By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The CBS 48 Hours Mystery program "The Dark Side of Paradise" has been posted to the Internet. This is the story about the murders of Don North and Jean Pierre Bouhard at the hands of Javier Martin in January and February 2011. Here in Panama the local cable company no longer carries CBS, so anyone who wants to watch the program can see it online.

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - There will be a "viewing party" to watch the CBS 48 Hours Mystery program "The Dark Side of Paradise" airing tonight at 10:00 pm, at the Balboa Yacht Club on Amador. This program is about the murders of Don North and Jean Pierre Bouhard at the hands of Javier Martin in Panama, in January and February 2011. The local cable television provider removed CBS from their system about a year ago, and the Balboa Yacht Club has a satellite feed and can see the programming from Puerto Rico, so we're going to be holding a "viewing party" there later tonight. See you there...

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I was just notified the CBS News program 48 Hours Mystery "The Dark Side Of Paradise" will air this weekend, on Saturday, 4 February, at 10:00 pm eastern. From the CBS website - "When an American goes missing from his sailboat in a Caribbean paradise, his nephew follows the trail with the help of a journalist-turned-man hunter. Peter Van Sant takes you on their search Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 p.m. ET/PT." Here's a link to the "Sneak Peak" trailer on the CBS website.

This is the story of the murders of the American sailor Don North in the Kuna Yala, and the Frenchman Jean Pierre Bouhard in Portobelo early last year, at the hands of the Spaniard Javier Martin. The crew from CBS 48 Hours came down last year in July and August to investigate this program, and by the looks of the trailer they did a great job. I worked with the CBS crew on this program and there are many new elements and details contained in this program that have not been previously reported. I know Cable Onda has taken the CBS channel off of their programming, so therefore I'm going to be watching this program at the Balboa Yacht Club this Saturday night, because they have the satellite feeds to get CBS. I invite you all to come watch it with me. Saturday night, 4 February 2012, 10:00 pm, Balboa Yacht Club. Be there...

About CBS 48 Hours Mystery: (CBS News) "48 Hours Mystery" is television's most popular true-crime series, investigating shocking cases and compelling real-life dramas with journalistic integrity and cutting-edge style. "48 Hours"' in-depth approach has earned the program and its teams numerous awards including three Peabodys, 17 Emmys and five RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Awards. The 2011-12 season begins on Sept. 24, 2011. The correspondent for this program is Peter Van Sant -

• "Van Sant was named a correspondent for "48 Hours" in December 1998. His hour-long report on terrorists seizing and destroying a school in Beslan, Russia, won him both his fourth Emmy Award and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award. The Beslan report also won The Golden Word Award, the most prestigious award presented in Russia.

• Van Sant's report on the worldwide trafficking of human beings won a Sigma Delta Chi Award in 2005. He has also won an Overseas Press Club Award for an investigative report on the sale of human organs in Peru. He has also won three Edward R. Murrow Awards for other reports on "48 Hours." Van Sant reported on 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the Virginia Tech shootings. He has interviewed a host of celebrities over the years, including Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Garth Brooks, Nick Nolte, LeAnn Womack, and Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks of the country duo Brooks and Dunn."

From The Victim's Perspective: Don North's nephew Ezra also cooperated fully with this program. It was important to show what happened from the victim's perspective. Once again my heartfelt condolences go out to the friends and family of Don North and Jean Pierre Bouhard.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By Heather Yakin - Times Herald-Record: From the annals of "local boy makes very, very good" — Don Winner, a native of Middletown, has for the third time in the past few years helped identify and capture suspected killers in Panama.

Winner, who now lives in Panama, writes the website Panama-Guide.com, an English-language news blog that serves the expatriate community in that country.

His recent work, which helped in the capture of Javier Martin, will be featured at 10 p.m. Saturday on "48 Hours Mystery" on CBS, as "The Dark Side of Paradise."

The case involved two ex-pats — American Don North and Frenchman Jean Pierre Bouhard — who turned up dead in early 2011; their boats and property turned up in the hands of Spaniard Javier Martin.

Both men had encountered Martin before they disappeared.

Winner went to work, assisting North's nephew Ezra North in his quest to file a police complaint.

Winner's investigation, coupled with leads provided by his readers — helped push the official investigation that led to Martin's subsequent arrest.

Previously, Winner and his readers aided a victim's relatives and helped identify and track down William "Wild Bill" Dathan Holbert and his girlfriend, Laura Michelle Reese, who were charged in 2010 with killing five people in Panama and one in Costa Rica to take their property and money.

That case was featured on "Dateline" in a segment titled "Stealing Paradise."

Earlier in 2010, Winner put his skills to work for the family of homicide victim Denise Mullen Hiller, advocating for them with police.

The end result was her boyfriend being charged with murder.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "Hi Don, I heard a very disturbing(-i hope rumor) the other day. That Ms. Piggy was let out of jail because she is pregnant? I asked how could this happen, if she is in an all womens facility? A guard perhaps? Is this another way to get her out? I was told panamanian law forbids women to be in prison if pregnant. I hope you can clear this up for me. I was unable to find anything on your posts to say otherwise. I trust this will be kept confidential. Warmly, M."

Editor's Comment: This is the second time someone has approached me with this "rumor." No folks, Panama does not release accused serial killers because they might find a way to get themselves pregnant. Laura Michelle Reese is still tucked away in the Woman's Prison in Panama City, where she will remain for a very long time.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Bloomberg -- Three ex-UBS AG clients, including two who ran venture capital firms, were indicted on charges of hiding millions of dollars in assets from U.S. tax authorities through the use of secret offshore accounts. Stephen M. Kerr and Michael Quiel, who separately ran venture capital firms, were charged in an indictment made public yesterday in federal court in Phoenix. A former San Diego attorney, Christopher M. Rusch, was arrested Jan. 29 in Miami after being expelled from Panama at the request of the U.S. government. Kerr, who ran CCN Worldwide Inc., had accounts worth more than $5.6 million in 2007 that he failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service, according to a Justice Department statement and the Dec. 8 indictment. Quiel, who ran Legend Advisory Corp., had accounts valued at more than $2.6 million in 2007 that he also failed to report to the IRS, according to prosecutors and the indictment. He was arrested in the Phoenix area. Rusch had signature authority over secret accounts held by Kerr and Quiel, and helped facilitate their transactions, prosecutors said. Rusch also had secret offshore accounts in the names of others at UBS and a Panamanian bank, prosecutors said.

