€100,000 reward offered in Dutchman’s mysterious death in Phuket

[webfact]

Photo courtesy of Peter R. de Vries Foundation via The Phuket News

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

The chilling mystery surrounding the death of Dutch national Stephan Buczynski in Phuket 12 years ago has taken a dramatic turn, as the Peter R. de Vries Foundation announced a €100,000 reward (around 3.5 million baht) for any information leading to justice.

 

Buczynski, only 26 years old at the time, was found dead in the waters off Patong Beach on January 13, 2013. His death was ruled a suicide by Thai police, but his family has fiercely disputed the conclusion, citing evidence suggesting foul play. The foundation is now appealing to witnesses in Thailand to come forward.

The case is riddled with disturbing details. Buczynski had travelled to Thailand with his business partner, Sylvano, but their trip was far from smooth. Early on, a violent confrontation with an Australian tourist landed Buczynski in hospital for a week. Just a day after being discharged, he was found dead, his body bearing injuries inconsistent with a suicide, including a fractured skull and broken ankle.

Adding to the family’s doubts, conflicting reports about Buczynski’s blood alcohol level and the cause of death—drowning or asphyxiation—have further muddied the waters. A Dutch autopsy later revealed more injuries than initially reported. Despite the family’s trip to Phuket in 2015 and their appearance on the investigative TV show Murder in Foreign Countries, the Thai police offered little cooperation, citing lost case files.

The Peter R. de Vries Foundation, named after the late Dutch crime journalist, is relentless in its pursuit of justice. Foundation director Kelly de Vries stated, “Even the smallest tip can make a difference.”

 

The organisation has launched a social media campaign featuring emotional video messages from Buczynski’s family, urging anyone with information to speak out, reported The Phuket News.

 

Witnesses are encouraged to contact the foundation anonymously via [email protected].

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai), or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress, or depression. Seek help.

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2025-01-23

 

 

[soalbundy]

Perhaps it would be easier to check the bank accounts of the officers who conducted the 'investigation'

[ronster]

Did he know the Aussie?

What business were him and partner in and what percentage did they own 🤔

[Justanotherone]

ice cold case...12 years ago... can hardly remember what I ate last week

[The Old Bull]

Lots of Thais out there would not hesitate to drop a dime for 3.5 million , even an Ausie if the killer didn't keep his mouth shut. Might just work.

[Briggsy]

16 hours ago, The Old Bull said:

Lots of Thais out there would not hesitate to drop a dime for 3.5 million , even an Ausie if the killer didn't keep his mouth shut. Might just work.

In the Netherlands, yes. However, it looks like the Phuket police have locked this one up. Therefore, irrespective of any new evidence, the case will not be reopened in any meaningful way.

 

Then again, and I am going to contradict myself here a little. If the case were taken over by a national authority then it might. However this won't happen as it would foul many relationships.

[wavodavo]

On 1/23/2025 at 4:03 PM, soalbundy said:

Perhaps it would be easier to check the bank accounts of the officers who conducted the 'investigation'

I don't know how anyone would think of doubting the police declaring it was suicide .Doesn't every body fracture their skull and break their ankle before they commit suicide.??

[steven100]

On 1/23/2025 at 9:36 AM, webfact said:

Thai police offered little cooperation, citing lost case files.

 

what does that tell you ....   

 

 

[MalcolmB]

20 minutes ago, steven100 said:

 

what does that tell you ....   

 

 

That they could not speak Thai and that the Thais are not organized when it comes to filing things.

mai bpen rai

[hellohello123]

Ill bet even if there was a video of him getting killed by someone else, the thai police will be like "after a lengthy investigation, its suicide"

[dddave]

On 1/24/2025 at 10:36 AM, Briggsy said:

In the Netherlands, yes. However, it looks like the Phuket police have locked this one up. Therefore, irrespective of any new evidence, the case will not be reopened in any meaningful way.

 

Then again, and I am going to contradict myself here a little. If the case were taken over by a national authority then it might. However this won't happen as it would foul many relationships.

