Debt issues behind murder-suicide involving Vietnamese in Bangkok: police

Thai police on Wednesday morning announced the preliminary results of the investigation into the case of six people found dead at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok.

According to the police, one person killed five others in the room then took that person's own life. It is understood the killings stem from debt-related issues.

Thai police have also identified a seventh person, who presumably checked into the hotel rooms with the others but is yet to be apprehended. Police did stress that woman is unlikely to be connected to the deaths.

Two of the deceased were identified as Sherine Chong, 56, and Dang Hung Van, 55, both carrying US passports.

It has been reported that it was Chong who carried out the murders before taking her own life.

Four others were Vietnamese nationals, including Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan, 47, Pham Hong Thanh, 49, Tran Dinh Phu, 37, and Nguyen Thi Phuong, 46.

Initial investigations on Tuesday evening, when the victims were found, showed that their room was locked from the inside with no trace of physical violence.

Their bodies were transported to a nearby hospital while the luggage was moved to the Lumpini area police station.

In an announcement on Wednesday morning, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed that a group of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents will arrive in Thailand to assist in further investigation, as two US citizens were among the deceased.

Under the direction of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Embassy of Vietnam in Thailand is working closely with Thai authorities on the case, said the ministry’s spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on Wednesday, while extending condolences to the victims’ families.

The Vietnamese embassy will also provide all necessary help for investigations and coordinate with relevant departments in Vietnam to provide support for the victims’ families and adopt necessary citizen protection measures.

The Vietnamese MoFA and the Ministry of Public Security are also taking urgent action to verify the identities of the four Vietnamese victims.

Once confirmed, their families will be notified and assisted in completing necessary procedures to repatriate the remains as soon as Thai authorities allow, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung.

He appreciated the prompt response from Thai PM Thavisin and high-ranking Thai police officials, who were present at the scene and held an urgent press briefing on the case.