Thread: Another backpacker suicide on Koh Tao and eaten by lizards

Belgian woman 'covered ID' before death

SURAT THANI: Belgian tourist Elise Dallemagne appeared to be trying to conceal her identity when she checked in at a resort on Koh Tao a week before she was found dead in April, a local bungalow employee told police on Saturday.

The worker, whose name was withheld, told police investigators on the tourist island that Dallemagne checked in at the Triple B Hotel on Mae Hat bay at about 3pm on April 19.

According to the employee, the 30-year-old Belgian arrived with a backpack and sought the cheapest room, at 400 baht per night.



First she wrote her real name and family name in the guest register but refused to write her passport number as other guests had done, saying she would give the number later. Then she scratched out her family name and replaced it with "Depis".

At about 7pm a fire broke out in room H2 where Dallemagne was staying and spread to three adjacent rooms. At that point she fled the hotel. She was found dead a week later, about 2.5 kilometres away.

Authorities have reopened the investigation into the woman's death at the request of her mother, who said she did not believe the conclusion of local police on Koh Tao that her daughter had hanged herself.

Dallemagne had a Skype call with her mother, Michele van Egten, shortly before she disappeared, and told her that she was preparing to return home after 18 months of travelling around Asia.

The head of an ashram on nearby Koh Phangan, where Dallemagne stayed frequently, gave a similar account.

"She visited us to prepare to go home. She told us she wanted to return back to Belgium so she could make some money in order to come back," Raaman Andreas told the Mirror newspaper in the UK.

Dallemagne had prepared for her departure by booking a trip to Bangkok via Chumphon, she told her mother on April 17. Ms van Egten said her daughter was clearly making plans, which made her very doubtful about the suicide claim.

Dallemagne had booked a ferry from Koh Phangan via Koh Tao to Chumphon. But on April 19, she departed the ferry at Koh Tao and left her luggage on board.

Visiting the hotel on Koh Tao on Saturday, Pol Maj Gen Chalit Thinthanee, deputy commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 8, said officers were looking into the luggage that had reached Chumphon.

Pol Maj Gen Chalit also said police were looking to interview Mr Andreas, who heads the Koh Phangan branch of the Sathya Sali Baba movement.

Dallemagne had been close to the German man and visited Thailand often to meet him. Investigators believe he could offer more information about her state of mind and movements, Pol Maj Gen Chalit said.

Mr Andreas told the Mirror that Dallemagne stayed at the ashram frequently but he was quite busy during her last visit and they did not interact much.

"But I do know she was actually happy after her Skype call with her parents to go home," he said. "Her behaviour was normal. She was definitely not sad."

The Sathya Sali Baba movement is named for an Indian spiritual leader who died in 2011. It has 1,200 worship centres in 126 countries offering "spiritual advancement". Some critics maintain that it is a cult.

Ms van Egten said she feared her daughter might have been taken in by a cult and that it might have some connection with her death.

Seven foreign tourists have died on Koh Tao over the past four years, some in strange or unexplained circumstances. The most notorious case involved the slayings of British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in 2014. Two labourers from Myanmar were convicted and sentenced to death -- the case remains under appeal -- after a widely criticised police investigation.

Belgian woman 'gave different name' | Bangkok Post: news

A lot of interest on this story. Just take a look at all these articles.

Best pal heartbroken over 'mystery' death of cult girl who had face eaten by lizards on 'murder island' - News JS

What baffles me is on such a tiny island, why so many mysterious deaths? Let's hope this case gets solved quickly, because I wouldn't go there until it does. Who would? Even Samui has lots of bad press but, koh toa! That island is now notorious.

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

Let's hope this case gets solved quickly, because I wouldn't go there until it does.

In which case you will never go to London, Bristol, Cardiff or Edinburgh either.

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

A lot of interest on this story. Just take a look at all these articles.

Best pal heartbroken over 'mystery' death of cult girl who had face eaten by lizards on 'murder island' - News JS

What baffles me is on such a tiny island, why so many mysterious deaths?

Because the police and local government are protecting one or more fairly highly-placed serial killers and rapists.

^ My theory all along.

Unfortunately, this bothers me...

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

The revised Cyber crime/defamation laws introduced recently would prevent meaningful discussion on the subject of law enforcement.

Thank fook the BIB have not seen the other thread on the island..

‘Murder Island’ combed for German cult leader

The police are looking for a self-proclaimed guru as they search for possible leads to resolve the question of whether Elise Dallemange, a 30-year-old Belgian tourist, took her own life or was murdered. She was found dead on April 27.

Maj Gen Chalit Thinthanee said the tourist and immigration police are trying to locate Raaman Andreas, leader of the Sathya Sai Baba cult on neighbouring Koh Phangan. Police said they suspect Dallemange was a member of the Indian sect.

