In a shocking turn of events, six individuals were found dead in a locked room at the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel in downtown Bangkok on July 17, 2024. The victims, three women and three men ranging in age from 37 to 56 years old, were all of Vietnamese descent and two of them were citizens of the United States. Initial investigations by Thai authorities revealed that traces of cyanide were found in the room, leading them to suspect a case of mass poisoning.
According to reports from Bangkok police, the group had checked into the five-star hotel earlier in July and had gathered in Room 502 on Sunday night before retiring for the night. The following day, they ordered food which was delivered around 1:51 p.m., but none of them were seen leaving or entering the room after that.
The police arrived at the scene on Tuesday when it was discovered that the occupants had not checked out as scheduled. Upon entering the room, they found all six individuals deceased and a table full of untouched food wrapped in plastic and used cups with traces of a white powder. The door was locked from the inside.
Thai authorities have ruled out mass suicide as a possibility due to the fact that the bodies were found in different parts of the room, indicating that it is unlikely they had intentionally consumed the poison and waited to die.
The police are currently investigating further and have not yet determined a motive for this tragic incident. The Thai prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, has assured the public that Thailand remains safe for overseas visitors despite this shocking discovery.