Golf Course - Rusch used a Panamanian entity he controlled to help Kerr buy a golf course in Colorado with money moved from Kerr’s Swiss accounts, prosecutors said. Rusch used his client trust account to transfer funds to Swiss accounts held by Kerr and Quiel and to repatriate their funds back to the U.S., prosecutors said.

In the past three years, prosecutors have filed tax charges against at least 40 U.S. clients of UBS and Credit Suisse Group AG, Switzerland’s two biggest banks; London-based HSBC Holding Plc, Europe’s biggest bank; and other banks. They also have charged at least 24 bankers, advisers and attorneys.

Kerr, Quiel and Rusch were charged with conspiring to defraud the IRS. Kerr and Quiel were charged with filing false tax returns in 2007 and 2008 and with failing to file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts for those years.

The case is United States v. Stephen Kerr, 11-cr-02385, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona (Phoenix).   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Readers inform me the American expat Michael Sanders, also known as the "Hillbilly Bandit", is currently targeting foreigners and members of the expatriate community in the areas of Las Tablas and Guarare, on the Eastern side of the Azuero peninsula. He runs variations of the "I work for the government" shtick, saying he just got out of the military, was deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, worked for the DEA or what have you, and then (fill in sob story here) so that's why you should "help him out" and give him some of your money. This guy was caught and deported from Panama once, and now apparently he's back and up to his old tricks. Please keep the "sighting reports" coming. These kinds of bottom feeders will always be able to prey on suckers, but hopefully his success rate with Panama Guide readers will drop to zero. If you want to know more about this guy, here's a link to related articles available on this website.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "Hi Don. We have been conned by Mike Sanders "Hillbilly Bandit" who seems to be a little fatter and a little balder than the 2008 photo We lent him some money when he "LOST HIS WALLET" Luckily, before he made contact in person again - we found your web site We have seen you column from 2008 and just wanted to let you know that he is out of jail and and back to his old tricks. His story to us and at least one other was - He is a US veteran from Afghanistan working for the Embassy on behalf of the US Army who is stationed out of Mexico City (helping senators, war on drugs, blah, blah, blah) We also found Joepanamea on Topix who was fed similar lies and is looking for Mike. Sincerely, GOT SCAMMED. PS We really enjoy your web site - It is hard to believe how many scumbags are Ex-Pats."

Editor's Comment: Great. This guy keeps coming back like a bad burrito. Here's a link to related articles.   

By Anna Leask - A Hamilton man who admitted losing almost $7 million of investors' money but vowed to put things right has cut contact with his alleged victims. And details of Tony Lusby's lavish life in Panama have been revealed, with his mother confirming he owned a Porsche, boat, plane and beach house. The Herald revealed last month that complaints were made to the Serious Fraud Office, Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), the US Attorney's Office and the FBI about an investment scheme run by Mr Lusby. Auckland barrister Mark van Leewarden alleged Mr Lusby had defrauded 67 investors from New Zealand and Australia of $6.7 million.

Mr Lusby, speaking from Panama, said he did not steal the money - nor had he done anything dishonest. He had lost the millions as a result of making bad decisions and "misappropriating" funds. He admitted putting more than $200,000 into a bar in Panama that had since gone bust. A further $750,000 was lost in a failed merger with another investment fund. "I got behind the eight-ball ... I need to face up to the allegations and see what can be resolved," he said last month.

Mr Lusby said he was scared of being sent to jail, but planned to return to New Zealand last month to put things right. Mr van Leewarden said he had not heard from Mr Lusby since, and it was unlikely he would return. Mr Lusby lives in Panama with his wife and twin infant sons. His mother, Lynette Muir, a nurse from Orewa, told the National Business Review she became concerned about her son's "lavish lifestyle". "He had a little airplane, a boat and a beach house - oh yes, he spent it up and lived it up really high. He had a motorbike, a Porsche and a BMW.

"I went over there [to Panama City] last year when my grandchildren were born, and he picked me up in a Porsche - I knew then something was going on," she said. "It's just horrific what he's done, I can't believe it. I want Tony brought home, and if there needs to be consequences, he has to face them. "If he's got to go to jail, so be it. We're all very broken-hearted over here. We'd love for him to come home. It's no good trying to hide from what I know he's got to face up to."

In 2007, Mr Lusby set up a Samoa-based fund called Lifestyles Investment Group and promised investors he would deliver returns of 28 to 32 per cent a year by trading equities. Mr van Leewarden said the scheme "ticked along" until October last year, when the money and Mr Lusby vanished. The Serious Fraud Office began an investigation but could not act as the alleged actions did not occur in New Zealand. However, the agency will assist ASIC in its investigations. (The New Zealand Herald)

Editor's Comment: The case against this guy is fairly developed. His victims have established a website - http://www.tonylusbycriminalproceedings.com - detailing what he did, the millions dollars or he stole, including copies and links to pdf files of the original charges that have been filed against him (which I've read) that include his home address and cell phone number. So, it's not like anyone's out there looking for this guy or trying to find him or anything, it's just a matter of time before the case and charges work their way through the system. However, there are no international treaties between Panama and New Zealand regarding extradition. The plaintiffs will have to depend on the Panamanian justice system, which is shaky at best. Anyway, you can add Tony Lusby to the list of international fugitives who have decided to settle in Panama.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - This morning the new Consul General for the US Embassy in Panama, Kent Brokenshire, visited with some of the members of the American community of expatriates at a meeting held in Leonardo's restaurant in La Chorrera. This was the first of a series of meetings Mr. Brokenshire will be holding this week with members of the expatriate community throughout the interior (you can see his complete schedule in this article published yesterday.) Tomorrow morning he will be in Chitre, tomorrow afternoon in Santiago, then David on Friday morning and Boquete on Friday afternoon. About fifteen members of the community turned out to meet Kent today. The purpose of the meeting was mostly just a "meet and greet" and an obvious effort on the part of Mr. Brokenshire to reach out to the community of expatriates. I thanked him for the effort because it's been a "long time between drinks" for this kind of thing. He responded by saying "this is the way I like to do business," which I see as a tremendous change for the better.

