The Quang Nam Provincial Police said the couple’s belongings were ‘untouched’
Police released a photo of one of the hotel rooms where a British woman and her fiancé were found dead in Vietnam.
The lifeless bodies of Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and her partner Els Arno Quinton, 36, were found in separate areas of the Hoi An holiday home they were staying in.
Staff stumbled upon the harrowing scene after entering the villa to clean it on Boxing Day (26 December).
The couple, who had gotten engaged just three weeks prior, are said to have drank ‘homemade’ limoncello in the days beforehand, which was laced with methanol.
Otteson, a social media manager from Wales, was found dead on a bed in a room on the first floor of the villa in the coastal city at around 11:18 local time, police said.
In a neighbouring room, Quinton was found in similar circumstances – but according to the BBC, this door had also reportedly been locked from the inside.
Cops in Vietnam said that a preliminary inspection of their bodies had not revealed any signs of external force, such as scratches or physical trauma.
Both rooms didn’t look as though they had been ransacked either, with police saying there was no suggestion a burglary had taken place.
However, local media reported at the time that ‘several empty bottles of wine’ were found at the scene.
In an image released by Quang Nam Provincial Police, there appears to be two glass bottles which resemble booze containers on a table in the corner of the room.
Other objects are also seen littered across the dressing table and floor. It is not clear whether the photo depicts Otteson or Quinton’s room.
A spokesperson for the force said earlier this month: “There were no signs of ransacking at the scene. The victims’ belongings and phones were untouched.”
It has since emerged that Otteson and her musician fiancé consumed methanol-laced limoncello while enjoying a Christmas getaway in Hoi An.
Investigators say that the pair – who moved to Vietnam in February last year – purchased ‘homemade’ limoncello from a local restaurant in the coastal city on Christmas Eve (24 December).
Another two bottles of the lemon liqueur were also delivered to the hotel reception for Otteson and Quinton from another nearby restaurant, officials added.
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“Police forensics established the limoncello, which had been delivered, was the source,” a source close to the victims’ families told The Times.
Otteson later contacted her parents via WhatsApp and sent them a tragic final text message, explaining she was suffering from the ‘worst hangover ever’ and was seeing ‘black spots’ in her vision, the publication reported.
The couple decided to try and ‘sleep it off’, with the source claiming: “A local bar owner and a fantastic friend called over and wanted to take them to hospital but they refused. Sadly I think it was too late by then.”
Hours later, Otteson and Quinton were found dead in separate rooms at the holiday home.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office also confirmed they were supporting Otteson’s family and were in contact with the local authorities.
Otteson’s parents, Susan and Paul, said in a statement: “Both Greta and Arno were experienced worldwide travellers. They found their perfect home and were incredibly happy with their life in Vietnam, planning for the future.
“The Vietnamese police have now confirmed that the cause of death was methanol poisoning, as verified by the autopsy results.”
The devastated couple and Quinton’s family have vowed to ‘bring the people who supplied the alcohol and killed Greta and Arno to justice’.
In a joint statement, they said: “Whilst the investigation is under way, procedural requirements and due diligence are being followed. Both families are aligned with the authorities in our shared goal of holding those responsible accountable.”
A host of tourists in Laos passed away or were left seriously ill late last year due to suspected methanol poisoning.
The body converts it into highly toxic formic acid, but it can take up to 24 hours after consuming a methanol-laced drink for these symptoms to appear, as the chemical only becomes toxic once the body begins to metabolise it.
Methanol – which is similar in appearance and smell to ethanol, the component found in booze – cannot be tasted in drinks, and even just small amounts of the stuff can be lethal.
Methanol poisoning can lead to brain damage, organ failure, blindness, and death, and symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, changes to vision, and abdominal pain.
Anyone with suspected methanol poisoning is urged to seek medical attention immediately.
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