Edgemont native Catherine Johannet found dead in Panama
Johannet, 23, was found dead on Sunday.
A 23-year-old Edgemont native was found dead in Panama on Sunday, three days after she went missing there.
Catherine Johannet's body was discovered Sunday afternoon as authorities searched for her on Bastimentos Island, off the northern coast of Panama.
Police found her body in the woods near the beach at 2:11 p.m., said Hector Milar, a police spokesman in Bocas del Toro.
He said police are investigating but have not determined yet if there was foul play.
Missing person flier tweeted by the director of Panama’s emergency services
Johannet had traveled to Bastimentos Island from nearby Colon Island, where she was last seen on Thursday, according to a missing persons flyer that was circulated by her family and authorities.
Bastimentos Island is a popular tourist destination known for its beaches, wildlife and hiking trails. Johannet had been planning a day trip there, and the hostel where she was staying reported her missing when she did not return, her sister, Laura Johannet, wrote in a Facebook post.
Adrienne Bory, press attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Panama, offered condolences to Johannet's family.
"Multiple senior members of the Panamanian government have been working closely, throughout the weekend, along with the Ambassador, U.S. consular officials, and the FBI," she said. "We express our regret to the family of Ms. Johannet. We will continue to work closely with Panamanian government officials and provide all possible assistance to the grieving family."
Laura Johannet thanked friends for their support as family and officials searched for her sister.
"My family is thinking of all our beautiful memories with our laughing, adventurous, warm little girl," she wrote. "She was always there to listen to you and just enjoy life with her loved ones."
Catherine Johannet graduated from Edgemont High School in 2011 and Columbia University in 2015, according to her LinkedIn profile.
She worked as a teacher in Vietnam from July 2015 until October 2016, according to the profile.
"The Edgemont school community is saddened by this tragic news," Superintendent of Schools Dr. Victoria Kniewel said in a statement. "Catherine was a joyous and bright young woman, with a promising future ahead of her. Edgemont was Catherine's home for so many years, and it's so distressing to learn of her passing. We have her and her family in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time."
Twitter: @MattSpillane