Actor David Carradine Dead in Bangkok

[chen168]

NEW: David Carradine's family orders autopsy when body returns to United States

After Carradine's body arrives back to the United States this weekend, an autopsy ordered by Carradine's family will be conducted, according to the actor's co-manager.

"They're doing everything possible to get to the bottom of what really happened," said Carradine's co-manager Tiffany Smit

Autopsy results will not be available for three or four weeks, said a high-ranking Thai police source who asked not to be identified.

The same emergency crew source said Carradine's hands were not tied, contrary to some media reports. Smith, the co-manager, also said media reports quoting the actor's management saying the hands were

[brahmburgers]

He was staying in a 5 star hotel in a 500 USD a night room according to reports.

Yup, and that's one of the major errors in that picture beside the other major error that both hands are tight together. Its a fake!

Not even a good fake. Thailand is famous for its 'reenactments'. Some shmucks staged that photo in order to get a few baht and some sensationalist photo on the front page.

I imagine the last thing he would have wanted was to have his family's memories of him forever haunted by such a sordid death. Intentional suicide seems the least of all possibilities.

I concur. Mr. C was a classy guy. There's no way he would have knowingly checked out in such a crass manner - plus there was no note. Suicide it was not.

[sbk]

Insulting, inflammatory, abusive and off-topic posts have been deleted. This thread seems to have them all.

Please read the forum rules before posting. Any further such posts will result in moderator action.

[flamingtodd]

BANGKOK - Police are speculating that accidental suffocation, not suicide, may have caused the death of American cult actor David Carradine, whose body was found in a hotel closet in the Thai capital with a rope tied to his neck, wrist and genitals.

Celebrity blogs and social networking Web sites were abuzz with news of the death of Carradine — best known for the 1970s TV series “Kung <deleted>.” The circumstances under which he died have led to speculation that the 72-year-old actor may have been engaged in a dangerous form of sex play known as auto-erotic asphyxiation.

The practice involves temporarily cutting off the supply of oxygen to the brain to heighten the effects of a sexual climax.

Carradine’s body was discovered Thursday morning in his luxury suite by a chambermaid at Bangkok’s Swissotel Nai Lert Park Hotel, said its general manager, Aurelio Giraudo. Police embassy representatives while preparations were being made for its repatriation to the United States, expected to be in the next few days. Under U.S. privacy laws, the embassy is not allowed to release further details without permission of the family of the deceased.

Dr. Nanthana Sirisap, director of Chulalongkorn Hospital’s Autopsy Center, told reporters that the autopsy was conducted because of the “unusual circumstances surrounding Carradine’s death,” but did not elaborate.

Police Lt. Teerapop Luanseng had said Thursday that Carradine’s body was found “naked, hanging in a closet,” and police at that time suspected suicide. However, no suicide note has been found.

Carradine’s friends and associates insisted he would not kill himself.

‘That’s not something David would ever do’

“All we can say is, we know David would never have committed suicide,” said Tiffany Smith of Binder & Associates, his management company. “We’re just waiting for them to finish the investigation and find out what really happened. He really appreciated everything life has to give ... and that’s not something David would ever do to himself.”

Pornthip Rojanasunand, director of Thailand’s Central Institute of Forensic Science, said the circumstances suggested that Carradine may have died performing auto-erotic asphyxiation, which is said to result in a form of giddiness and euphoria — similar to alcohol or drug intoxication — that enhances the sexual experience.

[brahmburgers]

Big stories like this will take focus away from the mysterious deaths of the two farang women in Phi Phi. Tourist business folks in Phi Phi area won't mind the diversion.

[bangkokrick]

NEW: David Carradine's family orders autopsy when body returns to United States

After Carradine's body arrives back to the United States this weekend, an autopsy ordered by Carradine's family will be conducted, according to the actor's co-manager.

