Family of Missing Diver are Still Searching for Answers

[Jacob Maslow]

Joshua Devine, an American diver and former member of the Connecticut National Guard, went missing during a diving excursion in Thailand April 12. After officials called off the search, the family is still searching for answers.

Devine’s disappearance couldn’t have happened at a worse time. The day after he went missing, the country began its new year celebrations, which ran from April 13 to 15. Devine’s sister and mother both flew to the country to help take part in the search and assess the investigation.

The man’s sister, Jennifer Bakawski, stated that Devine’s wife was having a difficult time finding someone to look for him. The family lost a day and half of searching because police went back to the mainland for the holiday. Trouble with fuel shortages also made the search difficult.

Before the family left the country, the police told them that they would continue the search for at least another month. Not six hours later, the search was called off.

The family is now speaking with an FBI agent and hoping to talk to anyone who was on the boat with Devine. One diver has been communicating with the family through email, but they’re hoping more divers step forward to contact them.


At least four people were with the man before he disappeared, and the family did not get a chance to talk to them while they were in Thailand.

-- 2015-05-01[/size]

[fritzzz25]

Just sounds like a typical RTP investigation.

"Official report" - Suicide.

[KarenBravo]

Sounds obvious.

The man was crazy drunk and fell overboard.

[zaphod reborn]

"At least four people were with the man before he disappeared, and the family did not get a chance to talk to them while they were in Thailand."

Well I'm certain that they were thoroughly interrogated by the police before the police concluded that this was just another drunk farang who somehow fell overboard and drowned. Obviously the wife and her accomplices friends are blameless. They are Thai, and Thais would never be involved in this kind of wrongdoing.

This is one case where a little "enhanced" interrogation might have been useful.

[realenglish1]

Not a Thai so you can see the amount of Energy they put in NOT MUCH

[grumpyoldman]

Sounds obvious.

The man was crazy drunk and fell overboard.

I'll second this one.

[hansgruber]

They will be forever searching for answers as he will never be found.

It's sad but they need to accept the fact he is gone and at no fault of the Phuket authorities. Don't know what they think the FBI can do about it. Arrest the Phuket Authorities for not keeping their promise to search for a month?

[SOTIRIOS]

...makes you wonder if all those actions were not deliberate.....

...very strange.....'sorry, holiday'......'we start again next month'......???

[Rhys]

Well, we don't know the details, thus speculation... I trust this is not like the cases where the diver master and boat captain leave the diver still in the water because they are in a hurry to get some...

All the best to the family.. trust answer are forth comming.

[NamKangMan]

They will be forever searching for answers as he will never be found.

It's sad but they need to accept the fact he is gone and at no fault of the Phuket authorities. Don't know what they think the FBI can do about it. Arrest the Phuket Authorities for not keeping their promise to search for a month?

"Don't know what they think the FBI can do about it." - the FBI will be able to look into his financial transactions, the backgrounds of other passengers, his phone records, medical history, recent travel habits, access his digital life etc etc.

There may be nothing of any use in this information, or it may raise suspicion and lead to a motive for an individual.

[hansgruber]

They will be forever searching for answers as he will never be found.

It's sad but they need to accept the fact he is gone and at no fault of the Phuket authorities. Don't know what they think the FBI can do about it. Arrest the Phuket Authorities for not keeping their promise to search for a month?

"Don't know what they think the FBI can do about it." - the FBI will be able to look into his financial transactions, the backgrounds of other passengers, his phone records, medical history, recent travel habits, access his digital life etc etc.

There may be nothing of any use in this information, or it may raise suspicion and lead to a motive for an individual.

How can the FBI get thai phone records and financial transactions? What does that have to do with a guy falling off a boat?

Oh I got it, a negative conspiracy theory is brewing once again. Do tell.

[KarenBravo]

Yes please.........do tell.

[grumpyoldman]

Sounds obvious.

The man was crazy drunk and fell overboard.

I'll second this one.

Exact same thing happened to a guy I knew. Out booze cruising with friends, they had roped up and been boozing in a bar,they all came out and told the one guy to untie the back, it was dark,everyone heard a splash, he actually hit his head on the boat going in, by the time friends found and pulled him out he'd drown.

