Girlfriend of Australian tourist found dead in Thai police custody suspects foul play

UPDATE

The girlfriend of the Australian man who was found dead inside the detention room at a police station in Phuket, southern Thailand, on Monday says her boyfriend was “not suicidal” and had every intention of returning to his family.

Police arrested 31 year old Matthew Michael Winder for being drunk and disorderly at around 5.45am and detained him at Patong Police Station to “calm down.” Police say they went out for lunch at 11.30am and when they returned, Winder had hanged himself.

Police say there is CCTV footage that documents Winder’s cause of death.

Winder’s girlfriend Ayla Varoxis spoke to Winder on the phone just 30 minutes before he was arrested on Monday morning…

“He told me that he drank too much and just wants to be home,” she told the Daily Mail Australia. “I don’t believe Matty was suicidal… foul play is in the mix and none of it makes sense.

“I think he shouldn’t have been left alone in the state he was in.”

Three days before his death, Winder assured Varoxis that he couldn’t wait to fly home to Newcastle near Sydney to see her and their young daughter McKenzie.

On Sunday night, Winder posted a photo of the beach on Facebook dedicated to his girlfriend that read, “Good night Thailand missing my Ayla Varoxis.”

Winder’s friends on Facebook expressed their doubts about the suicide…

“What a joke their police are. As if he quickly committed suicide in the half hour the guard has a break. Liars.”

“Devastating news I’m shattered to hear this. And truly believe something is wrong with the story.”

The police say an autopsy and official investigation is underway. Hopefully, the investigation is transparent and answers the questions of Winder’s grieving family and friends.

Once the autopsy is complete Winder’s body will be repatriated to Australia.

ORIGINAL STORY: Australian man dies in police detention in Phuket, Thailand

An Australian man died inside the detention room at Patong Police Station in Phuket, southern Thailand. Police say that he hanged himself with the rope from his shorts, reports KhaoPhuket.

Police said that 31 year old Matthew Michael Winder of Australian nationality was found dead inside the detention room at 12.45pm, having been arrested for being loud and disorderly on Sunday night.

At 5.45am, police were informed that a foreign man intoxicated by alcohol or drugs was yelling and disturbing guests at a hotel near Patong Beach, on Thaweewong Road in Kathu district, reports KhaoPhuket.

Superintendent of Patong Police Station, Pol. Col. Sujin Nilbadi, and deputy superintendent Pol. Lt. Col. Somphon Surin, went to investigate.

Police said they brought the Australian to Patong Police Station in Phuket and escorted him to the detention room – a solitary confinement room for suspects – to calm down.

The officers on duty went out for lunch at 11.30am and left Winder alone. When they returned, they found that Winder had committed suicide, they said. Police said they examined the CCTV cameras and saw Winder, alone in the room, crying out for help before hanging himself with the rope from his shorts, reports KhaoPhuket.

Reports on the details of Winder’s death are conflicting. Matichon reports that Winder was arrested for being disorderly outside of an entertainment venue on Bangla Road. Matichon also reports that the tourist committed suicide by hanging himself from the bars of a solitary prison cell on the second floor of the station using his shirt while the officers were on their lunch break.

Winder’s body was taken to the Forensic Medicine department at Vachira Phuket Hospital to undergo an autopsy.

Police contacted the Australian Embassy to inform Winder’s family of his death and coordinate the collection of his body.

It is not clear whether any investigation into Winder’s death will be undertaken independent of officers from Patong Police Station since measures to prevent suspects from committing suicide inside police detention failed him yesterday.