Contaminated Food May Have Killed Canadian Sisters: Phi Phi Island

[kjhbigv]

This thread is mostly a complete crock.

The Phi-Phi cops, Krabi cops, Dept of Epidemiology officials, etc have really done their job well to send all the internet sleuths sniffing up every which wrong alley whlie the international press slavishly reprint their baseless statements.

What have they done so well? Details please and how do you know exactly what they did. Maybe they are throwing way bags of evidence as we speak. Maybe not, but pray tell if you have personal knowledge about what they have done in this case or similar cases.

I think he is being ironic! Read his post again!

Edited June 19, 2012 by kjhbigv

[Nisa]

in the "western world" our water is permanently checked, before it goes into the pipes...

in phi phi its probably not?

keeping the hygienic standards as elsewhere is just not possible here...

you have to bring your medication, if you want to make sure, you will fly back on a seat...

No clue about Phi Phi but the water in Bangkok leaves the treatment plant at levels equal or above European standards ... not that this makes drinking it any better, just kind of an FYI.

[ttelise]

treatment is blood-laundering, but some patients dont respond even to that...

antibiotics worsen the condition...

Okay. I get you are doing net research. I am not, so I may not and may not be 100 % correct in my memory on all things, but I can walk down the hall and ask the doctor on staff at my firm. He just not here right now . . .

Anyway, Ecoli is very commonly introduced through two pathways in the US. Urinary tract infections and sacral decubitus ulcers. Failure to properly clean or change quickly allows pathogens to enter the blood stream.

First line has always been antibiotics. Amoxillicilan was the gold standard first line for treatment of ecoli. Then ecoli mutated over time and grew resistant to Amox/penicillins and ecloi is resistant to these in about 25 % of the reported cases.

Gram negatives, or fluroguinolones, are now pretty much first line for UTIs and ecoli in the urinary tract. TMP/SMZ, clinda and etc. are still potentially effective.

Doctors are really mixed on this issue because they are afraid treating the wrong strain will cause the bacteria to mutate further and provide complete resistance.

You kind of misunderstanding the issue and the strain you may have read about may be H4 or something another that surfaced in Europe or somewhere other than the US.

[ttelise]

This thread is mostly a complete crock.

The Phi-Phi cops, Krabi cops, Dept of Epidemiology officials, etc have really done their job well to send all the internet sleuths sniffing up every which wrong alley whlie the international press slavishly reprint their baseless statements.

What have they done so well? Details please and how do you know exactly what they did. Maybe they are throwing way bags of evidence as we speak. Maybe not, but pray tell if you have personal knowledge about what they have done in this case or similar cases.

I think he is being ironic! Read his post again!

Oh sorry. Hard to tell who is and is not complaining about our keeping this topic alive.

[Nisa]

How many dentists do you know get pissed up, and at that young female ones?

Don't try to distort meanings and interpretations please.

-mel.

Two actually...and they are family friends, both female in their early 30's

+ 1 vet

Hence the reason I questioned your comment of "educated" people dont get pissed up....as I know differently...

Further not tryin to destort anything....you were one one that that tied education and getting p*ssed together not me..

I think everybody does but Mel ... just visit about any university in the west.

Kids do experiment, but no, most good students don't mess with drugs, especially women in grad school. At least my experience after doing the JD and MBA things. I would imagine that Adderall may be abused, but illegal drugs were really frowned upon and not accepted.

Also, kids typically very close to their parents and with good reputations in small communities and etc., probably not wild children. Hard to hide this stuff in smaller, close nit communities. Only someone who has never done anything wrong in their life would be that afraid to get help if they took some shroom concoction served at a bar. Natural instinct to live would override that quickly though.

Anyway, blaming them at this juncture is tantamount to blaming a hot chick for her rape.

Really of no consequence though. Serving someone poisonous shrooms at a restaurant or bar that kills them is still manslaughter.

The human will to live is very strong and they would have gotten help if the could have, especially when seeing sister crashing. They were simply overcome and either too sick to seek help or no one responded.

People of all types experiment with drugs and often when young people are on a sort of "spring break" they do and take things they normally wouldn't. Do a Google search for videos and pics of Spring Break and you will see just how wild these kids get and all of them are on break from school.

