and that's it. that will be our spot for the rest of our life. >> she said it's like living in a postcard. >> a picture perfect life. until she disappeared. >> imagine you were calling leaving messages. >> calling, texting, and we started wondering. >> why would she just leave? >> i called her best friend and said, does she have a man that i don't know about? >> is something going on? >> where would she go? >> she wasn't selling that place. she loved it. >> and why did someone new now on her slice of paradise? >> this guy fooled us all. he fooled everybody. >> he got away with murder. >> he got away with murder. hello and welcome to dateline. it was a tropical hideaway where a group of adventurous aware american thought they had found paradise. good times, sunshine, a relaxed lifestyle, a place where people didn't ask a lot of questions about their neighbors until some of those neighbors started to disappear. here is kate snow with "stealing paradise". >> it is a dream that seemed so out of reach. quit the rat race, move to an exotic glenn, and by your very own private island. >> even when she was young, she wanted to travel. she wanted to see the world. >> had cher hughes the dream and she made it come true in the most unlikely place. a tiny, far away island of bocas del toro, panama. >> she would just take a picture of the sunset and send it to me. she said, it's like living in a postcard. >> life was beautiful and simple. an escape from the pressures of modern living. who could have known that evil could find a place in paradise too. that beneath all that beauty was a dark secret. >> it still seems very on real. i don't want to believe it. >> this is a really, really bad guy. >> just send chills down my spine. >> but before the nightmare, came the dream. bocas del toro is the kind of place where people come to escape. a group of islands off the coast of panama and weight off the beaten path. it's the kind of place where things move more slowly. and life is supposed to be easy. >> cher first visited the islands with her boyfriend, keith werle,. with cher it was love at first sight. what's more, it was affordable. for the same money cher had been saving up to save around the world, she bought her little piece of paradise. a rental property, a small house, and that tiny rhode island. >> we saw that lump in the water inside, that's it. that will be our spot for the rest of our lives. >> cher and keith met seven years before that when the vibrations blond walk into a bar keith owned in florida. >> came in big ice, big smile and it was, she was just so beautiful. >> grew cher up in st. louis where her all american good looks got her into modeling as a teenager. >> she walked in a room and just beat. everybody knew she was. there she was always happy. she always had a smile for everybody. >> eventually cher move to st. petersburg, florida, where her sister judy says she became a savvy businesswoman. running her own neon sign company. >> she always make sure she had that income. she made sure she was setting herself up for exactly what she wanted to do, retire and travel around the world. >> they cher traveled but mostly in the u.s.. then a friend invited her to visit exotic bocas del toro. and cher jumped at the chance. >> took a seven days to decide we're gonna live there through the rest of our lives. just hit us that hard. people here, just phenomenal. >> we love you! >> cher loves children and panama has lots of. kids >> keith is a carpenter so he built their dream home. a combination of wooden buildings on top of their lush, green island. cher trend planted tropical gardens and adopted lots of animals, including a pet monkey and a beautiful brown, doberman pinscher named jack. he adored cher and followed her wherever she went. she loved the local school kids. planned movie nights with popcorn and celebrated the holidays with enthusiasm. even though her friend sean trainer said the kids didn't always get the significance. >> she would do all these activities where the kids had no idea what this crazy white woman was doing. coloring eggs. hiding them around on the island. and they never participated in anything like that before. >> cher's. , expat. >>. . >> kristen who moved from norway was part of her close group of friends. >> we treated each other like family and take care of each other. >> everyone went by their first names or nicknames. keith and cher were known as ken and barbie. the man who owned one of the local watering holes, another american, was known as "wild bill". viking hat and all. bill and his wife jane opened a bar on their secluded property. accessible only by boat. where the sometimes gathered for brunch drinks. >> bill had the saturday parties at his place at the bar and restaurant, once or twice a month. everybody was there. >> it was cher's tropical dream come true. a beautiful backdrop