Phi Phi Poisonings: Autopsy Results On Canadian Sisters ‘Inconclusive’

[Lite Beer]

Phi Phi Poisonings: Autopsy results on Canadian sisters ‘inconclusive’

Phuket Gazette –

The autopsies on the bodies of Canadian sisters Audrey and Noemi Belanger, found dead in their hotel room on Phi Phi Island on June 15, have failed to reveal a cause of death. Photo: Handout image

PHUKET: Krabi Police today announced that the autopsies conducted by Thai authorities on the bodies of Canadian sisters Audrey and Noemi Belanger failed to find any traces of drugs.

The lack of discovery as to what caused the women’s deaths now forces police to follow other leads in their investigation, Krabi Provincial Police Deputy Commander Boontawee Toraksa said today.

Audrey, 20, and Noemi, 26, were found dead in their hotel room on Phi Phi Island on June 15.

Their bodies were sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok for tests before being released for repatriation to their hometown of Pohenegamook.

“No [illicit] drugs were found in their systems and there were no signs of what may have caused their deaths. Now police have to wait for the results from investigations by other related organizations,” Maj Gen Boontawee said.

Among the other experts investigating the deaths is Dr Jakkarat Pittayawong-anon, a specialist from the Bureau of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control.

Dr Jakkarat arrived with his team on Phi Phi Island on June 20 to collect evidence needed to discern the exact cause of the sisters’ deaths.

However, he said that only after his team had compared their findings against the postmortem examination results would they submit a report to the Krabi Provincial Office and Krabi Public Health Office.

Maj Gen Boontawee today took the opportunity to defend the efforts by police in their investigation into the women’s deaths.

“What the foreign media have said about Thai Police ignoring the case, trying to hide the news and allowing an important witness to leave the country is not true.

“I want to explain to the public that we have already done our best at every step of the investigation, but we still have yet to determine the cause of the death,” he said.

Maj Gen Boontawee said that police realized that, “the Portuguese friend of the two sisters who stayed at the same hotel and carried them into their room is a significant witness who might have information that could reveal what caused their deaths.”

However, he added, “By the time police reviewed the CCTV footage on June 16, it was too late to track down the man. He left the country on June 17 because his visa had expired.”

Maj Gen Boontawee did not elaborate on what further steps police had taken in order to contact the man.

According to a report by the Toronto Sun, Audrey and Noemi are to be buried this Saturday, June 30.

The results of independent autopsies conducted in Montreal, in their home province of Quebec, have yet to be announced.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2012/article16290.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-06-28

[hansgruber]

Oh dear. Not again.

[ginjag]

Predictable, Not one top person in charge ???, sending samples to a host of departments and await results. Were they initially just wanting to know if it was drugs ?? now they said inconclusive. Looking elswhere ?? Just doesn't sound thorough enough, time wasted again maybe this is natural to find out if anyone is treading on someones toes ?? sorry but this is not the first time it's happened.

[EyesWideOpen]

Of course it was inclusive........what else would they possibly say?? This was a forgone conclusion. All we can do is wait for the results of the Canadian autopsy to hear the truth. You almost have to get a laugh out of the expertise of the Thais performing the autopsy . A poison so powerful it drops two healthy girls in their tracks, and yet they cannot find what it was.....

This is turning into an exact repeat of the Chiang Mai deaths. Absolutely pathetic.....

I think the government pretty well has the angles covered. Declare their own autopsy results as inconclusive. If the Canadian autopsy cannot find anything due to the fact that Thailand embalmed the body as well as decomposition, then case closed. If Canada comes up with a poison, then Thailand can declare it must have been done by the Portuguese men who have left. Case closed , and tourism can get back to normal...

Although given the deaths that have occurred in hotel rooms in Phi Phi, I am not sure why anyone in their right mind would go there..

Edited June 28, 2012 by EyesWideOpen

[apetley]

You mean it wasn't the ibuprofen or mushrooms?

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect App

[chooka]

No suprise there, Chiang Mai Downtown Inn all over again. No known cause of death can't harm tourism. No need to hunt down the porgugese guys then now as they have no idea how these poor girls died.

Edited June 28, 2012 by chooka

[nurofiend]

All we can do is wait for the results of the Canadian autopsy to hear the truth.

thank god that's happening.

[chooka]

All we can do is wait for the results of the Canadian autopsy to hear the truth.

thank god that's happening.

results which no doubt will be dismissed.

[slapout]

If this is "doing your best" maybe a better group should be in charge. I am getting a little sick of hearing " I/we are doing our best" when little or nothing is being accomplished.

[mrtoad]

What a surprise. BIB couldn't organize a piss up in brewery, unless they had a profit share.

[mrtoad]

If this is "doing your best" maybe a better group should be in charge. I am getting a little sick of hearing " I/we are doing our best" when little or nothing is being accomplished.

In the remedial section of school they used to do their best, doesn't mean they knew what they were doing. Another lame excuse from the BIB

[mrtoad]

All we can do is wait for the results of the Canadian autopsy to hear the truth.

thank god that's happening.

Likely that it's been compromised

[StarFighter]

^ as the bodies were embalmed before leaving Thailand, I wouldn't hope for too much. We can only hope the Thai police labs are testing for a lot of different compounds.

And then that we will get full disclosure of results.

[snicker]

That Thai forensics team did not take sample until 5 days after discovery , possibly 7 days after death does not bode well, either.

At least that blatant mis information of food poisoning isn't going to hold water, anymore. I hope.

Re the Portuguese guy,

I have read a post that about a media " report" re a note from him being in the room proves something or,.. 'nother about his inocence or involvement but it seems the cops haven't considered it could have been slipped under the door and the the maid or more likely untrained cops first on the scene picked it up off the floor and set it on a table.

regardless, I don't think dope-date- rapers escort victims home and then don't rape them. Or had he (or they?)

