Greta Marie Otteson, a 33-year-old woman from Britain, and her South African fiancé Els Arno Quinton, 36, were found dead in their room at the Vietnam hotel where they were staying. Allegedly, the two had limoncello that was toxic because of the presence of methanol in it.
The couple, who were spending Christmas in the coastal city of Hoi An, announced their engagement just days prior to their untimely deaths through a YouTube video.
Greta and Els moved to Vietnam in February of last year.
Authorities believe that the couple ordered ‘homemade’ limoncello from a local restaurant that could have been laced with methanol.
“Police forensics established the limoncello, which had been delivered, was the source,” a source close to the victims’ families shared with The Times.
Greta sent a text message to her family, complaining about experiencing the “worst hangover ever.” She was also seeing “black spots” in her vision.
The couple, however, decided to sleep it off.
“A local bar owner and a fantastic friend called over and wanted to take them to hospital but they refused,” the source told The Times. “Sadly I think it was too late by then.”
It was mere hours later that Greta and Els were found dead in separate rooms.
Officials said: “There were no signs of ransacking at the scene. The victims’ belongings and phones were untouched.”
Methanol poisoning has been reported in the past in certain countries of East Asia.
It is an industrial chemical found in antifreeze and windscreen washer fluid similar to ethanol. Methanol is tasteless, odorless, and highly flammable.
It is toxic and just 25ml are enough to kill someone.
If consumed, methanol starts affecting the body once it reaches the liver. At this stage, the body’s metabolism creates toxic by-products called formaldehyde, formate and formic acid that attack nerves and organs, leading to blindness, coma, and even death.
Greta’s devastating parents said, “Greta and Arno were experienced worldwide travellers. They found their perfect home and were incredibly happy.
“Our aim is to bring the people who supplied the alcohol and killed Greta and Arno to justice,” Greta’s dad, Paul, told The Times. “At some time in the future, we will have a memorial service for them both.
“Arno’s family expressed a wish that they should be together, which we wholeheartedly agree [with].”
We are so very sorry for this devastating loss.
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