It is believed that after descending the summit, the women made a fatal error: instead of retracing their steps back to the trailhead, they took a less-traveled path that continued down the other side of the mountain. Their last daytime photograph was taken at 1:54 PM. By 4:39 PM, just three hours later, someone began attempting to dial 112 and 911—the Dutch and international emergency numbers. None of the calls went through due to a lack of cellular reception.
One of the most famous and unsettling images shows the back of Kris Kremers’ head. Some observers claim to see blood near her temple, though this is debated by forensic analysts who suggest it may be shadows or lighting artifacts. Signaling Evidence: Several photos show items arranged on rocks, including a stick with red plastic bags attached, a candy wrappers Environment:
The phones were used intermittently to try calling 112 (European emergency) and emergency services (Panamanian emergency). The last attempt was on April 5, three days before the night photos, which is a major contradiction in the timeline. Summary Table of Events April 1 Women start the hike, take last "normal" photo. April 1-5 Numerous 112/emergency services calls attempted. April 5 Last known phone activity (battery dies). April 8 ~90 Night Photos taken (1 AM - 4 AM). April 8 Photo 509 is deleted. June 16 Backpack found; camera and phone data recovered.
The trail goes up into a cloud forest. The top is a dividing line. One side leads back to town. The other side leads deeper into the harsh jungle. The girls crossed over into the deep jungle. They were never seen alive again. Discovery of the Backpack and Camera Kris Kremers Lisanne Froon Night Photos
The Night Photos are the primary evidence used to support three main theories:
The night photos, a series of 90 images taken between 1:00 AM and 4:00 AM on April 8, 2014, are the heart of the enigma. While many are of near-total blackness, a select few reveal a detailed and chaotic scene. The camera appears to have been placed in a rocky ravine, perhaps at the bottom of a cliff near a stream. The photos show a seemingly random collection of objects: a plastic bag, brightly colored sweet wrappers, and a small mirror. The images are taken in rapid succession, sometimes only seconds apart, often with the camera's flash illuminating the immediate surroundings.
When the camera was recovered, the memory card was intact, but the camera body showed signs of water damage. The flash was deployed for all night photos. The women were clearly trying to illuminate something . It is believed that after descending the summit,
A significant number of researchers believe a third party was involved. Proponents point to several pieces of circumstantial evidence:
It’s a date that haunts the true crime and unsolved mystery communities more than a decade later. On that day, two young Dutch women—Kris Kremers (21) and Lisanne Froon (22)—vanished while hiking the El Pianista trail in the dense, misty cloud forests of Boquete, Panama.
The night photos have generated intense speculation. There are two main schools of thought: None of the calls went through due to
The true purpose of the night photos is a subject of fierce debate. Several primary theories have emerged over the years.
On April 1, 2014, Dutch students and Lisanne Froon vanished while hiking the El Pianista trail in Boquete, Panama. Weeks later, local authorities recovered Lisanne’s backpack. Inside was a Canon PowerShot SX270 HS digital camera containing over 100 images. While the daytime photos showed two happy tourists enjoying their hike, a sequence of 90 surreal night photos taken in total darkness became the center of one of the 21st century's most enduring true-crime mysteries.