"They're doing everything possible to get to the bottom of what really happened," said Carradine's co-manager Tiffany Smit

Autopsy results will not be available for three or four weeks, said a high-ranking Thai police source who asked not to be identified.

The same emergency crew source said Carradine's hands were not tied, contrary to some media reports. Smith, the co-manager, also said media reports quoting the actor's management saying the hands were

There seems to be descrepancies in the little evidence that is available at the moment. Lets hope that the US forensic team can come up with something concrete, otherwise we will never know what really happened.

Cheers, Rick

[seri thai]

I think it is also associated with drug abuse including alcohol. Weren't there reports he had been drinking heavily before the incident? There was also a report that the room was locked from the INSIDE. Now IF that is true, and there was no way to access the room from the window, isn't that the final answer (no murder)?

Hey Walt,

Most hotels in Thailand over b2000 are locked from the inside, you can only get in using the key card (as the cleaning lady did) Lots of people take guests to their room tho.....Amazingly the thai police said the door was locked on the inside. No shit, Sherlock

The other amusing thought is:

1) Geezer comes to Thailand for sexual fetish

2) Hires girl from Isaan to put plastic bag over head, gerbil up rectum whatever...

3) Asks girl to remember agreed stop signal to prevent injury...

4) Sensibly asks girl if she understands said signal........(you see whats coming now , don't you )

5) Girl Greng Jais appropriatley and nods head without a clue what he's on about

6) Girl is horrified to see punter turning blue and does a runner.

Now i know this probably didn't happen as we are assured that no one entered or left on security cameras....

However, how many times has it happened, or is the plastic bag killer still stalking?

Time for you to leave, Grasshopper.......

[writeshack]

you got it right there Zorro

[geriatrickid]

To those that still doubt the scenario: Please go to your local medical school library and have a look at the stacks sections labeled forensic pathology. There are at least a dozen textbooks all with multiple photographs of similar or even more puzzling scenarios, all of which were deemed death by AEA gone wrong. A basic google search of images will turn up a few photos as well. There is nothing unusual about the scenario as far as AEA deaths go.

To those fixating on the footprint, one doesn't even know if it was a footprint, if it was the deceased's or if it was one of the hotel workers.

To those concerned about windows, perhaps you may wish to look at a picture of the hotel and then judge the likelihood of whether someone came in or went out by the window. Yes there are balconies, but do you really think people are going to be climbing up and down the balconies without being observed? The garden view rooms are in public view.

To those convinced there was someone else in the room (and it is plausible), keep in mind that in higher end hotels like the Swissotel Thais cannot get up to a guest's room without being carded. It's happened to my me at the Sheraton, the President and Novotel. Even my friends in uniform or suits got stopped. This is one of the reasons people stay in hotels like this: Security. Someone would have seen the presumed guest of Mr. Carradine. One thing about Thailand's better hotels is that there are cameras in the elevators and in the elevator lobbies. An image would have most likely been recorded.

I think folks need to put aside their own person beliefs and assumptions as to the cause of death because there are hundreds of similar deaths recorded every year. It may be shocking to some, but read enough autopsy reports and you will be amazed at the weird and wacky ways in which people die.

[seri thai]

What floor was his room on? Was there possible access via rooms on either side from the outside? Were both hands tied or only one?

Don't know about the rooms, but some reports suggest that both hands were tied. Seems to be a pretty impossible task if he was alone.

Cheers, Rick

Perhaps not impossible for someone exceptionally skilled in the rope tying arts. This man was not your average Joe Blow. OK. this is really off the wall, but perhaps there is a small chance it really was a suicide deliberately set up to appear mysterious to further the eternal legend of the man? Doing this in Bangkok insures that nobody is going to fully trust the police or authorities, so this case will probably never be solved to the satisfaction of skeptics. What better way to have people remember you forever?

Well, I'll let Pedro here answer that...

