Cops investigate death of family from toxic fumes in Chon Buri

Officers from the Forensic Science Division and cops from Mueang Chon Buri Police Station returned to the scene of the three family members who tragically died in a bathroom at their home in Chon Buri.

Forensic officers, led by Police Lieutenant General Trirong Piwpan, Chief of the Police Forensic Science Office, inspected the home. They set up air quality monitors inside the bathroom and restricted access to the area.

Witnesses informed the investigators that the family had recently purchased a drain cleaner to address a blockage. The product, found in the trash, was identified by its opaque white bottle with a red cap, which still contained some liquid.

Inside the bathroom, officers found four partially used bottles of common household cleaning products. They also collected DNA samples and latent fingerprints from the bathroom door, water bottles, and food containers to test for potential toxins.

Initial findings revealed one person died instantly at the scene, while the other two succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. None of the victims had visible injuries or burns in their mouths. Witness testimonies suggested that the drain cleaner had been used approximately three hours before the police arrived.

Upon entering the bathroom, investigators detected a strong, acrid smell and experienced irritation in their eyes and noses. The small bathroom measured 1.2 metres wide, 2.5 metres long, and 2.05 metres high, with only one small ventilation window. The inward-opening door could have trapped anyone inside, exposing them to harmful fumes during a rescue attempt.

Forensic officers later purchased the same type of drain cleaner for analysis. The product was identified as a highly concentrated sulphuric acid, which should not be mixed with alkaline substances, such as caustic soda. If combined, these substances react with blockages to produce toxic hydrogen sulphide gas, known as rotten egg gas, which has caused fatalities in the past, reported Sanook.

The drain cleaner is not commonly available in general stores or supermarkets but can be found in construction supply shops. Preliminary investigations revealed that the product lacked a Food and Drug Administration registration number and was not listed as a hazardous substance approved for public health use. The Forensic Science Division will report its findings to the Chon Buri Provincial Police for further action.