The terrifying and terrible tale of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon captured the attention of the world in April 2014, and it later tormented it. These two intelligent, daring Dutch women left for what should have been a beautiful afternoon hike in Panama. They were vibrant, hopeful, and inquisitive.
However, they never came back.
One of the most unsettling unresolved mysteries in contemporary history is what transpired in the Boquete jungles; the case is filled with unsettling photos, unanswered phone conversations, and human remains found months later under horrifying conditions. The killings and disappearance of Kris and Lisanne still leave more questions than they have answers.
One Dream, Two Friends
Best friends Kris Kremers, 21, and Lisanne Froon, 22, had just received their university degrees. Lisanne had obtained her diploma in applied psychology, and Kris had graduated with a degree in cultural social education with an emphasis on art. They had spent months organizing a unique trip together, combining celebration, service work, and adventure. They were bright, friendly, and full of potential.
They took an airplane to Panama in March 2014. They arrived in the mountain town of Boquete in Chiriquà Province after a few weeks of touring around the nation, intending to stay with a host family and volunteer at a nearby school.
However, a few days into their visit, they made the decision to hike El Pianista Trail—rrain—for a short while.
The Day Everything Changed: April 1, 2014
It was a lovely and bright morning. The girls wore casual clothing, including hiking shoes, tank tops, and shorts. They only brought a small rucksack with one water bottle, two cell phones, a camera, and some cash.
They allegedly informed their host family, “We’ll be back before dark.”
However, only the family dog made it home as the sun sank below the hills; he was panting, by himself, and without the two women he had been after earlier.
Fear Takes Over
Initially, there was misunderstanding. They might have been lodging with a new acquaintance. Perhaps they forgot the time?
By April 2, however, anxiety had given way to fear. Authorities in the area started searching. Hovering over the thick rainforest were helicopters. Through the undergrowth, dogs sniffed. The family of Kris and Lisanne arrived via plane from the Netherlands. Nothing was found for weeks.
The females seemed to have disappeared into thin air.
The Surfaces of a Backpack
Then, in May, a local woman discovered an unusual object next to a riverbed: a blue rucksack that contained two bras, two pairs of sunglasses, some cash, and a passport.
Most importantly, though, it included the girls’ digital camera and cell phones.
There was an unsettling digital trail inside those machines.