All Silent On 'insecticide' Causing Deaths Of Canadian Sisters: Phi Phi Island

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All silent on 'insecticide' causing deaths of Canadian sisters

Phuket Gazette

Forensics experts and Thai police are observing the family's request to not reveal details of the investigation into the deaths of Canadian sisters Audrey and Noemi Belanger. Photo: Facebook

PHUKET: -- A spokesperson at the forensic laboratory at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok today declined to confirm or deny reports that insecticide containing DEET had been identified as the cause of death of Audrey and Noemi Belanger.

The sisters, Audrey, age 20, and Noemi, 25, from Quebec, Canada, were found dead in their hotel room on Phi Phi Island on June 15. Police initially suspected food poisoning.

The spokesperson at the forensic laboratory at Ramathibodi Hospital, which conducted the autopsies on the bodies of the two women, today confirmed that she had heard of the reports identifying DEET as the possible poison that killed the two women.

However, she declined to comment, citing a request from the Belanger family to not publicly reveal any details of the case.

“I am aware that insecticide was named as the cause, but we have been asked by the Canadian embassy to not to reveal any details regarding the Belanger sisters in order to respect the privacy of the family,” she said.

“I can confirm that the autopsy results have been reported to the embassy and the family,” she added.

However, case investigator Lt Col Jongrak of Krabi City Police confirmed to the Gazette, “The case is not yet closed. We are continuing our investigation. I have been in touch with the Canadian embassy, and we have yet to question the doctor who performed the autopsies.

“We expect to conclude our investigation by the end of the month. At that time I will be able to reveal more details,” he said.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle16832.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-09-05

[asiawatcher]

Hopefully the facts will be revealed in the fullness of time to expose what really happened and put the family angst to rest. What a horrible shock to lose sisters from the same family. A tragedy I cannot imagine how one would cope with.

[dcutman]

When did insecticide come into this story? There was no mention of insecticide before, only DEET a insect repellant.

I will assume another poor reporting job.

[meatboy]

a spokesperson for the hospital is not releasing any details as respect for the privacy of the family,so who was it that showed the cbc's french language news network the possible cause of death was insect repellant containing deet 3days ago.

[cup-O-coffee]

When did insecticide come into this story? There was no mention of insecticide before, only DEET a insect repellant.

I will assume another poor reporting job.

Yup. Sad, isn't it?

[KhunBENQ]

There was no mention of insecticide before, only DEET a insect repellant.

DEET is a neurotoxic substance. So what makes the difference.

This insect repellant is unfortunately not some harmless fragrant substance, but even risky when applied cortically.

[dcutman]

Makes a big difference. DEET isnt all that scary. Its only been around for 50 years, billions of applications and you can almost count the number of deaths from it on your hands and feet.

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/consultations/deet/health-effects.html

[WilliaminBKK]

The CBC news video is here in English.

http://www.cbc.ca/pl.../ID/2274985479/

http://www.cbc.ca/pl...sort=MostRecent

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...nsecticide.html

According to the news report it was added to a drink called "Cough Syrup Coke"

Department of Foreign Affairs have updated the warning

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=290000

Very sad.

[jaltsc]

" The spokesperson at the forensic laboratory at Ramathibodi Hospital, which conducted the autopsies on the bodies of the two women, today confirmed that she had heard of the reports identifying DEET as the possible poison that killed the two women.

However, she declined to comment, citing a request from the Belanger family to not publicly reveal any details of the case".

More like a "request" from TAT.

[intothefuture]

I think the report sounds very real and clarifies a lot, subject to further detailed reports. Don't know why the comments above criticize what appears to be a real break in the case. The family understandably doesn't want partial information out right now. If the story that was leaked is true, this may be a murder (2nd/3rd degree, or at least a case of manslaughter). I highly doubt it was intentional. The police are probably trying to track down who gave the girls the drinks, and don't want to scare off witness and potential informants. Seems smart to me.

DEET is an insecticide/repellant. Yes, its been used for many years all over the world. But it comes in many strengths...from about 5% to 100%. You can buy it in many different strengths in the local pharmacies here in Phuket. From the early leaked reports...there is a pparently a drink fad now where you add Kratom leaves and DEET to a mixed drink...to get a bigger high. One would suspect that someone made the drink and put way too much DEET in it...so that it became lethal. The girls probably had the drinks....felt sick...went back to their hotel...got sicker...vomiting (as already reported)...but thought they were just badly drunk. But....apparently they took in a lethal amount of DEET...and sadly died in their room. One has to wonder about the cases on PP two years ago. There was also the conjecture on the part of investigators that those were caused by toxic substances...possibly insecticide...but everyone thought it was the hotel cleaning crew overusing bug sprays in the rooms. This now seems much more plausible. Does anyone know about this fad of mixing DEET, Kratom and mixed drinks....which is now reported to be popular on PP Island? I think this is a very real break in this case and the previous unsolved cases on PP.

[Colabamumbai]

Hopefully the facts will be revealed in the fullness of time to expose what really happened and put the family angst to rest. What a horrible shock to lose sisters from the same family. A tragedy I cannot imagine how one would cope with.

We are with you on that.