The New Consul General for the US Embassy in Panama, Kent Brokenshire, meeting with members of the American expatriate community in La Chorrera, Republic of Panama.

Career Professional: Mr. Brokenshire is a career Foreign Service Officer with more than 22 years of experience serving in various embassies around the world. Not only is he a career foreign service professional, but you could say he was literally "born into it." His father was also a Foreign Service Officer and Kent was born in Rangoon, Burma. He grew up as an "embassy brat" following his father's assignments in Africa, Europe, Australia, and the United States. Mr. Brokenshire attended Duke University, worked as a yacht captain in the West Indies, received a Master's Degree from Stanford University and worked as a journalist in the Baltimore Washington area. After joining the Foreign Service in 1989, Mr. Brokenshire served in Haiti, Peru, and the Operations Center in Washington DC. Between 1996 - 1998 he served as the Consul and Political Officer in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, and later worked as Political Section Chief in Kinshasa (1999 - 2001), covering both the government held and rebel occupied territories in Eastern Congo. He was the Deputy Chief of Mission in Rwanda between 2001 - 2003, and later served as the Deputy Director in the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Mr. Brokenshire was selected for the National War College in 2006, and he graduated with a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies in June 2007. Mr. Brokenshire comes to Panama from his most recent assignment in Guinea where he was the Charge d’Affaires. And besides his experience working as a journalist prior to joining the Foreign Service, he was also on the Editorial Board of the Foreign Service Journal of the American Foreign Service Association. Mr. Brokenshire hails from Annapolis and speaks French, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. He is married to Francesca Munzi, originally from Italy. They have three children, Luca (15), Christopher (9), and Sophia (6).

His Experience Shows: Obviously, with a biography like that, it's easy to see Mr. Brokenshire is a career professional within the Consulate track of the Department of State, so this assignment to Panama is "not his first rodeo," so to speak. He's been around the block more than once, and his experience beams through in the easy manner with which he listened to the concerns of the Americans who were at the meeting this morning. A detail that might seem trivial at first glance - such as the mailing address used by the Department of Social Security for routine correspondence - can quickly and easily turn into the most important issue for the person who is in the position of having to deal with the issue. And while the announcement for the meetings said "no consular services will be offered", Mr. Brokenshire was busily taking down notes and handing out advice and guidance on the best way to achieve resolution for the problems and issues people brought to his attention.

The New Consul General for the US Embassy in Panama, Kent Brokenshire (left), takes notes during a meeting with members of the American expatriate community in La Chorrera, Republic of Panama.

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

The Superior Prosecutor for Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro asked the Superior Tribunal for this region to call William Dathan Holbert, 33, and his wife Laura Michelle Reese, 29, to trial for four homicides. The request is for the cases of Bo Icelar as well as Michael Brown, his wife, and their son. (Critica)

Editor's Comment: It just so happens I was discussing the "Wild Bill" case with someone yesterday, and they asked me when we could expect a trial. In Panama the prosecutors automatically have six months to investigate and murder case, and then they are automatically granted another six months. In this case Holbert and Reese were arrested in Nicaragua on 26 July 2010, and that's the date the clock starts ticking. So the prosecutor conducted his investigation normally until July 2011, when he was forced by the calendar to send the cases to the Superior Tribunal. There, a review of the case and investigation was conducted and the justices sent the case back to the prosecutors with orders to conduct the "reconstruction" of the crimes (which had not yet been done) and to do some other things. In November 2011 prosecutors took Holbert to Bocas del Toro to conduct the required "reconstruction" of the events, which was documented. And now the additional six months that had been awarded to the prosecutors has expired, and once again the cases are being forwarded to the Superior Tribunal. In Panamanian Spanish when the prosecutor sends the case to the court they request the court to call the accused to trial. Meaning, they think they have the right person as the suspect, and they want to present their evidence in order to obtain a conviction and a sentence. In some cases, if they think the wrong person was accused, they would forward the case to the court and ask for the charges to be dismissed and the case to be closed. That is most definitely NOT the case with Holbert and Reese. Interestingly enough, this story only deals with the murders of Bo Icelar and the Brown family. The prosecutors still have the Cher Hughes case. I wonder why? ... No matter - eventually Cher's case will also be sent to the court in a similar fashion. I think her case is being handled by a different prosecutor in David, so probably that's the reason. Anyway, two trials and two convictions is better. Then add on top of that the Jeff Kline case which Costa Rica is still investigating. Anyway, movement...

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - This morning Telemetro reported on a fatal traffic accident that occurred on the road to Boquete in which a foreigner was killed. I saw the article and their photos, and recognized the logo of "Papa Ricco's Little Italy" pizza restaurant on the side of his blue Jeep Cherokee. I reached out to some people in Boquete and spoke to Lee Zeltzer. Lee was later able to confirm my suspicions and he sent via email: "I can now confirm it was Ricco who was driving and was killed in a head on collision with a CUSA truck. Apparently Ricco was passing and slammed into the truck. The CUSA truck was almost stopped at the point of collision there was no sign Ricco attempted to stop. We will know more after an autopsy if there is one." You can also see Lee's posting about this accident on his website here: The passing of a friend, Papa Ricco was killed today. My heartfelt condolences go out to Papa Ricco's friends and family.

"Papa Ricco" of Boquete in the Republic of Panama was killed in a traffic accident this morning when the Jeep Cherokee he was driving slammed head-on into a dump truck, apparently as he was trying to pass another vehicle. Photo: Courtesy of Lee Zeltzer

Related Article:

• Expat Possibly Killed in Fatal Auto Accident in Boquete This Morning

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

One person was killed in a collision between a dump truck from the company Constructora Urbana S.A. and a 4x4 SUV in Boquete. The accident occurred in Boquete, Chiriqui province this morning. Fire Department personnel work to recover the body which is trapped in a 4x4 vehicle, which according to unofficial reports corresponds to a foreigner. (Telemetro)

Editor's Comment: Whoops. OK Boquete guys, who was killed in this accident? It's a Jeep Cherokee, and it looks like there's an Italian flag painted on the door of the vehicle. The logo looks like it belongs to the "Papa Riccos, Little Italy" pizza place.









