This report covers the case involving Colombian surgeon Edwin Arrieta, who died after a violent confrontation with Daniel Sancho on the Thai island of Phangan. The deputy chief of the Thai Police leading the inquiry confirmed to EFE this Monday that autopsy results have been finalized and that investigators have been reviewing the evidence collected at the crime scene. According to forensic findings, Sancho punched Arrieta, causing him to fall and strike his head on a sink. The impact did not kill him immediately, and the subsequent events led to Arrieta’s throat being slit, as later determined by the forensic team.
Sancho, held in a temporary facility on Koh Samui since August 7, has admitted involvement in the case. He remains in custody as investigators continue to build their file for the prosecution. The police official, known by the nickname The Big Joke, told EFE that there is now sufficient proof to move forward. The plan is to forward the police report to the prosecutor within the week so a trial could commence in roughly three to six months. Officials emphasized that the case is nearing closure and that the final report will be sent to the prosecutor before the coming Friday.
Under Thai law, authorities have a defined period to complete the investigation, and Sancho was placed in the provisional facility on August 7. The statement aligns with an earlier briefing given at Koh Phangan, where Arrieta’s death and the discovery of his remains triggered the investigation. It was initially reported that Sancho had stabbed Arrieta in the chest during the clash, though the autopsy results were not yet available at that stage. The updated assessment presents a clearer sequence of events, indicating a punch preceded the fatal injuries, and the autopsy is described as conclusive by the investigation leaders.
During the latest briefing, officials noted that some parts of Arrieta’s remains have yet to be recovered. They indicated these findings remain on the table as the inquiry proceeds, including a possibility that additional evidence could be recovered on the island. The authorities stressed that the search for missing fragments is ongoing and that the overall timeline remains focused on concluding the investigative report and presenting it to the prosecutor, with the objective of moving the case forward promptly.
questioned again
The re-interview of Sancho at the Koh Samui facility last week showed that investigators continued to pursue new lines of inquiry even as initial announcements claimed the case was closed. The 29-year-old is charged with willful murder in connection with the August 2 death of 44-year-old Edwin Arrieta, whose remains were found in multiple locations around Phangan, including marine areas. The encounter between the two men brought forth a tragic sequence that has drawn attention from local and international observers, highlighting the ongoing efforts of Thai authorities to resolve the matter with a thorough legal process.
Public records describe the two men as having met the previous year on social media, with Arrieta visiting Koh Phangan around the time of the incident. On August 2, the day the surgeon was killed and dismembered, Arrieta’s remains were discovered in scattered locations across the island and the surrounding sea. The unfolding events prompted a meticulous police response aimed at reconstructing the timeline and ensuring all material evidence is accounted for. The case continues to be a focal point for media attention and legal scrutiny, as officials navigate the complexities of the investigation.