On April 1, 2014, Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon embarked on a hike from which they would tragically never return. The subsequent discovery of unsettling photos provided some insight into their mysterious disappearance.
Friends Kremers, 21, and Froon, 22, were enjoying their early 20s and had planned a hiking trip in the Panama jungle, intending it to be an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, they vanished over a decade ago during this adventure.
It is believed that the pair ventured into the forested area near the Baru volcano in Boquete, Panama, and subsequently went missing.
Soon after their disappearance, authorities discovered a backpack containing their phones, camera, cash, and articles of clothing washed up by the Culebra river.
Adding to the enigma, their phones continued to work for a period after they went missing. Investigations revealed that the friends had made 77 calls to emergency services, all unsuccessful.
The camera found in their backpack contained photos that suggested what might have happened to them.
Among the images were several taken in darkness, evidently captured at night.
Other photos depicted the women’s possessions scattered on rocks next to a plastic bag and wrappers, while one photo appeared to show the back of Kremers’ head.
Some speculate that the young women encountered an accident, with Kremers possibly dying while attempting to seek help for both herself and Froon.
This theory gained traction when, later that year, bone fragments belonging to the women were discovered.
While Froon’s remains appeared to have decomposed naturally, Kremers’ bones were oddly discovered to be bleached, surprising investigators handling the case.
Dutch authors Marja West and Jürgen Snoeren assert that they solved the mystery in their book, Lost in The Jungle.
West stated: “Our conclusion had to be that it was an accident. It took us quite some time to get there.
“Once we had the files, we could understand where people outside the investigation got sidetracked and why.
“The police were inundated by tips, each had to be checked out, losing them valuable time. It became a hell of a job.”
No official cause of death has been determined due to insufficient evidence.