   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Panama is still a vacation destination where the rich and famous can enjoy themselves while keeping a low profile and avoiding the paparazzi. I've heard of many famous celebrities who have spent vacation time in Panama and no one even recognized them while they were here. If Martha Stewart had not uploaded photos of herself with Panama's president Ricardo Martinelli on her Twitter account, no one would have noticed her, either. With the post Martha Stewart said "the president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli and I meet on Simca island. Panama is growing + thriving." Martha Stewart was in Panama to celebrate the birthday of the island's owner, philanthropist Jean Pigozzi, founder of the French car maker Simca. She also Tweeted “Big day in simca island-kayaking, hiking, exploring, horseback riding, picnicing, boating,” with another photo of Martinelli and Pigozzi. In the mid 1960’s, Pigozzi began buying land around Bahia Honda in Panama for conservation and created a tropical marine research station.

Martha Stewart and Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli

With this photo Martha Stewart tweeted "President martinelli and jean pigozzi who is developing simca island in panama."

With this photo Martha Stewart tweeted "The president of panama leaving by helicopter after a lovely lunch by maya lin and daniel wolf."

Copyright 2012 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Pa nama-Guide.com - It looks like the American fugitive Joseph Medcalf, who was deported last weekend from Panama to the United States - indicted by a federal grand jury in Fresno, California for having defrauding investors of $3.2 million dollars - was happily running a couple of coffee shops here in Panama City. He posted on his Facebook page that "I am very busy with the cafes here." He was running a cafe called the Madison Ave. Cafe located inside of the Madison Store in the Albrook Mall.

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

(By KSEE News) United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that 55-year-old Joseph Randall Medcalf formerly of Clovis, was deported over the weekend by Panama to the United States after being arrested late last week in Panama. On March 24, 2011, a federal grand jury in Fresno indicted Medcalf charging him with defrauding investors of $3.2 million. According to the indictment, from May 2002 to October 2007, Medcalf, a financial adviser, defrauded his clients by encouraging them to invest in bogus investment opportunities, primarily two that he had formed himself: All Valley Holdings LLC and CenCal Value Investments LLC. The indictment alleges that Medcalf did not invest the clients’ money as promised but used it for his own personal expenses and enjoyment.

In October 2007, Medcalf filed for personal bankruptcy in order to discharge his debts related to this scheme. According to the indictment, he fled the United States in 2008. U.S. Attorney Wagner said: “You can run, but you can’t hide. International cooperation in the pursuit of fugitives is essential as we combat complex financial crimes. Mr. Medcalf is the latest in a long list of fugitives who have been brought back to the United States to face justice. My office is grateful to the authorities in Panama for their assistance in this matter.”

Medcalf will appear in federal court Tuesday in Atlanta, Georgia where he re-entered the United States in custody on Saturday. It is anticipated that he will eventually be ordered transported to federal court in Fresno to face the present charges.

This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Stanley A. Boone is prosecuting the case. The Office of International Affairs in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division assisted in the coordination of Medcalf’s deportation to the United States.

If convicted, Medcalf faces the maximum statutory penalties for the mail and wire fraud counts of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Editor's Comment: What a moron. According to my sources within the DIJ, Joseph Randall Medcalf went to their offices in Ancon in Panama City to file a report stating his US passport had been stolen. If your passport has in fact been stolen, the US Embassy requires the DIJ report before they will issue you a new one. And as a standard practice the Interpol office at the DIJ ran a background check. When they discovered Medcalf was wanted in the United States they arrested him on the spot. I'm trying to find out where he was living in Panama and what alias he was using while he was here. I don't have a photo of him yet, but I have asked the authorities in California to send me a booking photo or something of him. So, if you have a friend or neighbor named "John Smith" or something else equally creative who suddenly disappeared over the weekend - maybe that was him. Here's a link to the press release announcing his deportation from Panama. Several news outlets in the United States have all reported on this story, based completely on the press release.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Some things never change. And there is a simple, unfortunate truth here in Panama. We have to deal with any lunatic who decides to move here from the United States or anywhere else to become a member of the community of English speaking expatriates. One such lunatic is Jerry Ray Hall. This guy can't seem to comprehend a very simple fact. Everyone else in the Republic of Panama has already figured out he's a total nut case and a compulsive liar. He's a real scumbag of a person (in general terms) with no redeeming values whatsoever. I'm not going to waste a whole lot of time on this idiot, so suffice it to say he's now spinning around on the floor (again) and frothing at the mouth (again) after I exposed him (again) for most recent set of lies regarding his unscrupulous dealings with my good friend Steve Magaric over their GPS map business.

Jerry Ray Hall is now lying and making untrue accusations about Steve Magaric and me in response to those articles I published about him recently. You can feel free to simply ignore that idiot Jerry Ray Hall. Every word that comes from his mouth contains some sort of untruth. I sometimes wonder how anyone can be so consistently full of crap.

Steve Magaric still makes the best GPS maps for coverage of Panama, and you can buy them from him at www.ptygps.com. And over the weekend Jerry Ray Hall sent out a bunch of "press releases" making accusations about me - simply because I told the truth about him and how he's now trying to screw over this former business partner, Steve Magaric. Just remember this much - Steve Magaric and www.ptygps.com = good. Jerry Ray Hall and whatever crap he happens to be spouting at the moment = bad. That's really the bottom line. And I really don't want to waste any more time on that turd, but he keeps coming back up like a bad burrito...

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I've been looking into the death of the American expatriate Douglas Gene Michalowski on the sailboat "Bluenose" anchored at Manzanillo in the Bay of Colon, Republic of Panama. The Panamanian authorities recovered Michalowski's body on Wednesday morning after he was discovered on the boat by the boat's owner. The owner of the sailboat "Bluenose" is a German man who was a friend of Doug's. And Douglas Michalowski owned a different sailboat named the "Samsara" that was anchored nearby. Doug arrived in Panama recently from Cartagena, spent some time in the Kuna Yala, checked in at El Porvenir, made his way through Portobelo, and ended up in Colon, where he was preparing to take his boat through the Panama Canal and into the Pacific. And of course after the case of Javier Martin and the murders of Don North and Jean Pierre Bouhard, I immediately became interested in this case. Another American dead on a sailboat in the Caribbean. Not good.