Maj Gen Chalit said the Belgian woman is believed to have met the German leader of the sect several times. “If we can find Mr Raaman we should be able to ascertain the cause of death,” he said.

Koh Tao police initially ruled it a suicide but were ordered to reopen the case last week after it spread on social media and was picked up by the Samui Times, an online newspaper, and later shared by the CSI LA Facebook account.

Michele van Egten, the deceased’s mother, told local media that her daughter had spent time in Koh Phangan, where she lived at a yoga and tantra retreat on the island made famous by its full-moon parties.

The police yesterday inspected a bungalow rented by Dallemange on Mae Haad and found she had refused to give her passport number to staff when she checked in at around 3pm on April 19.

The record also showed she was reluctant to use her real name when she signed in. She initially used her own surname but subsequently crossed it out and wrote “Depis” instead.

At around 7pm a fire was reported in her bungalow. The blaze reached some other rooms nearby. Afterwards, Dallemange disappeared.

According to Maj Gen Chalit, the police are also focusing on what happened to her luggage as they investigate the cause of her death.

Her mother told the local press that before Dallemange disappeared, she booked a ferry to Chumphon harbour en route to Bangkok.

It was scheduled to depart from Koh Phangan and pass via Koh Tao. Dallemange never arrived in Chumphon but her luggage did.

The Belgian was initially thought to have hung herself as she was found dead on a rock in the jungle above Tanote Bay, her body partially eaten by lizards. But her mother disputed this ruling.

Dallemange is the seventh tourist found dead on Koh Tao since 2014.



'Murder Island' combed for German cult leader | Bangkok Post: news

EXCLUSIVE: The spiritual mentor of the Koh Phangan sect of the Sathya Sali Baba cult said the 30-year-old had found 'peace and solitude' before death

Chillingly, the death of Elise appears to have been suppressed by Thai authorities desperate to cover up deaths of foreigners.

Raaman Andreas revealed that Elise Dallemange was happy when he last saw her.

The backpacker discovered half-eaten by lizards in a bizarre tragedy on Thailand's 'murder island' had 'found a lot of peace', her guru said.

In an exclusive chat with Mirror.co.uk, Raaman Andreas revealed that Elise Dallemange was happy before her body was found in the jungle on the island of Koh Tao.

The spiritual mentor of the Koh Phangan sect of the Sathya Sali Baba movement said that the 30-year-old had found "peace and solitude" while travelling through New Zealand for six months prior to her staying with them.

Andreas said: "She visited us to prepare to go home.

"She told us she wanted to return back to Belgium so she could make some money in order to come back.

"Then she had a Skype with her parents, announcing her plans. After this, we don't know what happened to her."

Elise was missing for eight days before she was found half-eaten by lizards.

She lived with the self-proclaimed "guru" but left on April 17 to return home. On that day she told her mum, Michele van Egten, that she had booked a ferry to Bangkok and the route was scheduled Koh Phangan via Koh Tao to the harbour of Chumphon.

But on April 19, she departed the ferry at Koh Tao - leaving her luggage on board.

After finding her body on April 27, Thai police put her death down to suicide, claiming that she hung herself from a tree.

Today, Andreas revealed that Elise's behaviour was "normal" and "happy" on the day she left the sect to embark on her journey home.

He said: "She was preparing herself to go home, and I was preparing for my visa run to leave the island, so we hardly interacted in that time.

"But I do know she was actually happy after her Skype call with her parents to go home.

"Her behaviour was normal."

"She was definitely not sad."



An aerial view of Tanote Bay in Koh Tao where a pretty backpacker was found dead on April 27.

Andreas revealed to us that Elise's behaviour was 'normal' and 'happy' days before death.

Andreas, from Germany, added: "There was so much going on, I can't remember if I said goodbye to her.

"She was late for the ferry.

"It was raining, so lots of chaos."

Despite local media reporting that Elise was staying with Andreas, he said that the pair never lived together.

"She had her own way of living, that's why she always travelled alone.

"She was a friend, sometimes dropping in between her travels."

Elise's mother is devastated and believes the pretty backpackers does not believe she killed herself.

The 'Death Island' mystery deepens after Thai police have said they are re-opening Elise's case.

It's believed that Elise was a member of the Sathya Sai Baba movement - which has been accused of being a cult.

Members of the bizarre group believe the leader of the same name, who died in 2011, was an 'avatar' of God.

The so-called 'divinity in human form' has 1,200 worship centres set up across 126 countries which offer 'spiritual advancement'.

Sathya Sai Baba, who was one of India's biggest spiritual leaders when he was alive, came under criticism for allegedly using tricks to fool his followers.

There are schools in Thailand set up to carry on his teachings.

The death on Koh Tao, which occurred in April but was only made public on Thursday, is the latest in a string of seven cases of tourists found dead on the island in the last three years.

