Introducing "Natural Selection: Scott v. Wild Bill"
April 15, 2024·3 min
This episode previews the true crime series "Natural Selection," hosted by former FBI criminal profiler Candace DeLong. It centers on American expat Scott Makeda and his encounter with another expat, Bill Cortez, in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Their meeting initiates a story involving alleged crime, murder, and a legal battle.
Scott Makeda and his wife Belinda had retired to this Panamanian hideaway, a popular destination for American expats. Bill Cortez and his wife Jane approached Scott's yacht and were invited aboard. Bill Cortez is later described as a brazen con artist who went by the name Holbert and operated a fake psychiatry business. The narrative includes accusations of a "gringo mafia" involved in gun running, drugs, and importing illegal immigrants. Holbert claimed to others that Scott Makeda was his hitman. The story involves a slaughtered family, with details that the perpetrator returned to plant bullets in the victims' heads. Scott Makeda ultimately faced life-and-death stakes within the Panamanian prison system. A recorded confession from the killer, Holbert, is featured, where he admits his guilt and calls himself a monster.
One striking moment is Holbert's alleged declaration to Scott that "everybody will bow before me" due to his "power of Satan." The episode suggests the familiar rules of society dissolve in this remote paradise, creating a law-of-the-jungle dynamic. A central tension is the justice system coming down to one man's word against a psychopath's lies. The preview emphasizes the bizarre and terrifying nature of the true story. It poses the question of how an ordinary person would survive in a dangerous foreign prison.
The tone is suspenseful, narrative, and ominous, presented as a terrifying true story. The style is dramatic and promotional, using vivid soundbites from the upcoming series.
Listeners who enjoy immersive, international true crime stories with high stakes will be drawn to this episode. Those who prefer straightforward news analysis or avoid dramatic true crime narration might choose to skip it.
