Waukesha Woman Missing After Panama Plane Crash, Sons Ask For Aid

WAUKESHA, WI— A Waukesha woman is one of two Americans still missing after their plane crashed off the coast of Panama on Jan. 3, and their families urged the United States government to send in resources to help locate them.

Jake and Josh Velleman said their parents, Deb and Anthony Velleman, were celebrating the New Year’s weekend on the island of Contadora when their plane went down. Anthony was found and is in a Panamanian hospital, but his wife is still missing.

The Panamanian government formally asked the U.S. to help by sending a vessel with sonar equipment to search for the aircraft.

Exactly one week after the crash, the U.S. government still hadn’t responded, the Velleman family said.

Patch reached out to the U.S. Embassy in Panama for comment Monday.

Jake and Josh Velleman traveled to Panama after the news of the crash.

"We do know we we have no reason to believe that these assets don't exist somewhere within the U.S. military and government. We know they exist. And we also know it is the responsibility of our government to provide the support to bring these U.S. citizens back home one way or another," Jake Velleman told Patch from Panama.

The Velleman sons said their parents were celebrating the New Year’s weekend on the island of Contadora.

Deb Velleman,70, was a teacher most recently at Prairie Elementary School in Waukesha. She retired within the past few years. She and her husband enjoyed traveling to Panama for the winter, their sons said.

"They had been spending a good amount of time [in Panama] for the last year and have really enjoyed a very high quality of life and really love to be down here. It's a beautiful country. They've made a lot of friends, including the friends they were with, when they spent this this New Year's Eve weekend," Jake Velleman said.

Four people and a pilot were on a private plane on Jan. 3, including the Vellemans and Sue Borries, 57, of Teutopolis, Illinois.

The single-engine, five-seat Piper Cherokee Six was heading to Chame from Contadora island, about 50 miles away, according to The Associated Press.

The plane experienced a mechanical failure and went into the Pacific Ocean, Jake Velleman said.

Searchers in boats and aircraft combed the area off Panama’s Punta Chame, south of Panama City.

Gustavo Pérez Morales, the director of the Civil Aviation Authority, told the Telemetro television station that the pilot had radioed in to say he was having engine problems and would have to splash down in the sea, the AP reported.

Deb Velleman and Sue Borries are still missing.

Three others aboard the private flight were rescued, including Anthony Velleman, according to the AP.

"My dad is receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries at Hospital Nacional in Panama City," Jake Velleman said.

Jake Velleman described his dad as outgoing and jovial. Anthony Velleman is trying to stay positive and crack jokes, his son added.

"The reality is none of us have had any time to process or grieve. We are still very much neck deep in this nightmare and trying to to get him the care he needs and then get him home and then trying to find our mom," he said.

Josh Velleman added, "We are one week later, and frankly we are very frustrated."

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

Both the Borries and Velleman families implored the U.S. government to send the personnel and equipment required to find the missing people.

Both of the sons said they won't have closure until they recover their mother, they said.

"If you are in a position to assist through your professional office, connection to a relevant office, and/or are willing to reach out to your congressional representatives, your advocacy on behalf of our families will be sincerely appreciated," Jake Velleman said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.