Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, it has always been shrouded by a dark mystery. Note: in all my continuous travels around the world since December 2012, I have never ran into a bad situation. Finally, it was an unspoken rule that we never revealed the shit going on the tourists never saw. Any free moment I'm dying to talk to one of my friends to find out if they heard what happened. He also had to track down a man seen on surveillance footage leaving his daughter's flat hours before she was discovered. Think twice before getting yourself into trouble! Now I'm aware in Western culture that word is a slur, but it isn't in Thailand. Don't let your Thailand holiday be ruined by your own stupid mistakes! Seeing a high ranking mafia member involved in a fight leads the other members to jump in. The case has caused Thailands judiciary to be closely scrutinised. In case you do decide to get your own motorbike don't get drunk and then jump on your motorbike. Stay away from drugs! 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. Thai police claim Elise hung herself - but her devastated mother does not believe them, and thinks somebody else was involved. On Tuesday, new details emerged as police investigated the death of a wealthy billionaire industrialist and his wife on Ko Tao last Friday. You are the tourist, you are visiting their country so YOU should adapt to their standards and not the other way around! This island paradise is notorious for the unexplained deaths of people who visit there. Yes, I have been there and yes I have smoked weed myself multiple times when traveling to Koh Tao. His parents believe he was murdered - despite police claims he fell 50ft and drowned. It was obvious to us what was happening, they'd been bribed by the mafia. The vibe on the island was very tense. That is the price you pay to get from Sairee Beach to Chalok Bay. I Revealed on Thursday, Elise Dallemange, 30, was found dead in the jungle on the island in April, having been half-eaten by lizards, eight days after she said she was leaving to return to her native home in Belgium. I regret that the pro bono defense team does not have the $5,500 budget necessary to pay for a proper translation into English. I am Tom an avid adventure traveler from The Netherlands. Murder On Koh Tao: The Untold Story - Crime Documentary | Real Life Stories Documentaries Reality TV - Real Life Stories Documentaries 677 subscribers Subscribe 79 views 9 months ago Show. The rest were mafia. She said: "I would tell them to do everything in their power to stop them going. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Just hours before he died, David was talking to us with his usual enthusiasm, describing the beauty of Koh Tao and the friendliness of the Thai people., Over the coming weeks we hope to gain a better understanding as to how such a wonderful young man lost his life in such idyllic surroundings in such a horrible way.. I believe they met up whilst drunk at a previous bar. There are serious doubts about the evidence linking Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 21, with the brutal slaying of David Miller, 24, and rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge, 23, on the Thai Gulf . You never know who you are up to, dont let a small issue ruin your holiday. First off let me tell you that if you think Thailand is dangerous for tourists, you are wrong! But although David's family called the verdict 'justice', the trial of the two Burmese migrant workers was plagued by accusations of human rights abuses. Becoming a digital nomad through this blog was a dream coming true, of course supported by my 280K Instagram account @Traveltomtom, more than500K TikTok and 50K Facebook family. Just simply never accept drinks from strangers and keep your own drink closely. Posted on December 5, 2021. They might not have even realised what they did was offensive. We ask that the media treat Hannah with dignity in their reporting of the trial., Please allow the police and the court to do their jobs during the coming weeks and months. Hannah was missing clothes on her lower body and her head/face had been completely smashed in by a blunt object. This search engine for Thailand transportation also shows you all the available options in one overview. They weren't looked down upon or treated poorly at all. The attack happened on the popular small island of Koh Tao, which is known for its diving and lively bars. No staff were in the area when their deaths happened, Koh Tao police chief Kriangkrai Kraikaew said. With all due respect but I obviously have no idea how a small blonde girl would feel visiting Koh Tao. Well if talking about the Koh Tao Mafia here you go. 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. The investigation will cover the depth of the swimming pool, their health conditions and possible foul play, Mr Puridech said. So the answer to who is the murderer is the owner of BAR, the same one their bodies were found the closest to, and a known mafia hangout. Ratish has told police his father had diabetes, hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea. Island life is all about flip-flops, bathing suits and funny t-shirts, life is at low pace and many tourists smoke weed. The family of New Zealand-born British tourist Christina Annesley, who died on the island in 2015, dont believe polices insistence she died after mixing antibiotics with alcohol. Koh Tao looks like a paradise, but it's known among Brits as 'death island' Credit: Alamy In a new Sky documentary, Death On The Beach, families open up on how they believe Thai police covered up . This time Ialso got a change to visit Koh Chang and the Golden Triangle up North. There is a big chance you will fall in love with this little paradise. 