There is precedent.  Long timers here may remember the case, ironically also involving a Dutch victim.  The victim came to Pattaya at the Millennium as a young man and quickly made a fortune.  In 2000, local internet access was scarce and expensive and there was no easy access to home country news.  He had the idea to get the rights to publish several UK and European newspaper main pages locally  on the day of publication and sell them on newstands in Bangkok & Pattaya.  It was a huge success. He made several other successful investments and was soon, the wealthiest expat in Pattaya.  He had married a beautiful Thai girl and they built a huge mansion and both drove matching Mercedes. Everything was perfect, until it wasn't.  His body was found bludgeoned in a field, half burned.  Though sensational, the case was not solved, nobody was charged.  The grieving wife collected millions of insurance Baht. It faded away.

It didn't fade away for the victims family in Holland.  They were relentless, pushing the Dutch Government to pressure the Thai Government into re-opening the investigation.  Finally, a personal visit by members of the Dutch Royal Family to the Thai Royal Family during which the Dutch Royals brought the issue up with the Thai Royals resulted in the case being re-opened with a lot of money behind it.  A couple of key confessions were obtained and it was discovered that the perfect wife had a scumbucket Thai boyfriend on the side.  They lured the victim to the murder location and her uncle and boyfriend beat him to death.  The wife was arrested, tried and finally, more than ten years after the murder was sentenced to life in prison.

[impulse]

On 1/24/2025 at 11:36 AM, Briggsy said:

In the Netherlands, yes. However, it looks like the Phuket police have locked this one up. Therefore, irrespective of any new evidence, the case will not be reopened in any meaningful way.

 

Then again, and I am going to contradict myself here a little. If the case were taken over by a national authority then it might. However this won't happen as it would foul many relationships.

 

There's a Phuket cop or 3 that's looking at that number (3.5 mil) and their memory is clearing.  And they know where the evidence is buried.

 

[BE88]

1 hour ago, wavodavo said:

I don't know how anyone would think of doubting the police declaring it was suicide .Doesn't every body fracture their skull and break their ankle before they commit suicide.??

 

These are small details of little importance, everything is possible in LOS, even shooting yourself three times in the head, you would always be declared to have wanted to commit suicide.

 

[SiSePuede419]

Buczynski had travelled to Thailand with his business partner, Sylvano

 

Just one more thing Mr Sylvano. 🤔

[PomPolo]

I really wish the best for this family and hope they get the closure they deserve he must have been very well loved to offer that amount of money for information.

My only concern is I just hope a couple of Burmese workers dont take the fall for it

[black tabby12345]

3 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Buczynski had travelled to Thailand with his business partner, Sylvano

 

Just one more thing Mr Sylvano. 🤔

 

Watched this show in 1970s for the first time.

And still love it.

Great to be able to watch many of his impressive scenes  now on YouTube.

[black tabby12345]

Peter R. de Vries Foundation announced a €100,000 reward (around 3.5 million baht) for any information leading to justice.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Bounty paid to someone brought back his killer Dead or Alive?

 

                                              

[Nick Carter icp]

On 1/23/2025 at 5:59 PM, The Old Bull said:

Lots of Thais out there would not hesitate to drop a dime for 3.5 million , even an Ausie if the killer didn't keep his mouth shut. Might just work.

 

   Quite a a lot of felangs would do as well 

[steven100]

I seriously doubt anything will come out off it. 

With any murder investigation,   you need to act quickly to get evidence before it is destroyed.

They should have offered the 100,000 the next day .........   not 12 years later.   Everyone at the scene and the police station have died or moved on.   

[PomPolo]

I'm guessing someone either in the authorities or living here Thai or expat is having a twitchy bum at the moment with that amount of cash being offered for information.

This quote below though about the Oz tourist, no mention if it was followed up in any detail but guessing it doesn't take Columbo to know where to start.

Sylvano would probably have been put under a bit of scrutiny as it would detract from giving Thailand a bad name.

Wish the best of luck to his family on closure and all reports available (I am sure there are more that aren't) certainly doesn't point towards suicide as ruled by the RTP.

 

On 1/23/2025 at 9:36 AM, webfact said:

Early on, a violent confrontation with an Australian tourist landed Buczynski in hospital for a week

 

[PomPolo]

35 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I seriously doubt anything will come out off it. 

With any murder investigation,   you need to act quickly to get evidence before it is destroyed.

They should have offered the 100,000 the next day .........   not 12 years later.   Everyone at the scene and the police station have died or moved on.   

Or been put on an "Inactive post"

[PomPolo]

On 1/24/2025 at 10:36 AM, Briggsy said:

If the case were taken over by a national authority then it might. However this won't happen as it would foul many relationships.

