Talamanca. And yes, as you pointed out, this area had already been searched previously and nothing was found.
mateo says on July 2, 2014 at 3:32 PM: FWIW, I would personally tend to take hunting tales in modern Boquete with a grain of salt. Based on nothing more substantial than stories I’ve heard in circumstances that were not conducive to verification like bars and domino tables I have the impression that Boquete big cat hunting has pretty much come to an end. Milagros Sánchez Pinzón (“Rasgos”) does include a photograph of a hunting party displaying their trophy seven pages into the sponsors section. She states that “La caza de jaguares no era práctica extraña en las tierras altas boqueteñas” but the picture is not dated. If I had to guess I’d say that it is more than fifty years old. Meanwhile, on page 71, she dismisses the jaguar hunting exploits of a late 19th century Jaramillo Abajo pioneer as “relatos fantásticos”. On the other hand, today’s attitudes like the unflattering reference to “caza indiscriminada” in “Boquete Centenario Florilegio Poético” by Markela Rojerde Ballesteros may mean that modern hunters would rather not talk about it.
Lee says on June 30, 2014 at 7:39 am: Anything is possible the area is mostly virgin rain forest. The pack and boots were found some distance apart in a river. The river floods this time of the year. Based upon the information I have it is impossible to know where or when they or their parts entered the river. There are large predators in the area as well as poison snakes and plants.
Lee says on June 30, 2014 at 9:32 am: Emma, I cannot specifically tell you what is near that river but there are big cats, including Pumas and Pathers in the forest here and many snakes. There is a lot to eat if you know what to eat and I am sure things you should not eat. I have been here almost eight years and beyond finding water from the river I would not know how to survive one night in the forest. The river water would be very potable. There are over 260 species of carnivores, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae (cats)
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Leopardus
Ocelot Leopardus pardalis LC
Oncilla Leopardus tigrinus NT
Margay Leopardus wiedii LC
Genus: Puma
Jaguarundi Puma yagouaroundi LC
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Jaguar Panthera onca NT
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Canidae (dogs, foxes)
Genus: Urocyon
Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus LC
Genus: Speothos
Bush Dog Speothos venaticus VU
Genus: Canis
Coyote Canis latrans LC
Family: Ursidae (bears)
Genus: Tremarctos
Spectacled Bear Tremarctos ornatus VU
allan says on July 1, 2014 at 8:03 am: On a local Panamanian radio talk station, they had an animal expert who discussed what animal threats that may be present on the trails around where the girls disappeared or got lost. His summation was there was none. Only a small type of bobcat has been seen. The list of animals that are provided above are probably relegated to the Darien, known for its very dense jungle and lack of human habitat. Such exposure to humans, are the greatest threats for such animals to survive. At any rate, it is quite premature to call off further searches for bodily remains as authorities have done. It appears contrived, that as soon as both girls are respectively identified on the smallest of skeletal or tissue evidence, the case is closed without any investigation as to how the girls perished, when they might have perished, or the reconstruction of where they went, or how long that they might have survived in the area. This kind of “rush to judgment” only creates further speculation by the public, even the Panamanian public, as to what is going on when authorities had “expert jungle and mountain” searchers, yet had to beg local indigenous residents for help. Furthermore, on the maps of April 5, all the trails on the Boquete side had been searched thoroughly, and about an hour or two past the Divide on the Bocas side. On the April 14 map, nine days later, the whole area including the Alto Romero had been searched… yet later we are told that the final search area around June 15 in the same Alto Romero area, is far too dangerous for such “experts” to navigate. This is contradictory. Both Panamanian and Dutch dog teams found no scent, as well as no kind of evidence or trace of the girls on the trail which they were reported seen entering on, which has led local searchers and Government officials, on both sides, to conclude that the women had never been on the mountain. All this conflicting information is from official media sources, which is good, as it shows that the information is not tightly controlled for an official “spin” of the events. There still is no conclusive scenario or time frame of events that the officials can put together. Instead, they come up with a conclusion based on the smallest of evidence after first surmising that the girls drowned in the water bodies in the area. This did not play well as the seasonal rains were not a factor at the time of their disappearance. The bodies of the girls are now implied to be too fragmented and scattered for further search efforts… but their backpacks and shoes are quite intact! The final argument against wild animal depredation is that there are no clothing remains that are shredded, torn, consistent with such a scenario, and no very ample blood evidence which if animal depredation were involved, which would have been detected by dog teams… Yet, we have intact shoes which show no animal damage, well intact backpacks which show no damage whatsoever except for some water exposure, as well as the contents seem quite undisturbed which have human scent for carnivorous type animals to rummage through. With these type of inconsistencies, it is little wonder that there are speculations as to the fate of the girls aside from the official version which seems to be in flux whenever their credibility is challenged. Finally, when Lonely Planet put out an advisory for hikers on the El Pianista Trail, well before such a disappearing event occurred, that it is not altogether safe to travel on this trail due to robberies and hold-ups, little is mentioned about the girls possibly being accosted by such threats.
Lee says on July 1, 2014 at 9:00 am: Allan, although I agree with you more investigation should be done I want to make two points clear. The people who were robbing tourists on Il Pianista trail were known to the place and private investigators. They have never been prosecuted only because tourists never stayed around long enough to testify. They were investigated immediately. As to animals, the radio guy might be right, but I live in a more populated mountain area and we have much bigger cats here, we see dogs bearing the scars of their claws and locals hunt them because they attack cattle. As to the rest since I have no more information than you I cannot reach any conclusion other than that which has been publicly announced. None of the trails here are safe, particularly after sundown, unless you know exactly what you are doing. Since I know enough to stay off remote trails at night I have no experience to compare to the horror they would have felt if indeed they were lost in the rain forest at night.
