The Mystery of the 'Island of Death': Why Tourists Are Dying on Thailand's Koh Tao Island

In April 2017, global online media were captivated by the news of 30-year-old Belgian tourist Elisa Dalman found dead on Thailand's Koh Tao island. Why did this case attract such widespread attention? Because Koh Tao has earned the chilling nickname 'Island of Death' after seven tourists mysteriously died there over several years, with Elisa becoming the eighth victim.

Koh Tao is, by all accounts, a true paradise on Earth. It draws divers worldwide with its crystal-clear waters and stunning coral reefs. Until recently, few imagined the hidden dangers lurking beneath its beauty. Even after the public exposure of these mysterious deaths and the island’s grim reputation, tourism continues unabated.

Several years ago, 28-year-old Elisa Dalman took an indefinite leave to travel through Asia and Australia. By April 2017, her trip was nearing its end; she was scheduled to fly to Bangkok later that month before returning to Belgium.

However, on April 21, Elisa vanished. Surveillance footage captured her walking toward the beach, but what happened afterward remains unknown. Her body was discovered a week later among rocks, wrapped in old rags and shirts, partially consumed by lizards, with a fuel canister nearby. Since then, her family has sought a reasonable explanation from Thai authorities but only received the official verdict of 'suicide.'

Elisa’s mother firmly rejects the suicide theory, stating that days before the tragedy, she spoke with her daughter who showed no signs of depression or distress. "Her belongings were packed, clearly indicating she was preparing to leave for Bangkok. Why else would she have booked the flight if she had no intention of going?" she questioned.

While the media’s fascination with Elisa’s mysterious death might have waned, the Daily Mail soon published new investigative details prompting Thai police to reconsider the case. Due to the intense media scrutiny, authorities reopened the investigation.

One of the most perplexing facts is that days before her death, Elisa left Koh Phangan, where she had been practicing yoga and other Eastern spiritual disciplines under the guidance of a controversial sect linked to Sathya Sai Baba. Followers of this cult engage in mystical sexual practices, tantra, and meditation. Although investigators found no direct connection between Elisa’s death and the sect, suspicions lingered, especially since the guru had been accused of sexual misconduct and linked to several mysterious deaths within the group during the 1990s.

• 150 children from 27 mothers: three brothers escaped their polygamous father’s cult and revealed their family’s dark history

Further investigation revealed Elisa had booked a ticket from Koh Phangan to the mainland province of Chumphon, intending to travel by bus to Bangkok. Yet, why she disembarked unexpectedly on Koh Tao—where the ferry refueled—remains unclear.

The mysteries deepen: Elisa registered at a bungalow under a false surname, initially using 'Dalman' but later changing it to 'Dupuy.' She also refused to provide hotel staff with her passport details, promising to submit them later, which she never did.

On the night of her disappearance, a fire broke out in the village, destroying three houses, including the one where Elisa was staying. Witnesses reported seeing a frightened Elisa running into the jungle before checking into another hotel and booking a new ticket to Bangkok for April 24. These actions suggest she was trying to cover her tracks, possibly fleeing from someone—perhaps the sect members?

Nine days later, locals noticed unusual lizard activity near the rocks. Following the reptiles, they discovered Elisa’s body, partially consumed, lying among the stones.

Local police contacted Elisa’s family, but her mother was unable to identify the body due to its condition and was in shock, unable to accept the loss. Identification was finally confirmed through dental records from Elisa’s Belgian dentist. Although an autopsy was performed, Elisa’s mother claims she never received the medical report, fueling her distrust of the authorities.

"Too many details suggest someone doesn’t want us to know the truth. Officially, they say Elisa hanged herself, but her body was found among rocks! My daughter did not kill herself—someone murdered her."

Her distrust is understandable, as previous strange tourist deaths on Koh Tao were also ruled as suicides.

A Series of Mysterious Deaths

Elisa’s death was the latest in a series of unexplained tourist fatalities on Koh Tao. Three years earlier, 23-year-old British woman Hannah and her 24-year-old boyfriend David were murdered. Authorities blamed Myanmar nationals for the crime, and it was this incident in 2014 that earned the island its grim nickname.

That same year, 25-year-old Briton Nick Pearson, visiting Thailand with his parents for New Year’s, disappeared. Divers found his body underwater the next day. Police quickly labeled it a suicide, claiming he fell from a cliff into the sea. His parents doubted this, especially since multiple injuries, including head trauma, were found on his body.

A year later, 29-year-old Frenchman Dimitri Povze was found hanged in his bungalow. Despite his hands being tied behind his back and severe neck wounds, police again ruled it a suicide.

In January 2015, 23-year-old Englishwoman Christina Annesley died on the island. Preliminary reports indicated she was on antibiotics and should have avoided alcohol. Police concluded it was her own fault and closed the case. However, relatives and British pathologists found no alcohol in her system, yet justice remained elusive.

The following year, British tourist Luke Miller was found dead in a hotel pool with a severely disfigured face. Authorities blamed alcohol and self-inflicted injuries but withheld the autopsy results from the public.

Tragically, a Russian tourist also became one of Koh Tao’s mysterious victims. 23-year-old Valentina Novozhenova, a freediving enthusiast, arrived to explore the underwater wonders. One evening, she was seen heading to the beach with fins on surveillance footage but never returned. Her belongings and ferry ticket to Samui remained in her hotel room.

The story of Natalia Molchanova—the freediving queen whose body was never recovered from the sea—resonates deeply.

Her whereabouts remain unknown. Thai authorities maintain their standard response: 'She committed suicide.' They cite her correspondence with a psychologist mentioning phobias as evidence. This convenient interpretation leads to case closures due to lack of criminal evidence.

Mafia Control

Why does Thai police repeatedly seek to close these investigations? The answer lies in the island’s control by a powerful family, essentially a mafia syndicate known locally as Chao Pho, meaning 'godfather.' This group controls everything from trade, prostitution, taxis, drug trafficking, the police, to tourism. Negative publicity about Koh Tao threatens their interests. It’s far easier to label victims as suicides, distancing authorities from blame and maintaining the island’s lucrative tourism business.

After Elisa’s death, rumors about Koh Tao’s mafia spread rapidly. Major outlets like Daily Mail, The Independent, and The Sun published in-depth reports revealing that locals fear speaking out due to this criminal family's ruthless enforcement. This is no exaggeration. Scottish tourist Sean McAnna, a friend of David and Hannah, gave an interview recounting how he narrowly escaped threats from the local mafia.

Sean arrived on the island shortly after the couple’s deaths but never saw them alive. While sharing his shock in a bar, a man pulled him aside, accusing him of their murders and threatening to make his death appear a suicide. Sean fled, posted a plea for help on social media, and contacted the British embassy, which involved the police. Despite protection, he feared corrupt officers and hid in the jungle overnight before leaving Thailand by ferry the next day. Notably, police knew the couple had argued with a bar owner shortly before their deaths and initially considered this a possible motive.

Even if the mafia is behind these deaths, the motive remains unclear—none of the victims were robbed or visibly wronged. Did they cross paths with this powerful family? Or is there an elusive killer at large, with a corrupt police force quick to dismiss cases as suicides?

Koh Tao authorities are eager to shed the 'Island of Death' label. Yet Elisa Dalman’s death has sparked extensive investigations by Western journalists. Only time will reveal the truth.

Photo credits: social media

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