Young people get drunk and experiment and this doesn't make them bad people and imo opinion wouldn't make them at fault for their own death if they thought they were buying ecstasy (example) but instead were sold something fake that turned out to be deadly. I certainly wouldn't consider it a suicide and would believe the person who sold the deadly pills should be prosecuted for the deaths.

Again, this is just one possible scenario based on the fact, they are young, they were partying, they were in a place known for partying and illegal drug use by foreigners, they were not robbed. they were the only two deaths reported and they didn't phone (they were in a nice hotel) or seek medical help when they became sick. Then again it could have been some fast acting poison or as one poster speculated they could have been held at gun point by the police as they became ill until they died. Crazy stuff happens all over the world but most of the time suspicious deaths have the most logical answer and not one that includes conspiracies or serial killers.

[ttelise]

Two actually...and they are family friends, both female in their early 30's

+ 1 vet

Hence the reason I questioned your comment of "educated" people dont get pissed up....as I know differently...

Further not tryin to destort anything....you were one one that that tied education and getting p*ssed together not me..

I think everybody does but Mel ... just visit about any university in the west.

Kids do experiment, but no, most good students don't mess with drugs, especially women in grad school. At least my experience after doing the JD and MBA things. I would imagine that Adderall may be abused, but illegal drugs were really frowned upon and not accepted.

Also, kids typically very close to their parents and with good reputations in small communities and etc., probably not wild children. Hard to hide this stuff in smaller, close nit communities. Only someone who has never done anything wrong in their life would be that afraid to get help if they took some shroom concoction served at a bar. Natural instinct to live would override that quickly though.

Anyway, blaming them at this juncture is tantamount to blaming a hot chick for her rape.

Really of no consequence though. Serving someone poisonous shrooms at a restaurant or bar that kills them is still manslaughter.

The human will to live is very strong and they would have gotten help if the could have, especially when seeing sister crashing. They were simply overcome and either too sick to seek help or no one responded.

People of all types experiment with drugs and often when young people are on a sort of "spring break" they do and take things they normally wouldn't. Do a Google search for videos and pics of Spring Break and you will see just how wild these kids get and all of them are on break from school.

Young people get drunk and experiment and this doesn't make them bad people and imo opinion wouldn't make them at fault for their own death if they thought they were buying ecstasy (example) but instead were sold something fake that turned out to be deadly. I certainly wouldn't consider it a suicide and would believe the person who sold the deadly pills should be prosecuted for the deaths.

Again, this is just one possible scenario based on the fact, they are young, they were partying, they were in a place known for partying and illegal drug use by foreigners, they were not robbed. they were the only two deaths reported and they didn't phone (they were in a nice hotel) or seek medical help when they became sick. Then again it could have been some fast acting poison or as one poster speculated they could have been held at gun point by the police as they became ill until they died. Crazy stuff happens all over the world but most of the time suspicious deaths have the most logical answer and not one that includes conspiracies or serial killers.

I get all of that . . . In addition, what kind of people venture to phi phi, perhaps those prone to want to party. I don't know. These sound like good kids and I am willing to give them benefit of the doubt.

ALL law enforcement agencies in civlized countries begin a case like this with the assumption of foul play and work backwards to disprove that they were intentionally killed.

This is my gripe and beginning the assumption that deaths were nothing more than a party foul by the authorities is contrary to proper investigatory standards.

Finally, it is still a crime and if they truly believed that, they would have the bar/restaruant owner in for questioning or possible criminal charges so I don't think they really believe that.

[meand]

Give a good foreign doctor a few peripheral facts, and i'm sure his chances would be about 10 times that of a Thai doctor at the scene and with the body to actually figure out what happened.

[maidu]

The usual here as has happened in the pass with these cases, Give it a rest boys and girls when the final analysts comes out the truth will be known until then you are all just passing gas.

If this investigation is like any prior Thai investigation of young farang who die in a tourist area, then THE TRUTH WILL NOT BE KNOWN. A few years ago, two young farang women died from mysterious causes ON PHI PHI ISLAND, and the truth never came out. Thai officialdom will do all they can to try and sweep this under the rug. Almighty tourist dollars takes precedence over all else.

These things take time. You can't figure this out over night. Dr. Pornthep is a very good doc and will get to the bottom of it, hopefully. But out of respect to the families, please show some respect on this thread.

They should insist on a foreign autopsy. Pornthip will provide whatever answer protects Thai tourism the best.

