crime

2006 murder case remains unsolved

Prosecutors have until April to file charges in the murder of a Panama City businessman.

PTJ/CORTESÍA

Mysterious:The body of Damaris Mendoza was found inside his burned out car in 2006. No one has been charged for the murder, but investigators believe they have prime suspects.978614

New evidence could lead authorities to make arrests in the murder of a businessman who was found dead in his burned out car under the Puente de las Américas in June of 2006.

According to an autopsy, Damaris Mendoza was strangled to death before his body was put inside his car, which was then set on fire.

Police think the motive for the murder was robbery, as a safe with a large amount of money and jewelry was discovered missing from Mendoza's home.

Sources within the Ministerio Público (MP) said that the case has moved through the hands of four prosecutors without charges being brought.

Now the case is in the hands of Fiscalía Tercera Superior Prosecutor Óscar Araúz, who has until April to file charges in the case.

Authorities think they know who committed the crime. But it is unclear why they haven't been charged.

Mendoza was last seen alive at a party he attended in Costa del Este on June 13. He left that party and presumably returned to his home in San Francisco.

The last people to see him alive are believed to be his killers.

Police had little forensic evidence to work with, but the motive quickly became clear when a domestic employee told them that items seemed to be missing from his home, including a safe that contained a large amount of money and jewelry.

Sources within the MP said an anonymous tipster contacted police with the identity of the killers, who are believed to be under the age of 18.