Violent death of American tourist in Phuket probed by local police after grim discovery

[webfact]

Police and Forensic officers examined the hotel room in which the US-born Costa Rican dual citizen had stayed since August 30th near Bang Tao Beach in Phuket. The decomposing body of the American was found on Monday and removed to Vachira Phuket Hospital for an autopsy as police investigate the death.

The American citizen of Costa Rican heritage arrived at the end of August and had intended to stay at least until the end of November. However, the manager of the hotel told police that his guest had recently taken to drinking heavily and appeared to be harrowed, keeping to himself in his room.

Police in Phuket are investigating the death of an American tourist who was found with stab wounds and lacerations to his throat in his room on Monday morning at a hotel near Bang Tao Beach in the Thalang district of the island. Housekeeping staff discovered his decomposing body at 9.40 am and called the police. Officers are trying to establish whether the man died at his own hands or whether there was a third party involved. 

 

Police in Phuket at Choeng Thale Police Station are waiting on the results of an autopsy being conducted by Vachira Phuket Hospital after the body of a 35-year-old US and Costa Rican citizen was found on Monday morning at a hotel in the Thalang district of the island.

 

The American, who is understood to be a resident of Texas, arrived at Ma Maison Hotel in the Choeng Thale sub-district on August 30th last and, according to the manager, had subsequently paid for a two-month stay at the 3-star hotel on Bangtao Beach.

 

by James Morris and Son Nguyen

 

Full story: Thai Examiner.com 2023-11-02

 

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[kcpattaya]

Self inflicted stab wounds and a cut to his throat? Sounds pretty hefty.

Whatever is the case. I hope they find out the truth. RIP.

[nobodysfriend]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

was found with stab wounds and lacerations to his throat

 

 

Not typical wounds for a ( suspected ) suicide .

Would you try to kill yourself by stabbing yourself multiple times  ?

 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Housekeeping staff discovered his decomposing body at 9.40 am and called the police.

 

Housekeeping staff does not seem to come very often for a 3star hotel ...

 

May be he had a ' boyfriend ' same the spanish chef on Koh Phangan ?

 

It seems very possible that there is a third person involved ...

[hotchilli]

19 minutes ago, kcpattaya said:

Self inflicted stab wounds and a cut to his throat? Sounds pretty hefty.

Whatever is the case. I hope they find out the truth. RIP.

Damage control is more important than the truth.

[sikishrory]

Died at his own hands?

Here we go again.

The old repeatedly stabbing yourself in the neck way of suicide.

I guess it's one of those hotels with no CCTV or security guard.

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

However, the manager of the hotel told police that his guest had recently taken to drinking heavily and appeared to be harrowed, keeping to himself in his room

I rarely go out, I mainly sit in the house watching tv or on the laptop or doing hobbies, I like a drink now and then - I am not harrowed ! People who like their - or their families - own company  is not a reason to blame a suicide on !

[brianthainess]

Why is it the RTP probe crimes, where anywhere else they Investigate? 

[SiSePuede419]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

appeared to be harrowed

Why use some obscure word from centuries ago?

 

"Depressed".

 

He appeared to be depressed.

 

Over what remains to be revealed.

 

 

[paddypower]

RIP. nobody deserves to go out, that way. Thailand can a dangerous place to visit, esp on your own, if your aim is to ''drink heavily''.  However the pubs are crowded with expats who do just that - without ending up dead in suspicious circumstances. I mean, if you suffer from depression, would you book a trip half way around the world so you can off yourself? Hopefully this will make the front page of the Daily Mail, and result in single tourists being more careful. RIP  

[Hanuman2547]

Such a sad end to this man's life.  My condolences to this man and his family.  May he RIP.

[soalbundy]

The police will go for suicide, it's easier and may be true.

[zhounan]

Testimonials from Thai hotel managers are always very mischievous.

[Caldera]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Officers are trying to establish whether the man died at his own hands or whether there was a third party involved. 

 

What we do know is that meth was involved. Either he went crazy himself, or someone he was doing drugs with did, by all appearances. Not the best way to have a safe and happy holiday. 

[bananafish]

10 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

 

Housekeeping staff does not seem to come very often for a 3star hotel ...

 

May be he had a ' boyfriend ' same the spanish chef on Koh Phangan ?

 

It seems very possible that there is a third person involved ...

 

When you stay in a hotel by the month, the standard housekeeping schedule is once per week, unless you request otherwise. 

[ericthai]

12 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

 

 

Not typical wounds for a ( suspected ) suicide .

Would you try to kill yourself by stabbing yourself multiple times  ?

 

 

The answer is yes,   Sadly my neighbor committed suicided by hanging himself. However, prior to that he tired stabbing himself in the chest several times which was unsuccessful.

[Elkski]

Third party?  Is there already a 2nd party?  

[Sigmund]

11 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Why use some obscure word from centuries ago?

 

"Depressed".

 

He appeared to be depressed.

 

Over what remains to be revealed.

 

 

it's to seperate who are the decent cultivated readers  and who are the others.

[Sigmund]

Very sad as nobody deserves such fate. As nothing was missing in the room, no signs of break in, of a fight,  obivously no other suspicious DNA hoping they did they check...if so, then unfortunately the idea of suicide could make sense. CCTV obviously did not give any leads which may explain the new explanaition. They won't try to hush up as usually the Consulate of at least all civilised european countries,  sends an consular official to enquire on the progress of the investigation.  (often such a consulate "official" has a law enforcement or legal backgrownd in the home country).

[ross163103]

19 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Damage control is more important than the truth.

That's right, gotta save face.....at all cost!

[Shocked farang]

On 11/2/2023 at 2:36 AM, zhounan said:

Testimonials from Thai hotel managers are always very mischievous.

I learned that the hard way many years ago, when a sum of money misteriously disappeared from the safe box of the hotel I was staying in Pattaya. At the end I went to the police station with the manager and I'm sure the police got together with the crook, so I never saw that money again.