I had woken up between 4:30-5:30, as my day at work started at either 5 or 6. In January 2018 a British traveler was found death in a hotel pool along Sairee Beach. 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. We all knew who had done it but the police were dragging their feet. Ratish has told police his father had diabetes, hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea. Elise fled 2.5km to through the jungle to Tanote Bay and took a room at the Poseidon Resort where she booked another ticket for Bangkok leaving on April 24. L&M brand which were found near the crime scene matched samples . She is still missing. To get around Koh Tao at night you should have your own motorbike or take an expensive taxi ride. However it was heavily rumoured they were tortured to get a confession, both psychologically and physically. Stay safe and always take a taxi at night. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. Seeing a high ranking mafia member involved in a fight leads the other members to jump in. I drove to work and on the way saw a small crowd of people gathered to the side of BAR, on the beach. Tips for Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur by Train | Worth it? So let's look at the facts which I believe to be true. Hi! Hannah was also revelling in her time staying at Sairee Beach with another group of travelling companions. The story is, they had met at the previous bar and wanted 1 more drink before heading back to a hotel. What's so unbelievable about all of this is that Archie actually convinced a group of friends that killing 7 people would bring baby Craig back from the dead! On Koh Tao it meant a man living their life as a woman. The Koh Tao Murders may have been a fatal incident on its own, but people got murdered. Prosecutors alleged that the double murder of Paul and Maggie was part of an effort by Murdaugh to gain sympathy and distract others from his significant financial crimes. "The embassy are urgently seeking information from the local authorities and consular staff stand ready to provide assistance to friends and family at this tragic time.". Apologies in advance for spelling/grammar mistakes and rambling, typing this on my phone. While most of the millions of tourists who flock to the island for its world-class scuba diving opportunities, lavish resorts and unending sunshine have the time of their lives, a disturbingly high number who visited the island never came home. The publicity about their allegedly botched investigation began in 2014 with the brutal murder of two British tourists, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge, on Koh Tao island off Surat Thani. (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. Dimitri Povse, 29, from France. A baby girl has died in tragic circumstances on a family holiday, after ingesting drugs her parents believe were left out in an Airbnb. Although they say that the last casualty (guy found dead in a hotel pool) was a tragic accident, the odds are against Koh Tao. The FCO says such attacks are particularly common around the time of Full Moon parties and generally occur late at night near bars in Haad Rin. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. I dont know if that is law in Thailand but on Koh Tao, the police can make their own laws. David was either a distance away or hidden by people or sand. This is just a backup page for the Youtube channel, plus some stuff that I would like to share. Tim Newton talks with Su Buchanan on her new upcoming book The curse of the turtle which writes about some of the true stories behind the backpacker murders and the mystery surrounding this island.Visit our new channel 'Bounce', and don't forget to leave a like and subscribehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXTDH9pVFFKgoWkex7NrhNQYou can purchase the book 'The curse of the turtle' here https://www.amazon.com/CURSE-TURTLE-Thailands-Backpacker-Murders-ebook/dp/B09QH854PC#kohtao #thailand #thailandbackpackmurders #thailandmurders #thailandmystery #thailandtourist// Download Thaiger App==================== MOBILE APP for iOS / Apple users: https://apple.co/3sFqPLU MOBILE APP for Android users: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.TheThaiger.android\u0026hl=en\u0026gl=US// Want more from The Thaiger family?================================ SUBSCRIBE to be notified of new content: https://www.youtube.com/thethaiger?suv_confirmation=1 JOIN to become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfyWB_cTvCBWau8mFcMnJkQ/join BROWSE to read the latest news: https://thethaiger.com ADVERTISE on The Thaiger: https://thethaiger.com/advertise THAIGER TALK FORUM to discuss news stories: https://thethaiger.com/talk/ EMAIL for our daily newsletter: https://thethaiger.com/subscribe LIKE and FOLLOW our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thethaigernews/ FOLLOW us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThaigerNews FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thethaigernews/ Simple things your parents would tell you too: dont walk along the beach on your own at night. I am 100% sure about it. Mafia ran the place, Meth was becoming a plague amongst them. I got a clear view of Hannah's body, but not David's. There is a big change nothing will ever happen, but a wasted tourist is an easy victim. One of them was at the scene and I went to talk to him. She was fun, honest and loved life. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Koh Tao Murders March 28, 2022 courtneyjfretwell Uncategorized 1 Comment In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailand's island of Koh Tao. This appears to be a situation where the accused had been tortured to confess to the crimes, said lead defence lawyer Nakhon Chompuchat said in a statement before the trial started. They might not have even realised what they did was offensive. Ms Witheridge had been raped. 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 - DID SCOTLAND YARD AND THE FOREIGN OFFICE SCREW UP? They lock them up in a BKK prison and torture them for a confession. 8 Christina is one of the many young Brits to have died on the island Credit: Handout 8 2 minutes read. Revealed on Thursday, Elise Dallemange, 30, was found dead in the jungle on the island in April, having been half-eaten by lizards, eight days after she said she was leaving to return to her native home in Belgium. I genuinely think she is telling the truth. The couple were Thai-Indian nationals Rakeshwar Sachathamakul, 59, and his wife Anshoo, 55. It doesn't necessarily mean they are transgender, or that they are doing drag, they just live as women. But an unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts - including the one Elise had been staying in. The crime's brutality amid Koh Tao's insular, backpacker charm caused an international sensation and threatened to further weaken a tourist industry already reeling from the military coup of. The first is they had an intimate moment in public. Why they would spout this information, I can only guess. Apparently, she's also known as "Verna White". Still in doubt whether to travel to Philippines or Thailand? Westerners were ignored as long as you didn't cause any problems. Very much not true I can tell you! Associate Professor Charnkanit Krittiya Suriyamanee, a criminologist and lecturer at the faculty of social science and humanities of Mahidol University, said he doubted the suicide theory citing some irrelevant evidences, according to Chiangrai Times. Blood on the floor of the feedroom where Paul Murdaugh was shot dead. Maybe some of the mafia got involved to get them to back off the ladyboy, who is possibly mafia too, add in Meth, violence escalates and now two are dead. I think one, or both of them said or did something discriminatory to a ladyboy. They are most likely willing to help out a stranger. Five more three-day sessions will be staggered over the next few weeks, ending on 25 September, after which the judges will rule on the verdict. A short time later, Ratish returned to the resort to find the bodies of his parents floating in the water. They were all run by the book. My beloved Koh Tao felt it had lost its dignity. Sadly another case of tourists deaths on Koh Tao. The island is very challenging to navigate as there are a lot of dirt roads and some are really steep. The photographer focused on a few key details, like a tilted painting on the wall, disheveled . Just simply never accept drinks from strangers and keep your own drink closely. Having lived on the island for a fair few years at this point, the mafia knew who I was. Prices for taxi rides in Koh Tao are fixed and they all stick to it. I was never explicitly told to hold back this information but that was the vibe. But in this article I express my personal opinion on the safety issues in Koh Tao island based on my own experiences. The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. Aug 10, 2017. The teen's body was found seven days after the boating accident. This news blows up in the UK. This article is of interest to the following WikiProjects : This page is a joke. The police took the Burmese guys to Bangkok and they eventually confessed. 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. Yes I know that drinking and driving is totally accepted in Koh Tao, but try to not be one of those diving class students that show up in the morning all bruised because they fell off their motorbike driving drunk back home. In the court, a supermarket trolley held other pieces of evidence, including a guitar wrapped in plastic and said to be owned by the defendants and rolls of paper. You never know who you are up to, dont let a small issue ruin your holiday. This is to prevent the public from speculating and becoming scared of the area for its crime incidents.. According to the Lonely Planet travel guides, Koh Tao welcomes thousands of visitors who "come to worship the turquoise waters offshore". They were also asked to recreate the murders, but according to sources on Koh Tao, were unable to do so. Police chief Apichart Boonsrirote said he assigned teams to check all surveillance cameras around the hostel and on the island to find out where she was last seen, The Phuket News reported. Frenchman Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanged in a bungalow on the island on New Year's Day 2015 and his death was ruled as suicide despite his hands being tied behind his back. Koh Tao was plunged into the spotlight when the semi-naked bodies of backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on a beach. 