Last week the Superior Prosecutor in Changuinola, Vielka Broce, filed former murder charges against the American Brian Brimager, for the death of his girlfriend Yvonne Baldelli, and they are now moving to extradite Brimager from the United States to Panama to face those charges.
A local worker found Baldelli's remains in August 2013 on Isla Carenero. She had been partially dismembered and stuffed into a green military style backpack, similar to one issued to Brimager, a former Marine.
Panamanian prosecutors have been coordinating closely with the Legal Attaché of the US Embassy in Panama for months, after the discovery of Baldelli's remains, in order to pursue Brimager's extradition from the San Diego area of California in the United States - where he remains in prison facing charges of obstruction of justice, giving false statements to a federal officer, and falsifying records - all related to his elaborate attempts to cover up his involvement in Baldelli's murder.
An International Treaty between the United States and Panama signed in 1903 allows for the extradition of US citizens to Panama to face justice, however this will apparently be the first time Panama has ever formally requested extradition.
Law enforcement and judicial authorities from both Panama and the United States are proceeding slowly and carefully, making sure to account for every required step and action, anticipating a legal challenge by Brimager's attorneys in the United States to attempt to prevent the extradition from taking place.
Panamanian authorities are currently coordinating through their Foreign Ministry to process the proper paperwork, in order to formally and officially present their request for Brimager's extradition to their counterparts in the United States.
It is anticipated the request will be presented in the coming days or weeks.
Editor's Comment: The public jail in Changuinola is paradoxically known to the local Panamanians as "California" - because that's the name of the little neighborhood where it's located, close to the border with Costa Rica on the Caribbean coast.
Back when the serial killers William Dathan Holbert and his accomplice Laura Michelle Reese were arrested for having murdered five people in Bocas del Toro, the Superior Prosecutor for the province was located in the city of David. That's why Holbert is being held in David, because the prosecutor there is still handling those cases.
Since then, however, the Panamanian authorities have created and staffed a new Office of the Superior Prosecutor in Changuinola, responsible for the province of Bocas del Toro. So, after Brimager lands in Panama in handcuffs, he will be transported straight to the "California" prison there. There, he can check out any time, but he will probably never leave...
One more thing - I'm breaking this story, and no one else has this yet. To any new outlets who would like to pick this up - go ahead and use whatever you want from this article (permission granted) as long as you give credit to this website, and cite the full URL - "www.panama-guide.com". Many thanks.
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