[bangkokrick]

To those that still doubt the scenario: Please go to your local medical school library and have a look at the stacks sections labeled forensic pathology. There are at least a dozen textbooks all with multiple photographs of similar or even more puzzling scenarios, all of which were deemed death by AEA gone wrong. A basic google search of images will turn up a few photos as well. There is nothing unusual about the scenario as far as AEA deaths go.

To those fixating on the footprint, one doesn't even know if it was a footprint, if it was the deceased's or if it was one of the hotel workers.

To those concerned about windows, perhaps you may wish to look at a picture of the hotel and then judge the likelihood of whether someone came in or went out by the window. Yes there are balconies, but do you really think people are going to be climbing up and down the balconies without being observed? The garden view rooms are in public view.

To those convinced there was someone else in the room (and it is plausible), keep in mind that in higher end hotels like the Swissotel Thais cannot get up to a guest's room without being carded. It's happened to my me at the Sheraton, the President and Novotel. Even my friends in uniform or suits got stopped. This is one of the reasons people stay in hotels like this: Security. Someone would have seen the presumed guest of Mr. Carradine. One thing about Thailand's better hotels is that there are cameras in the elevators and in the elevator lobbies. An image would have most likely been recorded.

I think folks need to put aside their own person beliefs and assumptions as to the cause of death because there are hundreds of similar deaths recorded every year. It may be shocking to some, but read enough autopsy reports and you will be amazed at the weird and wacky ways in which people die.

I agree with most of your points geriatrickid. I was at the British embassy last week and myself and the wife went for a beer in the garden of that hotel. There are security guards all over the place. We were politely asked if we were staying at the hotel, to which we replied no, but they did check. The garden is very nice and it's a nice place to relax and have a beer. I doubt if anyone could have climbed the building without being noticed either by the guards or the customers.

Cheers, Rick

Cheers, Rick

[chen168]

David Carradine murdered?

People News

Jun 6, 2009, 11:55 GMT

'Kill Bill' star David Carradine's manager claims he was murdered in a Thai hotel earlier this week

His manager Chick Binder said, however, his Carradine's hands were tied behind his back and a footprint on the bed in the otherwise immaculate hotel room where he was found did not match his shoes.

Binder said: "For sure there was foul play. We definitely don't believe it was a suicide. David was a great guy and a great client and a great friend."

The actor's lawyer Vicki Roberts said: "I believe there may have been foul play. Anybody could stage a suicide after a murder."

If it is true that his Hands were tied behind his back than it looks like murder to me.

Edited June 6, 2009 by chen168

[seri thai]

What floor was his room on? Was there possible access via rooms on either side from the outside? Were both hands tied or only one?

Don't know about the rooms, but some reports suggest that both hands were tied. Seems to be a pretty impossible task if he was alone.

Cheers, Rick

Perhaps not impossible for someone exceptionally skilled in the rope tying arts. This man was not your average Joe Blow. OK. this is really off the wall, but perhaps there is a small chance it really was a suicide deliberately set up to appear mysterious to further the eternal legend of the man? Doing this in Bangkok insures that nobody is going to fully trust the police or authorities, so this case will probably never be solved to the satisfaction of skeptics. What better way to have people remember you forever?

Well, I'll let Pedro here answer that...

A point some people seem to be missing about this story (and lets not forget Michael Hutchence) is that these people don't expect to die and may have carried out the act on previous occassions "safely"

For all i know it may be "better than sex", but I'll just take their word for it.

Edited June 6, 2009 by seri thai

[ronz28]

It sounds like murder to me. What's the motive????? Well a murderer could kill the star of a movie to kill the movie and try to cover his tracks if:

1. The storyline of the movie offends someone?

2. Someone didn't want the movie made in Thailand?

3. Someone wasn't paid what they thought they were entitled to?

4. The movie crew or management, etc. severely offended someone or had a terrible enemy?

Who would that someone be....Thai or Farang??? I don't have any information to even guess about that but I believe there needs to be some thinking outside of the box before saying case closed based on initial appearances.

