The island is very challenging to navigate as there are a lot of dirt roads and some are really steep. Thai people are lovely, but just like in any other tourist destination around the world the taxi drivers in Koh Tao are idiots. The police took the Burmese guys to Bangkok and they eventually confessed. Post-mortem examinations showed that the young backpackers, who had met on the island while staying at the same hotel, both suffered head wounds and that Hannah had been raped. My gf had been on the island 18 months longer than me and is one of those people who just knows everyone. If it no longer meets these criteria, you can reassess it. But in this article I express my personal opinion on the safety issues in Koh Tao island based on my own experiences. In September 2014, the couple were found bludgeoned to death close to where they were staying. The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. His parents believe he was murdered - despite police claims he fell 50ft and drowned. Should I really travel to Koh Tao? I think one, or both of them said or did something discriminatory to a ladyboy. The men, both the smallest in height in the room, wore matching beige outfits. Very much not true I can tell you! The teen's body was found seven days after the boating accident. If you buy 2 beers with the equivalent of $10, you aren't getting your $6-7 back. This is just a backup page for the Youtube channel, plus some stuff that I would like to share. Her bright future was brutally ended, leaving those who loved her broken with no answers. On Tuesday, new details emerged as police investigated the death of a wealthy billionaire industrialist and his wife on Ko Tao last Friday. He arrived at the beach five minutes later and swiftly cordoned off the area. Ortega, 55, is charged . The official story is they were walking back to their hotel at night and were jumped by 2 Burmese men. Don't let your Thailand holiday be ruined by your own stupid mistakes! In January 2016, he was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach. You are the tourist, you are visiting their country so YOU should adapt to their standards and not the other way around! No staff were in the area when their deaths happened, Koh Tao police chief Kriangkrai Kraikaew said. They were planning on going back to her hotel to have sex and decided on one more drink. For a few weeks/months leading up to the murders, violence was getting worse, but it never happened in Westerner hangouts. I have now visited Koh Tao over 10 times and I have never had any problem at all! Enough experiences to tell you that YES you always have to be aware of what is happening around you and be responsible in what you do. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. 5th Oct, 2014. A baby girl has died in tragic circumstances on a family holiday, after ingesting drugs her parents believe were left out in an Airbnb. The two people killed were Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. 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. The Thaiger 116K subscribers Join Subscribe 712 Share 29K views 10 months ago #thailand #kohtao #thailandtourist We've all heard. 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. The attack happened on the popular small island of Koh Tao, which is known for its diving and lively bars. This time was different. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool Diagram of crime scene. Neill Fronde Wednesday, June 9, 2021. It's not like I could do anything but get in the way anyway. 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. A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes . 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. and stay away from fighting with locals. Any reasons to be worried? 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! Asking yourself the question is it safe to travel to Thailand, starts with yourself. Yes of course! 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. 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". Tips for Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur by Train | Worth it? 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. It's very gruesome.". This led to dozens of charges accusing Alex Murdaugh of stealing nearly $5million in settlement money from lawyers who sued him over the death.. 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. At one point is was extremely hidden and out of nowhere it was out in the open, if you knew where to look. Check out my Traveltomtom Group Trip page for one of the exciting upcoming group trips. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: californiasmovingcompanies.com, +18184645504 Tom's Piano Movers 1-818-464-5504 - Tom's Piano Moving Corporation | Moving Company in California | Movers in Los Angeles | Movers California | Move in CA 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. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The bar owner was fairly high up in one of the mafias and had killed a few Burmese people previously so it didn't surprise me. Death Island or Murder Island 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. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. 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. Have you ever watched Big Brother and after a week, people are acting like best mates and saying I love you to people? That sounds like an obvious thing, but on islands where the atmosphere is so extremely chilled it is a very tempting thing to do. 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. Then came a stumbling police investigation, speculation about a cover-up to protect a prominent local family, the alleged framing and torture of two young Burmese migrant workers, questions about the handling of key forensic evidence and the controversial observer role of Metropolitan Police officers alongside Thai investigators. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. The case has caused Thailands judiciary to be closely scrutinised. "We're more and more thinking that the police information is not the right explanation.". One of the many tourist deaths in Thailand per year. Interested to see my ultimate Thailand itinerarythen have a read in the link. 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. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. We all knew who had done it but the police were dragging their feet. on Koh Tao in September 2014. Use common sense and stay out of trouble in the first place! Michele claims that Elise used a fake name of "Elise Dubuis" to check into the Triple B Bungalows next to Mae Head Pier on Koh Tao as she travelled via the island on a ferry bound for Chumphon province on her route back to capital Bangkok. I trusted the people I called friends with my life, literally. Like during all your travels around the world the golden rule is: use common sense and when you feel something is not right then walk away from the situation! Christina, from Orpington, South East London, died shortly after arriving on Koh Tao. 