for family reunions light heard the time her and mary came to visit. >> her grandmother, my mother, and i came down and visited. we had a tour and they met us at the airport with a big bouquet of flowers. and it was just wonderful. >> there was another big trip in the works. cher's sister judy was planning to visit for the very first time. >> she wanted to show you her paradise? >> oh, yeah. >> the trip would be a good disruption destruction for cher her. life had recently turned upside down. her five your marriage to keith had a rough spot. he'd had even moved out. >> when keith had moved off the island, she was pretty devastated. but then again, i also thought, whose marriage is perfect? hopefully they will work it out. i know they still loved each other. >> the sisters were excited about the trip. plans were in full swing. >> and then what happens? >> then i don't hear from her. >> one day past. then in other. and still, nothing. >> too much time has gone by and now i know something has happened. >> judy was worried. and cher was gone. >> coming up -- >> where is cher? they're going, i don't know. but we're mad at her too. >> but maybe her mysterious disappearance could be soft. a text message from cher two keith with some bad news. >> she just said, i met somebody else. better than you. >> and she was running away with that person. >> yes. >> so maybe she just got on a boat with someone that she you didn't know about and should be back in a week. >> right. yeah. >> it wouldn't surprise me that all mary, i went sailing and then my phone fell off the deck when i brought my purse. that would be cher. >> but who was this new mystery man? and we're was cher? >> when "dateline" continues. ng rash that can last for weeks. and it could wake at any time. think you're not at risk for shingles? it's time to wake up. because shingles could wake up in you. if you're over 50, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about shingles prevention. just between us, you know what's better than mopping? anything! ugh. well, i switched to swiffer wetjet, and it's awesome. it's an all-in-one, that absorbs dirt and grime deep inside. and it helps prevent streaks and haze. wetjet is so worth it. love it, or your money back. - after military service, you bring a lot back to civilian life. leadership skills. technical ability. and a drive to serve in new ways. syracuse university's d'aniello institute for veterans and military families has empowered more than 200,000 veterans to serve their communities and their careers. from professional certifications, to job training, to help navigating programs and services, we give veterans access to support from anywhere in the world. >> on the exotic coast of panama, cher hughes had been living out the dream of owning her own island. but then she vanished. >> imagine you were calling? leaving messages. >> calling, taxing, facebook. then i started reading her facebook. it's like, cher where are you? people that were in panama haven't seen you around town. where are you at? give me a call. and we started wondering. >> when cher's husband keith realize she had left town, she was he was surprised. but he thought he might know. i had cher been talking about spending time in panama city, a place where she could blend into the scenery more easily and wrap her head around their breakup. >> she told me she won an apartment in panama city, to spend some time in the. city get out of bocas because it is such a small community. >> she's got a little tired? >> yeah. bumping into the same people, telling the same story. she was ready for a little break from the bocas. >> it's not unusual for people to come and go around here. after all, the easygoing lifestyle is part of the islands charm. but cher's friends and family said it wouldn't be like her to leave so abruptly. leave her cherished island with all her belongings still here. cher's and mary started phoning friends in panama's. >> everyone was saying, you know cher she might have just gone for a week or lost her phone. >> we're like, okay, maybe. >> mary logged onto cher's facebook place page and reached out to those friends. >> they're going worried she, i don't know. why would she not call me? were aggravated with her? like what are you doing? >> and then, some good news. cher's received a text message from her saying she had got sale. she's a free spirit? right? >> oh she had an opportunity she, go. >> so maybe she just got on a boat with some new friend that you didn't know about. and should be back in. week >> right. yeah. >> it wouldn't have surprised me that, oh, mary i went sailing and then my phone fell off the deck when i was out there. that would be cher, for 3 to 4 days. >> the messages were reassuring, but not for long. a few days past and cher didn't return. then another text message. this one from cher two keith. >> she just