Six bodies were discovered by a hotel worker late Tuesday afternoon in a suite on the fifth floor of the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel in Bangkok. The suite contained the bodies of three women and three men and was locked from the inside. The staff member accessed the suite through an alternative entrance.
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The event happened at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, a luxury hotel in central Bangkok, on Monday afternoon. Six individuals comprising three women and three men were found dead.
The deceased were identified as Vietnamese nationals Thi Nguyen Phuong, 46, her husband Hong Pham Thanh, 49, Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan, 47, and Dinh Tran Phu, 37, along with two American citizens, Sherine Chong, 56, and Dang Hung Van.
The bodies were discovered by a housekeeping staff member on Tuesday afternoon after the group failed to check out of their room.
Autopsy results revealed cyanide poisoning as the cause of death. Cyanide, a deadly chemical that disrupts the body’s ability to use oxygen and was found in the victims’ blood, a tea flask and six teacups in the hotel room.
Bangkok police believe one member of the group may have orchestrated a murder-suicide poisoning the others before taking their own life.
Interviews with relatives and evidence suggest a business dispute could be the motive. It was revealed that two victims, a married couple had loaned 10 million
Thai baht (approximately $278,000) to another group member for a hospital project in Japan leading to tensions over the investment.
According to CCTV footage, the group was last seen alive at 14:17 on Monday when they gathered in the hotel room after receiving food and tea from room service.
There were no signs of forced entry or struggle, and the door was locked from the inside.
Monday Afternoon at 13:57 Hotel staff delivered food, six teacups, a milk pot and two flasks to the group’s room on the fifth floor.
At 14:17 CCTV footage shows the group entering the room, which was the last time they were seen alive. Post 14:17, the group consumed the tea laced with cyanide.
Tuesday Afternoon the bodies were discovered by housekeeping staff after the group missed their checkout time.
The victims were identified as Vietnamese nationals with two holding dual American citizenship. They had reportedly been deceased for at least 24 hours before the discovery was made.
Authorities found no signs of robbery or physical struggle. The hotel room’s condition suggested the deaths were linked to some form of consumption likely poisoning as indicated by Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
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Untouched hotel food wrapped in clingfilm was found in the room, but six used cups were discovered. Police detected a powdery substance at the bottom of one of the cups. No evidence of suicide was found.
The group had booked the hotel suite for seven individuals, but only five had checked in initially. Police are actively searching for the seventh person whose identity and whereabouts are currently unknown.
The Grand Hyatt Erawan is a prestigious five-star hotel located in Bangkok’s commercial and diplomatic district.
Part of the group had stayed on the fifth floor with others on the seventh floor, scheduled to check out on Monday. Their packed luggage was found during the investigation.
Police discovered suspicious substances and DNA traces in the drinks ordered to the suite just before 2:00 PM local time on Monday.
Various beverages including tea, energy drinks and honey were found in open containers in the bathroom.
The Thai Metropolitan Police Bureau is tracing the steps of the victims from their arrival in Thailand. The victims’ luggage and other belongings are being examined for additional clues.
The deceased included four Vietnamese nationals and two Vietnamese Americans. The married couple among the victims ran a construction company in Vietnam.
The presence of untouched food, packed luggage and pre-arranged future travel plans indicate the victims did not anticipate their deaths.
Upon discovering the bodies, police sealed the room and conducted a thorough search, finding no illegal materials in the luggage.
Autopsy results confirmed cyanide poisoning with further details on the quantity of cyanide ingested expected.
The FBI is assisting with the investigation due to the involvement of American citizens. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin addressed that the incident was not related to terrorism and would not impact a scheduled meeting with the Russian energy minister at the same hotel.
In 2023, a Thai woman Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn was charged with 14 counts of murder involving cyanide earning her the nickname “Am Cyanide.”
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