panama tourist deaths

Florida tourist hub has most drownings in US

The white sands and aquamarine waters of Panama City Beach make it a bustling tourist destination in the summer. 

It’s also one of the most dangerous places in the nation for beachgoers because of currents that put people at risk of drowning. Local officials have issued countless warnings, but swimmers still venture out. Seven people have died this year from rip currents that pull tourists from the Florida city and the surrounding coastline into the Gulf of Mexico.

Three died at Panama City Beach and four others drowned nearby in unincorporated Bay County. Three men in their mid-20s from Birmingham, Alabama, drowned together at a beach in an unincorporated area on June 21 . There were another two deaths on June 23 – a 59-year-old woman from St. Louis and a 29-year-old man whose hometown wasn't identified.

All seven were tourists who entered the Gulf during single red flag warnings . These mean that dangerous rip currents are expected and lifeguards recommend staying out of the water. This week, Panama City Beach police increased coastal patrols to prevent more people from drowning. Officials issued double red flag warnings, which prevent people from entering the water. Anyone who violates the order is subject to arrest and a $500 fine.

Rip currents kill 4 in 48 hours: Panama City Beach on pace to be deadliest in US

"The double red flag situation is extremely concerning for us," Police Chief J.R. Talamantez said. "I would rather have more officers on the sand as a presence out there to try and prevent people from drowning, than (those) officers looking for traffic infractions.”

Saturday is expected to reach the mid-90s, with heat indices making it feel like it’s well into triple digits. In a morning forecast , the National Weather Service office in Tallahassee said it will be “quite hot and muggy outside.”

Storm watch: Tropical Storm Beryl forms in Atlantic, could be hurricane by Saturday night

But that doesn’t mean tourists in areas with dangerous currents should plunge into the Gulf just yet. NWS also issued a high rip current risk through Sunday morning for all Bay and Gulf counties beaches. “Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,” an NWS coastal hazard message said.

Common flag colors used in beach flag warning systems include a green flag for low-hazard conditions, a yellow flag for medium-hazard conditions, one red flag for high-hazard conditions and two red flags for very dangerous conditions. Panama City Beach and Bay County, however, never fly green flags because officials say beachgoers should always be cautious anytime they enter the Gulf. 

Local officials have said beach flags in Bay County do not represent how large waves are at a given time, but indicate how strong the rip currents are. 

"Waves aren't killing people here. Waves aren't the hazard," Daryl Paul, fire rescue beach safety director for Panama City Beach, told the Panama City News Herald. "It's rip currents that are the hazard, and that's what we're flying the flags for."

Last year, Panama City Beach’s rip currents drowned more people than anywhere else in the U.S., according to the National Weather Service. At least eight people died at the Gulf Coast community, making up nearly a third of Florida’s 30 deaths from rip currents. By comparison, in 2023, five people died after being swept up by currents in New Jersey. California, South Carolina and Louisiana each had three deaths. 

During the summer, popular beaches carry hidden dangers: fast-moving channels can drag a swimmer away from shore and exhaust them as they try to fight their way back to safety. The National Ocean Service  estimates  thousands of people are rescued from rip currents each year in the U.S. About 91 people died in rip currents at U.S. beaches, according to weather service data. That was up from the 10-year average of 74 deaths per year.

The NWS recommends swimming near a lifeguard if you're at the beach. If you're caught in a rip current, it’s best to remain calm . Swim parallel to the shore, not toward it, until you’re free of the current. Then swim back to land. If you're unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.

Jeanine Santucci of USA TODAY and Jim Ross of the Ocala StarBanner contributed to this story.

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Fifth tourist in four days dies in waters off same florida beach town.

The fifth tourist in just four days died in the waters off the same Florida beach town on Sunday.

A 60-year-old woman visiting the Sunshine State from Missouri was the latest victim of the sea’s dangerous riptides in Panama City Beach.

