In case you've missed it. A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes . If you were going to find trouble, it was at the bar, though until Meth really became an issue, you'd realistically never have any problems. Brits Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered as they walked back to their hotel rooms in September 2014. According to the Lonely Planet travel guides, Koh Tao welcomes thousands of visitors who "come to worship the turquoise waters offshore". 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. Hannah was missing clothes on her lower body and her head/face had been completely smashed in by a blunt object. After checking into the resort, the couple headed down to the pool for a swim while Ratish went for a walk on the beach. If you can improve it further, please do so. I had woken up between 4:30-5:30, as my day at work started at either 5 or 6. 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 . Since I found out about 12Go Asia, traveling in Thailand become much more convenient. The father of murdered British backpacker Hannah Witheridge has wept as graphic photos of her body lying on a Thai beach were shown in court. UPDATE: Attempted murder by Thai diving instructor, Santi Khokpool in the Fishbowl Beach Bar, Koh Tao on 28-year-old British tourist on 15 August 2020. Koh Tao murders: suspects in killing of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge say they were framed. Unfortunately a lot of motorbike accidents happen on the island and it sincerely is a Koh Tao safety issue. We all knew who had done it but the police were dragging their feet. Her dad Boyne said a toxicology report was not carried out. Their bodies were found floating in the resorts pool last Friday, just hours after they checked in. In January 2018 a British traveler was found death in a hotel pool along Sairee Beach. Between 1-5 days later, I can't remember exactly, Thai police show up in large numbers and stop anyone from entering or leaving the island. Whether this means they were having sex, making out or anything else I'm not sure. He said at the time: "We don't know how or why she died. Photo: EPA . That is the price you pay to get from Sairee Beach to Chalok Bay. I was good friends with a few and they were all restaurant/bar owners. People from India and China died, mostly drowning, every day and no one gave a shit. 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. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. One of them was at the scene and I went to talk to him. Could this have happened on any other island in Thailand as well? Tony Witheridge bowed his head as bloody images of. The family of some of the deceased - including three more Brits - have accused local cops of not investigating the deaths of their loved ones. Koh Tao Murders: No DNA match with Warot in first test results Koh Tao Murders - Forensic Tales This time Ialso got a change to visit Koh Chang and the Golden Triangle up North. There are three theories, nobody ever got an answer to which is correct and mostly like it's a combination. 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. According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), as many as 11 Britons have been murdered in Thailand since 2009. The second theory is they were giving abuse to the ladyboys in BAR. KOH TAO MURDERS - DID SCOTLAND YARD AND THE FOREIGN OFFICE SCREW UP? If you are a solo traveler, taxi drivers will most likely rip you off. On New Years Day in 2014, he was found floating in a bay beneath a 15m cliff. 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. On New Years Day in 2015, he was found hanging in a bungalow. Get all the info about prices, time tables, company reviews and trip duration through 12Go Asia. Tips for Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur by Train | Worth it? The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. Most are running guesthouses, eateries and scuba-diving operations or working as diving instructors. I personally think it was a mix or the first 2. I believe they met up whilst drunk at a previous bar. 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. Dark side of Koh Tao: The seven tourists found dead on Thailand's But an unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts - including the one Elise had been staying in. "We're more and more thinking that the police information is not the right explanation.". Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 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. Talk:Koh Tao murders - Wikipedia Koh Tao, Thailand, Serial killers, Unexplained murders WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. A short time later, Ratish returned to the resort to find the bodies of his parents floating in the water. I believe a decent chunk of ladyboys had mafia ties. Koh Tao murders - Wikipedia From then on Ko Tao was nicknamed the murder island or the Death Island. Thailand's dark side: why you really shouldn't visit Koh Tao Koh Tao Murders - Did Scotland Yard and The Foreign Office Screw Up What really happened there? This is not a specific safety tip for Koh Tao, but everywhere around the world. The island became world news when two British backpackers, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge were brutally murdered on the island in 2014. A UK Foreign Office spokeswomen refused to comment on that issue but said consular officers provided support and assistance to the families of Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and Miller, 24, from Jersey. Flights are faster, but more expensive, trains more comfortable than busses, but overnight, etc, etc. Dont waste time, live now! No staff were in the area when their deaths happened, Koh Tao police chief Kriangkrai Kraikaew said. 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. How Hannah got involved wasn't mentioned in this theory beyond, they knew they were together. The body of his 55-year-old mother was only found later when rescue services arrived at the scene. They will also look at any health conditions that might have been a factor. Questions surround her death. Warning, Graphic Content: Crime Scene Photos - Winston-Salem Journal 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. Yes, that is more than 10 years of moving around the globe, not staying in one place longer than 2-3 weeks mostly! There will be no jury. Some Koh Tao travel blogs tell you that prices depend on your haggling skills. I simply want to give you some more information about the safety issues in Thailand based on my personal experiences as I lived in Koh Tao and traveled around Thailand uncountable times since 2008. You knew who you could trust, you knew who liked to stir up drama etc. May you have any additional questions please leave me a comment below and I am happy to help you out with everything you want to know about Koh Tao island. Well if talking about the Koh Tao Mafia here you go. But Koh Taos reputation for crime has already earned it global notoriety, with the couples death the latest on a long death toll. In April 2017, she was found hanged in the jungle. After visiting 100 countries by the end of 2019 I felt inspired to visit every country in the world. This bar also was the main hangout of the ladyboys. Aug 10, 2017. Why they would spout this information, I can only guess. 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. The bodies were found 100 metres away from the scene of a beach party, according to a local report.It was believed that attackers may have been waiting to target the pair as they walked off at the end of the party, which was attended by a group of international revellers. They might not have even realised what they did was offensive. 