Man charged in Panama killings had checkered past in North Carolina before life on the lam

Man charged in Panama killings had checkered past

RALEIGH, N.C. — A man facing charges for killings in Panama had a promising life in North Carolina that quickly turned problematic.

In 2004, William Dathan Holbert had a successful landscaping business, a wife, three children and a beautiful home. But records reviewed Friday show that, over the next two years, Holbert went bankrupt, separated from his family, began white supremacy activities and was charged with selling a house he didn’t own.

Wilmington authorities have a warrant out for his arrest for the fraudulent home sale in 2005. Polk County also has an arrest order for failure to pay child support.

Holbert and his new wife were arrested this week in Nicaragua. They face charges in the killing of two people and questioning in the disappearances of five others.