Her death came after three men drowned on Friday — one day after a teen died in the Gulf waters.

In the latest tragedy, Debbie Szymanski of St. Louis was enjoying the beach near the Carillon neighborhood with her family when they realized she was not responding after going out for a swim around 11:30 a.m., the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said.

Family members grabbed her and began bringing her to shore as sheriff’s deputies and EMS rushed in. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Two days earlier, three young dads from Birmingham, Alabama, were killed just minutes after arriving at an Airbnb they had rented with a group of six for a vacation in Panama City Beach.

The friends — Harold Denzel Hunter, 25, Jemonda Ray, 24, and Marius Richardson, 24 — checked into their rental near the Watercress Condominiums on the beach just before 8 p.m. and rushed into the ocean for a quick dip, according to the sheriff’s office.

Within minutes, all three got caught in a rip current.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Services, Coast Guard and Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission all responded and searched the dark waters from ground level and from above, using helicopters.

The three men were all eventually found and pulled from the water, but all three died at local hospitals, the sheriff’s office said.

“The acts of courage by first responders were amazing,” Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said in a statement. “Many of our rescue swimmers with the Sheriff’s Office, Bay County Emergency Services and Panama City Beach went into the dark and dangerous waters for over two hours to attempt to rescue and search for the young men.

“I worry about the emotional toll that these situations take on first responders as I know I’m struggling with it as well,” he added.

Their deaths shook the local community and first responders.

“I have such a heavy heart this morning about the loss of three young visitors to our community,” Ford said the following day. “I’m praying for their family and ask that you do the same. It is such a tragedy.”

Ray and Richardson were cousins who grew up like brothers and Hunter was their friend, family members told AL.com .

Ray was the dad of a toddler son and worked at Amazon, Richardson was a married father of a 2-year-old son, and Hunter was a dad of a young son and daughter, according to the local outlet.

Ray’s girlfriend and Richardson’s wife were also on the trip.

The first of the five victims, 19-year-old Ryker Milton, died Thursday evening after he went out for a swim and got caught in a current, local ABC affiliate station KOCO News reported.

Milton, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was with a friend at the beach around 4 p.m. when a rip current caught him, the station reported.

Lifeguards pulled him from the gulf and began life-saving measures on the beach before he was brought to an area hospital in critical condition. He died in the emergency room, Panama City officials told the station.

The teen was a star soccer player at Hilldale High School, from which he graduated in 2023, according to online tributes.

“Today, we lost one of the most special kids to come through our program. It’s so hard to describe this young man in words that will do his life justice,” Hilldale Soccer said in a Facebook post. “From all of the coaches, players, parents, and more, we love you Ryker. It was an honor to coach you, play with you, and cheer you on. You changed all of our lives. We will miss you so much.”

The sheriff’s office and other officials have repeatedly warned people to stay out of the gulf waters if red flags are posted.

“PLEASE STAY OUT OF THE WATER,” Ford posted on Facebook Sunday after Szymanski was brought ashore. “The water can appear calm but underneath currents are treacherous today. It’s just too dangerous right now to swim.”

The five victims were all swimming when either double or single red flags were posted on beaches.

Double red flags indicate “extremely dangerous conditions” and that no one should be swimming as the water is closed. Single red flags indicated “high hazard conditions with high surf and/or currents.”

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Panama City Beach leads the nation in 2023 beach deaths as 3 more tourists die Saturday

PANAMA CITY BEACH − Three more tourists are dead after swimming in the Gulf of Mexico under dangerous surf conditions .

According to a Panama City Beach news release, Beach Police officers responded to "three separate fatal water incidents behind three different resorts" on Saturday. The city lists them as "fatal water incidents" because officials have said it is not known whether the victims drowned or had another medical emergency in the water.

