Food untouched but drinks consumed: What we know about the deaths of 6 foreigners in Bangkok hotel

SINGAPORE - The unnatural

deaths of six foreigners at a high-end hotel in Bangkok

on July 16 has left many puzzled.

Initial speculation that a shooting was responsible for the deaths at the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel was refuted by local police.

The Straits Times has a look at what is known about the case so far.

1. The dead are of Vietnamese descent

The bodies of the three men and three women were found in a fifth-floor suite at the five-star hotel in the Thai capital.

Local media reported that the victims comprised four Vietnamese nationals – Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan, 47; Pham Hong Thanh, 49; Tran Dinh Phu, 37; and Nguyen Thi Phuong, 46 – and two Vietnamese individuals with American citizenship – Sherine Chong, 56; and Dang Hung Van, 55.

Some of the victims were first-time visitors to Thailand while others had been there before, said a police officer who declined to be identified.

2. What happened?

Housekeepers found the bodies in the suite’s living room and bedroom, and Lumpini police were alerted to the incident at around 5.30pm.

Police suspect the victims had been dead for about 24 hours before their bodies were discovered.

According to the police, room service had been ordered to the room, but the food had been left uneaten. Drinks appeared to have been consumed, with empty cups in the room.

Thai police initially ruled out suicide, along with a shooting, a robbery and a fight as possible causes of the deaths. Only one victim had a facial wound, and it is believed that the person had fallen onto a hard object.

Major-General Theeradej Thumsuthee, chief investigator of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said the victims died of a “killing”, not a suicide, according to the Bangkok Post.

3. Unknown people

One person who was supposed to check in, but did not, has been identified by the police, reported local media on July 17.

She is believed to be the sibling of one of the deceased.

According to the BBC, only five people had checked in to the hotel, despite the booking for seven.

The group had booked four rooms on the seventh floor and one on the fifth.

The identity of one of the dead did not match the hotel’s records.

According to the Bangkok Post, quoting the Metropolitan Police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thiti Saengsawang, those who had stayed in the seventh-floor rooms were scheduled to check out on the afternoon of July 15.

Their bags had been packed.

4. Possible debt issues 

According to the Khaosod English news outlet, Maj-Gen Theeradej said

one of the victims had poisoned the others

, likely due to debt issues.

He added that the substance used is still unknown.

The BBC quoted Lt-Gen Thiti as saying that suspicious substances and the DNA of the victims were detected in drinks ordered to the suite just before 2pm on July 15.

5. The luxury hotel

The five-star Grand Hyatt Erawan is one of Bangkok’s top hotels.

It opened in late 1991 and is the site of the famous Erawan Shrine.

The hotel has over 350 rooms and is located in a popular tourist district known for luxury shopping and restaurants.

6. What’s next?

The

US Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined the Thai authorities

in the investigation into the deaths, according to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on July 17.

He said the police would reveal more information on the cause of death once preliminary autopsy details and other findings are available.

In a statement on July 16, the Thai government said: “The Prime Minister has ordered all agencies to urgently take action to avoid impact on tourism”.

Mr Srettha had also ordered officials to contain panic among tourists and the public, reported the Bangkok Post, quoting government spokesman Chai Wacharonke.

Lt-Gen Thiti also told reporters: “We are tracing every step (the victims took) since they got off the plane.”