The Murder of Cher Lynn Hughes in Bocas del Toro
By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The last time anyone saw Cheryl Lynn Hughes alive, she was with William "Wild Bill" Adolfo Cortez Reese on his property located in the area of Cauchero in Panama's Western province of Bocas del Toro. On the weekend of 20 March 2010, Cortez had thrown a party at his house. Cher was about to leave the next morning in a boat with a Panamanian friend. Cortez knew Cher was trying to sell her property, a hotel called the "Casa del Sapo" located on Isla Carenero. As Cher was about to get into the boat with her friend to leave, "Wild Bill" Cortez came running down and said "hey Cher, wait - I want to talk to you about buying your hotel." And then he barked at the Panamanian woman in the boat "you can get out of here, this is a private conversation between Cher and me that you don't have to hear," basically dismissing the woman in a rude manner. So, she left. That was the last time anyone (besides Bill Cortez) saw Cher Hughes alive. Yesterday, investigators from the Department of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) discovered Cher's body buried in a shallow grave on William Adolfo Cortez's property. I was told Cher's dog actually led the detectives and indicated where to look.
Missing Person Case Filed: Cher's friend filed a missing persons complaint in late March 2010 with the DIJ. (more)
Fun Loving, Full Of Life: Cher was part of the partying crowd in Bocas del Toro. No one has had anything bad to say about her, beyond the fact that she liked to party. Some people have said she helped out with the Bocas BESO charity organization, delivered books to a school on "her island", and really cared for and about the children in the area. Cher had no enemies that anyone knew of.
Killed For Her Hotel: Cher Hughes owned a hotel in Bocas del Toro called the "Casa del Sapo" as well as a Panamanian corporation called "Southern Exposure Inc." Her property does not appear in the Panamanian public registry because it's a Rights of Possession property. And, she still appears as the President of Southern Exposure Inc. However, if the shares in the company were issued as bearer shares, then (supposedly) whoever has those shares in their hands is the new "owner" of the company. The resident agent is supposed to keep track of who actually has the bearer shares. Interestingly, one of the first things "Wild Bill" Cortez did when he took over the hotel was to remove all of the files and boxes of archives. Was he looking for the bearer shares? Who knows. Now that the DIJ has discovered Cher's body buried in a shallow grave on Cortez's property, there's a good chance they will also find all of the documents related to Cher's company and belongings in his house as well. After "Wild Bill" Cortez and his wife took over the property, they fired the employees, took down the "Casa del Sapo" signs and put up a new sign calling the place "Casa Cortez."
Under New Management? That's one way to put it. This sign, written in English, explains how the "Casa del Sapo" is now under new management and the name has been changed to "Casa Cortez." This paper sign was located in the back of the small red car that's parked in front of Bo Icelar's property at Big Creek. Bill Cortez has apparently abandoned that car there, which is registered under the name "William Reese."
"Casa Cortez" on Facebook: How's that for brazen? On 13 May 2010 someone created a new Facebook page for the Casa Cortez hotel and uploaded a couple of photos and an advertisement. Chilling, considering that we now know "Wild Bill" Cortez and his wife apparently murdered Cher Hughes in order to steal this property from her. And, they took possession of everything, right down to her toothbrush.
Third Body Found? I just received information that the DIJ has possibly discovered a third body in Bocas del Toro. I spoke to people in the area who said the DIJ has not done any serious digging or searching at Bo Icelar's property as of yet. And, I was also told that the information I had received about Cortez supposedly pouring a new cement slab at Bo's property was also incorrect. In any case, investigators will now be working to determine the identities of the other two bodies, because from what I understand thus far only one has been positively identified - that of Cher Hughes. And, they're still digging. There's a good chance this string of murders will be traced back to Mexico, through Belize and Costa Rica, ending up here in Panama.
Copyright 2010 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.
