Tragedy in Panama

April 20, 2007
Panama City, Panama

The recent tragic murder of a U.S. woman in Panama has been all over the news--here in Panama, in the U.S., and elsewhere. Violence of this type doesn’t often happen in Panama.

Here is what is being reported:

Toni Grossi-Abrams was a widow and a real estate investor from Staten Island. A cousin of her deceased husband was living and doing business in Panama City, so she traveled here to see what opportunities were available. As happens, she fell in love with Panama and bought several investment properties here.

Ms. Abrams was not living in Panama full time, but was traveling frequently to and from her home in the U.S. Last week, on one of her visits to Panama, she was murdered in her apartment in the high-rise Atlantis building in the El Cangrejo neighborhood of Panama City, near the Veneto Hotel and Casino.

There have been conflicting reports about what occurred, but it appears Ms. Abrams was stabbed to death, her body was cut into pieces and stuffed into a suitcase, and taken to a soccer field where it was set afire in an effort to dispose of evidence.

By all accounts, the police in Panama have been quick, thorough, and diligent in their investigation, and one suspect was arrested immediately: a fellow expat…a woman from Pennsylvania who was renting an apartment from Ms. Abrams. Reports are that two or three additional people are wanted for questioning.

Read The New York Times account for more information.

Best regards,

Jessica Ramesch
Editor, Panama Insider