The case can never be taken over by another international law body, investigations or arrests can only be carried out by Thai authorities with the 'assistance' of foreign law enforcement bodies.  Foreign law enforcement agencies are allowed to request investigation and extradition but can not be involved any more than that other than provide the Thai authorities information to assist in their own investigation.
EDITED: @Briggsy did you mean national within Thailand or International?

[steven100]

13 minutes ago, PomPolo said:

The case can never be taken over by another international law body, investigations or arrests can only be carried out by Thai authorities with the 'assistance' of foreign law enforcement bodies.  Foreign law enforcement agencies are allowed to request investigation and extradition but can not be involved any more than that other than provide the Thai authorities information to assist in their own investigation.
EDITED: @Briggsy did you mean national within Thailand or International?

basically .....  what your saying is it's all covered if Thailand's RTP want to hide something because no one else is allowed in unless they say so. 

 

It's a joke ....   TIT   =   no justice. 

[Briggsy]

13 minutes ago, PomPolo said:

The case can never be taken over by another international law body, investigations or arrests can only be carried out by Thai authorities with the 'assistance' of foreign law enforcement bodies.  Foreign law enforcement agencies are allowed to request investigation and extradition but can not be involved any more than that other than provide the Thai authorities information to assist in their own investigation.
EDITED: @Briggsy did you mean national within Thailand or International?

I meant within Thailand such as the DSI or some kind of personal intervention of the interior minister or the head of the Thai Police.

 

I am aware that Thailand does not allow foreign police to carry out investigations in Thailand.

[PomPolo]

Yeah @Briggsy that's why I edited my post to clarify I didn't want to sound like an idiot 🙂 agree completely, I used to live in Phuket and there are many times I was aware Bangkok plod used to come up and sort of audit the local police, so if they could escalate it to a more senior agency within the RTP with government oversight would definitely move things along.  I am guessing with the publicity of this huge reward something similar to that might happen

[Briggsy]

2 minutes ago, PomPolo said:

I am guessing with the publicity of this huge reward something similar to that might happen

My guess is it won't. Once they finalise these things to open them up again creates a can of worms. Senior retired officers could be accused of illegal acts. Remember the whole of the police is a patron-client system. Today's senior officers owe part of their position to the ones who helped them up and are now retired but still influential.

 

To use a yardstick, the appalling murder of Kirsty Jones in Chiang Mai led to questions in the House of Commons by UK MP's and numerous diplomatic requests to review the case and a £10,000 reward. Nothing.

 

I hope I am wrong.

[PomPolo]

3 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

My guess is it won't. Once they finalise these things to open them up again creates a can of worms. Senior retired officers could be accused of illegal acts. Remember the whole of the police is a patron-client system. Today's senior officers owe part of their position to the ones who helped them up and are now retired but still influential.

 

To use a yardstick, the appalling murder of Kirsty Jones in Chiang Mai led to questions in the House of Commons by UK MP's and numerous diplomatic requests to review the case and a £10,000 reward. Nothing.

 

I hope I am wrong.

True @Briggsy I recall that one also about the young welsh backpacker, just goes to show how beneficial UK politicians are also i.e. lets talk about it in the Commons so that it looks like we care.
The only one that got reasonable traction was the unfortunate events that happen with Hannah and David on DI, and even parts of their family don't think they got the right people but again another whole can of worms that one.
Again worth mentioning I know we are discussing this and again I do honestly hope that this family gets the closure they deserve, but like a few people here with long term knowledge of how the authorities deal with things might be a reach.  I do think the 100k euro reward might help things, somebody knows something and that amount of money most people here would sell their own grandmother for!

[Srikcir]

11 hours ago, wavodavo said:

declaring it was suicide

After skull fractures and broken ankle then go into the water off Patong Beach to finish his suicide?

[PomPolo]

1 minute ago, Srikcir said:

After skull fractures and broken ankle then go into the water off Patong Beach to finish his suicide?

Yep, top detective work by the RTP, walking into the sea with a broken ankle and being hit by an imaginary boat propeller, and then sustained all the further injuries identified in the Netherlands independent examination must have been a mammoth task!

It's similar to the RTP catching 3 people in possession of dr*gs at that EDC festival in Phuket that 300,000 people were expected to attend, I think Sherlock Holmes should have been filmed in Phuket 🙂