Concerned says on July 2, 2014 at 9:16 am: According to Dutch news, Lisanne had a cold those days and couldn’t breathe well. If she ever made it to the divide, then it would have been most logical for them to turn around as soon as possible and go back home. Then there is the opinion of Burak (Manuel Burak de la Oficina de Gestión de Riesgo del Municipio de Boquete / Rescue centre of Boquete Community): Burak said that he is surprised that the girls managed to reach this area, where the indigenous found the backpack with their belongings. They would have had to walk for many hours. He is surprised because in this area there are various farming settlements. The girls could have asked for help, apparently they did not do that. We must bare in mind that two months ago, there was a severe (fuerte) drought in the area, that affected the water levels in the whole cordillera of Talamanca. And yes, as you pointed out, this area had already been searched previously and nothing was found.
mateo says on July 2, 2014 at 3:32 PM: FWIW, I would personally tend to take hunting tales in modern Boquete with a grain of salt. Based on nothing more substantial than stories I’ve heard in circumstances that were not conducive to verification like bars and domino tables I have the impression that Boquete big cat hunting has pretty much come to an end. Milagros Sánchez Pinzón (“Rasgos”) does include a photograph of a hunting party displaying their trophy seven pages into the sponsors section. She states that “La caza de jaguares no era práctica extraña en las tierras altas boqueteñas” but the picture is not dated. If I had to guess I’d say that it is more than fifty years old. Meanwhile, on page 71, she dismisses the jaguar hunting exploits of a late 19th century Jaramillo Abajo pioneer as “relatos fantásticos”. On the other hand, today’s attitudes like the unflattering reference to “caza indiscriminada” in “Boquete Centenario Florilegio Poético” by Markela Rojerde Ballesteros may mean that modern hunters would rather not talk about it.
Keith says on July 2, 2014 at 6:41 PM: Sadly, the many pictures and maps I have seen of searchers walking trails has always left me wondering as to the effectiveness of the efforts.
allan says on July 3, 2014 at 9:12 am: Here is the video link in Spanish which shows a reconstruct of the possible path that the girls might have taken according to guides. You can see from the video that the terrain is arduous. In a loose translation from Spanish here is what the guide stated: The girls reached the Divide by early evening, spent a little time there perhaps looking from this vantage point of the two oceans and then started back… down the wrong side of the mountain as they became disoriented. The guide, who has traveled this route many, many times, states that this would be possible for someone not experienced on the trail. The guide [Laureano Bejerano] believes that the girls reached the first tributary or branch of the Culebra River. Around this point of the trail, there is a cell phone signal available, although the girls probably did not know this or had a different cell phone signal receiver. Although it was yet the “dry” season, there is some water depth and current in this first tributary and crossing. The guide believes that the girls crossed this river without incident. The guide then believes that the girls reached the second tributary where the water depth had increased, and the river current had become much stronger. Located just above this tributary along the trail when reaching this tributary is a steel cable which stretches over the tributary. It is not that long from the video, probably around 30 meters or less is my guess. The news team reported that experienced travelers along this route use this overhead cable to grapple, hand over hand, to cross this tributary with their body suspended over the water rapids, churning over the many large boulders and rocks. The guide believes that the girls may have not noticed this cable or understood what it was for, and according to the guide, he thinks that they tried to cross the river by foot. The guide indicated that this was a bad decision, and a mistake. The guide simply added at this point, that the girls were “history.” He thinks that they lost their footing in the swift current and rapids and were swept downriver where they were battered by rocks and boulders causing bodily injury and head trauma. Further down this tributary is where bone evidence was found. [H.H. a LOT further down, the equivalent of 14 walking hours and also along different river heads, so not a straight forward stream/trip]. The news team interviewed an Angel Palacios who found the bone evidence and clothing, most notably, jeans. The news teams continued traveling on the trail where they arrived at a cattle station of sorts near a finca and where there were farm workers. This was some twelve hours from the beginning of the El Pianista Trail. No one believes that the girls, in the video, got this far in their “last walk.” This is the latest developments which was televised last night and this morning again, on Telemetro News.
allan says on July 8, 2014 at 9:18 am: Here is an edited translation to English from this article. Possible Cannibal Tribe Ate Dutch. Friday June 27, 2014. "Several people of import who do not wish to reveal their names to the public, have stated that in the mountains of Chiriqui and Bocas Del Toro, there is a small tribe of indigenous people who live in the very dense jungle area. This tribe does not have any contact with civilization. They are described as the “Indigenous Conejos,” or “Rabbits,” who live either in dark caves or tunnels underground and are located in the depths of the vast and inhospitable jungle near the borders of Chiriqui and Bocas Del Toro. This ultra-secretive tribe has been said to practice cannibalism. Such a practice has made the above people who shared this with me, greatly suspect this hidden tribe in the deaths of the Dutch women: Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon. They believe that the girls were victims of these Indigenous cannibals. Here are the reasons why: Resident area jaguar cats do not eat human flesh. Had the girls been devoured by feral pigs or javelinas, they would have found remains of the bodies and clothes of the girls, torn and shredded. Only skeletal remains, with a foot in one shoe, and part of a pelvic bone, have been recovered. Where, where are the other skeletal remains? The area in which the bones were located were quite far from where the backpack was found. Law enforcement authorities must investigate by venturing into the dense jungle area and see if such cannibals, the “Indigenous Conejos,” are more than just urban legend. If found, they need to question such people if they are culpable in the disappearance and deaths of the Dutch girls. People are waiting for such results in this investigation." - These “Conejos” are reported to venture out only at night. They are said to paint themselves in white “striping.” Traditions state that they are a small, but “fierce” clan. They use machetes to hack their victims to death… and then… One of the best evidences is to ask a Noble-Bugle indigenous person or even a Campesino about them. Their reaction is one of immediate fear, I have been told. It appears that in an effort to understand the complexity of the case of the missing Dutch girls and the lack of additional body remains as evidence, that several in the public are now taking a belief in an urban legend into the sphere of reality.
