Pol Lt Warawut Saensop of the Cherng Talay Police was called to the hotel, in Moo 3, Cherng Talay, by hotel staff at 9:40am.
The body of the 35-year-old man*, born in Texas, was found dressed in only shorts on the floor at the end of the bed.
Officers found four wounds from a sharp object on the left side of the neck. There were no other signs of injury to his body. It is believed the man died about two days, but not more than three days, before his body was found.
A small knife with traces of blood on it was found on the floor in the corner beside the door to the room near where the man’s body was found..
No items appeared to have been stolen from the man’s room. Officers found in the room a notebook computer, one iPad, two mobile phones, two passports (one Costa Rican, the other American), about B6,000 in cash, four walking backpacks with clothes inside, diving equipment and boxing sports equipment, and a wheeled suitcase.
Officers also found what appeared to be crystal meth (ya ice) in a clear plastic bag in the bathroom along with drug-taking paraphernalia in a shoulder bag.
The hotel manager told police that the man had been staying at the hotel since Aug 30. He paid the first month’s rent of B15,000 and paid the second month’s room rent of B42,000. He had already renewed the room rental contract for the third month.
The man at first appeared to be in good spirits, going to enjoy boxing and diving. Later, he seemed to have changed to look like a person under stress. He lost weight and kept to himself and drank a lot, the manager said.
The man was last seen last Thursday evening (Oct 26), when he went to buy a fruit smoothie. The man never locked the room door, and would call the housekeeper when he wanted the room cleaned. The housekeeper found the man’s body at about 9:30am today.
Police said they were still investigating the man’s death, and were waiting on the results of a post-mortem examination by the medical examiner at Vachira Phuket Hospital before formally deciding on the true cause of death.
* The Phuket News is withholding the man’s name until it has been confirmed that his relatives have been notified.
If you or anyone you know is in need of emotional support and counselling, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand at their 24-hour hotline 02-113-6789 (English & Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai).