There were also other people at the party but I didn't know them well enough to comment on them. In January 2016, he was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach. Click here to read about the best things to do in Koh Tao. How they decided it was them I'm not sure because there is no evidence it was them. The attack happened on the popular small island of Koh Tao, which is known for its diving and lively bars. The island is very challenging to navigate as there are a lot of dirt roads and some are really steep. The pictures, which News Corp Australia will not reproduce, were taken on the beach at Koh Tao, where the pair was hacked to death with a garden hoe, allegedly by two Burmese men who confessed to the bloody crime then withdrew their confessions. However it was heavily rumoured they were tortured to get a confession, both psychologically and physically. I will reference it further simply as BAR. This news blows up in the UK. Ortega, 55, is charged . The men, apprehended soon after the pair's bodies were found, initially confessed to the crime only to retract their statements amid claims they were extracted by torture. Dont waste time, live now! No toxicology report was conducted. Whatever the reason I didn't see him. Killed: Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on a beach in Thailand this morning, Body Found: 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge is from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, Tragic Loss: David Miller, 24, is from Jersey in the Channel Islands, Island Paradise: Koh Tao island is an increasingly popular tourist destination. If you buy 2 beers with the equivalent of $10, you aren't getting your $6-7 back. He had not been questioned by police - even though officers had his name in their files. This is one of the crime scene photos from the attack on Sue White by Gerald Arthur Lee on 11/05/06 in Cherokee County, GA. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Koh Tao is an amazing place to enjoy your holiday and you should be totally fine! On Thursday, the New York District Attorney released crime scene photos showing blood spatter and the knife allegedly used by nanny Yoselyn Ortega to kill two young children in her care. Koh Tao murders : Two Britons dead in Thailand. Burmese people were treated like shit by the Thai. But, his sister Maria and the family told the BBC they would not rely on what Thai police said as there was still speculation over the circumstances surrounding the death - and that they had received 'different versions' of what might have happened. A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. Koh Tao Murders: No DNA match with Warot in first test results By Coconuts Bangkok Oct 31, 2014 | 5:40pm Bangkok time Preliminary results today found no link between Warot Tuwichian and DNA police say was collected from the scene of two murders on Koh Tao last month. Photo: CSI LA. The other question is why were they killed. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. Koh Tao's dark side: dangers of island where Britons were murdered Think twice before getting yourself into trouble! There were 3 main families that each controlled certain sections of the island. His parents believe he was murdered - despite police claims he fell 50ft and drowned. I was never explicitly told to hold back this information but that was the vibe. solve a crime that made global headlines . Thailand's dark side: why you really shouldn't visit Koh Tao Having lived on the island for a fair few years at this point, the mafia knew who I was. Taking into account the multiple eye witnesses saying it, the guys reputation and history and aliases for the Burmese guys it's hard to see any other possibility. A key issue for the defence is whether DNA samples, taken from sputum and semen, which the prosecution says links the Burmese migrant workers to the murder could be independently checked. This article is of interest to the following WikiProjects : This page is a joke. I had no issues with them, they had none with me, but a few of the individuals were friendly enough. Sorry not sorry hostels, but you are. He said that the victim had been drunk to the extent that he was unable to control himself, he would not have been able to tie himself up so tightly that he died of suffocation. She was later identified by dental records and previous x-rays. Their parents must be going through hell just like we are and we have been for the last almost two years. May be the significant drop in tourists because of the Corona pandemic in 2020 and 2021 made these taxi drivers charge more sane prices, but I doubt it. But it was in this idyllic setting that their horribly bludgeoned bodies were discovered, their blood seeping into the sand and staining the water. Corpse photos of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on internet Luke Miller, 24, from the UK. You are the tourist, you are visiting their country so YOU should adapt to their standards and not the other way around! Why are government officials going along with this with no/circumstantial evidence at best? The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. Let me tell you where you can book one with insurance, so you wont get scammed. The Thaiger 116K subscribers Join Subscribe 712 Share 29K views 10 months ago #thailand #kohtao #thailandtourist We've all heard. Since I found out about 12Go Asia, traveling in Thailand become much more convenient. Two Burmese men charged with the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller went on trial on Wednesday. Investigators were checking CCTV from local bars and restaurants and it was reported people were prevented from leaving the island. 