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". But also to tell you that NO Koh Tao is not a murder island. Had he hanged himself, the professor pointed out that the bruises should have appeared on the neck than on his wrists. He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. People speculated that seeing foreign tourists walk around wearing no clothes all day, having sex on the beach etc pushed them over the edge. Police told Elise's mother Michele that her daughter had committed suicide by hanging herself from a tree around three days before she was found. Two Burmese men charged with the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller went on trial on Wednesday. After 2 big trips around the world in my early travel days, I am now already continuously traveling the world for more than 3,700 days! The family of Hannah Witheridge, a backpacker who was murdered in Thailand, have had their "hearts broken" by a second death. That DNA should by all rights be either that of the real murderers or someone who has messed up the crime scene, which, Dr. Porntip said, was what happened. 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. Koh Tao murders has been listed as one of the Social sciences and society good articles under the good article criteria. With such incredible sunsets on the main party beach, the party starts early. Maybe if it was more common knowledge, the murders wouldn't have happened. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The owner of BAR stepped in, fucked up on Meth. Finally, it was an unspoken rule that we never revealed the shit going on the tourists never saw. I love Koh Tao, but these guys are a blot on this tropical paradise. 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. Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . The murders on the popular dive island of Koh Tao drew intense media attention from across the world. Since I found out about 12Go Asia, traveling in Thailand become much more convenient. So the answer to who is the murderer is the owner of BAR, the same one their bodies were found the closest to, and a known mafia hangout. The 29-year-old Frenchman was found on January 1, 2015, hanging from his balcony ceiling. The family of New Zealand-born British tourist Christina Annesley, who died on the island in 2015, dont believe polices insistence she died after mixing antibiotics with alcohol. The Murders The two people killed were Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. Check your Thailand routes below and 12Go Asia tells you all the options (bus, boat, train, flights) including time tables and direct booking options. I will give a TLDR at the end of this section because it will probably be longer than the story. From then on Ko Tao was nicknamed the murder island or the Death Island. Don't get dodgy boat tickets from street vendors. It was obvious to us what was happening, they'd been bribed by the mafia. Click on the picture to read all about it. He had not been questioned by police - even though officers had his name in their files. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. Police colonel Prachum Ruangthong said: "The man was chopped in the back and on the side of his head, while the woman was chopped in her face. I'm so desensitised, as gruesome as this one was, to seeing dead bodies at this point that I just get back on my bike and go to work. What To Pack For Thailand | Packing List With 40 Things To Bring. A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes . Are you looking to stay in remote bays then keep in mind thaT after sunset there is nothing to do. 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. In January 2015, she was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics with alcohol. From then on Ko Tao was nicknamed the murder island or the Death Island. Members of the mafia admitted to me, my gf and probably numerous others the owner of BAR, also a mafia member, killed them. Thai police say the man on the left matches the one seen acting suspiciously on CCTV. David handed over the equivalent of $25-30 for drinks worth no more than $5. 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. The body of his 55-year-old mother was only found later when rescue services arrived at the scene. Have you ever watched Big Brother and after a week, people are acting like best mates and saying I love you to people? The Davidson County Sheriff's Office has released photos of the Corbett home taken the night Jason Corbett was bludgeoned to death in his bedroom. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. After living through it for months, I think this conclusion, which was agreed on by many on the island at the time, is the closest to the truth that will ever appear. . Elise's bags mysteriously appear to have been loaded onto the ferry she was due to take, and arrived at Chumphon province where she should have caught a bus to the capital. Investigators will consider whether the depth of the pool which was around 3m on one end may have led to the couples drowning. Dont forget that Thailand is still ruled by a Military regime. Unfortunately a lot of motorbike accidents happen on the island and it sincerely is a Koh Tao safety issue. Any reasons to be worried? One of the many tourist deaths in Thailand per year. It doesn't matter that multiple witnesses can place them in a different location at the time of the murder. All of the witnesses will be investigated as well. Around 10k people on the island with only 3 corrupt police officers. and stay away from fighting with locals. It's very gruesome.". His parents believe he was murdered - despite police claims he fell 50ft and drowned. I believe they met up whilst drunk at a previous bar. Even people you didn't know well, you would know what their reputation was. There were 3 main families that each controlled certain sections of the island. The victims have been named by Thai authorities as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth,. