Press release in reference to final search for Kris and Lisanne

[Lily]

Re: Press release: Kris & Lisanne most likely to have been involved in a fatal accident near the Pianista trailOn Mar 4, 2015, at 7:50 AM, hanskremersHi bob and lillyFor your information we send you this pressrelease wich is punliced today.LoveHans Kremers-------- Oorspronkelijk bericht --------.Press ReleaseKris & Lisanne most likely to have been involved in a fatal accident near the Pianista trail concludes a team of Forensic Specialists.Amersfoort – March 4rd, 2015 – A team of forensic specialists, including members of the Dutch dog rescue team of the RHWW foundation together with the Panamanian authorities, travelled to Boquete Panama early January to conduct a final search on behalf of the Family of Kris Kremers. The mission, on behalf of both families and supported by the foundation Find Kris & Lisanne, was to retrieve as many remains as possible from both girls and if possible find answers to what happened to Kris and Lisanne.The team of forensic specialists has - aside from the search for human remains - done a thorough and detailed analysis on the different scenarios which are considered most likely. The team consisting of members specialized in crime scene investigations and retrieving human remains have searched different areas with different valley’s and different rivers all ending up in the same Culebra river. The same river and location where previously items and belongings to Kris & Lisanne where discovered. Due to the amount of time that has passed since their disappearance and the rapid rising and dropping of waterlevels, the chances of ever uncovering more remains have become extremely limited. The fast flowing water takes everything down stream and refreshes the area regularly.The team, assisted by locals and guides, has walked the pianist trail just like the parents of Kris did last August. These specialists are concluding and supporting the fact that losing your way on this particular trail is highly unlikely. „The area where this is supposed to have taken place, simply is not an area where you can get lost. Anyone who is suggesting the girls lost their way and claiming this to be an actual possibility, has simply never physically been on the trail itself.” Says Frank van der Goot, teamleader during the search.The team has done a thoroughly investigation regarding the scenario involving a possible crime. „The geographical conditions, social conditions and technical facts which have surfaced during the forensic investigation, suggest a crime such as a robbery, a sexual offense, an act of violence or a kidnapping highly unlikely.”The option which remains is a fatal accident possibly caused by an unfortunate crash. „Especially the last part of descending the Pianista trail seems to have all the geographical conditions to suggest this is in fact a possible cause. In the event of crashing down these slopes, the victim or victims will find themselves in one of the riverbeds which river ultimately leads to the Culebra river. Circumstances down the riverbeds are similar to those found on the pictures retrieved from the digital camera. A fatal crash is also a conclusion which can be supported by the results of the investigations on discovered remains.”The team of rescue dogs assisted by the Panamanian authorities have tried to reach the area where remins have been found in the passed. In spite of their best efforts, due to bad weather conditions they were unable to complete their search.The search however did reveal new facts when one of the local people involved in the search, someone very familiar with the area, looked at the dark pictures retrieved from the digital camera found in the backpack. This opportunity was not given to him in the passed. He concluded that the the location where these pictures must have been taken are, in what later proved to be, the exact same area pointed out independently by the forensic specialists as „the location where a fatal accident could have occurred”.Although nothing can be said for certain based on the limited amount of clues and facts uncovered in the investigation, forensic specialists conclude Kris and Lisanne have most likely suffered a fatal accident where they have possibly crashed down a slope of which it was impossible to climb back up again without proper equipment. „Crashing down a slope in this area would have easily covered a difference in hight up to about 30 to 40 meters, which increases the chances of severe injuries. Aside from that, the riverbed is surrounded by waterfalls and steep cliffs of several meters in hight.” This location has now been pointed out by different people including specialists, independently from each other and acting without any self-interest.We have recently received confirmation by the Dutch Forensic Institute that the remains found in Panama are indeed remains belonging to Kris. We are now able to start arranging a funeral.As a family we are very relieved that finally after all this time we have found a plausible explanation regarding all the questions we had surrounding the passing of our beloved daughter Kris.We hereby want to give a huge thank you to all the people involved in getting answers for Kris and getting to the truth to what happened to Kris and Lisanne since their mysterious disappearance on April 1st of last year. We would not have been able to achieve these results if it hadn’t been for all the dedication and commitment we received from so many people out there willing to stand beside us.

[Louise Andrew]

This is incredibly sad news, but also somewhat heartening in that there does not seem to be any evidence suggestive of foul play.

I'm sure our community grieves with these parents, and all are especially saddened that this tragedy occurred in a place that we have come to think of as paradise. 

Perhaps hostals or wherever kids come to enjoy nature here at a reasonable price should have onsite notices about the hidden dangers of hiking without an experienced guide and proper equipment, and the dangers of relying on normal communications while doing so.   This wouldn't discourage anyone from coming (they'd already be here), and of course might not be heeded; but at least we as a community would have done what we can to prevent similar occurrences.  The price would be small.  If some local guides wanted to be associated with such an effort, it might also benefit them. 

[Keith Woolford]

Louise, several campaigns in those directions have been launched, including advisory notices designed and distributed by Fran Hogan to all hostels and hotels in our area. There is also a new program called Senderos Seguros or Safe Trails initiated by the rescue agency Sinaproc. This program involves guide training and improved signage, among other things.

Lily, I am glad to hear that the Kremer's are at last finding some closure to this sad occurrence.

[Louise Andrew]

Oh good, another relief.  Such a travesty.