Incorrect! she has stood up to many a Thai establishment in her time and is highly respected!

This is in reply to " They should insist on a foreign autopsy. Pornthip will provide whatever answer protects Thai tourism the best."

I agree Dr. Porntip is the best Thai professional for the job. However, as the hours go by, I worry that the prospect of a proper forensic investigation will lessen. Plus, there will be intense pressure on Ms Porntip to shield Thailand's tourist image. So unless she can state the cause with 100% certainty, the official designation will continue to be inconclusive, as that suits Krabi's tourist image better than a conclusion pointing to foul play or poisonous food/drink.

Since posters are proposing possible scenarios, here's another: Their drinks were spiked, and the doses were waaaay too high.

[ttelise]

If this investigation is like any prior Thai investigation of young farang who die in a tourist area, then THE TRUTH WILL NOT BE KNOWN. A few years ago, two young farang women died from mysterious causes ON PHI PHI ISLAND, and the truth never came out. Thai officialdom will do all they can to try and sweep this under the rug. Almighty tourist dollars takes precedence over all else.

These things take time. You can't figure this out over night. Dr. Pornthep is a very good doc and will get to the bottom of it, hopefully. But out of respect to the families, please show some respect on this thread.

They should insist on a foreign autopsy. Pornthip will provide whatever answer protects Thai tourism the best.

Incorrect! she has stood up to many a Thai establishment in her time and is highly respected!

This is in reply to " They should insist on a foreign autopsy. Pornthip will provide whatever answer protects Thai tourism the best."

I agree Dr. Porntip is the best Thai professional for the job. However, as the hours go by, I worry that the prospect of a proper forensic investigation will lessen. Plus, there will be intense pressure on Ms Porntip to shield Thailand's tourist image. So unless she can state the cause with 100% certainty, the official designation will continue to be inconclusive, as that suits Krabi's tourist image better than a conclusion pointing to foul play or poisonous food/drink.

Since posters are proposing possible scenarios, here's another: Their drinks were spiked, and the doses were waaaay too high.

Luckily, most of the toxins being discussed will remain in certain tissues, hair, nails or organs. People have been dug back up and traces of arsenic found before. If Warfarin, they simply need only make a small incission into peritoneal or retroperitoneal cavity, xray chest, and look for subdural hematomas.

[Nisa]

I get all of that . . . In addition, what kind of people venture to phi phi, perhaps those prone to want to party. I don't know. These sound like good kids and I am willing to give them benefit of the doubt.

ALL law enforcement agencies in civlized countries begin a case like this with the assumption of foul play and work backwards to disprove that they were intentionally killed.

This is my gripe and beginning the assumption that deaths were nothing more than a party foul by the authorities is contrary to proper investigatory standards.

Finally, it is still a crime and if they truly believed that, they would have the bar/restaruant owner in for questioning or possible criminal charges so I don't think they really believe that.

And they have looked at this as a possible crime but there is NOTHING as yet indicating it to be a crime. Door locked from the inside, nothing stolen, no violence, am sure they looked at security tapes of goings and comings from the room ... Unless the autopsy shows they were poisoned by something that wouldn't normally be ingested accidently, there isn't much to do. It appears based on statements in the press that they have investigated where they were and with whom prior to their deaths. Not a lot more than can be done at this point and certainly, like anywhere else, police are not telling everything they have done or are doing but like just about anywhere else, when they initially suspect or don't suspect foul play, they let this information out.

Just like anywhere else, it is going to be a wait and see what the results are. Toxicology reports take time so even after the autopsy it will likely be weeks before we have any answer. Be it Rodney King who just died in the US to Michael Jackson, it takes time to determine cause of death when it is not trauma or something an autopsy can confirm like clogged arteries. It would be impossible to treat every death where the cause is unknown initially as a crime when there is no indication of a crime and other more plausible explanations exist.

The likely cause of death is almost surely going to be poisoning be it by food or by ingesting of too much of a drug or fake drug. Anything else is going to be fairly remote given the limited info we have that is surely missing details and could also be providing incorrect details.

[ginjag]

HOLMES--element of doubt my dear WATSON. going by the majority of deaths that occur here (unusual ones) near all seem shady deals. When we see cover ups for-Hoteliers-wives-transport-floods-swimming-suicides- most have some sinister twist. True look at the last years deaths of foreigners, and see what clear cut cases are established--near none--to me this makes a joke of the LOS.

