Wild Bill Murders in Bocas

July 21, 2010
By st.di.

Authorities are searching for William “Wild Bill” Adolfo Cortez and his wife who are being investigated for three murders in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Yesterday, the Panama Guide reported the body of Cher Hughes was found in the Cortez’s back yard in the area of Cauchero.  Friends of Cher’s told the Panama Digest that they reported her missing six weeks ago.  They had not heard from her since March but several friends had received text messages from her phone saying that she had taken off on a boat trip.

The remains of Mike Brown from whom the Cortezes allegedly purchased the Cauchero property, neighboring on Cher’s, were also found nearby.  Although the body of Bo Icelar has not yet been found, he has been reported missing since November, 2009.  The common denominator is that the Cortezes said that they bought property from all three victims in what appears to be murder to steal property spree.

Wild Bill and his wife were last spotted in the Cerro Punta area of Volcan where they had a Harley Davidson shop.  If the phone number listed for Jane Cortez on the Panama Guide is correct, the couple also ran the following ads in the July 2009 Bocas Breeze newspaper:

JUST UNCRATED!
New Air Creation Experimental Air Craft. 68 HP Rotax Engine. Ready to Fly. With pontoon & wheel kit. Retails over $40k.
Buy today $17,300 or trade. 6859-9116.

50-TON MOORINGS $995.
100-Ton Moorings $1595. Installed and Guaranteed. 6859-9116.

I BUY HOUSES, BUSINESSES & BOATS
Hassle free and quick closings. 6859-9116

And as recently as May, Cortez placed the following ad in The Bocas Breeze:

HOUSES, APARTMENTS AND ISLANDS
For rent! Prices for all budgets! All ocean front or ocean view! All with dock space!  Call owner at 6406-1974.

Bill and Jane Cortez photo from Cher Hughes' facebook page

2 Responses to “ Wild Bill Murders in Bocas ”

  1. McLean on July 22, 2010 at 4:01 am

    Yup, those ads were his. I talked to him when he bought the flying boat kit from someone else in the Bocas area the last time I saw him (pre-June 2009). This is crazy stuff!

  2. Friends Clarify Facts in Cher Hughes Bocas Murder | The Panama Digest on July 23, 2010 at 11:03 am

    [...] went to Bill Cortez’s for dinner.  Cortez, who is the prime suspect in what appears to be a murder-to-steal-property spree, persistently questioned Cher about another property she owned – Casa del Sapo, not a hostel [...]