Natalie Wood?

[NamKangMan]

They will be forever searching for answers as he will never be found.

It's sad but they need to accept the fact he is gone and at no fault of the Phuket authorities. Don't know what they think the FBI can do about it. Arrest the Phuket Authorities for not keeping their promise to search for a month?

"Don't know what they think the FBI can do about it." - the FBI will be able to look into his financial transactions, the backgrounds of other passengers, his phone records, medical history, recent travel habits, access his digital life etc etc.

There may be nothing of any use in this information, or it may raise suspicion and lead to a motive for an individual.

How can the FBI get thai phone records and financial transactions? What does that have to do with a guy falling off a boat?

Oh I got it, a negative conspiracy theory is brewing once again. Do tell.

"How can the FBI get thai phone records and financial transactions?" - please show me where I stated "Thai phone records and financial transactions????"

The guy worked in Kuwait, probably for an American contractor, who most likely paid his salary in USD, into an American bank account.

"What does that have to do with a guy falling off a boat?" - how do you know he fell overboard? Oh, I got it, a simple death by misadventure, or suicide theory - case closed - back to collecting tea money.

As mentioned in previous thread, all these deaths recorded as "suicide" by Thai Police equals no life insurance for the next of kin, not to mention justice not being served.

He either fell overboard, jumped overboard, or was thrown overboard.

He was an experienced diver - fell overboard is a little unlikely.

A member has attested to his character, posting he would never commit suicide, so jumping overboard appears unlikely.

He had an "altercation" with his wife and was "escorted" from his room by two men and never seen again.

Which one appears more likely, and worthy of further enquiries????

Edited May 2, 2015 by NamKangMan

[KarenBravo]

Which one appears more likely, and worthy of further enquiries????

Ummm...............that he got blind drunk and fell overboard.

[stevenl]

" all these deaths recorded as "suicide" by Thai Police equals no life insurance for the next of kin,"

Not true. In most insurance policies there will be a clause stating that death by suicide will invalidate the policy for a limited period of time, after that there will be normal insurance pay out.

[NamKangMan]

" all these deaths recorded as "suicide" by Thai Police equals no life insurance for the next of kin,"

Not true. In most insurance policies there will be a clause stating that death by suicide will invalidate the policy for a limited period of time, after that there will be normal insurance pay out.

Some policies have a 2 year waiting period and will pay out for suicide, but most policies have a 13 month exclusion on suicide from the date that cover commences, is reinstated or increased. As most policies have an annual "renewal" (reinstatement) - they never get to 13 months, so in affect, don't cover suicide. A nice legal loop hole for the insurance companies.

[NamKangMan]

Which one appears more likely, and worthy of further enquiries????

Ummm...............that he got blind drunk and fell overboard.

So, authorities should disregard the domestic he had with his wife, and him being "escorted" from his room by two men, never to be seen again?

[stevenl]

" all these deaths recorded as "suicide" by Thai Police equals no life insurance for the next of kin,"

Not true. In most insurance policies there will be a clause stating that death by suicide will invalidate the policy for a limited period of time, after that there will be normal insurance pay out.

Some policies have a 2 year waiting period and will pay out for suicide, but most policies have a 13 month exclusion on suicide from the date that cover commences, is reinstated or increased. As most policies have an annual "renewal" (reinstatement) - they never get to 13 months, so in affect, don't cover suicide. A nice legal loop hole for the insurance companies.

No, not true, there is in hardly any insurance policy an annual renewal that invalidates the policy in case of suicide.

[NamKangMan]

" all these deaths recorded as "suicide" by Thai Police equals no life insurance for the next of kin,"

Not true. In most insurance policies there will be a clause stating that death by suicide will invalidate the policy for a limited period of time, after that there will be normal insurance pay out.

Some policies have a 2 year waiting period and will pay out for suicide, but most policies have a 13 month exclusion on suicide from the date that cover commences, is reinstated or increased. As most policies have an annual "renewal" (reinstatement) - they never get to 13 months, so in affect, don't cover suicide. A nice legal loop hole for the insurance companies.

