French Woman Found Shot Dead in Her Luxury Villa

[webfact]

 

A French businesswoman, Catherine Delacot, was discovered dead from a gunshot wound at her luxury villa on Koh Samui. She was found lying beside a swimming pool with a .45 caliber handgun nearby, leading authorities to believe it to be a case of suicide.

 

Delacot's body was discovered by Somporn Bunsert, a pool maintenance worker, who arrived for work at 8 a.m. He noted Delacot's friendly nature, frequently engaging in a friendly banter with him. 

 

According to Natthawalai Phupongta, 49, the housekeeper, the victim had settled their salaries and had planned a meeting with her and two assistants to discuss several complex matters. She revealed that Delacot had recently recovered from cancer and had undergone a separation from her husband. 

 

The police found Delacot's will, which included the housekeeper as an inheritant. The absence of any signs of forced entry into the villa and the presence of gunpowder residue on Delacot's left wrist have further supported the suicide theory. 

 

The handgun in question was purchased after several robberies at the villa. Natthawalai's statements to the police also mentioned that Delacot had asked for her ID card and household registration copies, suggesting forethought in the distribution of her property. Additionally, the victim had sent messages to her friends intimating them of her decision to include Natthawalai in her will.

 

The local police believe that Delacot committed suicide given her actions leading up to the incident, which included sending goodbye messages to acquaintances and making salary payments. The security camera overlooking the pool had also been adjusted. 

 

Delacot owned a second villa in Mae Nam subdistrict. The housekeeper has decided to arrange for a Thai-style funeral for her late employer.

 

Picture: Courtesy of AMARIN TV

 

-- 2024-04-30

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[webfact]

Before commenting on this topic, please consider the subject matter and be respectful that someone has died.

Any off topic and/or insensitive posts will be removed without warning and could result in those who made the posts being temporarely suspended from the site. 

 

//Admin

[OneMoreFarang]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

The housekeeper has decided to arrange for a Thai-style funeral for her late employer.

She must have been very lonely if the housekeeper makes these decisions.  

[ezzra]

Couple of issues that are not clear here, first, strange that a foreigner was given a permission to own a gun and

secondly, the property must be owned by a company or a Thai entity, unless it was already registered in the house

keeper name...

[Pique Dard]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

leading authorities to believe it to be a case of suicide.

 

...leading me to doubt instead...

[hotchilli]

A sad end to a ladies life, battled cancer, divorce, and alone in Thailand.

Maybe she just wanted some peace in life.

[sammieuk1]

Read this twice even three times and still find you have so many questions not relating to suicide then your not alone 🤔

[ronster]

How did she buy a gun ?? 

[worgeordie]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The security camera overlooking the pool had also been adjusted. 

So it did not record her death / Suicide .....

 

regards Worgeordie

[save the frogs]

yeah, divorce and cancer at the same time.

when bad luck hits you like a ton of bricks all at once, thats tough for anyone.

but people should have at least one close friend to help them through tough times. 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

21 minutes ago, ronster said:

How did she buy a gun ?? 

You can buy one. Just ask your friendly (motorcycle) taxi guy - and bring cash. 

[zakalwe]

28 minutes ago, ronster said:

How did she buy a gun ?? 

Women prefer overdosing as well. Easy enough to do in Thailand.

[newbee2022]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

 

A French businesswoman, Catherine Delacot, was discovered dead from a gunshot wound at her luxury villa on Koh Samui. She was found lying beside a swimming pool with a .45 caliber handgun nearby, leading authorities to believe it to be a case of suicide.

 

Delacot's body was discovered by Somporn Bunsert, a pool maintenance worker, who arrived for work at 8 a.m. He noted Delacot's friendly nature, frequently engaging in a friendly banter with him. 

 

According to Natthawalai Phupongta, 49, the housekeeper, the victim had settled their salaries and had planned a meeting with her and two assistants to discuss several complex matters. She revealed that Delacot had recently recovered from cancer and had undergone a separation from her husband. 

 

The police found Delacot's will, which included the housekeeper as an inheritant. The absence of any signs of forced entry into the villa and the presence of gunpowder residue on Delacot's left wrist have further supported the suicide theory. 