[samjaidee]

" The spokesperson at the forensic laboratory at Ramathibodi Hospital, which conducted the autopsies on the bodies of the two women, today confirmed that she had heard of the reports identifying DEET as the possible poison that killed the two women.

However, she declined to comment, citing a request from the Belanger family to not publicly reveal any details of the case".

More like a "request" from TAT.

What evidence do you have to back-up your comment? I would be very interested to see what the basis for your insight is.

[melcoe]

I think the report sounds very real and clarifies a lot, subject to further detailed reports. Don't know why the comments above criticize what appears to be a real break in the case. The family understandably doesn't want partial information out right now. If the story that was leaked is true, this may be a murder (2nd/3rd degree, or at least a case of manslaughter). I highly doubt it was intentional. The police are probably trying to track down who gave the girls the drinks, and don't want to scare off witness and potential informants. Seems smart to me.

DEET is an insecticide/repellant. Yes, its been used for many years all over the world. But it comes in many strengths...from about 5% to 100%. You can buy it in many different strengths in the local pharmacies here in Phuket. From the early leaked reports...there is a pparently a drink fad now where you add Kratom leaves and DEET to a mixed drink...to get a bigger high. One would suspect that someone made the drink and put way too much DEET in it...so that it became lethal. The girls probably had the drinks....felt sick...went back to their hotel...got sicker...vomiting (as already reported)...but thought they were just badly drunk. But....apparently they took in a lethal amount of DEET...and sadly died in their room. One has to wonder about the cases on PP two years ago. There was also the conjecture on the part of investigators that those were caused by toxic substances...possibly insecticide...but everyone thought it was the hotel cleaning crew overusing bug sprays in the rooms. This now seems much more plausible. Does anyone know about this fad of mixing DEET, Kratom and mixed drinks....which is now reported to be popular on PP Island? I think this is a very real break in this case and the previous unsolved cases on PP.

yes, it's true, please check out the earlier thread started a few days ago when the news was first broken about DEET being a factor in the girls' deaths... there is more than 300 replies to that initial thread. I live on phi phi and know of these cocktails... see my detailed replies in the other thread

[Jayman]

The fad of mixing coke, cough syrup , and kraton leaves is popular in the south of thailand as is called 4x100 (si koon loy). It has been reported on for a few years now. The addition of DEET to the mix is something I have never heard of. I can understand wanting to ingest coke, cough syrup, and kraton leaves for a high ( all 3 are used daily throughout the world for that) but who in their right mind would think to add DEET to the mix. DEET has no other use but to cause harm. It has never been used in any form to be consumed. I could see a cocktail being called "antifreeze" or "deet" but surely the consumer of these drinks doesn't think there is actual antifreeze or deet in their drinks. Who in their right mind would knowingly consume such poison? Who in their right mind would serve up such a drink?

[preahko]

Jeez, you guys have obviously not been around much. Adding insecticide to give an extra "kick" to homemade alcohol is a rampant practice in Southeast Asia.

It's so bad in Cambodia (let's not even talk about India!!) that I refuse to drink the local hooch there. Dozens of people go blind and die in Cambodia each year.

It's a bit less of a problem in Thailand--as far as people going blind and dying--but the practice is still widespread. It is regularly added to yaa dong, sold on almost every soi in Bangkok. I learned the hard way about 8 years ago only to drink yaa dong at a vendor for which somebody can vouch for the purity of the product: once I inadvertently drank a few shots of yaa dong that was laced with insecticide...I spent the next day in bed with a pounding headache, and I luckily had someone to take care of me who knew the score. And I had no worse symptoms than that. From that time on I only drink yaa dong at vendors for whom friends attest to the quality of the product.

Anyway, insecticide in liquor is nothing new in Thailand. One should not be surprised that it got foisted on farang tourists, or that they died as a result. Sad, but not at all surprising.

[Boatman]

I seem to remember that an autopsy was to be performed in the girl's home country, as well as in Thailand. The article doesn't say which autopsy found DEET.

Anyone have info??

[simple1]

" The spokesperson at the forensic laboratory at Ramathibodi Hospital, which conducted the autopsies on the bodies of the two women, today confirmed that she had heard of the reports identifying DEET as the possible poison that killed the two women.

However, she declined to comment, citing a request from the Belanger family to not publicly reveal any details of the case".

More like a "request" from TAT.

The Canadian Embassy has already confirmed the families request not to reveal the autopsy results at this stage of the investigation - how about getting your facts right.

[orosee]

People who haven't read the 30 plus pages of the older thread on DEET, please catch up and spare us and yourself the labour of reading and writing repetitive, speculative and possibly moronic replies here, kamsahamnida :-)

[simple1]

I seem to remember that an autopsy was to be performed in the girl's home country, as well as in Thailand. The article doesn't say which autopsy found DEET.

Anyone have info??

Allegedly Canadian journalists illegally obtained autopsy results from Thailand and published them in direct contravention of the sisters family request. Canada has yet to release the outcome of their autopsy.

[DonGato]

Adding insecticide to give an extra "kick" to homemade alcohol is a rampant practice in Southeast Asia.

