I just watched the evening news and saw Dr. Khunying Pornthip make some comments about David Carradine’s death. You might recall she is the famous Thai forensics expert with the wild hair. She played a big role in identifying the tsunami victims, at least until the local police did not like her getting all media attention.
I’m not sure if she is in charge of the David Carradine investigation or if she is just making comments to the media about it. But she said something kind of funny. She said that this stuff he was doing, referring to the apparent autoerotic act with rope and strangulation, isn’t because he was lok jit (mentally ill). It’s something that is common for westerners. Wow, that really helps the image of westerners in Thailand, doesn’t it.
Added: For those who really must see the photo that appeared in Thai Rath newspaper you can go to this post at inquistr.com. It has a small shot of the front page of the paper with a tiny little photo of the scene. Although it isn’t really graphic I’m sure it is shocking to the family.
Tags: David Carradine
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June 6th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Kill Bill director Quintin Tarantino would agree about David NOT being mentally ill. He knew David personally.
Now I’m not surprised about Dr. Pornthip’s comment…. Haha “Porn-thip” Hahahaha….
Ahem anyways I think many of the world’s cultures have a fixed stereotypical view of americans so I don’t care what these people say about us.
June 6th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Oft times whilst in Thailand I practice auto-erotic activities combined with strangulation. Its nice to know that Dr. Khunying Pornthip is so knowledgeable about the practices of us westerners on holiday in Thailand.
June 6th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Yes – it would tend to make visiting Westerners more suspect to Thais. But it’s an example of how poorly the two cultures really understand one another – not unlike many Westerners’ idea of Thailand as a place where anything goes, for the right price.
I don’t know what it takes for people to really understand one another.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:03 am
The news said that Dr. Khunying Pornthip made her comments based on reading accounts of many similar accidents that have happened in Europe. She studies causes of death a lot – it is a big part of her job.
As far as I know we have never had a news report of a Thai person who died from that. Maybe it happened but never was reported, although in Thailand there is little privacy in news reporting – they report the gruesome details along with photos, names, addresses, etc. Example – there is a photo published in one of the Thai papers of David Carradine hanging.
June 7th, 2009 at 3:35 am
Uhhh…AS there are a lot of things that happen in Thailand that are not reported, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
June 7th, 2009 at 3:43 am
Actually, death by autoerotic asphyxiation is statistically a predominantly white male phenomena… I read this somewhere in a book about forensic anthropology by William R. Maples. It was a good read
June 7th, 2009 at 4:31 am
That’s very true, Jay. But a death with lurid circumstances isn’t one of the things that the news fails to report. They love that stuff whether it is Thai people or a foreigner.
June 7th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Thanks a lot Dr. Pornthip. Now I can try to assure my dear wife that, despite what the good doctor said, this stuff is not normal and no, I have never done it. I hope the neighbors didn’t see that news segment or they will have yet another reason to give me strange looks.
June 7th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
“death by autoerotic asphyxiation is statistically a predominantly white male phenomena”
No argument from me on this point – but what it means is that the majority of fatalities which are attributed to autoerotic asphyxiation are white males. It doesn’t mean that autoerotic asphyxiation is a significant or even common cause of death amongst white males. And that’s more what the forensic specialist’s comments imply.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Dr. Porntip looks like she may have played a few “roles” in her time!
The is so much disinformation in the Thai press these days that it hard to believe any of it, especially when it comes to a “farang” murder and the Thai Royal Police.
The police are quoted as saying that the hotel staff did not see anyone go in to Mr. Carradine’s room, nor did the video cameras record anyone, therefore it had to be suicide. Ever see a movie murder mystery?
No one has speculated that there might have been a “hit” put out on Mr. Carradine.
In any event it will make part of a good plot line for the next installment in the “Bangkok 8″ series of books.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
This story is all over the blogosphere now, of course. I read one place that David’s fourth wife was interviewed and said she once walked into the room and David had himself tied up. His third wife said in the divorce filing that he was sexual deviant – no details if that include tying himself up. It’s sad for his family but it seems like this is something he liked to do for a long time. So I don’t think there is a bigger story here. The family should just mourn in private and not make the story bigger with Hollywood attorneys and pathologists making big talk.
June 10th, 2009 at 1:05 am
Al,
But Quintin Tarantino himself is mentally ill….and the best at what he does.
I have not been reading the discussion but Dr. Khunying Pornthip in my book is also the best and she is of sound character. Since when do we define Hollywood actors in terms of off movie character? If she takes the case we all will look to those results.
Probably what she will find is a rich man was getting his freak on in BKK. I am sure you all have seen white men sometimes getting a little strange in Bangkok.
No? Well you have never been in my room.
June 11th, 2009 at 12:36 am
I suspect this story about David Carradine will go on for sometime…I enjoyed his tv roles, and his movies.. I am sorry for his death…and am sorry for all the anguish this is causing his family.. why is it so hard not to just feel sympathy for someones death.
June 11th, 2009 at 1:05 am
I think the family is making a mistake with all the Hollywood lawyer and pathologist stuff. It would probably go away a lot sooner if they weren’t doing that. I think the story is just about over in Thailand unless something new and sensational comes up.