will says on July 9, 2014 at 1:06 PM: Remember that investigators keep a lot of details secret. If someone knows about something that was not revealed to the public, that person becomes a suspect immediately. They could have found clothing for all you know.
Lisanne and Kris, truth or just politically desirable closure? September 30, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
7 Comments
"I have been mute for a long time about the case of Lisanne Froon and Kris Kremers, the missing now dead Dutch girls. I have done this out of respect for the parents, out of respect for all the professional law enforcement people who know far more than I do and because I had nothing to add to the story. This is not an area in which I have any expertise. This weekend I ran into the parents of Lisanne in Boquete in Sugar and Spice, we spoke for only a fleeting moment. It was not a planned encounter but a moment was enough for me feel a need to bring this horror back into the present. They deserve the truth. I hope we can now learn more and find the truth. New information is emerging from various sources and La Estrella newspaper has a series of articles that make the case for accidental death look like a way to avoid facing the alternative. There is an increasing body of evidence pointing against accidental death. I want to share two stories with you. The translations are Google, edited a bit by me, so imperfect but links are there. Both of these articles were written by the same reporter. I you know something about this case and have never talked before email her.
From Adelita Coriat. For criminologist Octavio Calderón it is impossible that the river too the bones and remains of the two young women, and deposited them next to each other again. "No matter how many times you repeat the story from the prosecutor about Lisanne Froon and Kris Kremers being swept away by the river current, the prosecutor has no evidence to prove it. ‘It is an assumption without scientific basis, it is not based on anything,’ said criminologist Octavio Calderón. The specialist compares the results of forensic analyses to the bones, clothing and electronic equipment from the youth with the theory of fiscal Bethsaida Pittí, who assumed that after getting lost on the El Pianista trail, the girls were swept away and killed by the river Culubre, on whose banks their bones were found. Octavio Calderón is blunt in refuting the hypothesis of the prosecution with some key points: ‘nothing indicates that they were near water; besides: two bones from different parts of the body of two different people never just end up washed on the same sandbank, together. This shows that someone placed them there. There is no other possible reason. other reason. The version that they were supposedly in the river has no foundation; no proof. The fact that the clothes and wallet were found intact contradicts the hypothesis of the prosecution, Calderón insists. La Estrella de Panama tried to contact the Prosecutor Pittí Bethsaida, but the PR team for the prosecution did not return calls. The criminologist Calderon also rules out that the girls have been attacked by wild animals. It is based on the report submitted by the National Environmental Authority, which states that there are snakes, lions and tigers in the area. In any case, Calderon says, if the beasts had attacked, then where are the girls' skulls? These animals do not swallow a skull. Cougars, he adds, are solitary animals who avoid interacting with humans and if it had been a snake then it would have attack one person, not both at the same time. The lawyer for the Kremers family, Enrique Arrocha, agrees. ‘If these young women were attacked by animals then why was there clothing found intact? If these attacks had occurred, there would be clearly visible markings on the clothes, and this is not the case, said the lawyer. Another shocking issue is the phosphorus found on Kris' rib. Arrocha requires an extension of the report, stating that the rib seems to have suffered the consequences of phosphates elements, as the environment where the bones were found is not volcanic soil. Calderón says that the phosphorus found on the remains could point towards the use of fertilizers or chemicals on the remains. Desperation may have led the attacker to use such substance to make the evidence ‘disappear’, he said. He didn't dare to draw a profile of the murderer. ‘The way in which the ankle and the bones have been found, could indicate that he is a young person who is inexperienced in these type of situations. An amateur improvising once presented with obstacles’. This could explain the presence of a pelvis and a wallet in the same place, he said. The Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences revealed that the bones do not show traumas from the effect of the use of sharp objects, firearms or laceration, caused by a dismemberment."
