A shocking and gruesome murder case has rocked the island of Koh Phangan, Thailand, where Daniel Sancho, the son of famous Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho, has confessed to killing and dismembering Edwin Arrieta, a Colombian plastic surgeon, in a rented villa.
The two men had met online and traveled to the island for a vacation. Sancho claimed that Arrieta had asked him for sex and he pushed him in anger, causing him to hit his head and die. He then bought knives and garbage bags and cut up the body, dumping the parts in different locations. He also used a kayak to dispose of a suitcase with some remains in the sea.
The police found the body parts in a landfill and identified the victim through DNA. They also have security camera footage and other evidence against Sancho. He was arrested on Sunday at a hotel in Koh Samui, another island near Koh Phangan.
“He said he was angry with the victim for trying to have sex with him. He pushed him away and he hit his head on the wall. He said he panicked when he saw blood coming out of his nose and mouth,” Pol Col Kusol Pukaoluan, Koh Phangan police chief, told reporters.
“He was very calm when we arrested him. He did not resist or try to escape. He confessed to everything,” Pol Maj Gen Thirayut Wuttikul, Surat Thani police chief, said.
Sancho also said that Arrieta had blackmailed him with intimate photos and videos, and demanded money from him. He showed the police some messages that he claimed were from Arrieta, threatening to expose him if he did not pay.
Sancho’s father, Rodolfo Sancho, who is a well-known actor in Spain and has starred in several movies and TV shows, flew to Thailand to support his son. He denied that his son was a murderer and said that he was a good boy who had been the victim of extortion.
“He is not a murderer. He is a good boy who has had a very bad time. He has been the victim of extortion,” Rodolfo Sancho told reporters outside the police station.
Arrieta’s family, meanwhile, expressed their grief and disbelief over the brutal killing of their loved one. Arrieta was a respected surgeon who had worked in Colombia, Spain, and Thailand. He had a wife and two children in Colombia.
“He was a very good person, very kind, very respectful. He was always helping people. He was a great professional,” Juan Carlos Arrieta, brother of Edwin Arrieta, said.
The Colombian embassy in Thailand also issued a statement, expressing their condolences to the family of the victim and hoping that justice will be served.
“This is a very shocking and sad case. We express our condolences to the family of the victim and hope that justice will be served,” Jorge Robledo, Colombian ambassador to Thailand, said.
Sancho is facing charges of premeditated murder, concealing a body, and destroying evidence. He could face the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted. He is currently being held at the Surat Thani prison while awaiting trial.
Relevant articles:
– Famous Actor’s Son Charged in Surgeon’s Gruesome Murder, The Daily Beast, August 7, 2023
– Son of Spanish actor detained in Thailand in grisly murder case, MSN, August 7, 2023
– Blackmail led to grisly murder on Phangan, says Spanish actor’s son, Bangkok Post, August 7, 2023
– Spaniard confesses to killing and dismembering Colombian plastic surgeon in Thailand, El País English, August 7, 2023