Still, Saturday's deaths make seven along the coast of Bay County within nine days. It's the highest number of beach fatalities for any single locale in the U.S. for 2023, according to a database kept by the National Weather Service. Less than a half hour to the northwest in Walton County, one person died on Thursday in similar conditions at Blue Mountain Beach and another died Saturday at Miramar Beach, the second this year on that beach, according to the NWS.

All of the victims Saturday in Panama City Beach were tourists who died after grappling with rip currents, and in every instance but one, double red flags were posted, meaning the gulf was closed to swimmers under penalty of a $500 fine.

June 22 death: Fourth in a week: Tourist from Tennessee dies in rough surf in Panama City Beach

June 21 death: Another person dies off the coast of Bay County; third local drowning within a week

The first fatal incident on Saturday occurred about noon near Days Inn by Wyndham Panama City Beach at 12818 Front Beach Road. The victim was Kimberly Moore, 39, of Lithonia, Georgia.

The second occurred about an hour later near Boardwalk Beach Resort at 9450 South Thomas Drive. The victim was Morytt Burden, 63, of Lithia Springs, Georgia.

The third happened about 4:20 p.m. near Emerald Isle Beach Resort at 17545 Front Beach Road. The victim was Donald Wixon, 68, of Canton, Michigan.

"The conditions at the time were severe, with double red flags indicating extreme water hazards," the release reads. "The Panama City Beach Police Department and Beach Safety implore the public to always heed the double red flag warnings and always be aware of the dangers that can accompany these conditions.

Beach safety: How do you get out of a rip current? Some safety tips for beachgoers in Panama City Beach

The release also states that over the past 10 days, there were reports of 70 distressed swimmers, about 40 of which happened on Saturday.

"Double red flag conditions have existed on the beach for the last week," the release reads. "Double red flags mean you are not allowed in the Gulf."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Three tourists died Saturday while swimming in Panama City Beach surf

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At least 12 have drowned at Florida beaches as rip current continues to plague Panhandle

Deadly rip currents are to blame for a dozen apparent drownings over the past two weeks on Florida's Panhandle, where there aren't enough lifeguards to keep beachgoers from venturing out into the water — despite red flag warnings, experts said Wednesday.

“The combination of southwest waves and the strengthening sea breeze will increase wave heights and heighten the rip current risk,” NBC meteorologist Kathryn Prociv warned. “The outgoing tide from midday through early afternoon today will also add to the rip current risk.”

Adding to the danger is the chronic shortage of qualified lifeguards, said Tom Gill, a spokesman for the nonprofit United States Lifesaving Association.

“Swimming on an actively guarded beach is always the safest option,” Gill said. “But not every beach is patrolled by a lifeguard and the high heat has been pushing a lot of people into the water.”

The result is that some of America’s most beautiful beaches, stretching across the panhandle to the Alabama border, are now the deadliest as well, according to data from the National Weather Service.

Seven of the 12 deaths were reported in Panama City Beach, which now has the highest number of apparent drownings in any single locale in the U.S. this year, according to the NWS’s “Surf Zone Fatalities” database . All the fatalities were men ranging in age from 39 to 68.

By comparison, as of Wednesday there have been a total 60 apparent drownings in the entire country, according to the NWS website.

Panama City Beach spokeswoman Debbie Ingram said they just don’t have enough lifeguards to patrol the nine miles of beach in their resort community, which is a favorite destination for spring break partiers.

“Hiring is a struggle,” Ingram said in a text exchange. “We are competing with other beach communities, some of whom offer higher wages. Many times we get college kids who go back to school.”

Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford, whose jurisdiction includes Panama City Beach, said on the department's Facebook page Sunday that beachgoers who flout the law and have to be rescued by his deputies are partially to blame for the "tragic and unnecessary deaths" in the Gulf of Mexico.

"These same heroes, who have risked it all to save others, have been cursed and given the finger, while trying to warn visitors of the life-threatening dangers," Ford wrote on Sunday.

While this many reported drownings in such a short period of time is unusual, the NWS has recorded 195 rip current deaths since 2002 on Panhandle beaches.