From Adelita Coriat. The Dutch remains contain fingerprints and DNA. "13 samples were taken from the backpack, and it was possible to determine that two of them belonged to two unknown women. A dozen fingerprints were found on the Apple and Samsung phones owned by Lisanne Froon and Kris Kremers, The Dutch who died in unclear circumstances after traveling the Pianist trail, in the district of Boquete, Chiriqui. The report prepared by the Netherlands Forensic Institute reveals that three of the fingerprints were found on the self-adhesive tape that connected the camera and the phones. One of the prints, of which a photo was sent to the Panamanian authorities, can be matched in the database of Panama. This fact seems to have gone unnoticed by prosecutor Pittí Bethsaida, who so far has not controlled and checked the fingerprint with the locals inhabitants or other possible suspects, who may have manipulated objects. According to the lawyer Enrique Arrocha, advocate for the Kremers family, the prosecutor has also not taken statements from people who gave the belongings to them, and the prosecutor also did not collect other DNA found on clothing and items of the girls. The Dutch forensic report failed to detect DNA profiles on the phones and camera. However, six samples have been taken from the bras found on the bank of river Culubre. Five of them were not good enough to allow to have their DNA extracted from. profiles; a sixth was from one of the employees of the Institute. From the backpack 13 samples were obtained, and it was possible to determine that two of them came from two unknown women. In the fifth sample a DNA profile profile was found which was a mixture of two unknown persons, of which at least one is a male. The theory of prosecutor Bethsaida Pittí is that the Dutch got lost during their hike on the trail and that they were killed during an accident. The prosecutor also referred to a report prepared by the National Environmental Authority which established the presence of wild animals in the area that Kris and Lisanne explored. However, in the report to the Netherlands no evidence of an attack by a wild animal was detected. The backpack and bras of the girls showed traces of leaves and soil material. The Dutch forensic institute failed to determine the source of these plants for lack of reference. The task was forwarded to the Panamanian prosecution, but, to date, Pittí has also not compared these botanical results with the vegetation at site where these objects from the girls were found, or the surrounding area. For criminologists, the evidence gathered so far is enough to begin a homicide investigation. The findings are indicative that the women were not lost, as claimed by the prosecutor, but that they were killed and their remains, bones and belongings, were intentionally planted on the banks of river Culubre -a 12 hours walk from the road where they were last seen. Arrocha reported that anthropological examination of the skeletal remains of young women determined that the rib from Kris was found in an area with the presence of phosphate, which would explain the whitish color on the bones. However, the prosecution has not established whether the bone was subjected to a chemical process intentionally or circumstantial. Recently, Pittí gave the bones (evidence for the prosecution) to Lisanne relatives. At the same time, she said that she was waiting for the Kremers family request to deliver Kris' remains to them. Arrocha said he will not make that request, because those bones are essential to complete the research evidence [and thus they must stay in Panama and Pitti should not get off further investigation so easily]. The European forensics also revealed that the girls made several calls to Dutch and Panamanian helplines, 112 and 911, respectively.Comments
Jeff Polhill on September 30, 2014 at 6:20 PM: What I gather is that the parents or anyone else will ever know what caused the girls’ deaths.
Cynthia Mulder on October 1, 2014 at 7:03 am: I believe that the families will continue to investigate, a parent may never give up without a conclusion. There seems too many conflicts in the reports. Private investigations may in the end bring the most information, however also we may never find the truth. The sad reminder is never to hike or walk alone without a trusted local guide, and always let others know your plan/route. This can be said in any country. It is tragic that the girls are gone, I hope for the families and people who helped with the investigation that someday the truth come out.
Genaro on October 2, 2014 at 11:14 am: Someone knows how and why these lovely young women met their untimely demise. The evidence recovered begs more questions than it provide answers. EVERY person from the area of the El Pianista passage and those who came into contact with Lisanne and Kris that day needs to be more thoroughly scrutinized. This tragic and sad event should not remain a mystery. My heart aches for their families and friends.
Benfatto on October 8, 2014 at 12:44 am: For every point brought up by the lawyer there is a possible explanation. Not that it proves anything, but neither does he.
– A backpack floats and can wash ashore earlier or later than a body.
– Scavengers can spread remains after they have died.
– Understandably, a lot of a amateurs where involved in the search, resulting in sloppy evidence gathering, leaving prints and so forth.
– The girls both had bikinis with them, and could have worn those instead of bras, or even gone with only a shirt. (perhaps more comfortable hiking)
– Any evidence was exposed to the elements for two months.
– They might not have died at the same time.
There is no evidence to prove anything other than they got lost. After that, well, I guess we’ll never know for sure.
Marius on December 8, 2014 at 12:14 PM: The Froon family has come to the conclusion, that they indeed got lost. They reached the top of the mountain of the Pianista trail, from where you normally would return, but they continued and descended on the other side, where there is not really a trail. This assumption is based on the phone calls they have made and the pictures which they took. As Guy says how many times did this not happen to any of us , but by pure luck we survived during hiking or cross country skiing.We will never know for sure, but foul pplay is very unlikely, if you look at the pictures. Martin Froon was on Dutch TV early November to announce, that the Froon family has closed the investigation.
Genaro on October 2, 2014 at 11:14 am: Someone knows how and why these lovely young women met their untimely demise. The evidence recovered begs more questions than it provide answers. EVERY person from the area of the El Pianista passage and those who came into contact with Lisanne and Kris that day needs to be more thoroughly scrutinized. This tragic and sad event should not remain a mystery. My heart aches for their families and friends.
Benfatto on October 8, 2014 at 12:44 am: For every point brought up by the lawyer there is a possible explanation. Not that it proves anything, but neither does he.
– A backpack floats and can wash ashore earlier or later than a body.
– Scavengers can spread remains after they have died.
– Understandably, a lot of a amateurs where involved in the search, resulting in sloppy evidence gathering, leaving prints and so forth.
– The girls both had bikinis with them, and could have worn those instead of bras, or even gone with only a shirt. (perhaps more comfortable hiking)
– Any evidence was exposed to the elements for two months.
– They might not have died at the same time.
There is no evidence to prove anything other than they got lost. After that, well, I guess we’ll never know for sure.