“We fear somebody else was involved,” she said. “I cannot accept why my daughter should have killed herself.”

She added that her daughter had been “normal” during their last conversation and that “no signs of depression were visible".

Andreas said: "We are all still in shock."

"We gave all her private belongings to her parents."

Cult guru describes final time he saw backpacker alive before she was found 'half-eaten by lizards' on Thailand's 'murder island' - Mirror Online

Raaman Andreas

Raaman Andreas and his followers

Yeah that dude is super creepy.

Originally Posted by Digby Fantona

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

Let's hope this case gets solved quickly, because I wouldn't go there until it does.

In which case you will never go to London, Bristol, Cardiff or Edinburgh either.

I really can't see why anyone would want to go to the shithole anyway, unless it's out of morbid curiosity.

The last place she was staying.

Found with Elise's body.



https://www.thairath.co.th/content/989316

Have a safe journey!

A photo of the 4 bungalows or huts burnt down on April 19. The fire started at 9pm the owner says and Elise fled the scene.



https://www.khaosod.co.th/breaking-news/news_425896

This has to be the weirdest case on Koh Tao.

The spotlight will be on any farang deaths on the island but this case is bizarre. ..

Koh Tao victim 'attempted suicide' in Bangkok

3 JUL 2017 AT 07:49

Elise Dallemagne, a Belgian tourist, was found hanged on Koh Tao in a case which has aroused suspicions of foul play.

Elise Dallemagne, the Belgian woman found dead on Koh Tao on April 27, reportedly had a history of attempting suicide, according to Thai police.


A source from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) said Dallemagne tried to take her own life at Nopphawong railway station in Bangkok on April 4.

She was saved by railway police and other people at the scene and sent to the Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry for treatment, the source said, adding that she later travelled to Koh Tao.

Pol Col Phumin Poompanmuang has sought a record of the incident from Nopphawong police station, as well as the results of her medical examination, the source added. He is expected to receive the details Monday.

Dallemagne allegedly hanged herself on Koh Tao, an island popular among scuba divers, but her mother Michele van Egten was adamant her 30-year-old daughter would not have committed suicide.

Pol Maj Gen Suthin Sapphuang on Sunday ordered police to investigate the cause of Dallemagne's death by interviewing witnesses and staff of the ferry she booked to Chumphon before her death, the source added.

Police investigations found she had visited Thailand many times on tourist visas. Shortly before her latest visa expired on March 30, she renewed it for one month.

Police are now trying to figure out whether Dallemagne took her own life or was murdered and are examining the forensic evidence.

Maj Gen Chalit Thinthanee, commander of Police Region 8, said earlier the tourist and immigration police are trying to locate Raaman Andreas, leader of the Sathya Sai Baba cult on neighbouring Koh Phangan. Police said they suspect Dallemagne was a member of the Indian cult.

Maj Gen Chalit said the Belgian was believed to have met the German leader of the cult several times.

Koh Tao victim 'attempted suicide' in Bangkok | Bangkok Post: news

Another Koh Tao story gets you chasing your tail.

Sounds like the woman was bipolar.

Anyway, the at least she has had a proper police investigation now. Let's hope all tourists get he same. All tourist hotspots should have a strong and healthy police presence. Just like the CSD, great job boys.

Police probe of Belgian’s death on Koh Tao finds guru left Thailand

Surat Thani police have visited a house on Phangan Island off Surat Thani province where Sathya Sai Baba guru Raaman Andreas reportedly stayed. The visit comes after police last week reopened the investigation into the death of a Belgian tourist on Koh Tao in April.

However, two foreigners at the house informed police that Andreas had left Thailand for India about two months ago and would be travelling to Sri Lanka.

They said they did not have any information about when Andreas would return to Thailand, a police source said, adding police would check with immigration officials to learn about his entrance and departure dates.

Police have focused their investigation on frequent visits by Elise Dallemange, 30, to Andreas’s community, which provides a yoga and tantra retreat for people seeking a tranquil island haven.

more Police probe of Belgian?s death on Koh Tao finds guru left Thailand

A grainy, black and white CCTV image is said to be the last photo of backpacker Elise Dallemagne, whose body was found in Thailand.
It shows the back of a woman walking down a concrete path on Koh Tao, close to where Elise was found ‘half eaten by lizards’ on April 21.
Police claim the image was taken at 9.03am outside the Poseidon Resort, just before Elise bought a speedboat ticket to travel three days later at 2.30pm.
Belgian medical science graduate Elise, 30, never used the ticket and was found dead three days later.
Speaking for the first time since the death was reported, Elise’s mother Michele van Egten said the woman in the image appears too big to be her daughter.




Read more: Police release final photo of Elise Dallemagne found dead in Thai paradise | Metro News