"Contrary to popular belief, the Gulf isn’t always 'flat' (calm with no surf)," the agency said in a recent update . "There are a variety of conditions that can bring big waves to the area and an increased threat for rip currents."

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett became the latest apparent drowning victim Tuesday, when he was pulled unconscious from the water in Destin, in nearby Okaloosa County.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that at the time Mallett was in the water, there were yellow beach safety flags flying and no indications of any rip currents.

“It’s a deadly combination of very hot weather and rough water conditions,” said Gill. “There have been red flag conditions on many of those beaches for days.”

A red flag condition occurs when the surf is deemed extremely dangerous as a result of big waves or strong rip currents that could drag even the strongest swimmer out to sea or, in the most recent cases, out into the Gulf of Mexico. 

And for the last three weeks, Florida and a large swath of the South has been baking in a brutal early-season heat wave , with some areas recording triple-digit temperatures.

While lifeguard “staffing levels” this year are better than they were last year, Gill said “the staffing agencies are still having to fight for every prospect they can get because there are still more jobs than available lifeguards.”

Panama City Beach has 10 permanent lifeguards, eight of whom work full time, Ingram said. They also have a dozen more lifeguards who were hired to work six months.

But it’s not enough, the spokeswoman said, which is why money to hire an additional lifeguard has been built into the city budget every year for the past three years.

Last year, beach attendance across the U.S. was over 262 million and 53,387 people had to be rescued, according to statistics from 110 agencies compiled by USLA, t he lifesavers association .

That was actually a decline from 2021, when beach attendance was nearly 343 million — more than the population of the U.S. — with 77,702 rescues reported by 120 agencies, according to the USLA.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

Fourth in a week: Tourist from Tennessee dies in rough surf in Panama City Beach

PANAMA CITY BEACH − For the fourth time in a week, a person has died in the Gulf of Mexico after attempting to rescue someone fighting a rip current.

According to a news release from the Panama City Beach Police Department, Christopher Bell, 47, from Decatur, Tennessee, died Thursday trying to save his girlfriend.

The incident occurred about 2:20 p.m. near the Flamingo Hotel and Tower at 15525 Front Beach Road. Double red flags were posted at that time, meaning the Gulf was closed to swimmers under penalty of a $500 fine.

"Officers arrived on scene to find a PCB Beach Safety lifeguard actively rescuing a female from the Gulf," the release reads. "She was successfully brought to shore. It was discovered the female's boyfriend was in the water, as he had attempted to rescue his girlfriend and was unaccounted for.

"Bystanders in the area noticed the man floating in the water and pulled him to shore."

June 21 drowning: Another person drowns off the coast of Bay County; third local drowning within a week

June 18 drowning: Another tourist drowns in Panama City Beach; second local drowning in less than a week

June 16 drowning: Former firefighter drowns in Panama City Beach attempting to help distressed swimmers

Bell was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"The conditions at the time were severe , with double red flags indicating extreme water hazards and rip currents," the release reads. "We remind the public to always heed these warnings and be aware of the grave dangers that can accompany these conditions.

"Double red flag conditions have existed on the beach for the last week. Double red flags mean you are not allowed in the Gulf ."

Beach safety: How do you get out of a rip current? Some safety tips for beachgoers in Panama City Beach

Push back: 'Just defiant': Panama City Beach has ticketed more than 70 for ignoring beach warnings

Panama City Beach, in a news release, called the death a "fatal water incident." Spokesperson Debbie Ingram said it's because the death has not yet been officially classified as a drowning and the city doesn't know whether Bell drowned or had another medical emergency in the water.

Along with Bell's death, three other tourists died in Bay County in the past week after grappling with rough surf conditions. Two occurred under double red flags, while one was under a single red flag.

Like Bell, two of the others died after attempting to rescue someone who was fighting a rip current. The other person simply disregarded the warnings of the beach flag safety system.

