Folks, gather around because we’ve got a chilling tale straight out of a crime novel, but it’s all too real. In a luxury Thai hotel room, a shocking murder-suicide has left six people dead, and the details are as dark as they come.
Police believe Sherine Chong, a 56-year-old US citizen, is at the center of this tragic event. Chong is suspected of poisoning herself and five others with cyanide-laced coffee after accumulating massive debts tied to an investment in a Japanese hospital. The victims, three men and three women of Vietnamese origin, had reportedly lost around 10 million baht (approximately $280,000) due to Chong’s failed investment scheme.
The victims were last seen alive when food was delivered to their room at the Grand Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok on Monday afternoon. By 5 PM Tuesday, all six were found dead. The door was locked from the inside, and there were no records of any visitors. Post-mortem tests confirmed the presence of cyanide in their bodies and cups, two of which were American citizens.
Bangkok Deputy Police Chief Noppasin Punsawat stated, “We are convinced that one of the six people found dead committed this crime.” Investigators ruled out mass suicide, as some victims had planned future activities, and the bodies were found scattered in different areas of the room, indicating they didn’t knowingly consume poison together.
UPDATE: Six dead in Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel in Bangkok.
Thailand are creating public opinion about the results of the investigation of the case.
Awfully convenient outcome.
That the suspect was Ms. Sherine Chong, 56, who was a US passport holder and had a record of… pic.twitter.com/D2zPy2PRRx
— Boar News (@PhamDuyHien9) July 17, 2024
The deceased were identified as Chong, Thi Nguyen Phuong, Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan, Dinh Tran Phu, and Hung Dang Van. The sixth victim, not registered at the hotel, remains unnamed. A seventh person, a sibling of one of the victims, had left Thailand on July 10 and is believed to have no involvement in the deaths.
A condensed list of the deceased individuals who were found dead at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok on Tuesday, with poisoning suspected as the cause of death.
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1. Ms Sherine Chong, American, aged 56, entered Thailand on July 5, traveled in and out 5 times.
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2. Mr Hung… pic.twitter.com/mF5QmXVqJp— Thenationthailand (@Thenationth) July 17, 2024
Rumors initially suggested a mass shooting, but police photos showed a bloodless scene with untouched food and two spiked thermos flasks and cups. The victims’ bodies, showing signs of cyanide poisoning like foaming at the mouth and purple lips, were discovered by a maid after they failed to check out.
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, has ordered an immediate investigation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Thailand’s reputation as a safe tourist destination. With the help of the FBI and cooperation from the Vietnamese embassy, the investigation is ongoing.
This incident is the latest in a series of high-profile criminal cases in Thailand, including the infamous cyanide serial killer Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn and the case of French serial killer Charles Sobhraj.