Mystery surrounds Seattle woman's death in Thailand
SEATTLE -- Friends and family members are searching for answers behind the mysterious death of a local woman in Thailand.
St. Onge, 27, of West Seattle, died while traveling in Thailand's Phi Phi Island.
Family members said St. Onge fell very ill very quickly over the weekend, and boyfriend Ryan Kells didn't even have a chance to get her to a hospital before she died.
The two were wrapping up a three-month tour of Asia at a bungalow on the island. They were getting ready to bring home big news -- they had gotten engaged during the trip.
Then something sinister struck.
According to Thai media, St. Onge may not be the only victim of a mysterious sudden death at the resort. A Thai headline read "Poisoning suspected after two tourists die."
The report stated in addition to St. Onge, a 22-year-old Norwegian tourist had died the same weekend at the same resort.
A Norweigan newspaper reported that traces of cyanide had been found in the Norwegian woman's stomach, and her surviving travel companion remained ill.
"It all seems very suspicious," said St. Onge's best friend Brooke Freed, who received the news on Sunday.
Back in the Northwest, bloggers are speculating about the mystery brewing more than 7,000 miles away. St. Onge was a well-known member of the community as an artist and an employee of the Shadowland Restaurant.
"She was just so much a part of our lives. Its impossible to think what its going to be like without her," said Freed.
Wrangling for answers in an uncooperative foreign land, Kells and St. Onge's family members are determined to get momentum behind the story of her death. Thailand authorities won't allow Kells to bring St. Onge's body home.
"No one knows what happened," said brother Robert St. Onge.
St. Onge's brothers and parents who live in California are exhausted with heartbreak.
"We're doing really bad right now because tonight's the night she's getting cremated," said Robert St. Onge on Wednesday. "So it's killing everyone that we can't be there, and it's really bad. It's the worst thing any of us have gone through."
Family members have not made any funeral arrangements. They aren't even sure when their loved one's ashes will arrive. Kells is seeking help from the U.S. Embassy in Thailand.
An autopsy was performed overseas and results are expected in several months. The St. Onge family requested blood and tissue samples in order to conduct an independent analysis.
St. Onge, 27, of West Seattle, died while traveling in Thailand's Phi Phi Island.
Family members said St. Onge fell very ill very quickly over the weekend, and boyfriend Ryan Kells didn't even have a chance to get her to a hospital before she died.
The two were wrapping up a three-month tour of Asia at a bungalow on the island. They were getting ready to bring home big news -- they had gotten engaged during the trip.
Then something sinister struck.
According to Thai media, St. Onge may not be the only victim of a mysterious sudden death at the resort. A Thai headline read "Poisoning suspected after two tourists die."
The report stated in addition to St. Onge, a 22-year-old Norwegian tourist had died the same weekend at the same resort.
A Norweigan newspaper reported that traces of cyanide had been found in the Norwegian woman's stomach, and her surviving travel companion remained ill.
"It all seems very suspicious," said St. Onge's best friend Brooke Freed, who received the news on Sunday.
Back in the Northwest, bloggers are speculating about the mystery brewing more than 7,000 miles away. St. Onge was a well-known member of the community as an artist and an employee of the Shadowland Restaurant.
"She was just so much a part of our lives. Its impossible to think what its going to be like without her," said Freed.
Wrangling for answers in an uncooperative foreign land, Kells and St. Onge's family members are determined to get momentum behind the story of her death. Thailand authorities won't allow Kells to bring St. Onge's body home.
"No one knows what happened," said brother Robert St. Onge.
St. Onge's brothers and parents who live in California are exhausted with heartbreak.
"We're doing really bad right now because tonight's the night she's getting cremated," said Robert St. Onge on Wednesday. "So it's killing everyone that we can't be there, and it's really bad. It's the worst thing any of us have gone through."
Family members have not made any funeral arrangements. They aren't even sure when their loved one's ashes will arrive. Kells is seeking help from the U.S. Embassy in Thailand.
An autopsy was performed overseas and results are expected in several months. The St. Onge family requested blood and tissue samples in order to conduct an independent analysis.