The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

The history of Thailand's "death island"

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See Again

© Shutterstock

0 / 32 Fotos

Koh Tao -

Also known as Ko Tao, this small island is located on the western side of the Gulf of Thailand.

© Shutterstock

1 / 32 Fotos

Koh Tao - Scuba diving and snorkeling are some of the most popular activities.

© Shutterstock

2 / 32 Fotos

Koh Tao - Crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, and breathtaking scenery attract many visitors to this island.

© Shutterstock

3 / 32 Fotos

Death in paradise - But this sun-soaked idyllic paradise has a dark history. A number of tourist deaths on this island in recent years have shocked the world. So much so, that Koh Tao was dubbed "death island" and "murder island" by the media.

© Shutterstock

4 / 32 Fotos

Theo Bailey, 2024 -

British backpacker Theo Bailey was found dead in a shallow water drainage ditch outside a diving center. The 31-year-old's body was discovered near Sairee Beach, the same location where fellow British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and her boyfriend David Miller had been found dead in 2014.

© Shutterstock

5 / 32 Fotos

Theo Bailey, 2024 -

Bailey disappeared after a pub crawl with his girlfriend and friends. Thai authorities reportedly believe his death was an accident and are investigating the case, but have not made any arrests.

© Shutterstock

6 / 32 Fotos

Bernd Grotsch, 2018 - German tourist Bernd Grotsch's body was found in the jungle. He allegedly died of either heart failure, or he was bitten by a snake.

© Shutterstock

7 / 32 Fotos

Elise Dallemagne, 2017 - In 2017, 30-year-old Elise Dallemagne from Belgium was found dead on the island. Her body was found half-eaten by lizards. The police investigation concluded that it was suicide.

© Shutterstock

8 / 32 Fotos

Elise Dallemagne, 2017 - Though some questions remain unanswered. Security camera images were released after re-opening the case, but Dallemagne's mother doesn't believe the woman in the images is her daughter.

© Shutterstock

9 / 32 Fotos

Elise Dallemagne, 2017 - The backpacker reportedly checked into a hotel using a fake name. Her alleged connection to the Sathya Sai Baba cult has also been debated.

© Reuters

10 / 32 Fotos

Valentina Novozhyonova, 2017 - Russian Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, disappeared from her hostel, leaving her belongings behind.

© Shutterstock

11 / 32 Fotos

Valentina Novozhyonova, 2017 - She reportedly went diving, but she's still missing to this day. The police believe she drowned at sea.

© Reuters

12 / 32 Fotos

Luke Miller, 2016 - British backpacker Luke Miller, 26, was found dead in a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar on Sairee Beach.

© Shutterstock

13 / 32 Fotos

Luke Miller, 2016 - The investigation concluded that he was not murdered, but his family believes otherwise.

© Shutterstock

14 / 32 Fotos

Dimitri Povse, 2015 - Dimitri Povse's body was found hung in his room on New Year's Day.

© Shutterstock

15 / 32 Fotos

Dimitri Povse, 2015 - The case was ruled suicide, even though the French tourist was found with his hands tied behind his back.

© Shutterstock

16 / 32 Fotos

Christina Annesley, 2015 - On January 21, 2015, New Zealand-born Christina Annesley was also found dead in her room. The investigation concluded that there was no foul play.

© Shutterstock

17 / 32 Fotos

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, 2014 - This case caught the media attention around the world. British backpackers Hannah Witheridge, 23, and her boyfriend David Miller, 24, were found dead.

© Reuters

18 / 32 Fotos

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, 2014 - They were brutally murdered at Sairee Beach in September 2014.

© Reuters

19 / 32 Fotos

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, 2014 - Thai police launched a thorough investigation. Footprints were compared to those of local workers in the area.

© Reuters

20 / 32 Fotos

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, 2014 - Even DNA swabs were taken in search of the murderer.

© Reuters

21 / 32 Fotos

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, 2014 - Myanmarese (formerly Burma) workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun were found guilty and sentenced to death. Their lawyers however, claimed that the murder weapon didn't match the suspects' DNA.

© Reuters

22 / 32 Fotos

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, 2014 - Soon, accusations of using the migrant workers as scapegoats to cover up the real killers started and many protests took place.

© Reuters

23 / 32 Fotos

Nick Pearson, 2014 - The 25-year-old British tourist was found floating in the sea.

© Shutterstock

24 / 32 Fotos

Nick Pearson, 2014 - Police suspected he had fallen from a height of 50 ft (15 m) and accidentally drown. His family suspects there was foul play.

© Shutterstock

25 / 32 Fotos

Ben Harrington, 2012 - The 32-year-old Brit was found dead after a motorcycle crash. His wallet and watch were never recovered.

© Shutterstock

26 / 32 Fotos

Tourist death trap - But how has this island in the "Land of Smiles" become such a tourist death trap?

© Shutterstock

27 / 32 Fotos

Thai mafia - Reportedly, the island is ruled by a local mafia family.

© Reuters

28 / 32 Fotos

Thai Mafia - As reported by the Independent, they demand protection money and control the local police force.

© Reuters

29 / 32 Fotos

Mafia rules - Apparently, Koh Tao is not the only island to be ruled in the same way. Many others are controlled by powerful families.

© Shutterstock

30 / 32 Fotos

Koh Tao -

Despite the risks, tourists continue to visit the island.

See also: The most dangerous (and the safest) countries for female travelers

© Reuters

31 / 32 Fotos

© Shutterstock

0 / 32 Fotos

Koh Tao -

Also known as Ko Tao, this small island is located on the western side of the Gulf of Thailand.

© Shutterstock

1 / 32 Fotos

Koh Tao - Scuba diving and snorkeling are some of the most popular activities.