09/23/14 AT 10:48 AM BST. It could mean I have been lucky, but please travelers: USE COMMON SENSE and your intuition and be aware that traveling involves risks! Two migrant workers accused of murdering David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the Thai tourist . Apparently, she's also known as "Verna White". After weeks of investigations, Thai Police have arrested three Burmese man in relation to the murder of two British tourists David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the holiday island of Koh Tao.The Burmese migrant worker community is on high . And insecure residency tends to breed compliance. Still in doubt whether to travel to Philippines or Thailand? The couple were Thai-Indian nationals Rakeshwar Sachathamakul, 59, and his wife Anshoo, 55. The police took the Burmese guys to Bangkok and they eventually confessed. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo also known as Win Zaw Htun are 22-year-old bar and restaurant migrant workers from Burma. But behind paradise lies a grubby underbelly where, according to one report, there are "enough suspicious disappearances to warrant the island its own CSI franchise". My gf had been on the island 18 months longer than me and is one of those people who just knows everyone. Before I begin, this will get long and there are lots of things I need to explain about the island before I can get into the story. Koh Tao: Murder in Paradise, Channel News Asia documentary I am Tom an avid adventure traveler from The Netherlands. Unfortunately there is a dark side of Koh Tao and some people call it the Wild Wild West Island. The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. Hi! We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Eight days later when locals living near the island's idyllic Tanote Bay became suspicious of a monitor lizard going back and fourth into the jungle they discovered Elise's half-eaten body on May 27 among rocks behind the Tanote Family Bay Resort. I am 100% sure about it. The vibe on the island was very tense. She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16 but failed to do so. senseless" photos of the crime scene, they say, which show her body . The official story is they were walking back to their hotel at night and were jumped by 2 Burmese men. States of Jersey Police said family liaison officers were working with a family and close relatives of the dead man were thought to have been informed. On Thursday the 29 th of August 2019, the Supreme Court of Thailand handed down its decision to uphold the death penalties for Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, the Burmese migrant workers found guilty of the rape and murder of British holidaymaker Hannah Witheridge and the murder of fellow countryman David Miller in September 2014 on Koh Tao in Thailand. Luke Miller, a bricklayer from the Isle of Wight, was found dead in a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach on January 8 2016, with an inquest earlier this month finding "no evidence" he was murdered. Koh Tao murders - Wikipedia Now onto the mafia. On tiny Koh Tao, there are some 2,000 expats alongside the 2,500 registered Thais, according to Mayor Chaiyan Turasakul. David was either a distance away or hidden by people or sand. Interested to see my ultimate Thailand itinerarythen have a read in the link. Unfortunately more tragic news from the so called Death Island of Koh Tao occurred recently when on June 4th 2021 the 2 lifeless bodies of a Thai/Indian billionaire couple were found dead in the Jamahkhiri Resort & Spa hotel pool. The official story is they were walking back to their hotel at night and were jumped by 2 Burmese men. californiasmovingcompanies.com Informacin detallada del sitio web y A baby girl has died in tragic circumstances on a family holiday, after ingesting drugs her parents believe were left out in an Airbnb. If you would like to be prepared for your trip to Thailand then have a look at my guide telling you everything you need to know when you travel to Thailand: visas, safety issues, scams, the culture, things to do and things NOT to do, the best national parks, about the street food, the travel adapter you need, the vaccinations and many more things. I understand that because I am a sporty and fit 1.86 meter (6'1) tall Dutch guy, I might not be the best benchmark for writing an article about how safe it is to travel to Koh Tao. 0. Simple things your parents would tell you too: dont walk along the beach on your own at night. Be a responsible tourist in the first place. I believe they met up whilst drunk at a previous bar. These Thai people might seem like little boys to you but they could be ferocious fighters, be careful! For any of you who have been to Koh Tao, it was the bar on the far end of the yellow brick road, past the Go Pro shop in Sairee. The CCTV in the area had not been working for several months due to lack of maintenance but officers are now collecting evidence from the cameras installed in other parts of the hotel, he said. Warning, Graphic Content: Crime Scene Photos - Winston-Salem Journal Thailand Murders: Hannah Witheridge's Family Beg, 'Please Don't Share The investigation will cover the depth of the swimming pool, their health conditions and possible foul play, Mr Puridech said. And its just claimed another two victims. Yes of course! For the around 10k people on the island a day, there were 3 police officers who only appeared around holidays. The victims have been named by Thai authorities as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth,. The high-profile deaths of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in 2014 resulted in the arrest of two Burmese bar workers who were found guilty of their murders and sentenced to death. If Koh Tao is part of your Thailand itinerary there are a couple things you have to keep in mind, but this basically counts for every tourist destination in Thailand and in the world. She wasn't really friends with them, they were only together due to being friends with someone else who was having a house party. He had no broken bones. The final theory, is all down to money. On the 29th of August 2019 the Thai supreme court upheld the death sentence for the two Burmese men who allegedly are guilty for the Koh Tao Murders which happened on my birthday September 15th in 2014. "In view of what's happened to David Miller and Hannah Witheridge and various other people I've read about, it just all leads to the same thing. Especially at night just always stay around other people. For example we'd always advise people to go home after Fishbowl, which shut at 2am. on Koh Tao in September 2014. There is a big change nothing will ever happen, but a wasted tourist is an easy victim. They are most likely willing to help out a stranger. Shocked cries in Ko Tao billionaire's death - Thai Examiner Other witnesses to appear will be the doctor who determined the cause of death and a woman who first found the bodies. (via Kusonsattha Rescue Service) Details are emerging on the tragic drowning death of a billionaire hotel owner and his wife in Koh Tao last week as police investigate further. This idyllic island in Thailand has long been popular with tourists for its pristine beaches, kaleidoscopic coral reefs and turquoise waters. Pool photo, 0130 exhibit 29 Mafia ran the place, Meth was becoming a plague amongst them. In the end it was stated by the police that it was a tragic accident. Mr Sachathamakul was the co-owner and chief executive officer of the Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach hotel and owned the Bangkapi Mansion apartments in Bangkok. It will always be you against the island. There was also a photo floating around on WhatsApp that spread across the island like wildfire. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The 23-year-old had tweeted this picture on Monday, revealing she was on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand 'I have found an affordable bungalow to move to. L&M brand which were found near the crime scene matched samples . What really happened there? Saying not much better than slaves wouldn't be an exaggeration. Police Lieutenant Jakkapan Kaewkao, the second police officer at the scene, said he found David Miller face down in the surf and Hannah Witheridge 12 metres away on the beach. They are also being bribed, they are under intense pressure from the British government for any kind of 'justice', they want it pinned on a Burmese guy so the Thai reputation doesn't plummet, the police have planted fake evidence or they just don't care. On Koh Tao it meant a man living their life as a woman. Hannah was missing clothes on her lower body and her head/face had been completely smashed in by a blunt object. A case of wrong time, wrong place. In my time living on Koh Tao there were a lot of stories about spiking drinks. This bar also was the main hangout of the ladyboys. One of them was at the scene and I went to talk to him. Its bright coral, sharks and rays bring in divers, hikers enjoy jungle walks and the bar scene 'rages on until dawn'. He didn't get any change, he kicked off wanting his money back. While traveling to Koh Tao lately I was in such a good mood and surrounded by good vibes that I forgot about its dark past. People speculated that seeing foreign tourists walk around wearing no clothes all day, having sex on the beach etc pushed them over the edge. The judge said on Wednesday