Chilling final image of backpacker found 'half eaten' on Thai island
The family of a young backpacker found dead in a jungle and half-eaten by lizards on Thailand's Koh Tao suspect foul play despite police surmising it was suicide.
Belgian Elise Dellemange was found hanged in the jungles of the small island paradise in the Gulf of Thailand on April 28, half eaten by lizards.
Police believe the 30-year-old took her own life but her mother Michele van Egten has since said she does not believe the official account of her daughter's death, according to Der Farang magazine.
Her doubts are electrified by the fact her daughter was the seventh tourist to die on the island in the past three years, earning it the nickname "Death Island".
"I do not believe what the police have told us. We fear somebody else was involved," the mother told the magazine.
The mother said if she had not gone public with her appeal her daughter's death would have gone unnoticed, adding she is still awaiting a promised autopsy report.
Before her death, Elise had been living at a yoga retreat on Koh Phangan, known for the full moon parties, having spent the past two years travelling about Asia.
The Belgian had joined the sect of Sathya Sai Baba, a self-proclaimed guru, but had left the retreat on April 17 after deciding to make for her homeland.
Elise's Skype history shows she made a call to her mother on April 17 and left Koh Phangan on April 19 by ferry, reportedly headed for the mainland.
It's not known why she alighted at Koh Tao, where her mother said she checked into the Triple B Bungalows under the false name "Elise Dubis".
An unexplained fire on the evening of her arrival razed Elise's hut to the ground, along with two others.
Having lost her belongings in the blaze, she then fled through the jungle through Tanote Bay to find a room at the Poseidon Resort where she booked another ticket for the capital Bangkok on April 24.
Horror crash: Irish teacher killed 'having sex' with Thai woman in backseat of out-of-control car
Bali jail escapee Shaun Davidson 'could have fled to Thailand by now'
Eight days later some locals noticed a monitor lizard heading in and out of the jungle.
Suspicious, they followed the reptile to find Elise's hanged, half-eaten body.
Police said Elise hanged herself three days before her body was found.
She left no suicide note and there have been no messages recovered or forwarded to the family to offer an explanation as to why Elise killed herself, her mother said.
"Too many things show us that someone is involved. Police told us that Elise hanged herself up in the jungle. I cannot accept why my daughter should have killed herself," her mother told the magazine.
"She was normal in the last conversation and no signs of depression were visible," she said.
Melbourne man killed by rare mosquito disease after Thailand holiday
Thai activist arrested for commemorating democratic revolution
In the past three years seven tourists have died on the island paradise, with relatives of some of the dead criticising the police investigations that followed.
A Frenchman and five British tourists have either died or were killed on Koh Tao, starting with the high-profile deaths of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller who were murdered in September 2014 while walking back to their villas.
If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline 13 11 14, Mensline 1300 789 978, or Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