 

The handgun in question was purchased after several robberies at the villa. Natthawalai's statements to the police also mentioned that Delacot had asked for her ID card and household registration copies, suggesting forethought in the distribution of her property. Additionally, the victim had sent messages to her friends intimating them of her decision to include Natthawalai in her will.

 

The local police believe that Delacot committed suicide given her actions leading up to the incident, which included sending goodbye messages to acquaintances and making salary payments. The security camera overlooking the pool had also been adjusted. 

 

Delacot owned a second villa in Mae Nam subdistrict. The housekeeper has decided to arrange for a Thai-style funeral for her late employer.

 

Picture: Courtesy of AMARIN TV

 

-- 2024-04-30

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

An extremely sad story. Recovering from cancer and then to commit suicide is heartbreaking.

[Dan747]

Sad-Kind of "Does Not Make Sense!!"

[ezzra]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

You can buy one. Just ask your friendly (motorcycle) taxi guy - and bring cash. 

Her's was purchased legally according to the police, still not clear how she was able to buy it legally?

[brianthainess]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

at her luxury villa on Koh Samui. She was found lying beside a swimming pool with a .45 caliber handgun nearby, leading authorities to believe it to be a case of suicide.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The police found Delacot's will, which included the housekeeper as an inheritant. The absence of any signs of forced entry into the villa and the presence of gunpowder residue on Delacot's left wrist have further supported the suicide theory. 

 

The handgun in question was purchased after several robberies at the villa. Natthawalai's statements to the police also mentioned that Delacot

 

                                                                                                                                                 So she had an illegal gun. Had asked for her ID card and household registration copies, suggesting forethought in the distribution of her property. Why does that suggest the forethought? How did she own a villa ?

    Were any of "Several" robberies reported and investigated by Police ????? recorded on CCTV, did the cops ever catch anyone ? 

     Was it a live in Housekeeper ? if so did she not hear the gun shot ?

 Additionally, the victim had sent messages to her friends intimating them of her decision to include Natthawalai in her will. How long after these messages did she die ? Anyone can send a message.!

RIP lady, but there are many holes in this case. 

Edited April 30 by brianthainess

[ezzra]

This story has more questions than answers '' a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, wrapped in an enigma"...

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

 

                                                                                                                                                 So she had an illegal gun. Had asked for her ID card and household registration copies, suggesting forethought in the distribution of her property. Why does that suggest the forethought? How did she own a villa ?

    Were any of "Several" robberies reported and investigated by Police ????? recorded on CCTV, did the cops ever catch anyone ? 

     Was it a live in Housekeeper ? if so did she not hear the gun shot ?

 Additionally, the victim had sent messages to her friends intimating them of her decision to include Natthawalai in her will. How long after these messages did she die ? Anyone can send a message.!

RIP lady, but there are many holes in this case. 

Repositioning the security camera sounds like murder to me!

As you say, anyone could have sent the messages.

[brianthainess]

Just now, BritManToo said:

Repositioning the security camera sounds like murder to me!

As you say, anyone could have sent the messages.

Or someone with a gun to their head, if say sent in French .....

[Tropicalevo]

Hmm. The tinfoil hat wearers are up early today.

[freeworld]

5 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

She must have been very lonely if the housekeeper makes these decisions.  

My wife occasionally gets reports from our local area of some Japanese people who are completely isolated and lonely and suddenly died. They rely on the local Thai people to help them with their final hospital stay and passing.

[JonnyF]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Additionally, the victim had sent messages to her friends intimating them of her decision to include Natthawalai in her will.

 

First of all, RIP to the victim and sympathy to the family. Very sad. 

 

For the sake of closure for everyone, hopefully these text messages from the victim are checked carefully by police in conjunction with the friends and don't read along the lines of "Have give Natthawalai money na khap, him good man sure, him jai dee maak, him poor but take care she good". 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

 

The local police believe that Delacot committed suicide given her actions leading up to the incident, which included sending goodbye messages to acquaintances and making salary payments. The security camera overlooking the pool had also been adjusted. 