Richard Alford, 52, of Lula, Georgia, died June 18 after he entered the Gulf under double red flags to help two distressed swimmers. The incident occurred at Public Beach Access 75, which is located near Front Beach Road and South Vestavia Street.

Christopher Pierce, 47, of Helena, Alabama, died June 18 after he attempted to rescue his daughter under a single red flag. The incident occurred near Tidewater Beach Condominiums at 16819 Front Beach Road.

Stacy Scala, 53, of Panama City Beach, died June 21. Witnesses told local law enforcement officials Scala announced he was going to swim despite the double red flags. The incident occurred near Pelican Walk Rentals at 6905 Thomas Drive.

According to Lance Franck, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, the extremely rough conditions of the Gulf that have plagued Bay County during the past week stem from a strong onshore wind out of the southwest that has led to higher surfs.

Not counting the four Bay County deaths over the past week, there have been 18 drownings at Florida beaches so far this year, according to the NWS website . All but two of those were attributed to rip currents.

"We're getting strong and life-threatening rip currents," Franck said. "People should take rip currents seriously because they can be deadly, and they can occur on fair weather days when the sun's out. The surf might not look too bad. The water might not look too rough. But there (can still be) dangerous rip currents out there."

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Fifth Tourist Dead in 4 Days While Visiting Panama City Beach as Authorities Issue Warnings to Swimmers

Debbie Szymanski, 60, was found unresponsive in the water off Panama City Beach on Sunday, June 23

Aileen Perilla/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A Missouri tourist was found unresponsive in the waters off a Florida beach and pronounced dead at the hospital, becoming the fifth tourist to die within four days.

Debbie Szymanski, 60, was swimming in the waters around 11:30 a.m. on June 23, when family members realized she was unresponsive and began "to bring her to shore," the Bay County Sheriff's Office’s wrote in a statement on Facebook .

“Szymanski was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased,” police added.

Her official cause of death has not yet been released.

Earlier that day, authorities warned visitors on Facebook to “stay out of the water.” They also confirmed that the water conditions were “too dangerous right now to swim” and explained that “the water can appear calm but underneath currents are treacherous.” 

Her death came two days after three men from Alabama were rescued from the water on June 21, but died at the hospital, per the Bay County Sheriff's Office .

Getty Images

"The three [men] arrived with their group of friends in Bay County yesterday just before 8 p.m.” and ended up getting caught in a rip current shortly after entering the water, police said.

"I have such a heavy heart this morning about the loss of three young visitors to our community,” Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford added in a statement . “[I’m] praying for their family and ask that you do the same. It is such a tragedy.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The three men were identified by police as Harold Denzel Hunter, 25, and Jemonda Ray and Marius Richardson, both 24, according to  AL.com ,  CNN  and  Alabama TV station WALA .

According to verified GoFundMe accounts from their relatives, the three men, all fathers , were visiting the area from Alabama.

On June 23, a teenager from Oklahoma, identified as Ryker Milton, also died after getting caught in a rip current, per ABC affiliate KOCO-TV and Fox affiliate KOKI-TV .

Authorities issued another warning on June 25, telling swimmers to be careful amid the strong currents.

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How this journalist found herself in the middle of a Panamanian true crime story

At the beginning of the year, I got a call about a story. It was about Kris Kremers, 21, and Lisanne Froon, 22, two Dutch women who went on a hike in Panama eight years ago and were never seen again. The Panamanian government had ruled their deaths an accident. The journalist on the other end of the line was Daily Beast reporter Jeremy Kryt, who had been following this case since the beginning. His question was matter-of-fact: Would I go to Panama with him to find out what really happened to the so-called “Lost Girls”?

