American man, 57, killed in mass alcohol spiking in Laos is named - as more chilling details are revealed
The American man who died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos has been identified.
The American man who died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos has been identified.
James Louis Hutson, 57, was found dead inside his room at the Nana Backpacker Hotel in Vang Viang on November 13.
According to the Vientiane Times, workers at the hostel had entered his room after realizing he had not left all day and found him unconscious.
The outlet reported that he was taken to hospital, with police finding four empty bottles of beer and two empty bottles of vodka in his room.
Hutson is one of six who have died in the suspected mass methanol poisoning that has hit the party town.
Australian teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, died after a night out, while British Lawyer Simone White, 28, also lost her life.
Hutson has been identified alongside Danish women Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21.
The government in Laos has also spoken for the first time on the deaths, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Officials said they were deeply saddened and extended their deepest condolences to the families of the victims.
James Louis Hutson, 57, was found dead inside his room at the Nana Backpacker Hotel in Vang Viang, seen here, on November 13
Duong Duc Toan, the manager of Nana Backpack hostel displays a bottle of vodka, in the bar of the hostel. He has since been detained in connection with the deaths
It continued: The government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law.
The government of the Lao PDR reaffirms that it always attaches the importance and pays attention to the safety of both domestic and foreign tourists.
The US State Department issued an urgent warning to any Americans travelling in the country to be on high alert for the tainted booze.
They also said that local authorities are investigating the death of the American man, with the US providing consular assistance.
In a statement, the State Department said: We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss.
Police in the town have detained the manager and owner of the hostel in connection with the deaths.
An officer at Vang Viengs Tourism Police office said no charges have been filed but a number of people have been detained in connection with the case.
Staff at the hostel, which is still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning.
The US State Department said that local authorities are investigating the death of the individual, with the US providing consular assistance
Simone White, seen here, from Kent, England, has since been identified as the British woman who was killed
Holly Bowles, left, and Bianca Jones, right, have been identified as the two Australian teenagers who died following the incident
Those poisoned are believed to have been served drinks tainted with methanol, which is sometimes used as a cheaper alternative to ethanol.
Consuming even a small amount can lead to blindness, multiple organ failure and death.
White was a lawyer with global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, with her brother Zak telling Metro that his family have gone through a horrific time.
A neighbor told the outlet that White was an absolutely lovely girl from a lovely family and we all feel desperately sad for them.
We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people.
She died the day after her friend, with the two on a backpacking holiday through Asia at the time.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told parliament Jones died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng for treatment in a Thai hospital.
Duong Duc Toan, manager of the hostel, previously said staff were informed that the two were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on November 13, and they arranged transport to a hospital for them.
He said the women had joined more than 100 other guests for free shots of Lao vodka offered by the hostel two days earlier.
But he denied it was his vodka made the girls sick, insisting alcohol was bought from legitimate sellers and even drank from a bottle to prove it was safe.
Toan said no other guest reported any issue, adding that the alleged victims had then gone for a night out, returning in the early hours of the morning.
The best friends were seen at Jaidees Bar, around a kilometer from their hotel, on the day they fell ill.
White is not reported to have been to Jaidees Bar - which boasts of being the place to be for drinking, talking, smoking, and smiling but no fighting.
As it can take up to 18 hours for the full effects of methanol poisoning to unfold, this could mean the pair did not drink the contaminated alcohol there.
Hostel CCTV shows one of the girls being transported to hospital, before they were sent across the border to Thailand, on the back of a moped.
Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died due to brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system.