The police quoted claims that no violence occured therefore no foul play is also suspect .

Edited June 28, 2012 by StarFighter

[givenall]

Why would the family would alow them to touch the body. They should know nothing ever go wrong here

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[britmaveric]

Sometimes things remain unknown....sort of predictable. I dare say the Canadians will most likely say the same thing.

[crazydrummerpauly]

Whether what is said is true or not, i think it is interesting and very unusual for a Thai police-officer to make defensive comments like these, showing a kind of awareness of, and some level of concern about 'outside' criticisms of the police that is not routine. ->

Maj Gen Boontawee today took the opportunity to defend the efforts by police in their investigation into the women’s deaths.

“What the foreign media have said about Thai Police ignoring the case, trying to hide the news and allowing an important witness to leave the country is not true.

“I want to explain to the public that we have already done our best at every step of the investigation, but we still have yet to determine the cause of the death,” he said.

[Jayman]

Maj Gen Boontawee said that police realized that, “the Portuguese friend of the two sisters who stayed at the same hotel and carried them into their room is a significant witness who might have information that could reveal what caused their deaths.”

Now they have him carrying both women into the room? Must be a strong bloke. I thought the CCTV footage showed they walked together.

[lannarebirth]

Maj Gen Boontawee said that police realized that, “the Portuguese friend of the two sisters who stayed at the same hotel and carried them into their room is a significant witness who might have information that could reveal what caused their deaths.”

Now they have him carrying both women into the room? Must be a strong bloke. I thought the CCTV footage showed they walked together.

Surely if they required carrying it would have been to a hospital? Is this new information? There was no evidence given that the girls were intoxicated was there?

[Jayman]

Maj Gen Boontawee said that police realized that, “the Portuguese friend of the two sisters who stayed at the same hotel and carried them into their room is a significant witness who might have information that could reveal what caused their deaths.”

Now they have him carrying both women into the room? Must be a strong bloke. I thought the CCTV footage showed they walked together.

Surely if they required carrying it would have been to a hospital? Is this new information? There was no evidence given that the girls were intoxicated was there?

more than likely they are embellishing the story at this point.

[Cardiff1963]

All visitors check in with passport. Should be easy to track down Portuguese man, if he exists.

[bangkokheat]

what a load of crap

[garyk]

Wow... That pretty much ends my plan to visit that part of Thailand.

What a mess. What a pointless and senseless end of life.

I cannot imagine what the family is going threw.

Really is Amazing Thailand. Amazingly corrupt.

[Nam Plah]

The lack of "conclusiveness" is distressing as is that what by all measure should have been considered murder suspects were allowed to exit the Kingdom unchecked. (The mysterious Portugese).

[johnlandy]

Don't it make you full of sympathy for the BIB.

Now they gotta come up with a new angle that might be acceptable to the interested parties dotted around the globe.

I guess that the Hon Minister of Tourism will also be flappig as you don't need any one to hold that portfolio 'when there aint no tourists'

[bangkokbruce]

Oh, why am I not surprised by the Thai autopsy. I knew they would try to sweep this under the rug like they do with most foreign crimes. When it has to do with tourist its bound to happen because it takes away tourism dollar and mafia money and then money from the top police so its bound to happen in Phuket. It's a revolving door and they like their monthly payments like most corrupt police in this country.....Chalerm...you are a joke!

[HUAHIN62]

Unless the Portugese guy lives in the Noth Pole he should know whats happened. Why haven't he come forward? The reports are also conflicting. Earlier it was reported that the family insisted on an autopsy be done at a private facility, now its reported that its been done at the police facility? The story was that the bodies would be kept in Krabi and would only be released to the family and the Canadian Embassy, they would then have taken the bodies to Bangkok where a private hospital would have done the autopsies. Secondly does the reporter mean drugs or poison or both, because why would they only do tests for drugs and not poison. Knowing that Canada will also do autopsies the Thais will not only test for drugs and there is no way you can hide poison even if the bodies are decomposed. I think this whole story are being reported in such away to derive the maximum reaction. I will check out the Thai newspapers as I don't trust the reporters English abilities.

[tragickingdom]

Maybe it is a good opportunity to reopen the cases of 2009 and before where people died under similar circumstances. I know it will not happen as it might damage the economic interest of certain groups.

[a99az]

I will be very surprised if the results of the independent autopsies being conducted in Montreal, come back inconclusive. It sounds very odd to have two people just drop dead at the same time in such a horrible way, leaving no trace of what might have killed them. My condolences to the family.

[bigbamboo]

Unless the Portugese guy lives in the Noth Pole he should know whats happened. Why haven't he come forward? The reports are also conflicting. Earlier it was reported that the family insisted on an autopsy be done at a private facility, now its reported that its been done at the police facility? The story was that the bodies would be kept in Krabi and would only be released to the family and the Canadian Embassy, they would then have taken the bodies to Bangkok where a private hospital would have done the autopsies. Secondly does the reporter mean drugs or poison or both, because why would they only do tests for drugs and not poison. Knowing that Canada will also do autopsies the Thais will not only test for drugs and there is no way you can hide poison even if the bodies are decomposed. I think this whole story are being reported in such away to derive the maximum reaction. I will check out the Thai newspapers as I don't trust the reporters English abilities.

Questions, questions........

The biggest question of all is will we ever get to know the real truth behind the latest mystery on the Island of Death.

Edited June 28, 2012 by bigbamboo

[bangkokheat]

one thing for sure thats NOT inconclusive is the stupidity, arrogance and greed thats undermining the potential of this country, so many good people here that are ultimately going to become victims in one way or another