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Westchester Woman Killed In Panama Was Robbed, Police Say

Panamanian police say robbery might have been the motive for the strangulation death of Scarsdale resident Catherine Johannet in Panama sometime between Thursday, Feb. 2 and Sunday, Feb. 4.

Catherine Johannet, found dead in Panama on Sunday, was robbed of her camera and jewelry.

Catherine Johannet, found dead in Panama on Sunday, was robbed of her camera and jewelry.

Photo Credit: Facebook

Police, who asked not to be identified because of the ongoing investigation, said they don't have a motive for the murder, but believe it may have been a robbery gone wrong.

"It seems to be a case of theft because the victim lacked a digital camera and some bracelets and necklace, but it could also be that the perpetrator committed the homicide by pretending to be a robbery," police said.

So far, police and FBI agents, have made 24 searches to residences of people who have previously been involved in cases of robbery, police added.

Johannet, 23, was found by an officer near the beach in Bastimentos at 2:11 p.m. on Sunday.

A 2011 graduate of Edgemont High School and 2015 graduate of Columbia University, Johannet was last seen on Thursday, Feb. 2, when she traveled to Bastimentos Island from nearby Colon Island.

Johannet, who had been staying in a hostel at Bocas del Toro, was reported missing by her friends, who also hung posters across the area in hopes of finding her.

Johannet was employed as a teacher in Vietnam at Ivy Prep from July 2015 until October 2016, according to her LinkedIn profile.

For Daily Voice's previous report on the death of Catherine Johannet, click here.

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