said, i met somebody else better than you. >> she said she had met someone else. >> yes. >> and she was running away with that person? >> a mystery man? keith wanted to get to the bottom of. >> well i called her best friend and said, did cher meet somebody? does she have a man that i don't know about? is something going on? she never mentioned that. ever. she's waiting for you. there's no man. she didn't runaway. >> that keith noted something strange about the messages. they were written in cher's usual style. >> instead of small letters, it would be all capitals. and she would always right a-r-e, and it would be "r" for our. instead of t-o it would be "2". it just changed. >> and then, the text messages just stopped. cher's aunt mary call the u. s. embassy in panama and beg for help. >> the embassy made a big point of saint people disappear all the time and if she wants to be found she will contact you. so, i had a hard time shouting into the darkness of the embassy, saying help me, help me. >> things got worse. cher didn't call her father on his birthday. it was a huge alarm bell. >> i knew how she felt about her dad. she would never, ever miss his birthday. so, something had happened to cher for sure. >> after two months, it was staring everyone in the face. the unanswered phone calls, the strange messages, the missed birthday. all the clues pointing to a horrible conclusion. >> did you start to panic? >> yes. i knew something was wrong. the whole family started to panic. >> the terrible realization sank in. cher hadn't gone all ceiling or run away with a mystery man. she wasn't hiding out in an apartment in panama city. something had happened to her. friends in bocas wrapped rocked their brains for answers and started thinking about another american from their group who had also left abruptly. had anyone heard from him? what if cher was the only person missing? what if there were to? >> i just woke up one morning is like, i just knew. >> coming up -- another american apparently just walked away. leaving his home and a lot of questions behind. >> shoes by the door, his game is next to it. dirty dishes in the same. just gave me a really weird vibe. >> i knew right off the bat, it's like whoa, what's going on here? >> i couldn't ignore any more. somebody had to do something. >> when "dateline" continues. can we get real clear about life with psoriasis? yeah, i'm ready. is your treatment leaving you with uncontrolled symptoms? like the cover-it-ups and brush-it-offs? enough with good enoughs. don't stay hiding or hurting. ♪ when your lotions and creams don't do enough to help treat the inflammation beneath the skin, causing plaques and pain, it's time to get real about psoriasis, so, your dermatologist can help you get clear. make the appointment and ask about real clear skin. something unexpected has arrived from experian. a debit card. the all-new experian smart money™ debit card and digital checking account. it finds payments that could raise your credit scores without adding debt. it's no ordinary debit card... it's the smart debit card... only from experian. and that is worth celebrating. build credit without the 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[roar] untraditional tradition. turn ideas into i-did-its. sfx: [ding] ♪ my mental health was much better. but i struggled with uncontrollable movements called td, tardive dyskinesia. td can be caused by some mental health meds. and it's unlikely to improve without treatment. i felt like my movements were in the spotlight. #1-prescribed ingrezza is the only td treatment for adults that's always one pill, once daily. ingrezza 80 mg is proven to reduce td movements in 7 out of 10 people. people taking ingrezza can stay on most mental health meds. ingrezza can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, or actions in patients with huntington's disease. pay close attention to and call your doctor if you become depressed, have sudden changes in mood, behaviors, feelings, or have thoughts of suicide. don't take ingrezza if you're allergic to its ingredients. ingrezza may cause serious side effects, including angioedema, potential heart rhythm problems, and abnormal movements. report fevers, stiff muscles, or problems thinking as these may be life threatening. sleepiness is the most common side effect. it's nice. people focus more on me. ask your doctor about #1 prescribed, once-daily ingrezza. ♪ ingrezza ♪ >> in the picturesque islands of bocas del toro, panama, a crisis was brewing. cher hughes had been missing for two months. now her family and friends wondered if her disappearance had anything to do with another american who had left the island a rubber abruptly, for months before cher. a man named bo icelar. >> bo was quiet. introvert. he was really great guy. >> kept bo a low profile since moving to bocas from sante fe, new mexico, in 