Foreigner's head found hanging from bridge

[Gaybutton]

My apologies to fedssocr. He turned out to be the one who was right after all. I'll have to eat my plate of crow as soon as I wipe the egg off my face.

 

However, Miss Marple is still needed. When you read the two articles, perhaps you'll have the same questions I have: Why would this man travel all the way to Thailand from Italy and very soon thereafter commit suicide, and do it in this gruesome manner from the middle of a bridge? Now it seems rather obvious that he planned this. How did he manage to get out to the middle of that bridge, carrying that length of rope, along with the plastic bag, tie the rope to the bridge, and commit the suicide without anyone noticing, especially considering how heavy Bangkok traffic is even in the middle of the night? Apparently he was missing from the hotel for a day or so prior to the suicide. Where was he?

 

Did he plan this while he was still in Italy? Did he come to Thailand with the expectation of a lucrative business deal that ended up going sour? Did he get jilted by a lover?

 

The plot thickens . . .

 

The following appears in THE NATION:

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Suicide by Decapitation

 

Published on February 25, 2009

 

Bridge Victim's Head Torn Off by 'Force of Gravity'; Missing Italian Man Likely Victim

 

Deputy police commissioner-general Jongrak Chutha-nont announced yesterday that the westerner whose head was found hanging from Rama VIII Bridge on Sunday committed suicide and was believed to be an Italian.

 

Jongrak said Siriraj Hospital doctors had confirmed that the body discovered near the bridge on Monday belonged to the head. He said the uneven decapitation wound and bruises suggested death by hanging rather than beheading with a sharp object, adding that the man's body showed no signs of assault.

 

At 11am yesterday, forensic officials along with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Disaster Prevention and Mitiga-tion officials went to inspect the scene one more time. They took photographs of the handwriting found on the bridge's railing and descended by rope to take photographs of the blood traces and collect samples.

 

It was confirmed that the blood-spray pattern found on cement foundations under the bridge resulted from the action of the arteries when the head was torn from the body by the force of gravity. Siriraj Hospital forensic doctors had told police that this sequence of events was "often typical of a suicide by hanging".

 

Though medical evidence shows that it was almost certainly a suicide and not a brutal execution by international gangsters, Jongrak urged anyone with evidence that suggested murder to contact the police. The case will be registered as suicide in 30 days if no more evidence to the contrary is put forward, he said.

 

As for the ongoing attempts to identify the victim, Jongrak said he was wearing Italian-made Puma clothing, and the bag found near his head carried the name of an Italian hotel. Checks revealed that 49-year-old Italian Jaeta Jiovani entered Thailand on February 18 and checked in to the Rex Hotel in the Sukhumvit area before going missing at the weekend.

 

It was reported that Jiovani had been to Thailand seven times. Police also showed reporters pictures taken of Jiovani arriving at the airport.

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And this, from the BANGKOK POST:

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Headless Horror was Suicide, Say Detectives

 

Investigators Closer to Finding Man's Identity

 

By: WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM

Published: 25/02/2009

 

Police believe a man whose severed head was found hanging from the Rama VIII bridge had committed suicide.

 

All evidence points to self-harm, Deputy National Police chief Jongrak Jutanont said yesterday.

 

Speaking after a meeting with the team working on the case, Pol Gen Jongrak said specialists from Siriraj Hospital had confirmed a match between a male body found in the Chao Phraya river and the head. However, his identity is still not known.

 

The head was found suspended about 5 metres below the railing of the bridge on Sunday. A Puma-brand white polyester bag was also found attached to the rope. There were some Italian words printed on one side of the bag.

 

His body was found in the water near the bridge the following day.

 

The body was clad in a white long-sleeved shirt, a pair of black trousers and a pair of sneakers. A box of matches was found on the body.

 

Pol Gen Jongrak said specialists said the head was not severed by a sharp object as the neck had rough and uneven edges.

 

If the head was severed by a sharp object, the wound around the neck would have even edges, he said.

 

"The head was probably severed when the man dropped from the bridge with a rope tied around his neck. It looks like the head was not chopped off [with a sharp object]," Pol Gen Jongrak said.

 

He also said the body of the man had no injuries or bruises.

 

He said all the evidence suggested it was suicide, not a murder nor transnational crime, Pol Gen Jongrak said.

