Six people found dead in luxury Thai hotel, with police exploring possible poisoning

CNN —

Six people, including two Vietnamese Americans, have been found dead inside a luxury hotel room in central Bangkok, with Thai police exploring the possibility that they were poisoned.

The bodies were discovered by staff in a fifth floor room at the Grand Hyatt hotel, after the guests missed check out time by more than 24 hours, according to Thiti Saengsawang, Bangkok’s Metropolitan Police commissioner.

Police said the incident doesn’t appear to be a robbery, and none of the bodies showed any signs of suffering physical violence. Police also believe “they didn’t harm themselves.”

But Saengsawang said cups with traces of a white powder were located in the room, along with untouched food that had been ordered earlier. Poisoning has not been ruled out, Saengsawang said.

Authorities are currently searching for the seventh person who was part of the hotel booking, and is now a possible suspect.

The other four deceased are Vietnamese nationals. Saengsawang said police believe one member of the party tried to reach the door but fell before they were able to do so.

Police were pictured guarding the entrance of the five-star hotel on Tuesday, after the bodies were discovered.

Last year Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, a Thai woman who was arrested on suspicion of murdering her friend with cyanide, was charged with at least 13 counts of premeditated murder, in a separate poisoning case that stunned the country.