Wanted In The United States: If you do a quick Google search on "Doug Michalowski" you'll find some earlier reporting from 2003 in the area of Aspen Colorado and his involvement in another case there. Between yesterday afternoon and this morning I've spoken to detectives from the Pitkin County Sheriff's office and the Aspen Police Department in Colorado, and they confirmed apparently this was the same Douglas Gene Michalowski. He had outstanding wants and warrants for crimes related to theft and fraud, but there are no indications of any type of violent crime or anything of the kind. Douglas Michalowski apparently wound up on a sailboat in the Caribbean in order to avoid facing justice for the outstanding charges against him. Actually, that's pretty common down here. They say Panama is the final landing zone for all those who are both "wanted and unwanted". Meaning, wanted by the law, and not wanted by anyone else. But in speaking to the police detectives in Colorado, while they did confirm that there were outstanding wants and warrants against him, at the same time they sort of made it sound like the charges pending against him were not really all that drastic. And of course none of that matters anymore, anyway.

During The Day on Tuesday: Doug went with his friend to downtown Colon to run some errands. They went to the "Casa de las Baterias" (the House of Batteries) and bought some tools and stuff like that. His friend had just cleaned the hull of Doug's sailboat the Samsara, and Doug was fixing his boat up and getting ready to transit the Panama Canal. His friend decided to head back to Portobelo to see his girlfriend, while Doug decided to stay in Colon and he planned to sleep on his boat. Doug invited his friend to stay in Colon and to sleep on the sailboat as well, but his friend declined and he headed for Portobelo. The friend suggested that Doug might want to check out the bar at the Hotel Washington where he might meet some girls or otherwise have a good time. Then, they parted ways. That was the last time the friend saw Doug. He tried to call him on Wednesday morning and again on Thursday but the calls went unanswered because, unbeknownst to his friend, Doug had died sometime on Tuesday night or during the early morning hours on Wednesday.

What Possibly Happened: Apparently Doug returned to his sailboat on Tuesday afternoon after parting ways with his friend in Colon. The sailboat "Bluenose" owned by the German guy was anchored literally just a few meters away from Doug's sailboat the "Samsara." The German guy and Doug were friends, and it would not have been unusual at all for Doug to come over to the Bluenose to hang out with his friend or party or whatever. And now this is the part of the story - the details - that still remain to be filled in. Somehow, Douglas Gene Michalowski ended up dead on the Bluenose, and his body was discovered on Wednesday morning. Apparently the boat's owner, the German guy who was Doug's friend, reported it to the police. There was no obvious signs of foul play - like no gunshot wound or knife wound or anything like that - and at this point the police suspect Doug died of natural causes. The coroner will be conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death, including a toxicology screen, etc.

Enjoying Life On His Sailboat: Doug's friend described how he was simply living his life and having a good time on his sailboat. He described Doug as a smart and wise man who was more like a "mentor" than a friend, who had given him some advice and helped him work through a rough patch in his personal life. He described how Doug had put his past behind him and that he was living for tomorrow rather than yesterday. He, like many other sailboat owners, made some extra money by transporting backpackers and travelers between Panama and Cartagena. At least one group who was traveling my motorcycle was exceptionally unhappy with the trip, to the point they put up a website to warn other backpackers away from Doug and the Samsara - mostly because they say he left them to man the helm while he spent his time drinking rum. See:

• Sailing from Portobello (Panama) through San Blas to Cartagena (Colombia) - English version, basically an excerpt, and it only contains the part where they are complaining about the sailboat captain.

• En voilier de Portobello (Panama) à Cartagena (Colombia) - The full story, but it's written in French so you have to translate it, and there are just more details but the bottom line does not change.

Next Of Kin Contact: I'm currently trying to contact Doug's next of kin in the United States. Please give me a call at my US number (845) 514-9893, my cell phone number in Panama +011 (507) 6614-0451 or via email don@panama-guide.com. Also, if anyone has a good photo of Doug please send.

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Wednesday morning the lifeless body of the US citizen Douglas Gene Michalowski was found inside of the yacht "Bluenose." The ship where the body was found was anchored in the bay of Manzanillo, in the city of Colon. According to reports the boat owners gave to the authorities, Michalowski, who is from Denver, Colorado (USA), did not die on his boat, but on another. (Estrella)

Editor's Comment: OK, there's not much new in any of these articles, they all contain the same basic details. But I would like some clarification about this line that "he didn't die on his boat, but on another." So, Michalowski does not own the "Bluenose?" What boat does he own, and where is it?   

Police officials and prosecutors have launched an investigation after the discovery yesterday of the body of the US citizen Douglas Gene Michalowski. The body was discovered in a yacht named the "Bluenose" anchored in the Bay of Colon, after the American was seen on Tuesday night with other travelers. The removal of the corpse was carried out at the Yacht Club by officials from the Public Ministry supported by personnel from the Maritime Authority of Panama. They are working to clarify the cause of death. (Prensa)

   

On Wednesday morning the lifeless body of the American citizen Douglas Gene Michalowski was found inside of his yacht the "Bluenose." Michalowski was last seen on Tuesday night after sharing the company of sea adventurers. The deceased was sitting with his head down so his face was disfigured due to the accumulation of blood in the area of his head. The ship, police said, remained anchored in the bay of Manzanillo, in Colon. Michalowski, who lived in Denver, Colorado (USA), and according to reports from the owners of the boat, the night before his death he said he felt chest pains, but the funny thing is he did not die on his own boat, but on another. The American, according to Immigration documents, made ​​his last journey from Cartagena de Indias, in Colombia, and then later he came to the port of El Porvenir, in Kuna Yala, Panama, then he moved along the coast of the province of Colon. (Siglo)

Editor's Comment: It looks like this man - Douglas Gene Michalowski - might have run from the United States back in about 2003 or so. There's some reporting by the Aspen Free Press by Sterling Greenwood from April 2003, and it looks like Michalowski could be running away from some problems with the law in Aspen and Denver, Colorado. Members for the boating community, please fill in the blanks - don@panama-guide.com - as you always do with these kinds of situations. Who was Douglas Gene Michalowski? Was his boat the "Bluenose"? What boat did he die on? What happened? Thanks.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - This is going to clear a few things up. First of all, James Budd, 33 years old, drowned on Tuesday, 19 December 2011, at approximately 1:30 am near Isla Bastimentos in Bocas del Toro. The report in La Prensa had his name wrong - they reported it as "Gene Bued." Secondly James Budd was not a "tourist" in the pure sense of the word. He lived and worked in Panama and was probably in the status of a "perpetual tourist" - meaning he would jump out of the country every six months or so in order to reset his tourist status. Anyway, he wasn't just visiting. He was born on 25 December 1978, so he was about to turn 33 years old.