 

He said if no new evidence was found within 30 days to suggest the man was murdered, police would conclude he had committed suicide. Police have been searching for clues in areas frequented by foreign travelers, including Khao San and Nana, to identify the man.

 

Crime Suppression Division police checked with the Italian embassy when it was discovered the bag found with the head bore Italian words.

 

Pol Gen Jongrak said a picture recorded by the Immigration Bureau at Suvarnabhumi airport showed an Italian man, Giovanni Gaeta, 49, who seemed to fit the man's description.

 

He arrived in Thailand on Feb 8 and checked in at the Rex Hotel on Sukhumvit road.

 

Police are trying to track him down.

 

Pol Col Pornsak Surasit, commander of the CSD's Division 1, said police were stepping up efforts to identify the dead man.

[Guest fountainhall]

Pol Col Pornsak Surasit, commander of the CSD's Division 1, said police were stepping up efforts to identify the dead ma

 

No doubt he will have better luck than his colleague Pol Col Chavalit Prasobsilp, quoted in the first post on this thread saying, Clouseau-like, "it was apparently not a suicide". Ah yes! Bangkok's finest!

[Bob]

Jongrak said Siriraj Hospital doctors had confirmed that the body discovered near the bridge on Monday belonged to the head. He said the uneven decapitation wound and bruises suggested death by hanging rather than beheading with a sharp object, adding that the man's body showed no signs of assault.

 

Hmmm...like putting together a jigsaw puzzle (as to both the head and the body let alone trying to figure out why he would travel all the way over here to off himself, so to speak).

 

And "the man's body showed no signs of assault?" Other than having your head ripped off and then falling 50-80 feet? Lucky guy, I guess.

 

Strange story and probably we shouldn't jest about it as somebody somewhere knew him. Oh well, may he rest in piece(s).

 

 

[KhorTose]

Strange story and probably we shouldn't jest about it as somebody somewhere knew him. Oh well, may he rest in piece(s).

 

Have you no shame? You are just plain bad.

 

[PattayaMale]

My Thai friend said that he does not think it was a suicide because in the Thai news they had reported that there was blood on the bridge. If the body feel so many feet, I doubt the blood would spit 20 - 50 feet.

 

I am sorry for the family also.

[Guest fountainhall]

let alone trying to figure out why he would travel all the way over here to off himself, so to speak

 

From what I read, he'd been here for a few days. My guess is that something must have happened after he arrived to push him over the edge, as it were.

 

According to the reliable media here, the blood spattering was consistent with this type of decapitation. Yes I know there will be family and friends grieving. But if you take this sort of public way out, it rather invites comment. Then again, if it was an execution, I'll take back everything - and add a few 'Hail Marys'.

[Bob]

Have you no shame? You are just plain bad.

 

I know, a bit callous of me. I'd have to pull this trick myself, though, before anybody would ever accuse me of being "hung."

[Guest fountainhall]

Good one, Bob

[Gaybutton]

Good one, Bob

For Bob's sake, I certainly hope so. A longer one wouldn't be bad either . . .

[Gaybutton]

The man has now been identified:

 

The following appears in THE NATION:

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Italian Tourist Killed in Rama VIII Bridge Suicide Re-Identified as Maurizio Tosabori: Jongrak

 

Deputy police commissioner-general Jongrak Chuthanont announced Wednesday that the Italian tourist suspected to be the one killed by a hanging suicide at the Rama VIII Bridge has been found alive and police have learnt the real identity of the victim.

 

Jongrak told a press conference that that 49-year-old Italian Jaeta Jiovani was still alive. Earlier, police thought Jiovani was the person killed by decapitation caused by the hanging at the bridge because he went missing from Rex Hotel over the weekend.

 

Jongrak said the vicitm was identified by the Italian Embassy as an Italian citizen, whose name was Maurizio Tosabori, 53.

 

Jongrak said Tosabori rented a room of Wimol Jaijong on Khao Sarn Road and could not pay the rent so Wimol asked him to leave.

 

Wimol told police that Tosabori disappeared on Saturday. His head was found hanging by the bridge on Sunday and his body was retrieved on Monday.

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And this, also from THE NATION:

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Italian Whose Head Hanging from Bridge Identified

 

By The Nation

Published on February 26, 2009

 

Thai police on Wednesday identified the foreigner whose head was found hanging from Rama VIII Bridge as Italian Maurizio Tosadori, 53.

