BANGKOK, THAILAND – Traces of cyanide were discovered in the blood of six Vietnamese and American guests found dead at a luxury hotel in central Bangkok, Thai authorities reported Wednesday. The deaths, believed to be linked to a failed investment, have sparked a complex investigation.
The bodies were discovered Tuesday at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, a prominent hotel situated at a bustling intersection in the capital, surrounded by shopping malls, government offices, and public transit hubs.
Hotel staff last saw the victims alive when food was delivered to their room on Monday afternoon. Surveillance footage showed a woman receiving the delivery, followed by the others arriving separately. No other visitors were recorded, and the door was locked from the inside. A maid discovered the bodies Tuesday afternoon when the guests failed to check out.
Upon entering the room, staff found untouched food from the previous day, including servings of fried rice still under plastic wrap. However, several used teacups and two thermos bottles were found on a nearby table. Forensic analysis revealed traces of cyanide in the cups and bottles, according to Lt. Gen. Trairong Piwpan, head of the Thai police force’s forensic division.
Autopsies conducted at Chulalongkorn Hospital confirmed the presence of cyanide in the victims’ blood. Kornkiat Vongpaisarnsin, head of the forensic medicine department at Chulalongkorn University’s medical school, stated that there were no signs of blunt force trauma, reinforcing the theory of poisoning. Chulalongkorn’s dean of medicine, Chanchai Sittipunt, confirmed that cyanide was likely the cause of death.
Bangkok police chief Lt. Gen. Thiti Sangsawang identified the deceased as two Vietnamese Americans and four Vietnamese nationals, comprising three men and three women aged 37 to 56. Deputy police chief Noppasin Punsawat suggested that the deaths were personal and would not affect tourist safety. A husband and wife among the victims had invested approximately 10 million baht ($278,000) with two others, potentially providing a motive for the crime.
The case took a new turn when it was revealed that a seventh person, whose name was part of the hotel booking, had left Thailand on July 10. Police believe this individual, a sibling of one of the victims, was not involved in the deaths.
Thai authorities have contacted the Vietnamese and United States embassies, and the FBI is en route to assist in the investigation. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin assured the public that this was not an act of terrorism or a security breach.
The Grand Hyatt Erawan, a five-star hotel, is a landmark in Bangkok. The Erawan Shrine, located on its premises, has been a major tourist attraction since its construction in 1956. The shrine was the site of a 2015 bombing that killed 20 people and injured more than 100.
In 2023, Thailand was shaken by reports of a serial killer who poisoned 15 people with cyanide over several years. Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, dubbed “Am Cyanide,” was responsible for the deaths of at least 14 people to whom she owed money. One person survived.