Living and Working in Panama: James Budd was working for an Australian couple who own a restaurant on Isla Bastimentos, and these are the people who filed the missing person report. Initial reports as they appeared in the local press seemed to indicate James Budd was in a small boat and drinking with these two other people when he suddenly decided to throw himself into the water or something. Here's the report as it appeared in the Siglo yesterday:

• "The American James Budd, 33, drowned early Tuesday when he threw himself into the waters of the Caribbean Sea on Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro. Budd left on a boat carrying tourists in the company of two Australians and he decided to take a dip in front of Isla Bastimentos. But as time passed and Budd did not return, so his friends, in desperation, began the search. Not finding him, the Australians decided, 13 hours after the accident, to notify the authorities. The tragedy occurred at 1:30 am. After several hours of searching, the staff of the National System of Civil Protection was informed of the discovery of the body. Some fishermen found Budd's floating body.

Mostly Wrong: It now appears that information is at least partially incorrect. James Budd was reportedly traveling in his small dinghy to reach his sailboat the "Seahorse" which was anchored nearby - Budd lived on his sailboat. Apparently he fell into the water at approximately 1:30 am while traveling from the island to his boat in his dinghy. The part about him drinking before setting off in the dinghy was probably accurate. In any case, the restaurant owners filed the report with the National Civil Protection Service the next morning after they spotted his dinghy drifting in the water. Then some local fishermen spotted Budd's body floating in the water on Wednesday morning, and they alerted the SINAPROC, police, and SENAN, who recovered the body.

Official Investigation Started: The local prosecutor's office has started an official investigation into this case, as is standard procedure anytime someone loses their life in this manner. All indications are this was an accidental drowning, and the investigators of the prosecutor's office and the police detectives from the Department of Judicial Investigation (DIJ) will conduct interviews and verify the information to confirm.

Fill In The Blanks: If I got any of this wrong, or if you have any additional information, please feel free to contact me via cell phone at 6614-0451 or via email at don@panama-guide.com. As always, confidentiality respected if requested. I just want to get the whole story, and get it right. Thanks.

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

After an intense search, the staff of the National System of Civil Protection (Sinaproc), the National Police, and the National Aero Naval Service found the floating body of Gene Bued, 33, who disappeared on Monday, 19 December 2011 Bastimentos Island. Gladys Conception, the regional Director of Sinaproc, said witnesses recounted that Buede was drinking on a boat early Monday morning, when he suddenly jumped into the water and was seen no more. It is the sixteenth death by drowning this year in Bocas del Toro. (Prensa)

Editor's Comment: OK, I have a few questions. First of all I would like to confirm the name of the victim. The Panamanian media is notorious for getting the names of US citizens wrong on the first pass in cases like this. Many times their sources in the National Police will say the name to them and not spell it out, so they tend to get it wrong sometimes. I did some searching for a 33 year old American named "Gene Bued" and got nothing, which is normally an indicator that they got the name wrong. Secondly, he's called a "tourist" in this article - was he really a tourist on a short visit or was he a resident and a member of the English speaking community of expatriates living in Panama in a "perpetual tourist" status? It seems pretty clear there are witness statements indicating he was drinking and he simply decided to jump into the water at some point, so there doesn't seem to by any indication of foul play. Anyway, I would appreciate some additional information and details if anyone has them, please send to don@panama-guide.com. And as always, confidentiality protected if requested. Thanks.

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - From the US Embassy in Panama.

   

On Friday, 9 December 2011 at 10:00 am, the Director of Public Affairs of the U.S. Embassy in Panama, David Searby, Sergeant Kenneth Grooms of the Marine Corps, and the President of Mail Boxes Etc. Christopher Thompson, will launch the program 'Toys for Tots', at the offices of Mail Boxes Etc., in Paitilla. Toys for Tots is an international program organized by the Marine Corps to collect toys during the Christmas season. These toys will be given to children in the poorest areas of Panama. Last year the program 'Toys for Tots' in Panama collected some 1,000 toys that were delivered before Christmas Eve. The company Mail Boxes Etc. is the local sponsor and their offices in Boquete, Coronado, Albrook and Paitilla are collection points for gifts. DAY: Friday, December 9 from 12/07/2011. TIME: 10:00 am. PLACE: Mail Boxes Etc., Marisol Building (next to McDonalds), Paitilla (Press Release)   

The aircraft carrying the American Monte Wayne Pollock and Panamanian Joshua Cedeno ran out of fuel, revealed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The aircraft left the Chame airport at 5:45 pm on Saturday and crashed 24 minutes later, killing both passengers. According to a statement from the CAA, the aircraft had no flight plan nor did they establish communications with the station. Pollock could not fly within the airspace of Panama, and Cedeño was an official of the CAA. (Panama America)

