Korean Twins Murdered in Pattaya | commentary by David Barkdull
The reports I have listed below are actually from reputable news sources in Thailand. Two 28 year old ‘tourists’ were found dead a few days ago and at first it was declared a double murder then a double suicide then a murder suicide. The investigation was closed after less than a week without much fanfare or investigation. The women were twin sisters from South Korea.
CHONBURI POLICE COMMISSIONER PUZZLES THE DEATH OF TWO KOREAN WOMEN
Pattaya Daily News 15 April 2008
Police commissioner of Chonburi province and his team have inspected the crime scene where the two Korean women were found dead on Koh Larn (Coral Island) but still cannot clarify if they had committed suicide or were murdered.
At present, there is still no indication to the cause of the death of the victims, whose bodies were found at Tha-Rai beach on Koh Larn. Officers from the Korean Embassy of Thailand and Korean police had come to identify that the victims, Miss Park Ji Hee and Miss Park Mi Hee (28) were twins. Korean officials were not convinced that they had committed suicide or killed each other like Pattaya police had suspected. Besides, the picture in the passport of Miss Park Ji Hee was torn out and the passport was left in her shoulder bag which was dumped into the woods about 100 meters away from the body, there were wounds on one of the victim’s forehead and face consistent with being hit by a hard object.
On April 15, 2008, at 5pm, Pol. Maj. Gen. Bandit Khunajak, Chonburi commissioner, Pol. Col. Thana Yuttithamdamrong, Deputy commissioner, Pol.Col.Nopadol Wongnom, Pattaya superintendent, Pol.Lt.Col.Sumet Harnwisai, the Pattaya investigator and his team have spent 30 minutes inspecting the scene of the incident once again. Pol.Maj.Gen. Bundit revealed that many witnesses on the Island had said that the victims were wandering around the Island without using Baht-Bus or Motorbike Taxi’s. However, police found out that they had been renting an apartment in Chiangmai for the past 2 years. They recently arrived in Pattaya and were staying at a hotel in Soi Buo Khao, South Pattaya.
On April 10th , they took a 9 o’clock ferry from Bali Hai Pier to Koh Larn and were found dead the next morning. Initially, Police had assumed that they had committed suicide. The police are waiting for the autopsy results to clarify the cause of the death. However the possibility of the victims being murdered has not being rule out.
In the evening on the same day, Korean Embassy officials , accompanied by the parents of the victims met with Pol.Col.Nopadol Wongnom, Pattaya superintendent, but further details have not been released.
Pattaya City News 16 Aprial 2008
Investigation closed in the Korean death case from Larn Island.
We have been closely following the case from Larn Island which resulted in the death of two Korean Female Tourists. We can confirm that the Parents of the victims, who are now known to be twins, have arrived in Thailand and have formally identified their daughters. They have been named as Miss Park Ji Hee and Miss Park Mi Hee, both aged 28. The pair have been living here in Thailand for the last 2 years and came to Larn Island by boat on 10th April at 9am. They were found dead the next morning. It appears that evidence collected suggests a third party was not involved in their death and according to Police Major General Bundit, the Commander of Chonburi Provincial Police, who went to the scene on Tuesday Evening, head wounds on the victims appear to have been self-inflicted following a night of heavy drinking. The pair was thought to have hit their heads on rocks on the beach and when they awoke, they found themselves in the water. One of the twins is then believed to have tied her hands together with her sister in an attempt to save both of them from the water, however due to their intoxicated state and tiredness, they are both believed to have drowned and their bodies were then washed up on the beach. The parents of the deceased have reviewed the evidence and agree with the current Police theory which is backed up with toxicology reports and post mortem results. Police have now closed the case.
commentary below by David Barkdull
The way that this has been handled is of course suspect. Many murders are covered up by the police here because it would have a negative effect on tourism industry. I have a little experience in this area so red flags appear all over the place with every official press release. To close this case so quickly is very suspicious. Why is it that so often in Thailand there are the overly convoluted double suicide pacts that turn into murder suicides? Everyone should pause and just think for a minute about how stupid the Thai police think the public (that includes us) is perceived to be.
Ripping a page out of a passport obviously does not mean the victims were trying to hide their identity. Even in developing counties like Thailand the police can scan the passport to see to whom it belongs. Why bring the passport(s) at all?
What about the possible forensic evidence gathered at the scene that led to the report of a double murder? How are those autopsies going and what did they reveal? Drowning? Death by blunt force trauma? Alcohol and/or drugs? Found anything in the residence or hotel room that would lead the police to believe these two women were about to kill themselves? Outstanding local debt? Medical problems? Past behavior that would give an indication as to whether or not suicide was in the cards? What is on their computers? Any emails regarding the women wanting to end it all? Suicide websites? Mobile phone records including test messages? What do their friends and acquaintances have to say one way or the other?
These questions are only a small portion of a complete investigation. Like someone else said, if these two women were from Australia, England or even America, etc. this would be front page news worldwide. Twin 28 year old women from almost anywhere else would get the public attention they deserve.
This is only one case but the body count gets larger by the day here and it goes unreported for the most part.
David Barkdull
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