[dingdang]

the very first thing they did, after the bodies were removed, was cleaning the room from floor to ceiling...

please, lets not call this "investigation"...

i would like to know, until when the sisters had prepaid their room...

[maidu]

Luckily, most of the toxins being discussed will remain in certain tissues, hair, nails or organs. People have been dug back up and traces of arsenic found before. If Warfarin, they simply need only make a small incission into peritoneal or retroperitoneal cavity, xray chest, and look for subdural hematomas.

Granted, some toxins are detectable at later times. Yet, other toxins are not readily detectable later on. That's why it's imperative that the forensic investigation be done a.s.a.p. by objective and qualified specialists. Dr. Porntip is about as objective and professional as Thailand has, yet even she is human, and therefore might be affected by intense pressure from some folks - who would prefer an inconclusive report.

[ttelise]

I get all of that . . . In addition, what kind of people venture to phi phi, perhaps those prone to want to party. I don't know. These sound like good kids and I am willing to give them benefit of the doubt.

ALL law enforcement agencies in civlized countries begin a case like this with the assumption of foul play and work backwards to disprove that they were intentionally killed.

This is my gripe and beginning the assumption that deaths were nothing more than a party foul by the authorities is contrary to proper investigatory standards.

Finally, it is still a crime and if they truly believed that, they would have the bar/restaruant owner in for questioning or possible criminal charges so I don't think they really believe that.

And they have looked at this as a possible crime but there is NOTHING as yet indicating it to be a crime. Door locked from the inside, nothing stolen, no violence, am sure they looked at security tapes of goings and comings from the room ... Unless the autopsy shows they were poisoned by something that wouldn't normally be ingested accidently, there isn't much to do. It appears based on statements in the press that they have investigated where they were and with whom prior to their deaths. Not a lot more than can be done at this point and certainly, like anywhere else, police are not telling everything they have done or are doing but like just about anywhere else, when they initially suspect or don't suspect foul play, they let this information out.

Just like anywhere else, it is going to be a wait and see what the results are. Toxicology reports take time so even after the autopsy it will likely be weeks before we have any answer. Be it Rodney King who just died in the US to Michael Jackson, it takes time to determine cause of death when it is not trauma or something an autopsy can confirm like clogged arteries. It would be impossible to treat every death where the cause is unknown initially as a crime when there is no indication of a crime and other more plausible explanations exist.

The likely cause of death is almost surely going to be poisoning be it by food or by ingesting of too much of a drug or fake drug. Anything else is going to be fairly remote given the limited info we have that is surely missing details and could also be providing incorrect details.

NO. Crime I am speaking of is only that they were either poisoned or illegally, intentionally or negligently served something poison. That is either premediatated murder or manslaughter. You beging with that premise and work backwards to simple food poisoning for improperly prepared meat or poultry. I don't think anyone was ever present in the room other than them.

[ttelise]

Luckily, most of the toxins being discussed will remain in certain tissues, hair, nails or organs. People have been dug back up and traces of arsenic found before. If Warfarin, they simply need only make a small incission into peritoneal or retroperitoneal cavity, xray chest, and look for subdural hematomas.

Granted, some toxins are detectable at later times. Yet, other toxins are not readily detectable later on. That's why it's imperative that the forensic investigation be done a.s.a.p. by objective and qualified specialists. Dr. Porntip is about as objective and professional as Thailand has, yet even she is human, and therefore might be affected by intense pressure from some folks - who would prefer an inconclusive report.

Yep, need someone unaffected by political pressures. She has to live and work there. Human nature.

[ttelise]

Don't get me wrong. I think Thailand is awesome overall. Something to be said for a certain amount of freedom, but . . . A big but here. So screwed up that people get locked up for long sentences for having some weed, yet people killing people in traffick accidents, outright disregard for other's safety and cases like this are just difficult to reconcile.

The mentaility of a culture that is more accepting of causing the death of another than an individual's decision to use drugs is disconcerting at best.

[mrtoad]

I get all of that . . . In addition, what kind of people venture to phi phi, perhaps those prone to want to party. I don't know. These sound like good kids and I am willing to give them benefit of the doubt.

ALL law enforcement agencies in civlized countries begin a case like this with the assumption of foul play and work backwards to disprove that they were intentionally killed.

