Thalang Police Deputy Chief Pol Lt Col Kraisorn Boonprasop was informed of the couple’s deaths by their daughter in law, Jongjit Jitmung, 62, at about 8:20am.
Considering the nature of the incident, Thalang Police Chief Col Phisit Chuenphet along with Thalang Police Deputy Chiefs Lt Col Anukun Nuket and Lt Col Kritsana Channit soon arrived at the scene, a house with a swimming pool in Moo 1, Pa Khlok.
Also soon to arrive at the scene were rescue workers along with forensic doctors from Vachira Phuket Hospital and the officers from the Phuket Provincial Forensics Police.
Officers found that the bedroom door was locked from the inside, but could access the bedroom through a sliding glass side door.
On the bed was the body of 84-year-old Belgian national Maria Alfonsine Cormans, still dressed in a white and orange floral dress. She had been covered with a blanket.
In the adjoining bathroom, officers found the body of Florent Leon Emmerchts, 85, also from Belgium, hanged by the thin nylon rope over the bathroom door. Beside him was a small wooden table.
It was estimated that the couple had died some 12 hours before their bodies were found.
The daughter-in-law, Ms Jongjit, told police that the couple had bought the home for B6.5 million and had been living there for only about five months.
Only four people were staying in the house: the elderly couple, herself and her husband, Patrick Emmerechts, 64.
Ms Jongjit explained that she and her husband had travelled to Phang Nga yesterday to attend her father’s funeral. They returned home last night and thought the elderly couple had gone to bed early.
This morning, Ms Jongjit and her husband went out to do some shopping and only became alarmed when her parents in law had not come for breakfast.
Unable to get any response from knocking on the bedroom door, her husband entered the bedroom through the sliding glass side door, and found the couple dead.
Police noted that they had recorded the statement as evidence, but added they had yet to conclude their investigation.
DNA samples were taken from the scene and the bodies of the elderly couple were taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for further examination.
Police noted that they were still investigating three possible scenarios: that the deaths were a case of double suicide, or a murder-suicide or a double murder by an intruder.
Officers were continuing their investigation.