 

Deputy Police Chief Pol Gen Jongrak Jutanont said that guesthouse owner, Wimon Jaijong, contacted police and confirmed that the dead man was Tosadori.

 

Police initially believed the dead man was another Italian, Jaeta Jiovanni, and distributed his photographs asking the public for help in making a positive identification.

 

Jongrak said in a press conference on Wednesday that Jiovanni already contacted his embassy in Bangkok and confirmed that he is still alive.

 

"After being alerted by Khun Wimon, police went to search a room at Wimon's guesthouse on Samsen Road, Phranakhon district, where Tasadori was staying. Found in the room was Tasadori's passport, which showed that he entered Thailand on February 6 this year from Cambodia," Jongrak told reporters.

 

Also found was a letter written in English dated February 21, 2009 addressed to Wimon, which read, "Thank you very much for everything. I'm sorry for the inconvenience." The letter was signed by Tasadori.

 

Photos found in the room showed that Tasadori had a small lump to the left of his forehead, Jongrak said, the head found hanging from the bridge had a lump at the same position. His identity documents revealed that Tasadori was an architect.

 

"Mr Tasadori had stayed at Khun Wimon's guesthouse for more than two weeks without paying any rental fees. Recently, Wimon asked him to move out as she wanted the room for other guests. Maybe Mr Tasadori had no place to go and felt guilty, so he committed suicide.

 

That's why he wrote a note apologising to Wimon, said Jongrak. Tasadori had previously visited Thailand on several occasions.

 

Wimon told reporters that Mr Tasadori went missing from the guesthouse on February 21 and she tried to reach his mobile phone but failed.

 

"Maurizio was poor and a chain smoker. He felt sick several times. He always left the guesthouse in the morning to find a job. He came back in the afternoon and had dinner at the guesthouse's restaurant. During his stay, he gave me Bt2,000, saying it was for his meals.," she said.

 

He told Wimon that he wanted to marry and have children.

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And this, from the BANGKOK POST:

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Detectives Identify Headless Foreigner

 

By: WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM

Published: 26/02/2009

 

Police have identified the foreigner whose severed head was found dangling from the Rama VIII bridge as Maurizio Tosadori, an Italian national.

 

Tosadori was identified by Mrs Wimol (also known as Chai) Jaijong, the owner of a guesthouse and restaurant in Phra Nakhon district, deputy national police chief Jongrak Jutanont said.

 

Police earlier believed the man to be another Italian, Giovanni Gaeta, 49, as a picture recorded by the Immigration Bureau seemed to fit the dead man's description.

 

Pol Gen Jongrak said Mrs Wimol, 56, yesterday contacted police and named the dead man as Tosadori, 52.

 

She said she allowed the victim to stay without paying rent at her guesthouse for two weeks. She asked him to leave at the weekend because a customer asked her about renting her room.

 

She said she had not seen Tosadori at the restaurant since.

 

Police searched a room at the guesthouse and found Tosadori's passport, which showed he entered Thailand on Feb 6 , via Cambodia.

 

Also found was a letter in English dated Feb 21, addressed to Mrs Wimol, which read: "Thank you very much for everything. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

 

Six photos found in the room showed Tosadori had a lump on the left side of his forehead. It matched that on the head found hanging from the bridge on Sunday afternoon.

 

The search also found three files of personal documents, his ID card, his driving licence, a mobile phone and medication. The documents showed Tosadori was an architect.

 

Pol Gen Jongrak said stress might have driven the Italian to commit suicide.

 

Mrs Wimol said Tosadori was a heavy smoker, short of money and often fell ill. He usually left the room every morning to look for work. She said he told her he wanted to marry and have children.

 

Pol Gen Jongrak said if no further evidence was found within 30 days, police would conclude, based on scientific findings, that the man committed suicide.

[Guest fountainhall]

So Bangkok's overstretched finest finally hit the nail on the head, after tying up a lot of loose ends, dropping the ball on occasions, and hanging on to murder theories for too long. What suspense!

[Guest laurence]

"Maurizio was poor and a chain smoker".

 

The truth finally come out! Smoking is bad for your health.

[Guest fountainhall]

They should put a pic of Maurizio's head in all its gruesome detail on cigarette packets.