Marius on December 8, 2014 at 12:14 PM: The Froon family has come to the conclusion, that they indeed got lost. They reached the top of the mountain of the Pianista trail, from where you normally would return, but they continued and descended on the other side, where there is not really a trail. This assumption is based on the phone calls they have made and the pictures which they took. As Guy says how many times did this not happen to any of us , but by pure luck we survived during hiking or cross country skiing.We will never know for sure, but foul pplay is very unlikely, if you look at the pictures. Martin Froon was on Dutch TV early November to announce, that the Froon family has closed the investigation.
And this is Lee's last blog post on Lisanne and Kris, before he passed away himself in July of 2015. Title: Perhaps the final word on Kris and Lisanne
March 4, 2014 by Lee Zeltzer
7 Comments
"Press Release: Kris & Lisanne most likely to have been involved in a fatal accident near the Pianista trail concludes a team of Forensic Specialists. Amersfoort – March 4rd, 2015 – A team of forensic specialists, including members of the Dutch dog rescue team of the RHWW foundation together with the Panamanian authorities, travelled to Boquete Panama early January to conduct a final search on behalf of the Family of Kris Kremers. The mission, on behalf of both families and supported by the foundation Find Kris & Lisanne, was to retrieve as many remains as possible from both girls and if possible find answers to what happened to Kris and Lisanne. The team of forensic specialists has – aside from the search for human remains – done a thorough and detailed analysis on the different scenarios which are considered most likely. The team consisting of members specialized in crime scene investigations and retrieving human remains have searched different areas with different valley’s and different rivers all ending up in the same Culebra river. The same river and location where previously items and belongings to Kris & Lisanne where discovered. Due to the amount of time that has passed since their disappearance and the rapid rising and dropping of water levels, the chances of ever uncovering more remains have become extremely limited. The fast flowing water takes everything down stream and refreshes the area regularly. The team, assisted by locals and guides, has walked the pianist trail just like the parents of Kris did last August. These specialists are concluding and supporting the fact that losing your way on this particular trail is highly unlikely. „The area where this is supposed to have taken place, simply is not an area where you can get lost. Anyone who is suggesting the girls lost their way and claiming this to be an actual possibility, has simply never physically been on the trail itself.” Says Frank van der Goot, teamleader during the search. The team has done a thoroughly investigation regarding the scenario involving a possible crime. „The geographical conditions, social conditions and technical facts which have surfaced during the forensic investigation, suggest a crime such as a robbery, a sexual offense, an act of violence or a kidnapping highly unlikely.” The option which remains is a fatal accident possibly caused by an unfortunate crash. "Especially the last part of descending the Pianista trail seems to have all the geographical conditions to suggest this is in fact a possible cause. In the event of crashing down these slopes, the victim or victims will find themselves in one of the riverbeds which river ultimately leads to the Culebra river. Circumstances down the riverbeds are similar to those found on the pictures retrieved from the digital camera. A fatal crash is also a conclusion which can be supported by the results of the investigations on discovered remains." The team of rescue dogs assisted by the Panamanian authorities have tried to reach the area where remains have been found in the past. In spite of their best efforts, due to bad weather conditions they were unable to complete their search. The search however did reveal new facts when one of the local people involved in the search, someone very familiar with the area, looked at the dark pictures retrieved from the digital camera found in the backpack. This opportunity was not given to him in the passed. He concluded that the the location where these pictures must have been taken are, in what later proved to be, the exact same area pointed out independently by the forensic specialists as „the location where a fatal accident could have occurred”. Although nothing can be said for certain based on the limited amount of clues and facts uncovered in the investigation, forensic specialists conclude Kris and Lisanne have most likely suffered a fatal accident where they have possibly crashed down a slope of which it was impossible to climb back up again without proper equipment. „Crashing down a slope in this area would have easily covered a difference in hight up to about 30 to 40 meters, which increases the chances of severe injuries. Aside from that, the riverbed is surrounded by waterfalls and steep cliffs of several meters in hight.” This location has now been pointed out by different people including specialists, independently from each other and acting without any self-interest. We have recently received confirmation by the Dutch Forensic Institute that the remains found in Panama are indeed remains belonging to Kris. We are now able to start arranging a funeral. As a family we are very relieved that finally after all this time we have found a plausible explanation regarding all the questions we had surrounding the passing of our beloved daughter Kris. We hereby want to give a huge thank you to all the people involved in getting answers for Kris and getting to the truth to what happened to Kris and Lisanne since their mysterious disappearance on April 1st of last year. We would not have been able to achieve these results if it hadn’t been for all the dedication and commitment we received from so many people out there willing to stand beside us.Comments
4sarge on March 4, 2015 at 8:51 am: Thoughts and Prayers for All – Thank you Lee for the follow up
dirtybabiescry on March 4, 2015 at 9:59 am: now the healing comes. RIP girls. thoughts & prayers for the family & friends of these lovely people. xo s
Kathleen Robbins on March 4, 2015 at 5:58 PM: I am so glad we now know what happened.
Marius on March 4, 2015 at 6:19 PM: Happy to hear, that the families have done everything to get the truth on the table. They are now convinced, that it was an accident. This gives them the opportunity to close the case in the sense, that they are satisfied, that they have done everything within their power to investigate the cause of their death. As we have said before: whoever goes hiking, skiing, climbing has had the experience, that he does not know the way back, feels lost or simply is in problems. Most of the time he finds the way back. Sometimes not. You cannot prepare your children for this. You just tell them: “be careful”. Most of the time they are. Sometimes not. We all sympathize with the families. It is for everybody a warning not to enter the jungle on your own. That way their demise serves a purpose. Kris and Lisanne were courageous girls, with a purpose in life, with a great sense of solidarity for the less privileged. We think of them with deep respect.