© Shutterstock

2 / 32 Fotos

Koh Tao - Crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, and breathtaking scenery attract many visitors to this island.

© Shutterstock

3 / 32 Fotos

Death in paradise - But this sun-soaked idyllic paradise has a dark history. A number of tourist deaths on this island in recent years have shocked the world. So much so, that Koh Tao was dubbed "death island" and "murder island" by the media.

© Shutterstock

4 / 32 Fotos

Theo Bailey, 2024 -

British backpacker Theo Bailey was found dead in a shallow water drainage ditch outside a diving center. The 31-year-old's body was discovered near Sairee Beach, the same location where fellow British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and her boyfriend David Miller had been found dead in 2014.

©

Shutterstock

5 / 32 Fotos

Theo Bailey, 2024 -

Bailey disappeared after a pub crawl with his girlfriend and friends. Thai authorities reportedly believe his death was an accident and are investigating the case, but have not made any arrests.

©

Shutterstock

6 / 32 Fotos

Bernd Grotsch, 2018 - German tourist Bernd Grotsch's body was found in the jungle. He allegedly died of either heart failure, or he was bitten by a snake.

© Shutterstock

7 / 32 Fotos

Elise Dallemagne, 2017 - In 2017, 30-year-old Elise Dallemagne from Belgium was found dead on the island. Her body was found half-eaten by lizards. The police investigation concluded that it was suicide.

© Shutterstock

8 / 32 Fotos

Elise Dallemagne, 2017 - Though some questions remain unanswered. Security camera images were released after re-opening the case, but Dallemagne's mother doesn't believe the woman in the images is her daughter.

© Shutterstock

9 / 32 Fotos

Elise Dallemagne, 2017 - The backpacker reportedly checked into a hotel using a fake name. Her alleged connection to the Sathya Sai Baba cult has also been debated.

© Reuters

10 / 32 Fotos

Valentina Novozhyonova, 2017 - Russian Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, disappeared from her hostel, leaving her belongings behind.

© Shutterstock

11 / 32 Fotos

Valentina Novozhyonova, 2017 - She reportedly went diving, but she's still missing to this day. The police believe she drowned at sea.

© Reuters

12 / 32 Fotos

Luke Miller, 2016 - British backpacker Luke Miller, 26, was found dead in a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar on Sairee Beach.

© Shutterstock

13 / 32 Fotos

Luke Miller, 2016 - The investigation concluded that he was not murdered, but his family believes otherwise.

© Shutterstock

14 / 32 Fotos

Dimitri Povse, 2015 - Dimitri Povse's body was found hung in his room on New Year's Day.

© Shutterstock

15 / 32 Fotos

Dimitri Povse, 2015 - The case was ruled suicide, even though the French tourist was found with his hands tied behind his back.

© Shutterstock

16 / 32 Fotos

Christina Annesley, 2015 - On January 21, 2015, New Zealand-born Christina Annesley was also found dead in her room. The investigation concluded that there was no foul play.

© Shutterstock

17 / 32 Fotos

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, 2014 - This case caught the media attention around the world. British backpackers Hannah Witheridge, 23, and her boyfriend David Miller, 24, were found dead.

© Reuters

18 / 32 Fotos

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, 2014 - They were brutally murdered at Sairee Beach in September 2014.

© Reuters

19 / 32 Fotos

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, 2014 - Thai police launched a thorough investigation. Footprints were compared to those of local workers in the area.

© Reuters

20 / 32 Fotos

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, 2014 - Even DNA swabs were taken in search of the murderer.

© Reuters

21 / 32 Fotos

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, 2014 - Myanmarese (formerly Burma) workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun were found guilty and sentenced to death. Their lawyers however, claimed that the murder weapon didn't match the suspects' DNA.

© Reuters

22 / 32 Fotos

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, 2014 - Soon, accusations of using the migrant workers as scapegoats to cover up the real killers started and many protests took place.

© Reuters

23 / 32 Fotos

Nick Pearson, 2014 - The 25-year-old British tourist was found floating in the sea.

© Shutterstock

24 / 32 Fotos

Nick Pearson, 2014 - Police suspected he had fallen from a height of 50 ft (15 m) and accidentally drown. His family suspects there was foul play.

© Shutterstock

25 / 32 Fotos

Ben Harrington, 2012 - The 32-year-old Brit was found dead after a motorcycle crash. His wallet and watch were never recovered.

© Shutterstock

26 / 32 Fotos

Tourist death trap - But how has this island in the "Land of Smiles" become such a tourist death trap?

© Shutterstock

27 / 32 Fotos

Thai mafia - Reportedly, the island is ruled by a local mafia family.

© Reuters

28 / 32 Fotos

Thai Mafia - As reported by the Independent, they demand protection money and control the local police force.

© Reuters

29 / 32 Fotos

Mafia rules - Apparently, Koh Tao is not the only island to be ruled in the same way. Many others are controlled by powerful families.

© Shutterstock

30 / 32 Fotos

Koh Tao -

Despite the risks, tourists continue to visit the island.

See also: The most dangerous (and the safest) countries for female travelers

© Reuters

31 / 32 Fotos

The history of Thailand's "death island"

This Thai island hides a dark secret

The history of Thailand's "death island"

© Shutterstock

20/12/24 | StarsInsider

TRAVEL Thailand

When we think of islands in Thailand, what comes to mind are images of exotic beaches, lush vegetation, and crystal-clear water. One of the world's tourist hot spots, Thailand has become a popular destination, and almost a rite of passage for backpackers who venture into Southeast Asia.

But not all Thai islands are alike. One in particular, Koh Tao, was dubbed Thailand's "death island" for a very dark reason. In recent years, many tourists have paid the ultimate price for visiting the island—they've lost their lives.

What could go wrong in paradise? Click through the gallery to find out.

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