 

Curious that the security camera overlooking the pool was adjusted, presumably to face away from where the gun was fired. If she didn't want to be filmed committing suicide in the pool she could have simply done it somewhere else where there wasn't a camera. Unless she was adamant that it must take place in a large mass of water where forensic evidence tends to dissipate. 

 

Now I'm not saying anything malicious happened, but if this was my sister/daughter I would certainly want a thorough investigation. I'd imagine it would be quite rare to bravely battle cancer, beat it, and THEN decide to shoot yourself. It's possible of course, but worth checking out certain details in the story for the sake of peace of mind for the family. 

 

[Thingamabob]

27 minutes ago, ezzra said:

This story has more questions than answers '' a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, wrapped in an enigma"...

Not really. It is clear from her note and her actions that she intended to kill herself. Cancer issues and loneliness were obvious factors, and possibly business worries. RIP.

[ezzra]

4 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Not really. It is clear from her note and her actions that she intended to kill herself. Cancer issues and loneliness were obvious factors, and possibly business worries. RIP.

Still, the mystery remains as to how she got to own a gun legally and who are the owners of the Vila given the Thai laws that

says foreignness aren't allowed to own land unless it's under a company name or a Thai nominee...

[SAFETY FIRST]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

45 caliber handgun

It was reported on the local radio station that the gun was legally purchased because of the previous break-ins/robberies. 

 

I never heard of a foreigner legally owning a gun in Thailand. 

 

Anyway, I'd say that loop hole will be closed shortly. 

 

Poor Thailand, they do the right thing by allowing this woman to protect herself then she goes and ends her life. 

 

Sad story, so many people with Mental health problems 
 

Edited April 30 by SAFETY FIRST

[john donson]

will the thai dare to live in a villa where someone died ?

 

half baked potato article... were messages sent in french ?

 

as to include house keeper

 

how did she own 2 villa's ?

[ronster]

Who thinks of moving a security camera before killing themselves ? 

Unless it can be moved by a phone app , I would be checking whose fingerprints are on the camera or if the person who moved it was facing it when they moved it .

[crazykopite]

RIP to the deceased but having read the story several times there are many unanswered questions also the Thai housekeeper can only organise her funeral at the request of the deceased family as the French Embassy has to report her death to family who then take charge of her remains I would have thought that an autopsy would be carried out immediately to ascertain the cause of death I for one am not convinced it was a suicide 

[Freddy42OZ]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

First of all, RIP to the victim and sympathy to the family. Very sad. 

 

For the sake of closure for everyone, hopefully these text messages from the victim are checked carefully by police in conjunction with the friends and don't read along the lines of "Have give Natthawalai money na khap, him good man sure, him jai dee maak, him poor but take care she good". 

 

 

Curious that the security camera overlooking the pool was adjusted, presumably to face away from where the gun was fired. If she didn't want to be filmed committing suicide in the pool she could have simply done it somewhere else where there wasn't a camera. Unless she was adamant that it must take place in a large mass of water where forensic evidence tends to dissipate. 

 

Now I'm not saying anything malicious happened, but if this was my sister/daughter I would certainly want a thorough investigation. I'd imagine it would be quite rare to bravely battle cancer, beat it, and THEN decide to shoot yourself. It's possible of course, but worth checking out certain details in the story for the sake of peace of mind for the family. 

 

 

 

How do they know the camera was changed? 

She didn't do it IN the pool, she did outside on the area near the pool.  She could have be 20 feet away and they would still report it as next to the pool.

Perhaps her cancer had returned and the prognosis was a lot worse. 

It certainly looks like she planned things carefully.

RIP, at least it was quick. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It was reported on the local radio station that the gun was legally purchased because of the previous break-ins/robberies. 

 

I never heard of a foreigner legally owning a gun in Thailand. 

 

Anyway, I'd say that loop hole will be closed shortly. 

 

Poor Thailand, they do the right thing by allowing this woman to protect herself then she goes and ends her life. 

 

Sad story, so many people with Mental health problems 
 

I just heard the news again from the local radio station that reruns its local, national news every half hour.

 

They have removed the report regarding this woman, so things may change, I'll keep posted. 

 

Edited April 30 by SAFETY FIRST