A Forgotten Murder on Koh Samet

[Lex Talionis]

Some here may remember another murder happening only two weeks after the ones on Koh Tao. The firestorm of publicity that followed the latter completely overshadowed it. And maybe let some overtaxed investigators off the hook. By way of refresher, here's the small bit of news that was published:

Crimes Against Tourists in Thai Beach Towns Continue

...Meanwhile on Sunday, the body of an unidentified foreigner was found off the coast of Koh Samet, a popular tourist destination in the Gulf of Thailand.

Police described the deceased as a male 170-cm-tall Caucasian wearing a black T-shirt and short black pants at the time of his death.

Police say they found a wound caused by a blunt object on the back of his head and "numerous" bruises on his body, suggesting that he was murdered before being dumped into the sea.

The incident is under investigation. - http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1412007544

I've tried to follow up on this but found it difficult with so little information given. What to punch into a search engine? Can anyone offer some follow up information on this story? Maybe a link to an article or a clue as to the victim's identity? Heard anything through the TGF, Thai press or even the grapevine?

With no one pressing on this, the case will quickly disappear (if it hasn't already) into the enormous "cold case" vault of Thai murders. (e.g. anyone recall the 2 headless corpses found floating in the water alongside a Catamaran in Pattaya? - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755724-two-bodies-found-near-abandoned-catamaran-close-to-pattaya-island/)

Like to light a fire under this one if at all possible.

[daveAustin]

If you do have some joy, try to get it over to the Western press.

I've been to many Thai islands over the years, including all those currently in question, and while I could never quite put my finger on it, there always seemed this air from the natives. Sort of like the look the vampires in the movie Blade gave humans... vacant and predatory. Apologies to any genuine, non-predatory Thais in these places.

[HeijoshinCool]

There are an amazing number of suspicious deaths here that go uninvestigated.

I was walking on the beach on Koh Chang in 2009. Came upon a body washed up with the tide. Male, white, mid-fifties. A day to a day and a half in the water.

Lividity had set in his buttocks and the back of his thighs. For those of you who don't understand the significance of this, lividity is the blood, in the immediate hours postmortem, pooling in an area of the body through the forces of gravity and contact. Where his lividity was, meant he had been seated for at least five or six hours after he died.

Called the RTP, went home.

Next day, in the paper, police stated he had drowned.

The only party who can safely incite an investigation in the Land of Smiles, are the immediate relatives, or the embassy of the deceased. The cops otherwise just don't care, and in fact, are compelled to not declare foul play.

[pinkpanther99]

This isn't the only one...

The big story is about a murder that happened a couple of weeks ago...

A Thai woman found dead in a suitcase dumped in the river in Kanchanaburi. CCTV shows her last seen with a farang in Nana Plaza. So far there has been very, very little coverage of this crime in both the Thai and English language press in Thailand.

Ordinarily a crime such as this would be big news, but for some reason, this story just isn't being featured anywhere.

[Lex Talionis]

This isn't the only one...

The big story is about a murder that happened a couple of weeks ago...

A Thai woman found dead in a suitcase dumped in the river in Kanchanaburi. CCTV shows her last seen with a farang in Nana Plaza. So far there has been very, very little coverage of this crime in both the Thai and English language press in Thailand.

Ordinarily a crime such as this would be big news, but for some reason, this story just isn't being featured anywhere.

Maybe because the victim is Thai? (I only can access the English Language press btw.)

If this the story you're talking about? :

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Womans-body-found-in-river-30247193.html

I agree there must be several. And a lot that don't hit the media at all, of course.

[lovelomsak]

Unsolved murder cases is common every where in the world. In my family alone there are 2. One killed coming home one night never found out who did it. The other killed checking a pipeline at work. They say they know who killed him just cannot prove it. Unsolved murders are probably more common than solved car hit and runs. That was in Canada

Forgot to mention my brother who went missing 10 years ago also.

[TooPoopedToPop]

If you do have some joy, try to get it over to the Western press.

I've been to many Thai islands over the years, including all those currently in question, and while I could never quite put my finger on it, there always seemed this air from the natives. Sort of like the look the vampires in the movie Blade gave humans... vacant and predatory. Apologies to any genuine, non-predatory Thais in these places.

Funny post... but I know what you mean.

I can remember visiting islands years ago and getting the same feeling. Some very primitive people on some of them.

I never had any problems personally, and I usually went with my wife and kids. Most of the locals are OK as long as you don't cause any trouble and respect their way of life.

[benalibina]

This isn't the only one...

The big story is about a murder that happened a couple of weeks ago...

A Thai woman found dead in a suitcase dumped in the river in Kanchanaburi. CCTV shows her last seen with a farang in Nana Plaza. So far there has been very, very little coverage of this crime in both the Thai and English language press in Thailand.

Ordinarily a crime such as this would be big news, but for some reason, this story just isn't being featured anywhere.

Maybe because the victim is Thai? (I only can access the English Language press btw.)

If this the story you're talking about? :

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Womans-body-found-in-river-30247193.html

I agree there must be several. And a lot that don't hit the media at all, of course.

Yes, we here are outraged when a foreigner is, most likely, killed. This as recent examples have shown. But what to think if this is only the top of the iceberg. Apart from some pressreports about thais getting killed there must be many more cases of thai on thai murders which do not make the press because close relatives dont think about foul play. Begs as well the question about similar type of cases happening in regard to burmese, cambodian and laotian nationals.

[Thongkorn]

Many thai murders go unsolved because they don't have the investigation skills, and the thai attitude of up to them, not my business. My wife worked for the Thai police, I have seen some pictures of obvious murders, but usually they know how and maybe why but nobody is willing to get involved. prolly the same can be said of any murder I any Country. Not just Thailand