The proposition reignited something in me that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Two years after covering breaking news as a national correspondent for MSNBC, I decided to strike out as an entrepreneur during what turned out to be the Covid-19 downturn. I felt I was drifting. I grew my career as a social media influencer and it was feeding my income, but not my soul.

know-your-value 5 ways to defy cultural barriers with MSNBC’s Mariana Atencio

This story called me. There were elements about what supposedly happened to the women that didn’t add up. Kryt pointed to new evidence suggesting foul play: Kris and Lisanne may have been intercepted and assaulted on the hike.

When he told me this, my posture sank. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Every molecule of my body felt on high alert: I felt their trauma.

Kryt didn’t know, but I had experienced something similar. More than 13 years ago, when I was nearly the same age as the Dutch women and a college student, I was hiking by myself in the Ávila mountains above my hometown of Caracas, Venezuela, and I was attacked by a man on a trail.

Fortunately, in my case, I did manage to survive the attack physically unharmed. But I have never forgotten the pain and the overwhelming feeling of helplessness it caused me. We keep trauma hidden away – lest it becomes too much to bear – but suddenly a stranger on the other end of the phone can unknowingly bring it forth in an instant, like a ton of bricks hitting you over the head on some idle Tuesday.

I realized I was a lost girl too. Here was a great chance to find myself by getting back to the work I loved the most, seeking the truth and long-delayed justice for these women and their families.

Many people – including my agent – told me not to take the job, and understandably so. Did it sound reasonable to just fly down to Central America and traipse around the jungle in a place where people might be covering up the deaths of these poor women? Still, there were so many elements about this mystery I couldn’t resist.

Kris and Lisanne had gone to the small town of Boquete, in the Talamanca Highlands of Panama, to learn Spanish and volunteer with young children. On April 1st, 2014, they went up a trail called “El Pianista” (The Pianist) and didn’t come back down. As the rainy season started, Dutch and Panamanian search teams combed the area to no avail. Both families pleaded for their whereabouts.

Two months later, a few scattered human remains turned up: Kris’s bifurcated pelvis, and Lisanne’s left foot – severed at the ankle – found inside a hiking boot. Then Lisanne’s backpack was turned in by locals. In it were the women’s cell phones, their bras, $87 in cash, and a Canon Powershot camera containing dozens of horrific photos taken at night and dated a week after their disappearance.

¿Qué pasó con ellas? I couldn’t turn away.

The closer I got to this story, the more I encountered signs connecting me to these women. For starters, the assignment fell on my birthday. Upon getting to our remote bungalow in the mountains, I found a notepad from my father’s Indiana high school behind a counter. My dad passed away a few years ago, we were extremely close. I fervently believe his energy is constantly around me. And when the women went missing, they had a dog with them. A dog named Blue. And the dog I adopted after my father passed away? Its name is Blue too.

But to get to the heart of this story, I had to get to the heart of the jungle. After flying down to Panama City, then west to a city called David and driving to Boquete, we started retracing Kris and Lisanne’s two-hour hike into “El Pianista” on the anniversary of their disappearance.

All told, the reporting involved nearly a month in the field – riding horses and reaching key areas only by helicopter – and camping where the women likely went missing. During the jungle stints, I was the only woman among a crew of nine men.

Everyone on our crew – including our indigenous guides and local support – risked their lives to find out what happened to these young women. This story is that explosive in Boquete. A dirty little secret everyone theorizes about. They refer to it in hushed tones and many won’t dare grant you an interview about it in broad daylight.

During our investigation, we came across government corruption, possible drug trafficking, even mentions of organ and human trafficking. Without giving too much away, I will tell you that my life was directly threatened, which had never happened before, even while covering cartel-related violence in Mexico or crackdowns against protests in China or Cuba.

As the team dug into what happened to Kris and Lisanne eight years ago, we found more than 50 cases of missing women and girls in that same 40-mile corridor of Panama. Femicide – extreme violence and murder of women based on their gender – is so rampant in Latin America it has been labeled a “shadow pandemic” by the United Nations. At least one third of women in Latin America and the Caribbean have experienced some form of violence from men, according to the most recent stats from the World Health Organization .