2004. the former antique dealer was so quiet that no one really notice when he took off. >> a lot of people said hey, get on a boat and go to argentina for six weeks. and though ever tell anybody they're leaving. it's pretty easy to be not missed for a while. >> it made even more sense when they found out that bo had sold his home too wild bill. another american in their group famous for throwing lively parties many of the expats attended. including cher's friend kristen. i >> knew he wanted to sell and move somewhere different. so i assume they came to an understanding over the price and that bo had just left. >> still, as keith stop thought back two days after bo moved out, an image kept returning to his mind. an image of bo's house right after eid left. >> i walked in and looked around and it looked as if bo had gone out to the store. not moved out. i went back until my friend, i said i can't believe it. it's really weird. towels on the back of the cheers, shoes by the door, his skin is next to the front door. dirty dishes in the sink. it just gave me a really weird vibe. that bo would just walk away. >> two americans missing. rumors began to swirl. could their disappearances be linked? the >> more you think about something like that then, you know, it didn't add up. >> did it kind of eta you thinking about it? >> yeah, i kept thinking about. it the cause it was a right that cher would leave without the party. i knew that this girl would not leave town without throwing a party. and bo could leave, but the two of them together, i'm just like, send them their belongs after the fact. that didn't sound. right >> and then kristen heard something that made the floor drop from under her. bo had abruptly stopped paying his bills. something totally unlike him. >> i just woke up one morning i was like one of those were things and i just knew. i couldn't ignore any more. i just couldn't. somebody had to do something. >> kristen went to the police. >> did they immediately investigate? >> no. they just put it in a file. they just go, yeah yeah, yeah. they say all, people get last lost in panama all the time. >> christine reached out to someone she thought could. help me another expat, don winner, who went ran panama guide. a news website for foreigners living in panama. >> i was contacted by one of her friends that was concerned she was missing. and they asked for my help. >> had don lived in panama for decades and acted as a consultant on this story. he had originally come here with u.s. military intelligence. the case of the two missing americans caught his attention. >> i knew right off the bat that this was like, whoa, hey, what is going on here? i knew that i had to apply a lot of time to it and a lot of attention to it. and also knew that i had to get it. right >> he hopped on a flight from his phone in panama city to bocas del toro, and tapped into the coconut telegraph. >> what is the coconut telegraph? >> it's just the rumor mill. they call it the coconut telegraph. it's when something happens, word spreads quickly. >> and from what don was hearing, things just weren't adding up. he checked to see if bo and cher might have left the country. >> i knew that bo cher, both of them, their passports had not gone through the airport. and if you look at immigration movements, both of them you can check if they come in, when they come in. >> they're still in panama. >> they came in, they never left. so they're still in panama somewhere. >> but where? there was one more piece of the puzzle falling into place. and that would point a finger of suspicion at someone living right among them. >> coming up -- >> bill was the loudest voice in the room. he text everybody and said, your lord commence you to come to the party. >> a pirate out to make a killing in real estate. >> she wasn't selling that place. she loved it. >> bill showed up and said yeah, i bought everything. >> when "dateline" continues. (car engine revs) (engine accelerating) (texting clicks) (tires squeal) (glass shattering) (loose gravel clanking) >> reporter: here's what's happening. former president donald trump lost two major court challenges friday. in appeals court rejected his claim for blanket immunity aligning -- trials brought by capitol police officers and others to proceed. a judge issued a similar ruling in trump's case. and tributes are pouring in for the first female justice of the supreme court sandra day o'connor, who died friday at the age of 93. former president barack obama, who awarded o'connor the presidential medal of freedom in 2009 praised her for being a trail blazer. now back to dateline. >> welcome back to "dateline". i'm andrea canning. cher hughes and bo icelar, two americans who were living the good life in panama, each seem to have mysteriously vanished. but a check of their passports confirmed that neither had left the country. their