The motive may have nothing to do with the victim.

RIP Mr. Carradine. You were a very entertaining character actor who did excellent work and your talent is missed.

[bangkokrick]

It sounds like murder to me. What's the motive????? Well a murderer could kill the star of a movie to kill the movie and try to cover his tracks if:

1. The storyline of the movie offends someone?

2. Someone didn't want the movie made in Thailand?

3. Someone wasn't paid what they thought they were entitled to?

4. The movie crew or management, etc. severely offended someone or had a terrible enemy?

Who would that someone be....Thai or Farang??? I don't have any information to even guess about that but I believe there needs to be some thinking outside of the box before saying case closed based on initial appearances.

The motive may have nothing to do with the victim.

RIP Mr. Carradine. You were a very entertaining character actor who did excellent work and your talent is missed.

Sometimes when stars are murdered there does not seem to be any motive. Maybe in a different league but, John Lennon springs to mind. I wonder if anything was missing from the room, valuables etc. I don't think that there has been any mention of this. Agree is was a great talent.

Cheers, Rick

[writeshack]

Surely a relevant point is: He was in a room in a hotel which secures its guests' privacy. No matter what he wanted to do in private, why hide in a darkened wardrobe when your room is totally private? Who put him in the wardrobe, and why?

[bangkokrick]

Surely a relevant point is: He was in a room in a hotel which secures its guests' privacy. No matter what he wanted to do in private, why hide in a darkened wardrobe when your room is totally private? Who put him in the wardrobe, and why?

I wonder if the wardrobe door was closed. Even if he did manage to do the rope trick by himself which I still doubt it would be quite a difficult task to close the wardrobe door with hands tied. (behind his back as some report).

Cheers, Rick

[Jingthing]

Surely a relevant point is: He was in a room in a hotel which secures its guests' privacy. No matter what he wanted to do in private, why hide in a darkened wardrobe when your room is totally private? Who put him in the wardrobe, and why?

A pole to hang on in there?

[bangkokrick]

Surely a relevant point is: He was in a room in a hotel which secures its guests' privacy. No matter what he wanted to do in private, why hide in a darkened wardrobe when your room is totally private? Who put him in the wardrobe, and why?

A pole to hang on in there?

Given his height I think he would find it difficult to hang on a wardrobe pole. They are just not high enough.

Cheers, Rick

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Is this topic still going?

One thing I wonder about is if his family and friends/associates are going to apologize to Thailand and the Thai police force for essentially calling them liars..

I think I know the answer to that.

[harleyclarkey]

What a loss....I loved the Kung <deleted> movies he made. Really cool and laid back.

Whatever we think he is where he wants to be....and may he rest in peace.

[Rathai]

Here's one more possible Scenario:

Hotel offers one of its "exclusive services" to the movie star. Perhaps a girl employed or associated with the Hotel. Things go wrong in the middle of the "service".

Hotel deletes the real footage to remove and covers all evidence. Has newbie cleaning lady to checkout the room.

Plausible?

[chen168]

The Bangkok Metropolitan Police commissioner, Lieutenant General Worapong Chewpreecha, confirmed that Carradine had been found with his neck bound to his penis by a shoestring and his hands tied.

DNA samples taken from Carradine's body would be used to determine if there was anyone else in his room at the time of his death, the hospital said in a press statement

(Newser) – David Carradine’s family has asked the FBI to look into his death, the New York Daily News reports. “They want an investigation,” said a lawyer for Carradine’s brother.

“I would think that the people in Bangkok would want to support an investigation and allow the FBI to go over there and assist in the investigation so we can get the answers to the questions," said the lawyer.

"I think there had to be foul play," Carradine's manager Chuck Binder added. "I mean my gut instinct is something definitely happened there."

When another King panel member mentioned that Carradine was reportedly interested in secret societies, Geragos said this reported interest was "connected to martial arts and [Carradine's] interest in martial arts. And so there is a suspicion that if there was some foul play, that that may be the first area where [investigators] should look."

