Coconuts Bangkok reports that Lauren Hebden was last heard from on December 22 when she was thought to have been on Koh Tao, according to reports from Missing Abroad and Missing People, two UK-based nonprofits.
“Lauren went travelling in September 2013 and kept in touch regularly via email and Skype,” reads the information from Missing Abroad. “However [she] stopped in September 2014, apart from one email in December 2014.”
According to the information, Hebden was last seen on Koh Tao but might have moved since the time of her last contact.
The location of her disappearance is likely to be of particular interest. During the past six months there have been an unusual number of deaths of foreigners on Koh Tao, including the brutal murder of two young British backpackers.
A third Briton, 23-year-old Christina Annesley, died last week. Local police were quick to pule out foul play in her case.
Ms Hebden is described as Caucasian, of medium build with blue eyes and brown hair, about 178 centimeters in height.
Anyone who may have seen her or who has information is urged to call the charity at +44 800-098-8485 or send email to operations@missingabroad.org.
Meanwhile Ms Annesley, 23, who was discovered in a bungalow on Koh Tao last Wednesday (January 21) had consumed a potentially fatal combination of alcohol and Valium, police said today (January 27), citing preliminary autopsy data.
“The initial results from the autopsy found Valium and alcohol in the victim’s body,” Thai police spokesman Lt Gen Prawut Thavornsiri told AFP.
“There were no signs of rape,” he added, saying the full autopsy results would be released within three days.
In an indication that they want to avoid any criticism over their handling of the case, Ms Annesley’s body was sent to Bangkok for a full autopsy, which was carried out Sunday (January 25).
Many of Annesley’s final tweets – under the handle @chrstinadarling – spoke of the beauty of Koh Tao’s white sand beaches and azure waters.
But she also made reference to taking both Tramadol, a painkiller, and Valium, an anti-anxiety medication, in the days leading up to her death.
Last week Koh Tao police said they had found three kinds of medicine in her room, but no illicit drugs.
British daily The Evening Standard has reported that Christina’s mother Margaret has demanded her body is returned to the UK for autopsy, saying she feared a “cover-up” by local police.
Additional reporting by AFP