Families of Missing Americans in Panama Seeking US Government Assistance in Search

The families of former Teutopolis resident Sue Borries and a woman from Wisconsin are seeking US government assistance as the search for the women continues.

A statement has been released by the two families, as follows:

"The families of two American citizens--still missing after their plane crashed off the coast of Panama--are urging the United States government to help in the search to retrieve their missing loved ones.

The crash occurred on the afternoon of Monday, January 3. Two American passengers were rescued by Panamanian search and rescue teams, but 57-year-old Sue Borries of Illinois and 70-year-old Deb Velleman of Wisconsin have yet to be found.

The Panamanian government has formally asked the United States for help in the search to recover the American citizens but so far, exactly one week since the crash, the US government hasn't responded.

The families of the missing women, both retired public school teachers, are on the ground in Panama anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones.

Panamanian authorities have been conducting a round-the-clock air, sea and land search--aware of the aircraft's last known coordinates--but need help in locating the wreckage.

Both the Borries family--US military veterans among them--and the Velleman family implore their government to send the personnel and equipment required to bring these citizens home."