So it is confirmed that his hands were tied. Maybe a martial arts hit?

[Tango7]

The Bangkok Metropolitan Police commissioner, Lieutenant General Worapong Chewpreecha, confirmed that Carradine had been found with his neck bound to his penis by a shoestring and his hands tied.

DNA samples taken from Carradine's body would be used to determine if there was anyone else in his room at the time of his death, the hospital said in a press statement

(Newser) – David Carradine’s family has asked the FBI to look into his death, the New York Daily News reports. “They want an investigation,” said a lawyer for Carradine’s brother.

“I would think that the people in Bangkok would want to support an investigation and allow the FBI to go over there and assist in the investigation so we can get the answers to the questions," said the lawyer.

"I think there had to be foul play," Carradine's manager Chuck Binder added. "I mean my gut instinct is something definitely happened there."

When another King panel member mentioned that Carradine was reportedly interested in secret societies, Geragos said this reported interest was "connected to martial arts and [Carradine's] interest in martial arts. And so there is a suspicion that if there was some foul play, that that may be the first area where [investigators] should look."

So it is confirmed that his hands were tied. Maybe a martial arts hit?

[/quote

If we are into conspiracy theories, maybe he was murdered in retaliation for his getting the role in King <deleted> instead of Bruce Lee...

[jumnien]

He was having extreme financial difficulties. Perhaps an unpaid bill for cocaine which would be consistent with the other evidence in the case. At this stage of the resolution it's good to have an open mind. Clarity, grasshopper, clarity.

[balo]

I think it must have been a sex game that went wrong and his Thai "lover" fled the scene when she knew he was dead.

They always do......

Edited June 7, 2009 by balo

[JR Texas]

He was having extreme financial difficulties. Perhaps an unpaid bill for cocaine which would be consistent with the other evidence in the case. At this stage of the resolution it's good to have an open mind. Clarity, grasshopper, clarity.

He was a great actor.........seemed to get better with age.

I remember, as a kid, walking down the hallway in our house trying hard not to leave footprints in the carpet. I did not have rice paper, so that was the only thing I could do.

With regard to the investigation, I have not read if his hands were tied behind his back or not.

I can't understand why any person would tie their hands in order to complete the "act."

So, tied in front or back, it does not make sense to me.

My guess is that there was another person in that room and the entire event was staged.

I hope the truth surfaces.

My condolences to the family and friends of David Carradine.

[brahmburgers]

One thing I wonder about is if his family and friends/associates are going to apologize to Thailand and the Thai police force for essentially calling them liars..

Thai police and investigators don't have a stellar reputation for telling the truth or for their assumptions (initial or later) bearing scrutiny. Recently, there was a macabre death on the Bkk bridge. Police initially called it a murder. Within weeks it became evident it was a suicide. More recently, the two young farang women at the Phi Phi guest house - police are still calling it food poisoning, whereas many indications point to other causes. Then there's the Swiss woman at Krabi who's strangulation was called a suicide or accident when police chose to suppress info - in order to shield potential harm to tourist industry. The list could go on and on.

Here's one more possible Scenario:

Hotel offers one of its "exclusive services" to the movie star. Perhaps a girl employed or associated with the Hotel. Things go wrong in the middle of the "service". Hotel deletes the real footage to remove and covers all evidence. Has newbie cleaning lady to checkout the room.

Has there been info, thus far, about security camera footage? ....assuming there were cameras, and they were functioning.

[Burr]

I think it must have been a sex game that went wrong and his Thai "lover" fled the scene when she knew he was dead.

They always do......

WHEN, it's all said and done you are going to be right!!

I have thoughts but I don't want to post them here.

First thing in Zen, what is, is!!!

RIP

[Jingthing]

They fled and then a ghost locked the door from the inside, is that it?

Edited June 7, 2009 by Jingthing