Police investigating the tragic early deaths of a British woman and her fiance have arrested a bartender who allegedly served them a deadly ‘homemade’ limoncello in a Thailand bar.
Le Tan Gia, 45, was detained by police in Hoi An, where Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and Els Arno Quinton, 36, from South Africa were found dead on December 26 last year.
Travel lover Greta had previously lived in Dubai and backpacked around different countries in Asia before settling more recently in Vietnam. She was a digital strategist who ran a social media and content marketing agency called Not Sorry Socials. Arno, meanwhile, was a barista, musician, and streamer.
Police confirmed that both victims died from methanol poisoning. The suspect was charged with ‘violating food safety regulations’.
A police spokesman said: ‘The Criminal Investigation Police Department of Quang Nam Province has arrested Le Tan Gia, of Cam Nam Ward, Hoi An, on charges of violating food safety regulations.
‘The prosecution of the defendant will continue, based on the evidence that he served the victims methanol drinks that caused their deaths.
‘Currently, the case is being investigated and handled by the police force in accordance with the law.’
Officers said that Le Tan Gia served the couple at a restaurant at around 3:30 pm. He allegedly used 70 per cent medical alcohol – intended only for disinfection – to prepare two bottles of homemade limoncello.
Le Tan Gia (pictured, centre) was detained by police in Hoi An
Greta Marie Otteson (pictured) was a digital strategist who ran a social media and content marketing agency called Not Sorry Socials
She and her fiance Els Arno Quinton (pictured, left) were found dead on December 26
Officers said the suspect mixed the alcohol with filtered water, lemon peels, and white sugar before serving it to the tourists.
But shortly after drinking the solution, Greta and Els suffered severe methanol poisoning.
They were discovered dead by shocked resort staff in separate rooms at the Silverbell Villa in Hoi An Town in central Quang Nam province.
Greta was said to have been lying in her bed lifeless in room 101. Officers then barged into Arno’s locked room and also found him dead.
A Quang Nam Provincial Police spokesman said: ‘There were no signs of ransacking at the scene. The victims’ belongings and phones were untouched.’
Police said there were also no signs of scratches or physical trauma inflicted on the bodies. They collected several empty liquor bottles in the room for further analysis.
A close friend to Mr Quinton had sent him voice message just hours before his tragic death.
The friend – who preferred to not be named – said he had ‘sounded super happy and excited about Christmas’.
Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and Els Arno Quinton, 36, (both pictured) were found dead on December 26 last year
Police confirmed that both victims died from methanol poisoning
The pair were discovered dead in separate rooms by shocked resort staff who arrived to clean the property
They were later discovered dead in separate rooms by shocked resort staff at the hotel that the couple had been running for ten months
Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and her partner Arno Els Quinton, 36, went out for dinner on Christmas Eve before arriving back home at 10pm and ordering two bottles of ‘homemade’ limoncello from another restaurant
They were discovered dead by shocked resort staff in separate rooms at the Silverbell Villa in Hoi An Town in central Quang Nam province (pictured)
‘I think their plans were just to be together and experience [Christmas] in a new country. It’s very tragic’.
Friends of the pair flooded social media with heartfelt tributes, with one stating: ‘Greta loved Arno unconditionally and was his bedrock, giving him the freedom to do what he needed to without a faltering foundation’.
He went on to say: ‘There are two distinct things that are so prominent in my thoughts and that is her laugh and how much love they constantly [threw] at each other, regardless of who was around.
‘They celebrated each other there and I know they will continue doing that, wherever they are.’
Arnold’s friend Dayle Visser wrote online: ‘Rest in peace my brother. Thank you for always being the fierce friend you were. You saved me many a time.
‘You were real and lived life harder than most people could ever dream of. I love you and I will always miss you.’
Local media reported that Greta and Arno had been staying together in the villa since July 4. The pair are understood to have been engaged in December.
Police said that the investigation into the deaths is ongoing.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