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. I love Koh Tao, but these guys are a blot on this tropical paradise. Also, he noted that the several pieces of rope which were used in the suspected suicide appeared to be different which might suggest that the death was not caused by suicide. Corpse photos of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on internet PHOTO: More information is coming out about the deaths of the billionaire couple in a Koh Tao pool. Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, from the UK. There was a bar you avoided due to potential violence occurring. Thai king commutes sentences of two men on death row for - CNN As the love for Koh Tao and Thailand is real, you might think I am biased writing this blog. They were planning on going back to her hotel to have sex and decided on one more drink. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Around 10k people on the island with only 3 corrupt police officers. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were brutally murdered while staying on Koh Tao. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Metropolitan police detectives were sent to Thailand in 2014 to look over the case and report back to officials and the families. The circumstances around his death are a mystery. Stay safe and always take a taxi at night. . Once youve been living there for a while, youll turn a blind eye to some pretty sketchy stuff, says Mike Earley, 30, from New Zealand, who spent six months on the island working as a DJ. 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! Yes, I have been there and yes I have smoked weed myself multiple times when traveling to Koh Tao. People speculated that seeing foreign tourists walk around wearing no clothes all day, having sex on the beach etc pushed them over the edge. In the meantime, investigators have been piecing together the couples final moments before the tragedy. Two migrant workers accused of murdering David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the Thai tourist . Michelle, who says the death would have gone unnoticed if not for her public appeal for help, said: "I do not believe what the police have told us. A cruise employee has had his contract terminated after he was allegedly seen filming women from a female bathroom. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The victims of the attack in Koh Tao have been named as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth and 24-year-old David Miller from Jersey. I get home at 3ish and my gf and best friend are in our 'house'. The vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of tourists that visit Koh Tao every year never have any issues or whatsoever. Very much not true I can tell you! Koh Tao, Thailand | Photo by Valeriy Ryasnyanskiy on Unsplash Some of the deaths which have sparked debate as to whether or not the missing and murder cases were investigated properly, include the death of Dimitri Povse. 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. My beloved Koh Tao felt it had lost its dignity. Photographs of the bodies . They raped and killed Hannah, and killed David who was attempting to fight them off. The island is very challenging to navigate as there are a lot of dirt roads and some are really steep. Who instigated the violence first will never be known and doesn't really matter. The investigation will cover the depth of the swimming pool, their health conditions and possible foul play, Mr Puridech said. You are the tourist, you are visiting their country so YOU should adapt to their standards and not the other way around! 5th Oct, 2014. Dont argue with them for too long, dont feel too cool to say sorry and walk away from the scene. Autopsy points to sex, struggle in Koh Tao murders - Bangkok Post The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. What really happened there? Koh Tao has already been struggling with a very bad reputation after the Koh Tao murders in September 2014 when a British couple was killed and left behind on Sairee Beach. The police took the Burmese guys to Bangkok and they eventually confessed. The photographer focused on a few key details, like a tilted painting on the wall, disheveled . There was no evidence of a misdemeanour, but the bodies were sent to the police hospital for autopsy. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! Thai police officer describes scene at site of British backpacker "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. I have lived on the island for more than 7 months in total and traveled there uncountable times on top of that. These and more tips for a Thai domestic flight search in my latest Thailand travel blog, click on the link! Are you looking to stay in remote bays then keep in mind thaT after sunset there is nothing to do. Yes go partying, get drunk, play beer-pong, drink buckets, get shit-faced but always make sure you are able to get home properly. Elise Dallemagne, 30, of Belgium. 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. Seeing a high ranking mafia member involved in a fight leads the other members to jump in. The murders on the popular dive island of Koh Tao drew intense media attention from across the world. Check out my Traveltomtom Group Trip page for one of the exciting upcoming group trips. Yes of course! All the 'dirty work' was done by the Burmese. 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. About to rent a motorbike? All times AEDT (GMT +11). She had medication for a chest infection and was drinking, but the Thai police failed to investigate if the combination was sufficient to kill her.". 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. One of the many tourist deaths in Thailand per year. But they later retracted their confessions, saying they had been tortured and threatened with death by their interrogators. Why are government officials going along with this with no/circumstantial evidence at best? Maybe it's because we didn't want to ruin the image our home had of a paradise island, or maybe it was an unsaid threat, I don't know. CAUTION, CRIME SCENE PHOTOS! But no suicide note or message were recovered and Michele is desperate for information surrounding the mysterious death. No toxicology report was conducted. In August 2020 the death sentence was commuted to life in prison under royal pardon by the decree. 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. 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. In January 2016, he was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach. These are the first pictures of the British tourists murdered on a paradise beach in Thailand. I have now visited Koh Tao over 10 times and I have never had any problem at all! The next night, Archie and his buddies went out in search of victim number one. What To Pack For Thailand | Packing List With 40 Things To Bring. They were at the same party together. 28 Serial Killer Crime Scene Photos From Famous Murderers - All That's For example, Songkran is the Thai New Year. 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. Elise's death is the latest in a string of seven fatalities in three years on the island. Police officer gives testimony about bodies of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller who were found dead on a beach on Koh Tao island in September 2014. Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo arrive at the Koh Samui Provincial Court. Photo: CSI LA. It's pretty common knowledge that torture doesn't get you the truth, it gets you what you want to hear. 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. Koh tao murders hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . 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. They lock them up in a BKK prison and torture them for a confession. The victims have been named by Thai authorities as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and 24-year-old David Miller from Jersey, in the Channel Islands.