SO..... As Dave also highlighted, these comments from that time highlight not only insider info from people actually living there and details about the way in which the search unfolded. But they also show just how many witness statements contradict the official timeline, which was later constructed, based on the time stamp of the digital photos of the girls. It has always bothered me how much the witness statements oppose the official (corrected) timetable. Not one, or two witness statements that are off, but the large majority of the witness statements oppose the official reading. Giovanni of the Il Pianista restaurant; another coworker of said restaurant; Pablo of Casa Pablo; the taxi driver; the salesman from a small tobacco shop who spoke with them later in the afternoon. Then there was tour guide P. who passed them by on the trail in the afternoon, and the staff members of Spanish by the River, who from the moment the news broke that Kris and Lisanne didn't return home have stated that the girls left the school that afternoon shortly after 13:00. Which matched with the local who spoke with them as they waited by the side of the road for a cab (13:15 he said to have talked to them) and it also matches the cab driver who said he picked them up around 13:30. And then there was the CCTV footage in Boquete of that morning, which got overwritten by accident. And the waited who waited on them in the morning. So pretty much everyone was lying. Or confused. As in some mass (organized?) confusion. I wrote long chapters about this in my main blog post and then recently weeded that chapter out again, because I got too obsessed with the details of these witness statements, to the point of losing readers interest. It is frustrating though. Mystifying even. How can one disappearance case with as many details known as this one, be so littered with contradicting 'evidence'?? Betzaida Pitti was never to be trusted, that is the one thing I am sure about. But other than that, there is almost nothing you can blindly trust on here, not even the camera times; not even the authenticity of the photos. What can you believe anymore?Here Lee Zeltzer shows you around by car in Boquete and surroundings:
Boquete's forum members discussed also a warning safety leaflet, issued locally in town
By Linch K., April 16th 2014
Source
"Despite what people in Boquete think, Human Trafficking is here and has been for a long time. Panama is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically forced prostitution. Although some Panamanian women and girls are found in forced prostitution in other countries in Latin America and in Europe, most Panamanian trafficking victims are exploited within the country. Although statistics were lacking, both NGOs and government officials anecdotally reported that commercial sexual exploitation of children was greater in rural areas and in the city of Colon than in Panama City. NGOs report that some Panamanian children, mostly young girls, are subjected to involuntary domestic servitude. Most foreign sex trafficking victims are adult women from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and neighboring Central American countries; some victims migrate voluntarily to Panama to work but are subsequently forced into prostitution. Weak controls along Panama’s borders make the nation an easy transit point for irregular migrants, from Latin America, East Africa, and Asia, some of who may fall victim to human trafficking.
The Government of Panama does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. During the reporting period authorities increased public awareness about the prostitution of children through seminars in schools and an outreach campaign with the tourism sector. Despite such efforts, the government showed little evidence of progress in combating human trafficking. Law enforcement efforts remained weak, the Panamanian penal code did not prohibit trafficking for forced labor, and the government failed to provide adequate assistance to victims and to identify trafficking victims among vulnerable populations; therefore, Panama is placed on Tier 2 Watch List. Recommendations for Panama: Amend anti-trafficking laws to prohibit forced labor, including involuntary domestic servitude; intensify law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses and convict and sentence trafficking offenders, including any public officials complicit with trafficking activity; train government officials in anti-trafficking laws and victim identification and care; dedicate more resources for victim services; and develop a formal system for identifying trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, particularly women in prostitution.
Prosecution
The Government of Panama maintained its law enforcement efforts against trafficking crimes during the reporting period. Article 178 of the Panamanian penal code, which was updated in 2008, prohibits the internal and transnational movement of persons for the purpose of sexual servitude or forced commercial sexual activity. The prescribed sentence is four to six years imprisonment, which is increased to six to nine years if trafficking offenders use deceit, coercion, or retain identity documents, and is further increased to 10 to 15 years if the victim is under 14 years of age. Article 177 prohibits sexually exploiting another person for profit. Under aggravated circumstances of threat, force, or fraud, this constitutes human trafficking as defined by international protocol, and carries a sentence of eight to 10 years. Article 180 prohibits the internal and transnational trafficking of minors for sexual servitude, prescribing prison terms of eight to 10 years imprisonment, and Article 179 prohibits subjecting an individual to sexual servitude using threats or violence. Prosecutors may also use other statutes, such as anti-pimping laws, to prosecute trafficking crimes. The above punishments are sufficiently stringent and commensurate with those prescribed for rape. Panamanian law, however, does not specifically prohibit human trafficking for the purpose of forced labor, including domestic servitude. During the reporting period, the government investigated eight human trafficking cases and seven cases of commercial sexual exploitation of a child, which is comparable with last year’s efforts. During the year, however, authorities achieved only one conviction, compared with two achieved during the previous reporting period. The trafficking offender was sentenced to 72 months for pimping a child, which was reduced to 48 months incarceration for unreported reasons. This sentence does not appear to meet the standards established in the Panamanian penal code for this crime. Authorities maintained a small law enforcement unit to investigate sex trafficking and related offenses, and Panamanian law required that one prosecutor in each of Panama’s 13 provinces be trained to prosecute trafficking crimes. One prosecutor based in Panama City was dedicated exclusively to prosecuting trafficking crimes. There were no reports of partnerships with foreign governments in joint investigations of trafficking crimes during the reporting period, although Panamanian authorities met with Colombian officials to exchange information. The government opened no formal trafficking-related corruption investigations during the reporting period. Some judges received training on sex trafficking. There were no reports of training for the members of the diplomatic corps abroad.
