RELATIVES  of 23-year-old  American backpacker Catherine Johannet, whose body was  found on  Isla Bastimentos, in Bocas del Toro   on Sunday, February 5,  were met by Panama’s  Minister of Security, Alexis Bethancourt, and personnel from the National Civil Protection System. (Sinaproc) on Monday. 

She had been missing since she left the South Beach Hostel on Thursday   morning, February 2.

A five hour search, which led to the discovery of the body on a footpath in a wood near th e beach was spearheaded by Sinaproc and the National police.

Police found her body in the woods near the beach at 2:11 p.m., said Hector Milar, a police spokesman.

He said police are investigating but have not  yet determined  if there was foul play.

An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death

The government provided a National Aeronaval Service (Senan) aircraft to transfer relatives, including her parents and boy friend from Costa Rica to Bocas del Toro.