Quebec man fights for truth two years after daughters died in Thailand

[Lite Beer]

Quebec man fights for truth two years after daughters died in Thailand

MONTREAL - More than two years after Audrey and Noemi Belanger died in a Thailand hotel room, their father is still looking for answers.

Audrey, 20, and Noemie, 26, had been staying on the island of Koh Phi Phi in June 2012, when they both mysteriously died. Now, Carl Belanger is looking forward to the February release of a coroner's report he hopes will shed light on what killed them.

The long wait for answers is indicative of just how thick the stack of reports on the case is, including the autopsy, toxicology report and investigations by both the Quebec and Thai police.

Belanger believes there have been several irregularities in the investigation. For instance, the bodies of the two girls couldn't be identified in Thailand, due to their advanced state of decomposition.

"They were in their hotel room for three days before they were found," he said, in spite of their reservation being for only one night.

The bodies were then sent to the Canadian embassy after another delay of four or five days.

Belanger also said it was strange that his family received $20,000 from the Thai government as compensation for his daughters' deaths.

"We spoke to the lady from Norway whose daughter died under similar circumstances, also in Thailand, and she didn't get a penny," he said. "We were the only ones to get a sum like this."

He said the family's devastation is especially strong around the holidays.

"These are lives destroyed," said Belanger. "It's Noemie's birthday on Dec. 26. This is a very difficult time for us."

Source: http://www.torontosun.com/2014/12/12/quebec-man-fights-for-truth-two-years-after-daughters-died-in-thailand

--Toronto Sun 2014-12-13

[lildragon]

From buckets laced with mosquito repellent I read. Good luck to these families trying to get justice, with Thai island Mafias reach going high up it will be some task.

[Somtamnication]

Good luck! You will need it.

[Always18]

The very best of luck Mr. Belanger but I'm afraid that this is Thailand and "The truth has just gone outside and might be gone for quite some time......................."

With apologies to Cpt. Oates.

[terryp]

it must be heartbreaking, loose your loved ones and then get no real help from the authoritys in the place they were murdered, killed, etc etc..NO ONE KNOWS

[thesetat2013]

Sad to say but their 2 year wait may be forever.

It is also very strange they got compensation from the GOV. Something is amiss

[canuckamuck]

Quite simply those who are above the law do not want the truth to be told, so how are you going to make it happen?

[StealthEnergiser]

Very sad to see these deaths all the time sorry for your loss Mr Belanger but I am sure you know by now there is to much corruption in the police force to rely on honest answers.

[Monkeysee]

That's the risk you take when you travel to this beautiful paradise. It's a jungle and sometimes the tiger pounces.

[slapout]

The owers of said hotel can be research and found as well as the principal partners, this incident was similar to some deaths in CM and a couple more in a differnt area of Thailand, The CM hotel was demolished post haste, no follow uo, etc,

Check the 20,000 dollar payout money trail and it will come up bland/unknown/ghost .\, etc

[worgeordie]

Keep on fighting,seek the truth,just maybe Thailand will improve

their investigations of these many deaths of tourists in Thailand,

instead of just taking the easy way out,by just covering them up.

regards Worgeordie

[arrowsdawdle]

Quite simply those who are above the law do not want the truth to be told, so how are you going to make it happen?

Take this story to Hollywood, or Angie Jolie.

[realenglish1]

Stop trying to ask the authorities what happened You will not get a straight answer. Get your attorney to file a civil case

Under Thai law you can do this just like in the west and it will help getting to the bottom of this whole process

[jlwilliamsjr18]

Just how long can explanations roll off the tongues of the authorities? Just because it's said, doesn't make it so. These cases don't seem to detour tourism, especially among the youth. They seek thrills, like there's no tomorrow and for some there no tomorrow, only regret. They don't see the larger scheme of things, which in the long run, will further erode the last of the Buddha nature of a nation. Profit is the new religion.

[metisdead]

An insensitive and disrespectful post has been removed as well as the well pointed out replies.

[Smurkster]

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The very best of luck Mr. Belanger but I'm afraid that this is Thailand and "The truth has just gone outside and might be gone for quite some time......................."

With apologies to Cpt. Oates.

you could add "he left along with accountability and common sense"

[stopthegreed]

Quite simply those who are above the law do not want the truth to be told, so how are you going to make it happen?

Well what would be a real step in the right direction, if the Canadian Authorities, namely the Embassy did something about it. They have a duty to their citizens, but sadly, as i many cases, the Embassy does nothing !!!

[mojorison]

Unfortunately this father will get no relief. He will meet only lies, distortions and illusions. It's something that he best move on from. Thailand has no moral responsibility and a culture of deceit. These are heavy words, but my 30 years here allows me this insight. Thailand will start to change quite soon me thinks. Tick tick tick.

[bapoboy]

This case and koh tao case, I think that people do not walk around killing tourists for fun, I mean it's always a reason, otherwise I bridal been killed long ago, mysteries constantly, but I know one thing what I read on thaivisa.com is as much trash as I read in the British media, so take everything you read here with a grain of salt.

[JohnThailandJohn]

Got to feel for the family. Seems the father is having a very difficult time accepting the deaths and the fact he may never get a conclusive answer is not going to help.

