Expat Exchange
Free MembershipSign In

Panama Forum

9 years ago

Murder in Bocas

9 years ago
From the internet:

Dismembered Woman - US Marine Charged

A RETIRED US marine accused of killing his girlfriend and dumping her dismembered body on an island in Bocas Del Toro, has been indicted for first degree murder by a court of inquiry in San Diego, California.

Brian Karl Brimager, 37, who pleaded not guilty, has been in the custody of the US authorities since June 2013 on charges of obstruction of justice, making false statements and falsifying documents related to the murder.
According to the indictment, Brimager killed Yvonne Baldelli, around November 26, 2011, and subsequently dismembered and dumped the remains in an inaccessible jungle area on the island of Carenero, in the Bocas del Toro archipelago.

During the time that Baldelli was missing, Brimager said the woman had moved to Costa Rica with another man and concocted an elaborate alibi to avoid suspicion, which included sending emails posing as the victim and traveling to Costa Rica to withdraw money from the Baldelli bank account.
Human remains found on the island were analyzed and matched with the DNA of relatives of Baldelli, confirming that it was the missing girl.
According to an EFE news agency report, Brimager and Baldelli began a relationship in 2009 when both lived in Dana Point, Orange County, Southern California, and in September 2011 they moved to Panama.
The couple settled in a room in a hostel on Carenero island while Brimager contacted by email another woman, the mother of his daughter, (identified with the initials "KW") and made plans to settle down with her in the US.

In the messages Brimager never mentioned Baldelli, who by then had suffered physical abuse from the former marine.There were loud fights in their room and he left marks on her arms and eyes.

On November 24, 2011, the manager of the hostel broke a leg and had to be taken to a hospital in Changuinola, on the mainland. H e asked Brimager and Baldelli to take charge while he recovered.

At that time there were no guests in the room next to the Americans.
Baldelli's death occurred, according to authorities, on the night of November 26 or early 27

On November 27, according to court reports, Brimager accessed Baldelli’s computer and searched on the internet how " to clean blood stains on a mattress" but ended up throwing the mattress in the ocean and told the manager his dog had urinated on it.

Between 27 and 29 November, Brimager got rid of the evidence of the crime and threw away the hostel clothing and Baldelli's belongings.
On November 29 he sent an email from Baldelli’s computer to her sister Michelle Valenzuela, saying she had broken with Brimager and went to live in Costa Rica with a man named Tony Gonzales.

On December 12 Brimager landed in San Diego and two days later proposed to KW, and married her soon after.

Brimager continue to send emails to Valenzuela on behalf of Baldelli until late December so that the family postponed reporting her disappearance to the authorities

In March 2012, Brimager was questioned by the FBI regarding the whereabouts of Baldelli, when he insisted she had left him and lived with another man in Costa Rica.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

GeoBlue
GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlueGeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Living in Panama GuideLiving in Panama Guide

Our Guide to Living in Panama is a perfect primer for readers interested in Panama. Covers healthcare, cost of living, best places to live, residency, visas, real estate, moving tips and the pros and cons of living in Panama.

Panama Forum Panama Forum
Join our Panama forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Panama.

Contribute to Panama Network Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Panama.

Best Places to Live in Panama Best Places to Live in Panama

If you're dreaming about living in Panama, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Panama in 2023.

Healthcare in PanamaHealthcare in Panama

Expats have differing opinions about healthcare in Panama. Many advice against public hospitals and healthcare, but some recount good experiences. This article covers public vs private healthcare, cost of healthcare, obtaining prescription medications and much more.

Cost of Living in PanamaCost of Living in Panama

Expats in Panama enjoy a relatively low cost of living. However, it's important to do your research to make sure you'll actually enjoy those saving while creating a high quality of life as an expat in Panama.

Moving to PanamaMoving to Panama Guide

Do you have to buy a round trip ticket when moving to Panama? How difficult is it to bring my dog? Should I buy a home in Panama? Can I find health

Real Estate in PanamaReal Estate in Panama

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Panama.

Pros Cons of Living in PanamaPros & Cons of Living in Panama

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Panama.

Retiring in PanamaRetiring in Panama

Advice for people retiring in Panama.

Visa and Residency PanamaPanama Visa & Residency Guide

This article covers the ins and outs of the most common tourist and residency visas that expats and global nomads obtain when moving to and living in Panama.

10 Tips for Living in Panama10 Tips for Living in Panama

If you've recently arrived in Panama, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Panama.

GeoBlue
GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlueGeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Contribute to Panama Network Contribute
Help others in Panama by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Panama.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Copyright 1997-2024 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.

Privacy Policy Legal