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. 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. In a 2012/13 New Year's Eve party Londoner Stephen Ashton, 22, was killed in a bar on Haad Rin beach on the Thai island of Koh Phangan - a resort where the FCO warns British travellers to beware "vicious, unprovoked attacks by gangs". I believe a decent chunk of ladyboys had mafia ties. Photograph: PA The island, two hours by boat from the nearest airport, has a low-key, undeveloped feel and. Whatever the reason I didn't see him. The next night, Archie and his buddies went out in search of victim number one. But they later retracted their confessions, saying they had been tortured and threatened with death by their interrogators. For example we'd always advise people to go home after Fishbowl, which shut at 2am. But no suicide note or message were recovered and Michele is desperate for information surrounding the mysterious death. Their parents must be going through hell just like we are and we have been for the last almost two years. They accuse Thai police of improperly collecting evidence at the crime scene, intimidation and abuse of witnesses and suspects which the police deny and not sharing key forensic evidence with the defence, a move they say seriously impedes a fair trial. Of course when splitting with 4 people this is fine. Mr Puridech said there were no signs of struggle at the scene and an early examination of the bodies did not suggest foul play. I have traveled around the islands extensively and would love to help you plan your trip to Thailand. Thai police arrest men accused of murdering Brits on Koh Tao Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were sentenced to death for the killings. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. In the back of my mind I had a feeling there might be something wrong. But in this article I express my personal opinion on the safety issues in Koh Tao island based on my own experiences. If it no longer meets these criteria, you can reassess it. The story is, they had met at the previous bar and wanted 1 more drink before heading back to a hotel. Fact is that they found another dead body in Koh Tao under suspicious circumstances. Its bright coral, sharks and rays bring in divers, hikers enjoy jungle walks and the bar scene 'rages on until dawn'. A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes . 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. The horrific murders could badly damage tourism in Thailand which has already been affected by the country's deep political crisis and the introduction of martial law. She is still missing. Don't get dodgy boat tickets from street vendors. I have lived on the island for more than 7 months in total and traveled there uncountable times on top of that. There is a big change nothing will ever happen, but a wasted tourist is an easy victim. KOH TAO MURDERS - DID SCOTLAND YARD AND THE FOREIGN OFFICE SCREW UP? But, his sister Maria and the family told the BBC they would not rely on what Thai police said as there was still speculation over the circumstances surrounding the death - and that they had received 'different versions' of what might have happened. What really happened there? Westerners were ignored as long as you didn't cause any problems. Plus crime scene photos. 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. She was part of the sect of the Sathya Sai Baba cult movement, and lived with a self-proclaimed "guru", and left the island on April 17 to return home. As the love for Koh Tao and Thailand is real, you might think I am biased writing this blog. 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. They will also look at any health conditions that might have been a factor. She spoke to police and wasn't given the time of day. In Thailand every business needs to be majority owned by a Thai, usually they owned 51%. We of course want to see those responsible for the brutal murder of our precious girl brought to justice., Millers family said: The act which ended Davids life devastated our family and his friends. The two people killed were Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. I asked what had happened, he wasn't 100% sure but the bar owner had killed them. Ms Witheridge had been raped. Burmese migrant workers crossing the Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge in the bordertown Mae Sot, Thailand. In my time living on Koh Tao there were a lot of stories about spiking drinks. The vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of tourists that visit Koh Tao every year never have any issues or whatsoever. 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. The other question is why were they killed. 5th Oct, 2014. I got a clear view of Hannah's body, but not David's. 