Former St. Pete woman murdered in Panama

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Police in Panama say a serial killer murdered at least two people, including a woman who lived in St. Petersburg, Fla., for nearly 20 years.

The body of Cher Hughes, 53, was found earlier this month, buried in a shallow grave in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Hughes had lived in Panama for the last decade. She moved there from St. Petersburg, where she lived for about 20 years. She grew up in St. Louis.

Gregg Orzechowski was one of the Hughes’ closest friends in Florida. The two dated for some time, and remained close friends when the romantic relationship ended.

“(She was a) spur-of-the-moment girl,” Orzechowski said. “Liked to have fun. Anything you wanted to do that was exciting, she’d be right there.”

According to Orzechowski, Hughes and her husband moved to Panama and opened a hotel on a majestic island.

“She loved it. That was her life. It was beautiful out there,” Orzechowski said.

But police in Panama say earlier this year, William Cortez (who is also known as William Hobert) murdered Hughes, possibly because he was wanted to take control of the hotel.

Tim Bolt, Hughes’ uncle, who lives in St. Louis, said the family is devastated.

“It’s very heartbreaking. It really is. It really is,” Bolt said.

Cortez and his wife were located in Nicaragua. They have been extradited back to Panama and face charges for two murders. They are also being questioned in five other murders.

Police in Panama believe Cortez may have been befriending American expatriates and then murdering them, with the intention of taking their possessions.