In northern Panama where the women went missing the numbers are alarming, especially for an area that’s considered a mecca for expats and tourists. As a Latin-American woman, I had to find out what happened to Kris and Lisanne, but also shed more light on this epidemic of violence against women in our hemisphere and within our communities.

To be sure, the case of two Dutch women deserves the media attention, what happened to them was unconscionable. But they were also beautiful, young and blonde: the ideal true crime victims. Other women, darker women, with Spanish or indigenous names who disappear usually don’t even get a tweet about their cases.

While we were on the ground in Panama, another woman – Stephanie Rodriguez – went missing. Her body was later found in a dumpster. We made a point to interview her husband, Ilich Leon. He was so afraid to speak openly, we had to conduct the interview in the back seat of our car in a parking garage. A man with a strong physique, I still remember the tears of helplessness rolling down Leon’s cheeks as he held a framed photo of Stephanie in his hands.

After that, my priorities shifted during this investigation. I reconnected to the struggles of everyday people and got back to boots on-the-ground reporting in places far from the headlines. Maybe I had stopped doing it because of the pandemic – there was certainly no possibility of doing this kind of story during quarantine – or maybe that was the lie I told myself while I was lost?

This case helped me deal with past trauma and regain my purpose. I felt uniquely prepared for it, speaking my native Spanish on assignment, while translating to English for our audience. I channeled my empathy as a Latina and used my fearlessness and physicality to get answers.

The investigation, which came out this week as the “Lost in Panama” true crime podcast series, is our team’s effort to uncover the truth. And my hope is that listeners also find a piece of themselves in the story of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon.

“Lost in Panama,” the true crime investigative podcast series produced by Kast Media, debuted October 31st and can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.

Mariana Atencio is a Peabody Award-winning Venezuelan-American journalist, speaker and author. A former NBC News correspondent, she is also the co-founder of GoLike, a multimedia production company. 

The Lost Girls of Panama: The Camera, the Jungle, and the Bones

The mysterious deaths of two young tourists in Panama puzzled examiners and shocked nations on both sides of the Atlantic; now secretly leaked documents reveal what happened.

Jeremy Kryt

Nadette de visser.

Courtesy of Jeremy Kryt

This is the final article in a three-part investigation of what may have been a savage crime or a tragic accident. In addition to a trove of documents and photographs revealing hitherto unexamined aspects of the case, The Daily Beast also consulted several top sleuths in fields as varied as wilderness survival and photographic analysis, including forensic anthropologist and best-selling author Kathy Reichs.

BOQUETE, Panama—At the crest of the Continental Divide stands a rustproof sign that reads:

END OF TRAIL, NO RETURN PASSAGE

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast  here .

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Watch CBS News

Details revealed about U.S. woman found dead on Panama island

February 7, 2017 / 7:49 AM EST / CBS/AP

SCARSDALE, N.Y. - - A 23-year-old American tourist found dead on a Panama island last weekend was from Westchester County, New York and graduated from Columbia University.

Panamanian authorities say the body of Catherine Johannet of Edgemont was found Sunday on a wooded trail not far from a beach on Bastimentos Island.

The U.S. Embassy in Panama City confirmed her death. No cause of death was provided.

CBS New York reported that in a Sunday evening Facebook post, Johannet’s sister Laura thanked her friends for their support as they tried to find Catherine.

“My family is thinking of all our beautiful memories with our laughing, adventurous, warm little girl,” the post continued. “She was always there to listen to you and just enjoy life with her loved ones.”

The Journal News says Johannet had posted online that she graduated from Edgemont High School in 2011 and Columbia in 2015, and had worked as a teacher in Vietnam until last October.

Officials say she had been staying at a hostel on nearby Colon Island. Johannet’s family says she traveled to Bastimentos last Thursday.

Panamanian authorities and the FBI are investigating.

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