Editor's Comment: Considering the scope of the fire that occurred when this ultralight aircraft crashed, I sort of question the "ran out of fuel" theory. It seems pretty clear to me there was enough fuel on board to feed the fire, and that would have been more than enough to keep the engines running. Nope, I don't buy it as a cause for this accident. I think the CAA just reached for that theory because Monte Pollack was involved in an earlier crash in 2009, in which he ran out of fuel. Or maybe the journalist who wrote this story confused the two accidents. Whatever...   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - An American expat - Monte Pollack - was killed on Saturday when the ultralight aircraft he was flying crashed near the airport in Chame. I knew Monte. He advertised for a time on this website. He was the owner and operator of PanamaSkyDive.com. I also reported on the earlier accident when another plan Monty was flying was forced to crash land in the Panama Canal next to the Amador Causeway - see: PanamaSkydive Airplane Crash Lands in Panama Canal. I called Monte and asked him what happened, and he said one engine quit. Apparently a subsequent investigation by the Panamanian Civil Aviation Authority determined he had run out of fuel, and they blamed the accident on him for failure to properly plan for the flight. As a result of that accident they refused to recognize his US pilot's license issued by the FAA, and the was supposedly prohibited from flying in Panamanian airspace unless he was in an aircraft with a US tail number that was either coming into or leaving Panama. Meaning, he was not supposed to be flying here, so maybe that explains why he had a certified Panamanian pilot with him in the aircraft at the time of the crash. The aircraft that crashed was an AirCam Ultralight that Monte did not own. He was reportedly supposed to be repairing some minor scratches on the aircraft, and according to the owner, Monte did not have his permission to be flying the plane at the time of the crash.

They Were Friends and Customers: From Frank at La Ruina in Gorgona - "Don, These were clients and freinds of ours. Please do an article for them. Thanks, Frank."

Picture Taken The Day Before The Crash: I received the following via email: "Hi Don, yesterday afternoon crashed a twin-engine ultralight aircraft in Chame. (AirCam) Both pilots were killed, unfortunately, one American and one Panamanian. Knew the American, Monte, who was a skydiver and pilot.Very sad. Day before I took a picture of him and the plane. Attached. Our thoughts are with their families. J."

La Prensa's Report On The Accident: An American pilot who was banned from flying in Panama and a Panamanian were killed Saturday when the aircraft in which they were flying clandestinely crashed, reported the National Police. A spokesman of the security forces said the pilot, identified as Monty Polo (Editor: They got the name wrong), "was prohibited from flying in the country because in 2009 he crashed an aircraft in Amador (at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal)." Polo died alongside the Panamanian Josué Cedeño, said the source, who said because it was a clandestine flight, they don't know from where they took off, and they only know that they crashed at 17:30 hours local (22.30 GMT) in the town of Chame, about 80 kilometers West of Panama City. The aircraft, "a piece of sports equipment with engine number N-53, was devastated," and its registration number is unknown registration number, he said. The investigation to establish the cause of the accident is in the hands of the prosecutor on duty and the Civil Aviation Authority.

El Siglo's Report On The Accident: (Translated from Spanish) "The American pilot, Monte Wayne Pollock, who died in a plane crash in Chame on Saturday, when he was at the controls of an ultralight sports aircraft, had been prohibited from flying in Panama since 2009 due to his history of violations. According to a press release from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Panama, Pollock's application to have his FAA pilot's license from the United States recognized in Panama had been denied, so therefore, he had no Panamanian license to fly. This pilot was involved in an accident at the entrance of the Panama Canal, because he did not plan the flight correctly, because the aircraft ran out of fuel after it had been used for parachute jumps. Furthermore, according to the AAC, Pollock was not authorized by this entity to conduct this kind of activity. For this reason, the AAC reiterated in the press release that this pilot was not entitled to fly in Panama's airspace. With his American license he could only fly in US airspace or abroad (meaning, outside of Panama.) This pilot few aircraft number AC-53 without authorization from the AAC, without establishing a flight plan and without communicating with the corresponding station. The owner of the aircraft involved in the accident, whose name was not released, reported Pollack flew aircraft AC-53 without his permission. What's more, the American had replaced some fuel lines, a change the owner had not requested. The crash also killed the Panamanian Josué Cedeño Ospina, who was a commercial pilot. Cedeño Ospina worked as an air traffic controller in the Traffic Control Center Radar of the AAC, but he was not working at the time of the accident. The AAC announced that investigations are being conducted."

Photo Of The Crash Scene As It Appeared in El Siglo

Estrella's Report On The Accident: (Translated From Spanish) " A small plane crashed yesterday near the Chame airport and two crew died. The plane, with motor number N-53, took off from the airport at Chame, without authorization from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said a source. The agency launched an investigation into the confusing incident. The plane had no flight plan, stressed the source. The National Police in the Western part of the province of Panama received a call about an explosion at the site, explained Police Deputy Commissioner Rigoberto Dominguez on the channel 2 TVN news broadcast. He said when the police officers arrived they found both the pilot - an American - and the passenger - a Panamanian - were burned up to 60% of their bodies. Firemen also went to the scene, who advised people not to approach the area of ​​the accident because it could explode, according to a report on TVN news. As of last night the causes of the accident were unknown."

El Siglo Report from Sunday: "Monty Polo (Editor: They initially got the name wrong) and Josué Cedeño died yesterday after his ship ultralight (sport aircraft) with motor number N-53 crashed in Rio Chame, located in the district of the same name. The accident occurred at 5:30 yesterday afternoon, said a source from the Civil Aviation Authority. It was learned that Polo, a U.S. citizen, had restrictions for flying in Panama. The source added that on Friday the gringo made an unsupervised flight that was not recorded by the institution. Josué Cedeño, who was Panamanian, seemed to be a minor. Polo's History: In 2009, the aircraft with registration number N511 - being flown by the gringo - crashed into the sea, near the Amador Causeway, when flying from Punta Chame to the Albrook airport. At that time it was said the accident was the result of a mechanical breakdown."

Channel 2 TVN Report: (Translated from Spanish) "The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said through a press release that poor planning by the pilot of the aircraft AC-53, caused them to run out of fuel, which led to the accident. They report that the American pilot, Monte Wayne Pollock, was not authorized by the Civil Aviation Authority of Panama for that activity. He could only make flights with this American pilot's license on American aircraft to abroad, and not within Panama. The CAA added in the press release that Pollock began a flight at about 5:45 pm, taking off from the airport in Chame, taking with him as a companion the Panamanian Josué Cedeño Ospina, who was a commercial pilot and who worked as an air traffic controller at the Radar Traffic Control Center of the CAA. The CAA also reported that Pollock was to help the owner of the aircraft to repair some scratches, but the owner reported that "Mr. Pollock had used the aircraft on Saturday 3 December without my authorization, which is why I proceeded to call him and I asked him to not use it."