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. A young backpacker has become the latest tourist found dead on Thailand's notorious 'death island', Tanote Bay in Koh Tao where a backpacker was found dead on April 27, Sairee beach where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found bludgeoned to death, Chillingly, the death of Elise appears to have been suppressed by Thai authorities, Elise Dallemange, 30, here pictured with mum Michele, had been living at a yoga and tantra retreat, Elise had been travelling around Asia for the last two years, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered in September 2014, Hannah is pictured (right) with her sister Laura, Luke Miller was found dead in a swimming pool in Koh Tao, Thai police have been accused by his family for not investigating the murder fully, Christina Annesley, 23, died on the island in January 2015, Christina's parents slammed Thai authorities for failing to investigate the death, Nick Pearson's parents are convinced their son was murdered in Koh Tao, Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao in March, She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, Frenchman Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanged in a bungalow on the island. Resting in the Gulf of Thailand, a two-hour ferry ride north of Koh Samui, Koh Tao is best known for its incredible marine life, which over the years has attracted a small but buoyant expat. They drive like maniacs, think they are untouchable, are often rude and over charge tourists any time they can! Two Myanmar workers on Thursday lost their final appeal against the death penalty for the 2014 murder of a . I don't remember exactly the time as it varied constantly between 5 and 9am, but I'm fairly sure it was closer to 5am. The reason you didn't go there was because it was mafia ran and owned. There were also other people at the party but I didn't know them well enough to comment on them. Taking a taxi in Koh Tao is simply very expensive, but if you are ready to pay the hefty rates then there is no safety issue here either. That said, it was my second time I lived in Koh Tao and it was the second time there had been a fatal incident. A common Koh Tao scam occurs with renting motorbikes. Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, from Russia. Take a look at my suggested Thailand island hopping toursor check out which islands to go in Thailandfor your purpose of travel or read here all thethings I miss about Thailand. The pool was also supposed to be empty, because it was closed down due to Covid-19 restrictions.. I will never forget the day I turned 30 and I cheered with friends until early morning 02.00 am on Sairee Beach. She was part of the sect of the Sathya Sai Baba cult movement, and lived with a self-proclaimed "guru", and left the island on April 17 to return home. It could mean I have been lucky, but please travelers: USE COMMON SENSE and your intuition and be aware that traveling involves risks! Elise's death is the latest in a string of seven fatalities in three years on the island. The next night, Archie and his buddies went out in search of victim number one. The circumstances around his death are a mystery. Are you into partying then book your accommodation close to Sairee Beach. There is a big chance you will fall in love with this little paradise. They have been charged with premeditated murder, among other crimes, and could face execution. solve a crime that made global headlines . Could this have happened on any other island in Thailand as well? For the life of me I can't remember the name of the bar and can find no reference to it on the Internet. Interested to join me on one of my trips? It reminded me again of the horrible scenes that took place on this pristine island and that will forever be engraved in people's minds. A Thai police officer who was called to the scene of the killing of two British tourists on Koh Tao island in September 2014 testified on Wednesday, the first of dozens of witnesses who will appear in court during a three-month trial of two Burmese men. I have now visited Koh Tao over 10 times and I have never had any problem at all! I have lived on the island for more than 7 months in total and traveled there uncountable times on top of that. This is not a specific safety tip for Koh Tao, but everywhere around the world. That sounds like an obvious thing, but on islands where the atmosphere is so extremely chilled it is a very tempting thing to do. 0. Especially at night just always stay around other people. But Elise had disappeared. My advice is to rent a motorbike with insurance. Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo arrive at the Koh Samui Provincial Court. Nicola Gissing, who was also on holiday with Luke when he died, has claimed her friends death was no accident. The Burmese men initially admitted to the murder of Miller, who suffered head injuries and drowned in shallow water, and the rape and murder of Witheridge, who died from severe head injuries. She has no reason to lie about it. If you are a solo traveler, taxi drivers will most likely rip you off. Besides that, islands are like small communities and they all know each other. In the end it was stated by the police that it was a tragic accident. Becoming a digital nomad through this blog was a dream coming true, of course supported by my 280K Instagram account @Traveltomtom, more than500K TikTok and 50K Facebook family. You are the tourist, you are visiting their country so YOU should adapt to their standards and not the other way around! 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. I was good friends with a few and they were all restaurant/bar owners. 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. 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. On Tuesday, new details emerged as police investigated the death of a wealthy billionaire industrialist and his wife on Ko Tao last Friday. But keep in mind that Koh Tao is NOT Bangkok. Another thing that should actually be clear is to never walk away from a party alone. Photo: EPA . Picture: Viral Press/Australscope Koh Tao: Murder in Paradise, Channel News Asia documentary With exclusive images, never-before-seen evidence and interviews with key figures on the island, Murder in Paradise sheds new light on a global news story, putting Thailand under the spotlight and asking whether this is still the travel destination from heaven, or hell? The Thai population were the business owners. Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. No staff were in the area when their deaths happened, Koh Tao police chief Kriangkrai Kraikaew said. Let me help you as in my article Travel to Thailand or Philippines I compare my two favorites island destinations! Koh Tao Mafia truth or myth as a tourist you are not willing to get in touch with any of these things, right? In a 2012/13 New Year's Eve party Londoner Stephen Ashton, 22, was killed in a bar on Haad Rin beach on the Thai island of Koh Phangan - a resort where the FCO warns British travellers to beware "vicious, unprovoked attacks by gangs". shark tank hamdog net worth SU,F's Musings from the Interweb. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. But although David's family called the verdict 'justice', the trial. Investigators were checking CCTV from local bars and restaurants and it was reported people were prevented from leaving the island. Hacker group Anonymous hacked the Thai police stating that they wanted justice for the Koh Tao murders in September 2014. More photos here: Sue White after the attack. This story was huge at the time in the UK as they were both British. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were sentenced to death for the killings. Mr Puridech said there were no signs of struggle at the scene and an early examination of the bodies did not suggest foul play. British holidaymaker Christina Annesley, 23, died on the island in January 2015 after apparently mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. Koh Tao has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. Two migrant workers accused of murdering David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the Thai tourist . We of course want to see those responsible for the brutal murder of our precious girl brought to justice., Millers family said: The act which ended Davids life devastated our family and his friends. If there really is no other solution just ask the help of an other random group of tourists. My mind boggles when you order a taxi ride that takes about 10 minutes and they charge you $20. Photographs appear to show the mobile phone of Hannah Witheridge submitted to police by her friends, despite police claims it was found in one of their suspect's possession. Murder On Koh Tao: The Untold Story - Crime Documentary | Real Life Stories Documentaries Reality TV - Real Life Stories Documentaries 677 subscribers Subscribe 79 views 9 months ago Show. The rest of the week, the island wasn't the same anymore. As investigators descended upon the apartment, one of them picked up a camera and photographed the scene. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. Something went wrong, please try again later. Horrible stories from an island that is well known for its laid-back vibe! It was well known by us who lived on Koh Tao, if you did go to that bar, don't expect change. It's dangerous. Why are government officials going along with this with no/circumstantial evidence at best? 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. If you caused no trouble, you would have no problems and they didn't seem to have any issues with each other. He was discovered floating in the water by a member of hotel staff, with his death coming just days after a tragic final Facebook post on New Year's Eve, in which he said: "Can honestly say this new year I am living the dream". In a statement following his hearing, James Gissing, who was in Thailand with Luke, said he felt police were covering up as it was the death of another foreigner on Koh Tao, referring to the Witheridge and Miller murders. How Hannah got involved wasn't mentioned in this theory beyond, they knew they were together. A British man was found dead on Thailand 's notorious Koh Tao - also known as Death Island - on Wednesday. Due to not remembering the name, I will refer to it as BAR. 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. Of course tourists get drunk and alcohol makes you do crazy things.