Protection
The Panamanian government sustained limited efforts to assist trafficking victims during the reporting period, though overall victim services remained inadequate, particularly for adult victims. Authorities did not employ systematic procedures for identifying trafficking victims among vulnerable populations, such as women in prostitution or detained irregular migrants. Panamanian law requires the National Immigration Office’s trafficking victims unit to provide assistance to foreign trafficking victims. During the reporting period, however, authorities did not report extending victim services to repatriated Panamanian victims or foreign victims of trafficking, and the Immigration Office indicated that there were no foreign victims of trafficking over the past year. The government continued to provide partial funding to an NGO-operated shelter with dedicated housing and social services for child trafficking victims. This shelter, in addition to another NGO shelter working with at-risk youth, and the government’s network of shelters for victims of abuse and violence could provide services to child victims of trafficking, although the government did not report assisting any child victims last year. A shelter for child trafficking victims, funded by a foreign government, was in the process of being constructed. There was no shelter care available exclusively for adult victims of trafficking. The government could house adult victims in hotels on an ad hoc basis but did not report doing so or providing any legal, medical, or psychological services or long-term care to adult trafficking victims during this reporting period. In past years, Panamanian authorities encouraged victims to assist with the investigation and prosecution of trafficking offenders, although few victims chose to do so. The government did not provide foreign victims with legal alternatives to their return to countries where they may face hardship or retribution, although in past years foreign victims were allowed to remain in country during investigations. Trafficking victims were not penalized for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked; however, due to the lack of victim identification strategies, not all foreign victims may have been identified before deportation.
Prevention
The government maintained efforts to prevent human trafficking during the reporting period. To raise awareness about commercial sexual exploitation of children, the government conducted seminars in 84 schools, reaching 6,900 students, 230 teachers, and 140 parents. In collaboration with the ILO, the National Commission for the Prevention of Crimes of Sexual Exploitation, a multiagency task force, sent 300 letters to the tourism sector to raise awareness of commercial sexual exploitation of children. Child sex tourism is prohibited by law, though there were no reported prosecutions of sex tourists during the reporting period. During the reporting period, the government implemented its National Plan for Prevention and Elimination of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents by publishing a comprehensive guide on health care of children and adolescent victims of commercial sexual exploitation and through supporting a study of sex trafficking in Panama. The government undertook no initiatives to reduce demand for forced labor.
This was taken from a Department of State Report on Human Trafficking. I thought I would put this out there since I read a post by BEC that made mention of preventing future issues. From what I hear around Boquete, most people are naïve or simply in denial. It is common around the world even in quiet Boquete. I love to point out statistics and facts, and this would be a primary reason this particular popular tourist destination was most likely selected. Keep in mind that this is the 4th case in the last 10 years, which is extremely low by most agency or country standards. However it does lend credence to the fact that it's here. There are many steps that can be taken to prevent or slow the rate of Human Trafficking, I would suggest that training be attained from Qualified Professionals in the field. And the neighborhood watch does not count, well... unless it involves the responsible use of a boat horn. If Ning users want to be proactive, and personally contribute to the search for these young ladies I would suggest going to a website named Backpage.com and breaking it up by country and compare the pictures of the escorts to those of the missing girls. I have personally worked 4 recovery missions that were given actionable intel from this site. Start with the middle east, UAE being my first choice.
Replies (some of them)
Lee Zeltzer wrote on April 21st, 2014: "I have thought a lot before taking the action of closing this thread. It was of interest although the information cited was years out of date. Panama is a tier 2 country as are most non "first world" countries that do not fall into tier 3. Panama is not great on protection of victims of human trafficking in fact they offer Colombians a special sex trade Visa. None of this except the claim of four possible abductions in all of Panama is relevant. Since the one I know about, and the only other case in Boquete was a 29 year old British male. I doubt he was abducted for sex trade so that tragedy is probably not related to the content of this thread. I do not want to discount the problem nor the risk of abduction or being lost in the wilderness surrounding Boquete. I realize closing the barn door after the horses have escaped is important as a precaution for others still inside. There are people trying to do that now, Fran, Lori and the Spanish Language Schools are all trying to prevent this from occurring again. We are all hoping for a positive event and positive ending of this horror for Lisanne and Kris but this thread has become shopworn and is now closed."
C. B. L. wrote on April 20th, 2014: "Don't believe me then! Keep skipping around town pretending everything is la di la. Go check yourself. It's public record. Go to the DIJ and the sala judicial and ask them for files about the child porn case in boquete. I don't need to give you specifics, do the work yourself if you want verification. I was there. I saw the kids and the perps. I don't need verification that Boquete is about to go the way of Costa Rica. [..] Isn't the sex traffic theory speculating as well? Give me a break. This is reality. I can't sugar coat this nor it shouldn't be. My heart goes out to the family, but this is the real world, the 3rd world. This idea, you call it speculating, should have been investigated on day one. Many investigations and crimes are solved in the first 48 hours, after that, the odds of solving drop exponentially. You can read about the 2007-8 case, I don't know the exact date in the Prensa archives. there is also a youtube video about child porn that mentions Boquete and that case. The DIJ has info as well. You won't read about it in any Boquete welcome center."