It's so bad in Cambodia (let's not even talk about India!!) that I refuse to drink the local hooch there. Dozens of people go blind and die in Cambodia each year.

Anyway, insecticide in liquor is nothing new in Thailand. One should not be surprised that it got foisted on farang tourists, or that they died as a result. Sad, but not at all surprising.

Simply incredible... where are we heading to as a species?... Sad... very sad...

[orosee]

There was no mention of insecticide before, only DEET a insect repellant.

DEET is a neurotoxic substance. So what makes the difference.

This insect repellant is unfortunately not some harmless fragrant substance, but even risky when applied cortically.

I'd say the difference is about the same as between a rubber bullet and a copper jacketed one. At least from an insect's point of view. There is nothing wrong with accurate reporting, wouldn't you agree?

[Chalard]

" The spokesperson at the forensic laboratory at Ramathibodi Hospital, which conducted the autopsies on the bodies of the two women, today confirmed that she had heard of the reports identifying DEET as the possible poison that killed the two women.

However, she declined to comment, citing a request from the Belanger family to not publicly reveal any details of the case".

More like a "request" from TAT.

The Canadian Embassy has already confirmed the families request not to reveal the autopsy results at this stage of the investigation - how about getting your facts right.

No wonder you have a username "Simple1"!!! 'Jaltsc' is just taking the piss out of the quote with his inverted commas.

[ableguy]

Looks like another Down Town Inn!

Yeah good point it will all go under the carpet, please not being a Thai basher just accepting the way things are here.

[cloudhopper]

Jeez, you guys have obviously not been around much. Adding insecticide to give an extra "kick" to homemade alcohol is a rampant practice in Southeast Asia.

It's so bad in Cambodia (let's not even talk about India!!) that I refuse to drink the local hooch there. Dozens of people go blind and die in Cambodia each year.

It's a bit less of a problem in Thailand--as far as people going blind and dying--but the practice is still widespread. It is regularly added to yaa dong, sold on almost every soi in Bangkok. I learned the hard way about 8 years ago only to drink yaa dong at a vendor for which somebody can vouch for the purity of the product: once I inadvertently drank a few shots of yaa dong that was laced with insecticide...I spent the next day in bed with a pounding headache, and I luckily had someone to take care of me who knew the score. And I had no worse symptoms than that. From that time on I only drink yaa dong at vendors for whom friends attest to the quality of the product.

Anyway, insecticide in liquor is nothing new in Thailand. One should not be surprised that it got foisted on farang tourists, or that they died as a result. Sad, but not at all surprising.

Well sorry but I'm calling bs on just about this entire post, although I admit not getting out much - at least to the establishments you seem to frequent.

[bangkok101]

reeks of bovine scatology! The gag order is from the thai cover-up artists!

[simple1]

" The spokesperson at the forensic laboratory at Ramathibodi Hospital, which conducted the autopsies on the bodies of the two women, today confirmed that she had heard of the reports identifying DEET as the possible poison that killed the two women.

However, she declined to comment, citing a request from the Belanger family to not publicly reveal any details of the case".

More like a "request" from TAT.

The Canadian Embassy has already confirmed the families request not to reveal the autopsy results at this stage of the investigation - how about getting your facts right.

No wonder you have a username "Simple1"!!! 'Jaltsc' is just taking the piss out of the quote with his inverted commas.

if that's the case why would "jaltsc" want to attempt a joke when two sisters have died - seems disrespectful to me...

[maidu]

There's a growing problem in the US with 'designer drugs' coming in from (mostly) india. They're packaged as 'bath salts' but cost much more than bath salts ordinarily cost. I mention this because it's possible one of the ingredients of those mixes, which change often, is deet. Deet trees grow in India.

there are specialist US FDA officials who spend all their working hours trying to decipher the ingredients for the latest drugs, in order to try and assist criminal prosecuters and cops detect it.

Thailand should have a task force which specifically targets such drug mixes as the 4 X 100 or whatever other names such mixes go by. When ordinarily healthy young women get sick and die (4 thus far, we've heard about) within hours, that's gravely serious. How many cases go unreported (sick people going to hospitals, or falling off a boat, or .....?) There are several unsolved cases in that region: A farang young man with green bluejeans was found floating in the sea near Phuket. A woman was found drowned off a beach in Krabi town, still had her gold necklace. A Belgian man died mysteriously in Phuket, ......the list goes on.

[Gone]

Again, very sad story and condolences to the family as well as RIP to the victims.

I think by looking at all the comments here that this is the exact reason the family wants to keep it hush hush. Too many assumptions.

[jomtienbob]

It's not Deet. There is an illegal hallucinogen used in Columbia and parts of south america that when tested in an autopsy can read positive for Deet. But this stuff turns people into walking zombies and a little too much is fatal just as in the case of the 2 girls. Wait weren't the police questioning some guy(s) from south america with the girls at the time? The amount of Deet you'd need to cause fatal poisoning like this is either military grade or bucket loads. Aren't there any scientists out here???? Jeez

[ding]

I just can't get over these 2 girls having so much life ahead of them taken away. I don't drink so don't know spit about DEET in booze and will wait for word from an embassy or multiple news outlets.