This is my gripe and beginning the assumption that deaths were nothing more than a party foul by the authorities is contrary to proper investigatory standards.

Finally, it is still a crime and if they truly believed that, they would have the bar/restaruant owner in for questioning or possible criminal charges so I don't think they really believe that.

And they have looked at this as a possible crime but there is NOTHING as yet indicating it to be a crime. Door locked from the inside, nothing stolen, no violence, am sure they looked at security tapes of goings and comings from the room ... Unless the autopsy shows they were poisoned by something that wouldn't normally be ingested accidently, there isn't much to do. It appears based on statements in the press that they have investigated where they were and with whom prior to their deaths. Not a lot more than can be done at this point and certainly, like anywhere else, police are not telling everything they have done or are doing but like just about anywhere else, when they initially suspect or don't suspect foul play, they let this information out.

Just like anywhere else, it is going to be a wait and see what the results are. Toxicology reports take time so even after the autopsy it will likely be weeks before we have any answer. Be it Rodney King who just died in the US to Michael Jackson, it takes time to determine cause of death when it is not trauma or something an autopsy can confirm like clogged arteries. It would be impossible to treat every death where the cause is unknown initially as a crime when there is no indication of a crime and other more plausible explanations exist.

The likely cause of death is almost surely going to be poisoning be it by food or by ingesting of too much of a drug or fake drug. Anything else is going to be fairly remote given the limited info we have that is surely missing details and could also be providing incorrect details.

Still have The Saffron Glasses then. Only way any truth will come out is with an independent, on Thai autopsy. If you think the truth will come out via Thai authorities on this one then you are in Kwailand.

[mrtoad]

This thread is mostly a complete crock.

The Phi-Phi cops, Krabi cops, Dept of Epidemiology officials, etc have really done their job well to send all the internet sleuths sniffing up every which wrong alley whlie the international press slavishly reprint their baseless statements.

What have they done so well? Details please and how do you know exactly what they did. Maybe they are throwing way bags of evidence as we speak. Maybe not, but pray tell if you have personal knowledge about what they have done in this case or similar cases.

Smoke and mirrors

[dingdang]

if it is really true, that the phi phi hospital is FULL of people, all having the same thing - "food poisoning"...

then there must be a travel warning...

it makes sense, that the restaurant wasnt closed, the guesthouse wasnt...

in case its an bacteria, maybe in the ground water or the piping system or everywhere, then they would have to close down phi phi, basically...?

[ttelise]

Some guy walked them . . . Interesting. Natalie Holloway ish . . . Just kidding.

Lots of people sick in the hospital. Nice ommission by the Thai police and media . . .

[dingdang]

...and the above girls treatment in the hospital was 400 GBP...

and the hospital doesnt let her leave the contamined island, until she pays the hospital bill...

Edited June 19, 2012 by dingdang

[EyesWideOpen]

Dr. Porntip has turned into a walking joke after the GT 2000 fiasco. A sad affair since before that she was perceived as a rare fighter for truth in Thailand. At this point I am not really even sure why Thailand is bothering to do an autopsy. Given the long term history of the Thai government doing everything possible to sweep the deaths of tourists under the rug to protect tourism, the results will have no meaning to anyone except some government officials. So I humbly suggest that the bodies be turned over IMMEDIATELY to the Canadian government who will perform their own unbiased autopsy. The results of which will be believed by every party involved.

I do not know happened , nor does anyone else on this board. But I do know one thing. There is NO WAY on God's green earth that the Thai hospital in charge of the autopsy will release next month a report saying the girls were killed by a serial poisoner if that turns out to be the case. Therefor any reports by the government investigation are meaningless. Allowing the room to be cleaned up completely immediately after the deaths is part of the Thai style of destroying evidence in the case of suspicious farang deaths. Wait I guess it could be incompetence... ??

And before the rose colored glasses brigade jump in and tell me to go home, you should know I actually love Thailand. It is the government I have trouble with....