Linch K. replied on April 19th, 2014: "Susan, I gave credit where it was due, the call center is a good thing even though I personally disagree with it. I feel if you chose to live in a Spanish speaking country then you should be able to communicate in said language. I have no axe to grind other than AAC has no business involved in a case such as this. They should know their place and stay in it. As far as being a true professional, brutal honesty just comes with the territory, sorry my chosen profession does not afford me the privilege to hug a tree every time my feelings are hurt. I tell you what, when everyone involved with AAC produces some credentials that validate their existence, I will close my ning account and leave the neighbor hood watch alone."
Henrietta V S wrote on April 19th, 2014: "WOW! Your post - your novella - is so wrong on so many different levels it's actually quite sad. I mean WOW. Good luck with that."
C. B. L. wrote on April 19th, 2014: "Why argue with these people? They're nothing but hero complexed ex-pats with no achievements. Ask for credentials, you get silence. Ask them for schools, nothing. All they do is brag, and brag about what they know is good for other people just to reprimand them later. You can't praise and scold in the same paragraph. Just leave them alone. Let them waste their energy.
Safe Home Security of Panama wrote on April 18th, 2014: "No one did a damn thing to research human trafficking/kidnapping or think about "what if there is one ounce of merit to the stories and the mayors warning". Hey "we have many young people that visit here maybe we should have the hostels, and other venues have some basic warnings and guide lines for our young visitors". Thankfully my kids school did up the security and protocol for pick up at the time of the reports. We are all aware of the evil in the world, especially to young women but most made the choice to dismiss the mayors warning and media coverage in Oct 2013. Instead of being pro-active, the warnings I posted were considered rumors and made fun of. I just feel bad, if our community would have used common sense maybe two young women would be home with their families. Hopefully in the future, young visitors that vacation in Chiriquí will be given some safety advise on their arrival." [..] "I posted several stories from local tv and newspapers in Oct 2013 about alleged kidnappings in Chiriqui on Ning. Many of the usual negative people chastised me for writing and called it a rumor. Many did not take me or any of the kidnappings seriously. I was overreacting and all the media outlets were lying, even the mayor.. A statement from the mayor Nov, 2013: the Mayor of San Lorenzo district, eastern Chiriqui, issued a statement alerting parents to pending departure of students in the college, and also monitor small when they are at home. Mireya Rodriguez Moreno, Deputy Mayor of San Lorenzo district, said the statement is a warning to parents, mainly because information was received from the National Police over an alleged kidnapping in the village of Mount Boca, San Lorenzo. "Yesterday the police told us of an alleged kidnapping in Boca del monte community. Well if the community would have taken any of it more seriously, maybe tourists would have been warned about traveling alone, recommendations about not taking rides with strangers, not hiking alone or informing foster homes where they were going and when they were scheduled to return. Pathetic... Linch..good job, tag your it!"
Mark Heyer wrote on April 18, 2014: "Linch, Your comments are right on the money, thanks. Although we don't know for sure, this event fits the profile: Attractive young women traveling UNACCOMPANIED are spotted at airports (San Jose) and turned over to catchers who befriend them and get them into a car under some pretext and convey them to the "business." Boquete itself is not being targeted, it was just the place where they let their guard down and took a ride, if indeed that is what happened. Human trafficking is an international problem, but it is also preventable if we took it as seriously as, say AIDS. Much more to be said going forward."
C. B. L. replied on April 20th, 2014: "When I started to come back to Panama to visit my parents and contracting with the u.s. embassy, in 2008, the child sex ring was recently busted in Caldera. It surprised me because I grew up here and that was unheard of. Among those found were many missing children that were kidnapped from around Panama, Costa Rica and Columbia and used as sex slaves. I did many details with the embassy and no one paid much attention because none were American. It was found that some kids were sent to other countries or even murdered. Some of those bodies were found without organs. No one can tell me crime is not a happening here. I am here because of crime, a personal one. There are murders, kidnappings, rapes, burglaries and simple attacks on people here that did not happen before. The Pianista trail is famous for those attacks. No one knows if the girls were kidnapped and used for sex slavery. It is just a theory. Another is that it was foul play, and the girls are... you know what. The thing to know is that if that's the case, the person or persons are still on the loose and will strike again. I've done too much and been though hell training to not know that. All of you should too. Take your hands from your eyes and ears and wake up."
Jim T. wrote on April 17th, 2014: "Don't forget the owners of Montañas de Caldera. Maybe this explains their disappearance.:)" [..] "When I first came to Panama I was standing in Line at the airport talking to a man from Miami. I asked why since he lived in Miami would he be going to Panama. He looked me up and down for a moment, got a small smile on his face and said "Because señor, You can get anything you want in Panama".
In this blog post of mine you can read about other cases of disappeared hikers, as well as see more info and images of Boquete and surroundings.
And this journalist died too? There are too many people die, among those who were connected to this case some way, for it to be simply "they got lost and died from elements."
ReplyDeleteAs none one has replied your question..., have something in mind: many foreigners living in the Boquete community are retired people, so, from time to time is quite usual to see obituaries (especially in the Ning web page).
DeleteL. Z was a well know resident and the owner of Boquete Ning and other website, his death happened suddenly and that caused some trouble to the Alto al Crimen foundation he led, because some of the operative part need access to bank accounts and in Panama (and I suppose the rest of the world) some paperwork is needed to change a deceased member.
Fantastic work collecting all those testimonies, Scarlet. Absolulutely amazing.
ReplyDelete