The Community Responds: Apparently there's some parts of what's being reported by the local Panamanian press that are incorrect:

• "Please, Do not be so quick to pass judgement. I have information from an extremely reliable source that the information in La Prensa is grossly incorrect. The pilot and the ultralight aircraft were fully legal. G."

• "It amazes me how fast, presumably educated people make dumb assumptions. Most small private aircraft flights could be considered clandestine since they fly VFR and are not required to file flight plans as long as they are in VFR conditions. I learned how to fly in Panama back in the early 80's. My instructor at the old Patilla Airport was all about safety, rules and regulations. For more fun and excitement I was a member of the Ultralight club at the old Albrook airstrip flying one and two seater ultralights up and down the coast landing on beaches and Chame was a regular stopover. I wasn't smuggling dope or doing anything illegal. Don't assume."

• "FYI pilots flying at uncontrolled airports are NOT required to file a flight plan unless they are going to fly instruments (in the clouds or IFR), if in fact both men were pilots on board indicates structural failure, mechanical failure, or possibly extreme turbulence resulting in a low altitude stall ... 2 pilots not being able to salvage a landing says it all. Thank God we dont have to file a flight plan everytime we fly - it does nothing to increase safety - as we are on radar and talking to ATC the moment we climb out of ground clutter. VFR "good weather" flying is a lot of fun - and there is no need for a flight plan. The flight plan requires honesty anyway - if i call in a flight plan and say im "john doe" and im flying from "a to b" - in a cessna with a fake tail number no one knows anyway it goes in the computer as John Doe from A-B in Cessna 1234....the Government does not ask for secret codes or numbers...just basic info- and they put down whatever you tell them- God Bless both those pilots - they flew not because they had to - but because they wanted to.....all of us pilots take that risk each time we fly with pleasure."

Copyright 2011 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

After the reconstruction of events conducted in the province of Bocas del Toro, specifically in Aguacate y Caucheros, William Holbert said he was the sole perpetrator of the murders committed and he asked for a trial date to be set soon. Nedelka Diaz, the Second Superior Prosecutor in the province of Chiriqui, said "Wild Bill," who was accompanied at all times by his lawyer Claudia Sotto during the reconstruction process, was cooperative and he made ​​it clear that he committed the crimes alone. "At all times Holbert answered questions from the experts and prosecutors," said Diaz. (Critica)

Nedelka Díaz - The Second Superior Prosecutor in Chiriqui

Editor's Comment: And, there you have it. That's what happens when people who know things don't come forward to testify to the authorities. Now apparently William Dathan Holbert has this prosecutor convinced he is solely responsible for all of these murders, and that his girlfriend Laura Michelle Reese had nothing to do with it. And this despite the fact that I know of a witness who literally observed Laura Michelle Reese assisting Holbert to carry the body of Bo Icelar and dump it in Holbert's boat, and to look for and clean up drops of blood in the bar. And despite the fact that Holbert himself told the Duckworth's that Laura Michele Reese was standing there right in front of Jeff Kline in Costa Rica, asking him "do you like the spaghetti" when Holbert smashed him in the head with a hammer, and the two of them laughed out loud when Kline's face fell into the plate. So either some of these people who know what Laura Michelle Reese did come forward and testify against her, or she will literally get away with murder. Remember the case of Debra Ann Ridgley in the murder of Toni Grossi Abrams? They went to Colombia and obtained (paid for) a confession from Didier Osorio in Colombia, and based on that confession Ridgley walked. Hey Bocas dudes - it's obviously time to get some people motivated to come forth. Better late than never. I mean it's like this - I know what happened, you know what happened, but the prosecutor has to be able to prove it in a court of law. This will come down to two specific people (at least) who have yet to testify, that I know of. And there might be more. If you two don't come forward and this woman walks, then your failure to act will result in justice not being done. It's up to you. All of a sudden it also becomes important that Costa Rica press charges against these two, so if she's acquitted in Panama then they can dump her across the border.   

He killed his wife and then committed suicide. That's what happened yesterday morning, Wednesday, at a residence at Altos de La Pulida, in Villa Lucre. It happened around 11:00 am inside a room of house number J-6. Authorities identified the victims as Maribel Romero Munoz, 60, who had a stab wound in the stomach, and Simon Ortega, 56, wounded in the left arm. According to unofficial versions, Simon called his brother at about 8:00 in the morning and asked him to come to the house because he was going to kill his wife and then take his own life. His brother called the police. But when they arrived it was too late; they were both dead. The authorities began an investigation. The motive for this bloody event is not known. (Critica)

   

The residents of the neighborhood of La Pulida, First Street, in Villa Lucre felt shock and sadness on Wednesday afternoon, after they learned of a murder / suicide in their neighborhood. Simon Alexander Ortega, 58, who allegedly had mental problems, took a knife and buried it into the heart of his wife, Maribel Romero Munoz, 56. The heinous act left the defenseless woman on the floor slowly bleeding to death. Seeing the result of his action, the murderer, nicknamed 'Maguiver', called his foster brother to say he had killed Maribel. Without saying goodbye, he decided to hang up the phone, and he used the same knife to cut his own throat, causing him to fall to the floor, suffering an agonizing death. The discovery of the two bodies occurred at approximately 1:30 pm in house number J6 owned by the Ortega family, after the mother of the murder victim said it seemed strange that the couple had not yet been lifted. The residents claimed they had not heard any kind of fight or scandal that would call their attention.

Local residents said the couple was very quiet. They had been living in the sector for two and a half years. Simon Ortega was retired from the Government of the United States and had his own carpentry workshop a few houses down. The his wife Maribel Romero was a retired teacher. Forensics experts, officials from the office of the Auxiliary Prosecutor recovered the bodies, an activity that ended at 4:30 pm. On Saturday November 19 a similar incident arose when Jorge Elgueta, 39, cut the throat of his wife, Karina Marquelis Tunon, 32, and then hanged himself. (Siglo)

Editor's Comment: OK, this article says Simon Ortega was retired from the Government of the United States, but it does not say whether or not he was a US citizen.