In April 2014, the world was gripped by the chilling disappearance of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon, two young women who vanished deep within the lush, mysterious forests of Panama.
What started as an exciting adventure quickly spiraled into a haunting mystery—one that continues to captivate and unsettle those who learn their story.
Setting Out Into the Unknown
On April 1, 2014, Kris and Lisanne, both in their twenties and traveling from the Netherlands, embarked on a hike near the small village of Boquete, Panama.
Clad simply in shorts and tank tops, the two friends stepped away from the village with just one small backpack — Lisanne’s — containing their cell phones, a camera, and a single water bottle.
Their plan was straightforward: a few hours’ hike to reach the scenic mountain viewpoint known as Mirador.
“We’ll be back before dark,” they assured the woman who rented them their room — but what happened after those words remains a haunting mystery.
Six Months of Dreaming and Saving
Kris Kremers, 21, and Lisanne Froon, 22, had long shared a dream: to explore the world together.
Kris was known for her open-minded spirit, creativity, and a strong sense of responsibility. Lisanne was an optimistic, intelligent young woman with a passion for volleyball and a heart full of hope.
Kris had just completed her studies in cultural social education, specializing in art education at the University of Utrecht. Lisanne had recently earned a degree in applied psychology from Deventer.
Just weeks before their Panama adventure, Lisanne moved in with Kris in Amersfoort, where they both worked at a local café. For six months, they saved diligently, planning this trip as a special gift — a celebration of Lisanne’s graduation.
Their hopes were clear: to learn Spanish, volunteer with children, and make a positive, meaningful difference in the local community.
Kris and Lisanne arrived in Panama on March 15, 2014. After two weeks exploring the country, they settled in Boquete, Chiriquí, on March 29. There, they stayed with a local family and began volunteering with children — their dream was finally coming true.
On April 1, around 11:00 AM, Kris and Lisanne set out to hike the El Pianista trail, winding through the misty cloud forests near the imposing Baru volcano just outside Boquete.
With their host family’s dog accompanying them, the two friends eagerly ventured into the wild. But just hours after they waved goodbye, they vanished without a trace.
At first, their disappearance wasn’t immediately alarming. But when the dog returned home alone that evening, their host family’s worry grew.
The Search Begins
The family waited anxiously through the night, but by morning it was clear something was terribly wrong.
On April 2, authorities were alerted. Locals, police, and the girls’ families from the Netherlands launched an exhaustive search, combing the dense jungle and rugged terrain for any sign.
Weeks passed with no leads — until nearly two months later, when a local woman discovered a blue backpack abandoned in a rice paddy by the riverbank.
Inside were personal belongings: sunglasses, cash, a water bottle, Lisanne’s passport, and two bras. But the most significant find was the women’s camera and cell phones — items that would unravel a chilling and tragic story.
The Phones Tell a Terrifying Tale
Although the phones had no service most of the time, records showed they attempted to call emergency numbers 77 times in the days after their disappearance.
The first calls came mere hours after the hike began but were blocked by the dense jungle. One call briefly connected, lasting just two seconds before abruptly cutting off.
Then, on April 6, someone tried — unsuccessfully — to unlock Kris’ phone by entering the wrong PIN multiple times. It seemed as if Kris herself desperately tried to regain access and call for help.
Tragically, the correct PIN was never entered, and both phones finally died by April 11.
Haunting Images From the Darkness
But it was the photos stored on their camera that revealed the most terrifying clues.
Early pictures showed two friends smiling and carefree, their bright faces full of hope and adventure.
Then came the night photos — taken between 1 and 4 AM on April 8 — that cast a shadow of dread over the entire case.
The images were eerie and cryptic: scattered belongings on rocks, piles of plastic bags and candy wrappers, oddly arranged mounds of dirt, and a disturbing close-up of what appears to be Kris Kremers’ head.
Neither girl clearly appears in these nighttime photos — except perhaps in one unsettling image showing the back of a head with blonde hair, believed to be Kris. Some viewers have even noticed what might be blood in the corner of the frame.
Around 2 PM on April 1, 2014, Lisanne captured the final photos of Kris—images now haunting in their unsettling silence.
One picture, in particular, has sparked deep unease. Kris is seen leaning forward, her face etched with pain and fear, and eerily, her hands appear bound behind her back.
Many have interpreted this photo as a chilling glimpse of the moment the girls sensed the danger closing in—or perhaps a silent cry that something terrible had already begun.
The night photos only deepened the mystery.
Why was there a complete silence on camera for an entire week after their disappearance—until that sudden, frantic burst of pictures on the night of April 8? What triggered the relentless three-hour photography session? Why do none of the images reveal the faces of either girl? And perhaps most haunting of all—why was there no message left behind for their loved ones, despite the desperate odds they faced in the unforgiving jungle?
Human Remains and Grim Discoveries
As the investigation unfolded, chilling discoveries emerged months after the backpack was found.
Kris Kremers’ clothing was discovered neatly folded along the riverbank — a haunting detail that deepened the mystery.
Then, two months later, the most gruesome find: a pelvic bone and a foot still encased in a boot were recovered nearby.
The state of the remains was disturbing. Lisanne Froon’s bones showed signs of natural decomposition, with fragments of flesh still clinging to them.
But Kris Kremers’ bones were unnervingly stark white, as if bleached by the sun—a natural process, but eerie nonetheless.
In total, only about 10% of Lisanne’s bones and 5% of Kris’s were ever found.
A Panamanian forensic anthropologist later noted that under close examination, “there are no discernible scratches of any kind on the bones, neither of natural nor cultural origin—no marks at all.”
Despite these findings, the most haunting question remains unanswered: What truly happened to Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon?
No eyewitnesses, no suspects, and no clear cause of death.
A Tragic Accident or Something More Sinister?
To this day, the mystery surrounding their disappearance and deaths remains unsolved.
Was it a tragic accident—two friends lost and succumbing to the jungle’s dangers? Or was something far darker at play?
Dutch authorities, alongside forensic experts and search teams, initially theorized the women might have fallen from a cliff after losing their way in the dense forest.
Yet, despite exhaustive investigations, no definitive conclusion has ever been reached.
Their families in the Netherlands, Panamanian authorities, and countless others continue to grapple with the haunting fragments of their final moments. We are left with a lingering question: will we ever truly understand what happened to these two young women who set out on an adventure—and never came home?