[notime]

It's not easy to cause death of a grown up person by poisoning. And definitely things like magic mushrooms would have to be consumed in HUGE quantities to have such effect. Therefore I don't believe this happened. From the described circumstances it appears to me some a strong poison was used. Such poison could have been arsenic that is found in pesticides (rat poison) and many other household substances. But the amount consumed would have to be also quite substantial which suggests to me the poisoning could have been intentional. Here is a bit of info on the effects of arsenic:

"Symptoms of arsenic poisoning begin with headaches, confusion and drowsiness. As the poisoning develops, convulsions and changes in fingernail pigmentation may occur. When the poisoning becomes acute, symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, blood in the urine, cramping muscles, hair loss, stomach pain, and more convulsions. The organs of the body that are usually affected by arsenic poisoning are the lungs, skin, kidneys, and liver. The final result of arsenic poisoning is coma or death."

The arsenic poisoning can be detected by examining the hair of the victims.

[Tywais]

Post removed due to this forum rule.

Quotes from and links to Phuketwan are also not allowed and will also be removed

[annabel]

I am in Montreal now and I am getting ready to move to Bangkok on the 3rd of July. This story is on every ones lips in my office. Everbody keeps asking me what the deal is, as they seem to think that I am the Thai expert since I travel there 3 to 4 times a year.

This story has hit every news agency here in Montreal and people are waiting for answers. It completly baffles them to hear that a proper autopsy has not been carried out yet. Western logic vs. Thai logic. I know, I know - that's another debate.

There may not be that many Canadians travelling to Thailand every year (since airfare is rediculously expensive) but this story is going to make a few Canadian travellers, more specifically from Quebec, think twice about their trip to Thailand.

About the ibuprophen - I just don't get it. Why can I walk into any Canadian drug store and buy a bottle of 120 caplets without a prescription, off the shelves, but in Thailand, I have to do the whole song and dance just to get 10 tabs...

Yup and I have repeat customers ( young couple ) arriving tomorrow from Quebec who stayed here last year and wanted to come back to Thailand and who are in the Islands right now and are totally devastated by this... What can I tell them ... don't worry all will be ok...? Pfff !! Thank God they will be here tomorrow and I can take care of them ... this is Sooooo Bad !! Canadian Embassy HELL!! WAKE UP AND DO SOMETHING !!!

[kjhbigv]

This has all the hallmarks of the Chiang Mai debacle. Without the father of Sarah Carter (not forgetting the other 6 victims!) pushing for the truth.....that would have been put down to 'blow fish poisoning', 'food poisoning' etc etc.....we all know what the results were and what the probable cause was.

Not saying this is the same BUT already the 'seeds' of 'the girls were drinking this', 'taking this' etc etc are out there....the UK media's last and final report was 'may have been poisoned by blow fish'! Case closed as far as the UK media is concerned!

We shall see.......

[Arkady]

'"We planned to send the bodies for post mortem at Surat Thani Hospital because Krabi Hospital has no forensic doctor. However, so far, we have been unable to move them because their relatives and the Canadian Embassy representative who came to Krabi did not allow us to do so," the director said.'

Please send the girls' bodies to a decent hospital in Bangkok that has a proper pathology unit or to Khunying Pornthep's unit of forensic medicine at the Ministry of Justice. Don't bother telling us about your stupid idea to send them to a hospital with no pathologist or consider Surat. Most of the pathologists in the country are part of the police force and will always report the cause of death to be whatever the police tell them they want to see and then mess things up, so a second independent autopsy will not be able to find anything. I can imagine that the Canadian Embassy is struggling to try to prevent this from happening. Hence the delay. Good luck to them.

'Dr Komkrit Phukrittayakami, director of Krabi Hospital, said that from the condition of the bodies, it was likely the deaths were caused by contaminated food, but an autopsy would be required to discover whether this was seafood, mushrooms or chemical substances.'

Please don't speculate. Your hospital, despite being the main government hospital of the province, doesn't even have a pathologist which is very embarrassing for you. Better keep your mouth shut.

'Wiyada Srirangkul, director of the Tourism Authority Krabi office, said tourism in the province did not appear to have been affected by the incident because the cause of death was still not known. However, if it were found that the young women died because of contaminated food, the image of the area would inevitably be affected.'

We don't care about the effects on tourism right now. Just find out what happened to these unfortunate young women and don't attempt to lie and cover things up as has happened so many times before when tourists are killed. Being honest and sincere is the best course. If it turns out that they died from deliberate or accidental poisoning, just admit there is a problem and make sure that it is cleared up.

[balo]

This is the same kind of "mysterious poisening" that happened to the two Norwegians and American girl a few years ago , also Phi Phi, in a guest house.