Though am confused by a few statements including how police couldn't identify them as their names were made publicly very soon after their deaths and before they got sent back to Canada. This like many stories has also had so much BS speculation posted too which certainly doesn't help him --- I actually recall reports that said they (Thai & Canadian) authorities determined the cause of death to be insecticide poisoning. Then there was also the reports of the foreigner who escorted them to the room that night --- did they ever have police in his home country question this guy?

[Rykbanlor]

I have a friend who runs a business over there and sadly all the locals know exactly what happened.

They were killed by heavy duty fumigation products that are used to kill bedbugs etc. There are certain products that aren't for commercial sale here, and would require a licence to use back west. The room is supposed to be sealed off for 6 or 7 days during fumigation and then another 2 or 3 days for airing out the room. This procedure was not followed. This is without question a case where the hotel owners is fully culpable but was able to pay off the Police.

To add my own suspicion - it said the bodies were discovered 3 days later despite being only booked in for 1 night - they probably sat for a few days while these scumbags tried to decide what to do.

Very sad story

[Jeremy50]

I have a friend who runs a business over there and sadly all the locals know exactly what happened.

They were killed by heavy duty fumigation products that are used to kill bedbugs etc. There are certain products that aren't for commercial sale here, and would require a licence to use back west. The room is supposed to be sealed off for 6 or 7 days during fumigation and then another 2 or 3 days for airing out the room. This procedure was not followed. This is without question a case where the hotel owners is fully culpable but was able to pay off the Police.

To add my own suspicion - it said the bodies were discovered 3 days later despite being only booked in for 1 night - they probably sat for a few days while these scumbags tried to decide what to do.

Very sad story

Too tightfisted to buy new mattresses. It seems to be a policy in Thai hotels - never ever replace anything.

[bitcoinbob]

seems about right on with the fumigation, remember the pink hotel in chiang mai, in the night bazaar area that a bunch of tourisst died very similar case. shortly afterward hotel was sold former chiang mai mayor was the owner. demolish and rebuilt.

[NowImEasy]

And why does it take two years for the autopsy and toxicology reports? I hope that this will be resolved so that the grieving family can get closure.

The loss of a child is a parent's worst fear. I just hope that the Belanger family can find peace and healing.

[laislica]

Keep on fighting,seek the truth,just maybe Thailand will improve

their investigations of these many deaths of tourists in Thailand,

instead of just taking the easy way out,by just covering them up.

regards Worgeordie

Whilst I agree with you.....

It's easy to say that but such an investigation could be very expensive and continue for a long time.

There are many TVF members who are shocked by deaths like this and want something to be done about it.

Would someone like to start up a fund to help the family in this endeavour?

Is that something their Embassy could do?

I'm in and will make a donation.

I cannot do it for many reasons like:-

Only part time in Thailand.

No legal contacts

Living in the styx

No car etc.

My 19 year old stepson was murdered in Bangkok during one of the many inter polytechnic rivalry gang fights.

It hardly made it to the news and there is no resolution so I really do feel for the family.

We flew back immediately and were able to attend the funeral where all family and friends attended over the seven day period. This was a great help for us to come to grips with, and to accept what had happened.

It is unfortunate that the circumstances regarding the two girls was different and the family were unable to do this and their issue is also clouded by them not being told the whole truth.

My heartfelt condolences to the family.

Their grief will last forever,whatever the outcome.

[maidee]

the show must go on and wild full moon parties still make big bucks ....

life is cheap, lies are easy

[greenchair]

From what I have seen over the past few years. The family need to hire their own private investigators at great expense. When you have what you think is a case, you can file it with police and I think then they will help you. This was the case with madeline mcann and kirsty Jones. If you have money and it helps to heal, do it.

If you are poor, it will just cause more heart ache.

Only your family can decide.

[SOTIRIOS]

...after all...they are only foreigners.....

...cut the crap of seeking out 'quality tourists'.....

...no laws, no rights, no justice.....figure it out......

...what is 'the bottom line'......???

....the bottom line ..........is............ the bottom line.......!!!

..and say and do anything to keep it that way.....

....my sympathies to you Mr. Belanger...and your family......

....your daughters came here for some innocent fun......

...unfortunately......many unsuspecting tourists are met with nightmares......and I cannot think of a worse one than this.....

...My profound condolences (Mes sincères condoléances)

....Sam from Montreal (Sam de Montréal)

[Chicog]

seems about right on with the fumigation, remember the pink hotel in chiang mai, in the night bazaar area that a bunch of tourisst died very similar case. shortly afterward hotel was sold former chiang mai mayor was the owner. demolish and rebuilt.

It wasn't shortly after, they kept it open for ages but a sustained campaign online and on the ground meant that virtually no-one ever stayed there.

They demolished the Doomtown Inn with the intention of building a new "boutique" hotel, but as of a few months ago when I walked past it was just a patch of land overgrown with weeds.

[Chicog]

From what I have seen over the past few years. The family need to hire their own private investigators at great expense. When you have what you think is a case, you can file it with police and I think then they will help you. This was the case with madeline mcann and kirsty Jones.

Yes, and how much progress have they made in either of those cases?