No, not true, there is in hardly any insurance policy an annual renewal that invalidates the policy in case of suicide.

That is simply not true.

Most life insurance policies post the insured an annual renewal letter - "reinstatement."

A lot of these policies increase the premium because the insured is now one year older - "increased."

"commences, reinstatment or increased" - the 13 months starts again.

[stevenl]

Which one appears more likely, and worthy of further enquiries????

Ummm...............that he got blind drunk and fell overboard.

So, authorities should disregard the domestic he had with his wife, and him being "escorted" from his room by two men, never to be seen again?

That is why they interviewed them all.

[stevenl]

" all these deaths recorded as "suicide" by Thai Police equals no life insurance for the next of kin,"

Not true. In most insurance policies there will be a clause stating that death by suicide will invalidate the policy for a limited period of time, after that there will be normal insurance pay out.

Some policies have a 2 year waiting period and will pay out for suicide, but most policies have a 13 month exclusion on suicide from the date that cover commences, is reinstated or increased. As most policies have an annual "renewal" (reinstatement) - they never get to 13 months, so in affect, don't cover suicide. A nice legal loop hole for the insurance companies.

No, not true, there is in hardly any insurance policy an annual renewal that invalidates the policy in case of suicide.

That is simply not true.

Most life insurance policies post the insured an annual renewal letter - "reinstatement."

A lot of these policies increase the premium because the insured is now one year older - "increased."

"commences, reinstatment or increased" - the 13 months starts again.

Sorry, from somebody who used to work in this: you're talking nonsense.

[LivinginKata]

This insurance issue seems a long way off the topic at hand.

[stevenl]

This insurance issue seems a long way off the topic at hand.

Agree, even more so since no-one has claimed it was suicide.

[NamKangMan]

Which one appears more likely, and worthy of further enquiries????

Ummm...............that he got blind drunk and fell overboard.

So, authorities should disregard the domestic he had with his wife, and him being "escorted" from his room by two men, never to be seen again?

That is why they interviewed them all.

Interviewing potential witnesses is not a thorough investigation.

[hansgruber]

That is why they interviewed them all.

Interviewing potential witnesses is not a thorough investigation.

What else do you want them to do?

Please tell us your thorough investigative techniques that doesn't include wire taps, financial records and spy drones.

[NamKangMan]

This insurance issue seems a long way off the topic at hand.

Why is it a long way off the topic?

The financial position of the next of kin could well be riding on the official cause of death report by the Thai police. There may be a lot at stake, which is possibly why the family have involved the FBI agent.

stevenl says life insurance covers suicide, some policies do, many don't. One of my policies does not.

All these suspicious deaths in Thailand written off by Thai police as suicides, because they are too lazy to ivestigate, could very well see the next of kin miss out on a life insurance payout, having a negative effect on their financial future.

If he jumped, it's suicide. His life insurance may, or may not payout, depending on the suicide clause of his policy, if he had one.

If he fell, there maybe legal action taken against the insurance company of the dive boat.

If he was thrown overboard, life insurance pays out.

[NamKangMan]

What else do you want them to do?

Please tell us your thorough investigative techniques that doesn't include wire taps, financial records and spy drones.

It involves the interviewee being placed in a horizontal position, a hood and buckets of water.

[stevenl]

This insurance issue seems a long way off the topic at hand.

Why is it a long way off the topic?

The financial position of the next of kin could well be riding on the official cause of death report by the Thai police. There may be a lot at stake, which is possibly why the family have involved the FBI agent.

stevenl says life insurance covers suicide, some policies do, many don't. One of my policies does not.

All these suspicious deaths in Thailand written off by Thai police as suicides, because they are too lazy to ivestigate, could very well see the next of kin miss out on a life insurance payout, having a negative effect on their financial future.

If he jumped, it's suicide. His life insurance may, or may not payout, depending on the suicide clause of his policy, if he had one.

If he fell, there maybe legal action taken against the insurance company of the dive boat.

If he was thrown overboard, life insurance pays out.

Since you're the only one mentioning suicide it is unlikely the police will come to that conclusion.