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Prices for taxi rides in Koh Tao are fixed and they all stick to it. Koh Tao is an amazing place to enjoy your holiday and you should be totally fine! But trust me if you travel to Koh Tao you dont get involved with daily politics on the island! Dubbed 'Death Island', the illusion of a safe haven has since shattered following the brutal deaths of a number of tourists. For the around 10k people on the island a day, there were 3 police officers who only appeared around holidays. 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. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. The island is very challenging to navigate as there are a lot of dirt roads and some are really steep. I have now visited Koh Tao over 10 times and I have never had any problem at all! The Murders The two people killed were Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. Investigators will consider whether the depth of the pool which was around 3m on one end may have led to the couples drowning. I have no idea but it's safe to say it was the vast majority. Dimitri Povse, 29, from France. My passion to inspire other people to travel the world turned into a lifestyle. She was fun, honest and loved life. "We're more and more thinking that the police information is not the right explanation.". Nick Pearson, from Derby, was found floating in the sea on New Year's Day 2014. From then on Ko Tao was nicknamed the murder island or the Death Island. You knew who you could trust, you knew who liked to stir up drama etc. 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. This bar also was the main hangout of the ladyboys. From then on Ko Tao was nicknamed the murder island or the Death Island. Sorry not sorry hostels, but you are. I was never explicitly told to hold back this information but that was the vibe. Defense lawyers for the two men later alleged that police had rushed the investigation to . We all knew who had done it but the police were dragging their feet. Hannah, 23, from Hemsby, Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao on September 15. 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. The photographer focused on a few key details, like a tilted painting on the wall, disheveled . Click on the picture to read all about it. Before I begin, this will get long and there are lots of things I need to explain about the island before I can get into the story. The Koh Tao Murders happened just a couple hours after I was celebrating my birthday on the same beach in the very early morning of September 15, 2014. There were at that time a lot of rumors going around but no one really knows what happened. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. 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. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. If there really is no other solution just ask the help of an other random group of tourists. These and more tips for a Thai domestic flight search in my latest Thailand travel blog, click on the link! With such incredible sunsets on the main party beach, the party starts early. Christina Annesley, 23, from the UK and born in New Zealand. Resting in the Gulf of Thailand, a two-hour ferry ride north of Koh Samui, Koh Tao is best known for its incredible marine life, which over the years has attracted a small but buoyant expat. Sadly another case of tourists deaths on Koh Tao. "They may be feeling guilty for the crime they have done." The two Burmese men, identified as Saw and Win, were arrested last week and accused of killing David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on the island of Koh Tao on 15 September. If you would like to be prepared for your trip to Thailand then have a look at my guide telling you everything you need to know when you travel to Thailand: visas, safety issues, scams, the culture, things to do and things NOT to do, the best national parks, about the street food, the travel adapter you need, the vaccinations and many more things. Graphic images showing the bodies of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on a beach in Koh Tao have been circulating online. Blood on the floor of the feedroom where Paul Murdaugh was shot dead. 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. If you buy 2 beers with the equivalent of $10, you aren't getting your $6-7 back. Two Burmese bar workers were found guilty of their murders the following year and sentenced to death. Andy Hall, a migrants rights activist from Britain who is working for the defence, told the Guardian outside the court: Recently in the last few weeks weve got some significant information from the UK side and its raises a lot of very important inconsistencies between the Thai evidence and the the evidence from the UK. He did not give details on what evidence UK authorities had provided. 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. The family of some of the deceased - including three more Brits - have accused local cops of not investigating the deaths of their loved ones. The judge said on Wednesday the matter would be dealt with on Thursday when the police officer who holds the samples will be present in the court. 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. It's very gruesome.". Think on forehand where you want your Koh Tao hotel to be. It's pretty common knowledge that torture doesn't get you the truth, it gets you what you want to hear.