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. They drive like maniacs, think they are untouchable, are often rude and over charge tourists any time they can! Her family are suspicious. Yes go partying, get drunk, play beer-pong, drink buckets, get shit-faced but always make sure you are able to get home properly. 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. Mafia ran the place, Meth was becoming a plague amongst them. Brits Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered as they walked back to their hotel rooms in September 2014. 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. 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. There were also other people at the party but I didn't know them well enough to comment on them. Three judges sat high above the small court room on Koh Samui, a larger island near Koh Tao, where witnesses will testify over the next three days. But they later retracted their confessions, saying they had been tortured and threatened with death by their interrogators. I asked what had happened, he wasn't 100% sure but the bar owner had killed them. About to rent a motorbike? 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. The pool was also supposed to be empty, because it was closed down due to Covid-19 restrictions.. I have traveled around the islands extensively and would love to help you plan your trip to Thailand. 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. I believe a decent chunk of ladyboys had mafia ties. My beloved Koh Tao felt it had lost its dignity. I love Koh Tao, but these guys are a blot on this tropical paradise. It was obvious to us what was happening, they'd been bribed by the mafia. Secret Thailand travel tip: did you know that flying from either Phuket or Krabi towards Chiang Mai is 50% cheaper than the other way around. 09/23/14 AT 10:48 AM BST. There are amazing hiking trails and viewpoints in Koh Tao, it is one of best scuba diving destinations in the worldand there are many more othercool things to do in Koh Tao. However, according to Rhys Bonney, an immigration adviser to expats in Thailand, the legality of the businesses are an extremely grey area. The victims have been named by Thai authorities as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth,. The 29-year-old Frenchman was found on January 1, 2015, hanging from his balcony ceiling. Add in everyone at BAR being on Meth and they took their anger out on them. Almost every tourist that visits Koh Tao is not yet ready to leave at the end of their trip and sails away with mixed feelings: happy to have experienced this little paradise, but sad they have to go already! Something went wrong, please try again later. senseless" photos of the crime scene, they say, which show her body . More info here: Mother vs. vicious rapist. 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. 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. The second theory is they were giving abuse to the ladyboys in BAR. Police ruled out foul play but his family believe he was murdered. CAUTION, CRIME SCENE PHOTOS! Valentina was reported to have been visiting the island to go freediving an activity the area is famed for among backpackers. Follow this journey in the link. I have no idea but it's safe to say it was the vast majority. 2 minutes read. There was also a photo floating around on WhatsApp that spread across the island like wildfire. 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. Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao in March and has still not been found. Defense lawyers for the two men later alleged that police had rushed the investigation to . There was no evidence of a misdemeanour, but the bodies were sent to the police hospital for autopsy. Click here to read about the best things to do in Koh Tao. Maybe a week before, a Thai guy jumped off a 5ish story building whilst on it and died immediately, no tourist knew about this. 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. His family has accused police of a cover-up. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. Of course tourists get drunk and alcohol makes you do crazy things. But Elise had disappeared. Fire show boys were named notorious, however I never ran into anyone that this actually happened to. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Two Burmese men charged with the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller went on trial on Wednesday. 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. 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. The Murders The two people killed were Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. 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. The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. In case you've missed it. 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 have been charged with premeditated murder, among other crimes, and could face execution. What really happened there? But remember you are still in Thailand! I am Tom an avid adventure traveler from The Netherlands. You knew who you could trust, you knew who liked to stir up drama etc. 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. Apparently a 50,000 THB ($1,400 USD) fine is what can happen and your passport will be taken from you until the fine is paid. I will give a TLDR at the end of this section because it will probably be longer than the story. Dont waste time, live now! Koh Tao is an amazing place to enjoy your holiday and you should be totally fine! 8 Christina is one of the many young Brits to have died on the island Credit: Handout 8 The rise in tourist deaths in Thailand brought more police to the islands and stories of being caught with marijuana are still pretty common. Hacker group Anonymous hacked the Thai police stating that they wanted justice for the Koh Tao murders in September 2014. In April 2017, she was found hanged in the jungle. The only reason I can think for her to lie is to get some media attention, but that seems more likely to go badly than positively when the truth came out. 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/ In January 2018 a British traveler was found death in a hotel pool along Sairee Beach. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! Investigators will consider whether the depth of the pool which was around 3m on one end may have led to the couples drowning. I drove to work and on the way saw a small crowd of people gathered to the side of BAR, on the beach. Since I found out about 12Go Asia, traveling in Thailand become much more convenient. 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. But her parents slammed Thai authorities for failing to investigate the death. I will reference it further simply as BAR. Photo: EPA . Her dad Boyne said a toxicology report was not carried out. In Thailand every business needs to be majority owned by a Thai, usually they owned 51%. There was a bar you avoided due to potential violence occurring. "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.". Thai police said a post-mortem examination showed he drowned. Click on the link to read my article about it and where to go. It's the closest I can imagine to what people in the military feel for each other. Some Koh Tao travel blogs tell you that prices depend on your haggling skills.