Panama Fugitive “Wild Bill” Cortez is America’s Most Wanted
Holbert and Reese in Nicaraguan Police Custody
Their names are William Dathan Holbert and Laura Michelle Reese, and while they might turn out to be the Bonnie and Clyde of property theft their criminal resumes begin in the United States.
Captured on the border crossing near the mouth of the Sarapiqui river by a Nicaraguan army patrol Wild Bill Cortez and his Cohort are in police custody awaiting extradition to Panama.
According to Don Winner dozens of expat property owners in Panama have confirmed they were Contacted by Holbert or met him in person in relation to selling property. It is now known that Holbert spent time in Costa Rica, and his modus operandi warrants further investigation into the disappearances of expat property owners here.
Of course there could be many others, especially people who lived quietly or were on the run themselves, such as Michael Brown.
Teletica reporters traveled to Bocas del Torro to film the digging for bodies on the property Holbert controlled there.
CBS File footage shows the arrest of the couple in Nicaragua.
Efforts to capture the pair have been frustrated on many levels. Panamanian authorities received no help from the Dutch Government with respect to their False Passports. Extradition to Panama from Nicaragua could take months, and thanks to Don Winner we now know that Holbert and Reese have Committed Crimes in the United States, and are officially an America’s Most Wanted.
Accusations Against Holbert in United StatesApril 2005: William Holbert and his girlfriend, both avid weight lifters, opened a business called Southern National Patriots in Forest City that promoted white separatist views. Holbert held meetings in his store, sharing his views on the destruction of Southern white culture. He said he wanted to end the oppression of white Southerners.
Summer 2005: Holbert came to the Wilmington area during the summer and began a scam to sell a house on Oak Island. He used a fake name – Luke Gregory Kuhn – to get a North Carolina driver’s license.
Aug. 12, 2005: Holbert used the name Kuhn to steal a Ford truck. He changed the vehicle
identification number and sold it in Pondera County, Mont. Warrants for his arrest were issued Sept. 9 for felony deceptive practices.
Oct. 4, 2005: Holbert sold the Oak Island home for more than $200,000.
Oct. 31, 2005: Holbert started using a new alias of Donald Lee Bruckart and obtained a false Kentucky driver’s license. His girlfriend, Laura Michelle Reese, began using the alias Laura Bruckart. Holbert and his girlfriend bought a house in Louisa, Ky., with the $200,000.
December 2005: Holbert and Reese traveled to Ireland, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and back to Kentucky.
January 2006: The couple planned to open a gym called Big Sandy Fitness.
Jan. 20, 2006: The Wilmington Police Department issued a warrant for Holbert’s arrest for obtaining property by false pretense over $100,000. The U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force in Wilmington got the case.
Feb. 3 or 4, 2006: Holbert and Reese leave Louisa, Ky., telling neighbors a family member died and they will be gone for an unknown amount of time.
Feb. 5, 2006: Holbert and Reese are stopped for speeding by a highway patrol officer in Sheridan County, Wyo. They tell the officer they’re heading to Seattle, Wash., and Holbert shows his Kentucky license. When the officer runs his alias in the system, it shows that he’s wanted in North Carolina and Montana. While the officer is trying to arrest Holbert, he escapes and a high-speed chase begins. Holbert loses the officer and dumps the wrecked vehicle in a field.
Feb. 7, 2006: Authorities suspect that Holbert and Reese stole a 14-foot U-Haul truck from Bismarck, N.D.
March 6, 2006: Police find the U-Haul truck abandoned in North Palm Beach, Fla.
Source: The U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force in Wilmington
Information and photos for this article were provided by Don Winner and the Panama Guide.
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