Anyone remember this case? The Norwegian survived but her friend died.

A lot of theories back then but no answers to how they died. Don't expect anything from the local police, you might as well ask a dog..

[tampasailor]

MONTREAL — Every year when Noémi Bélanger finished her classes at Université Laval, she would set off on an exotic trip, a neighbour recalled Sunday. “She was a great traveller,” said Suzie Morin, who watched the three Bélanger girls grow up across the street in Pohénégamook, northeast of Quebec City.

This year’s destination was Asia, and she was joined by her younger sister Audrey, who had just completed her first year at Laval.

But last week, as they neared the end of their five week itinerary, their trip ended in tragedy. Thursday night, a hotel chambermaid discovered their lifeless bodies in their room on Phi Phi Island, a popular beach destination in southern Thailand.

Police are awaiting the results of an autopsy but have said the deaths of Noémi, 25, and Audrey, 20, could be the result of an accidental poisoning. Thai media reports said there was evidence of vomiting in the hotel room, and the victims had skin lesions, bleeding gums and blue fingernails and toenails — all of which can be symptoms of poisoning.

In Pohénégamook, which is on the border with Maine about 170 kilometres northeast of Quebec City, news of the deaths on the weekend came as a shock.

“The village is devastated, and we are all suffering as though they were our own children,” Ms. Morin said. “They were very intelligent, they worked hard in school, they had promising careers ahead of them, but the Good Lord decided differently today.”

Noémi was set to enter dentistry at Laval next fall and Audrey was studying cinema at the Quebec City university. Their father owns a grocery store where the daughters would work during the summer.

Growing up they were accomplished dancers, starting at age four and continuing until they left for college, said the president of the local dance school, Aristodanse. They frequently represented the region in provincial dance competitions. “Last year we were celebrating our 30th anniversary and I needed volunteers. Who came to help? The Bélanger sisters,” Diane Bouchard said.

“They had everything in life. I mean they were intelligent, they were unassuming, they were likeable, they were cheerful. Think of any attribute, and they had it.”

Related

• 
  Quebec sisters may have died from accidental poisoning: Thai police
  
• 
  Two Quebec sisters found dead in Thailand hotel room in suspected poisoning
  

The circumstances of their deaths remain a mystery. According to the Thai newspaper Phuket Gazette, the sisters checked into the hotel last Tuesday. They went out that night and returned to their room but were not seen or heard from the next day

phiphipalmsresidence.com

Promotional photo of a Phi Phi Palm Residence Hotel Room.

“A maid knocked on the door to clean the room on Thursday, but there was no response, so the maid thought the women needed more rest and left,” Lt. Siwa Saneha of the Phi Phi Island Police told the newspaper.

Thursday evening the maid tried again. When she got no response, she grew concerned and used a master key to enter the room, where she discovered the bodies.

Police said there was no sign of a struggle in the room. The Bangkok Post reported Sunday a police official described them as showing “signs of serious food poisoning.”

In 2009, a Norwegian and an American in adjoining rooms at a Phi Phi guesthouse died after falling ill with what was suspected of being a form of poisoning. The cause of their deaths was never established.

The Bélanger sisters were very close, Ms. Morin said. “They were good friends. You don’t leave on a five-week trip if you don’t get along with someone,” she said.

Isabelle Soucy, a high school art teacher who taught both girls when they were students at École secondaire du Transcontinental, said the Bélanger family, which includes an older sister, is well known and well loved in the small town.

“They were very engaged, social girls, really good girls. This really touches everyone here so deeply,” she said.

“They are a very strong, close family who often travel together,” she said, adding that Noémi had travelled to several developing countries to do humanitarian work.

“I don’t understand what happened. It seems from the television news that the hotel they were staying at was a nice hotel, not a dump. I don’t understand if they were sick why they didn’t ask for help…. I just don’t understand why it happened so fast and why nobody else was sick,” at the hotel, she said. http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/06/18/canadian-sisters-mysterious-deaths-in-thailand-devastate-quebec-hometown/

[ttelise]

Artilce said they arrested some boy walking them home that evening. I am sure he is a farang and may be a great patsy if somehow poison shows up. At least LOS could say farang poisoned girls, but we took care of him so all safe now.

That dude could be in a touchy situation. If used a fall guy, he doesn't stand a chance. Goodbye rest of life.

Edited June 19, 2012 by ttelise