In the heart of Bangkok, Thailand, a tragic incident unfolded at the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel. Six individuals, comprised of four Vietnamese nationals and two American citizens, were discovered deceased in a room on July 17, 2024. The circumstances surrounding their deaths remain under investigation by Thai authorities.
According to reports from various sources, the group had checked into the hotel separately and were assigned five rooms - four on the seventh floor and one on the fifth. On Monday, all six individuals made their way to room 534 where they ordered food and tea. The waiter recalled that one of the victims, Sherine Chong, spoke little and appeared visibly stressed.
The waiter left the room after delivering their order. No other individuals are believed to have entered the room before its discovery on Tuesday.
A clearer picture is emerging about what may have transpired in that fateful room. Police suspect that one of the deceased, Dang Hung Van, was behind the poisoning due to crushing debt and had lured his companions for investment purposes. The group had loaned him tens of millions Thai baht for these investments.
The victims were found dead by housekeepers who entered the room after they failed to check out and found it locked from the inside. There were no signs of a struggle or robbery, and all six individuals had consumed tea from their respective cups before their demise. Traces of cyanide were later discovered in all six tea cups.
The victims have been identified as Sherine Chong, 56 (American), Dang Hung Van, 55 (American), Thi Nguyen Phuong, 46 (Vietnamese), Hong Pham Thanh, 49 (Vietnamese), Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan, 47 (Vietnamese), and Dinh Tran Phu, 37 (Vietnamese).
The investigation is ongoing as authorities search for the seventh individual who was part of the hotel booking. The cause of death has not been definitively determined but poisoning is a strong possibility.
This incident marks a grim turn in Thailand's thriving tourism industry, leaving many to question the safety and security of visitors. Authorities are urging caution and assuring the public that they will leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of answers.