the matter would be dealt with on Thursday when the police officer who holds the samples will be present in the court. I dont believe well ever find out what happened to her. We ask that the media treat Hannah with dignity in their reporting of the trial., Please allow the police and the court to do their jobs during the coming weeks and months. In Thailand every business needs to be majority owned by a Thai, usually they owned 51%. Ms Witheridge had been raped. Elise's heartbroken mother, Michele van Egten, has now proclaimed she does not believe police account of events. I drove to work and on the way saw a small crowd of people gathered to the side of BAR, on the beach. As investigators descended upon the apartment, one of them picked up a camera and photographed the scene. Elise Dallemagne, 30, of Belgium. On 15 September, the bodies of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on Sairee Beach on the island of Koh Tao, between 4 and 5 am, a few hours after their deaths. Defense lawyers for the two men later alleged that police had rushed the investigation to . Thai beach murders: Hannah Witheridge's sister Laura dies in hospital Horrible stories from an island that is well known for its laid-back vibe! If there really is no other solution just ask the help of an other random group of tourists. I genuinely think she is telling the truth. Flights are faster, but more expensive, trains more comfortable than busses, but overnight, etc, etc. Note: in all my continuous travels around the world since December 2012, I have never ran into a bad situation. And the pain felt by many of their loved ones has been made worse by suspicions of cover-ups in investigating their deaths and disappearances, and that powerful mafia families have tightened their grip on the island. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. Koh Tao Murders: Is Koh Tao Safe in 2023? - Traveltomtom.net Duxbollox Producktions, Not a Glass House, Comfortable Boulevard 73 But please dont get scared! I believe a decent chunk of ladyboys had mafia ties. Island life is all about flip-flops, bathing suits and funny t-shirts, life is at low pace and many tourists smoke weed. The rise in tourist deaths in Thailand brought more police to the islands and stories of being caught with marijuana are still pretty common. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. After checking into the resort, the couple headed down to the pool for a swim while Ratish went for a walk on the beach. Now Im really suspicious, her father Boyce Annesley previously told news.com.au. The murders on the popular dive island of Koh Tao drew intense media attention from across the world. A couple hours later a British couple got brutally murdered and left behind only two hundred meters away from where I had been drinking beers and having fun with my friends. The Foreign Office said: "We are aware of the death of two British nationals on September 15 on the island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand. But no suicide note or message were recovered and Michele is desperate for information surrounding the mysterious death. Due to many many reasons I doubt the definitive version of the story will ever emerge. The rest were mafia. For example, Songkran is the Thai New Year. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Creepy. Dont argue with them for too long, dont feel too cool to say sorry and walk away from the scene. Talk:Koh Tao murders - Wikipedia The story is, they had met at the previous bar and wanted 1 more drink before heading back to a hotel. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Had he hanged himself, the professor pointed out that the bruises should have appeared on the neck than on his wrists. In the meantime, investigators have been piecing together the couples final moments before the tragedy. Due to how tiny the island is, and the population of people who Westerners would interact with, maybe 1000 people, you formed relationships very quickly. Something went wrong, please try again later. I dont know if that is law in Thailand but on Koh Tao, the police can make their own laws. Finally, it was an unspoken rule that we never revealed the shit going on the tourists never saw. For the life of me I can't remember the name of the bar and can find no reference to it on the Internet. Questions surround her death. Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. Pictures of Thai murder victim Hannah Witheridge's body - Cosmopolitan The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. The case has caused Thailands judiciary to be closely scrutinised. The 29-year-old Frenchman was found on January 1, 2015, hanging from his balcony ceiling. and stay away from fighting with locals. More details uncovered in billionaire couple's Koh Tao death The pool was also supposed to be empty, because it was closed down due to Covid-19 restrictions.. Our daughter died on 'Death Island' - was it tragic accident or murder My passion to inspire other people to travel the world turned into a lifestyle.