6-8-2023 (BANGKOK) A shocking crime unfolded on the picturesque island of Koh Phangan, as Thai police discovered a kayak believed to have been used by a Spanish chef to dispose of the dismembered remains of his Colombian surgeon lover. The kayak was found on Salat Beach on Saturday, further implicating the chef, Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, in the heinous crime.
The tragic incident began when Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, a 44-year-old Colombian national and successful cosmetic surgeon, was allegedly murdered by the 29-year-old Spanish chef. The gruesome act is said to have taken place at a local hotel on Tuesday, leaving the community in shock.
The investigation took a chilling turn when workers collecting trash stumbled upon body parts, including a sawed-off pelvis and intestines weighing approximately five kilograms, concealed within a sack of fertilizer at a nearby garbage dump in Moo 4 of Koh Phangan. This grisly discovery sent shockwaves through the island, prompting a swift response from law enforcement.
On Friday, Daniel Sancho Bronchalo was apprehended by authorities at the Koh Phangan police station, where he was brought in for questioning regarding the disappearance of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga. Initially, the Spanish chef vehemently denied any involvement in the crime. However, under mounting evidence and pressure, he eventually confessed to killing the Colombian surgeon and dismembering his body within the confines of a hotel room.
According to police reports, Daniel Sancho Bronchalo admitted to disposing of the dismembered body parts in two separate locations. Some of the remains were placed inside a sack of fertilizer, which he left at a garbage dump on the island. Additionally, he confessed to stuffing other body parts into a suitcase and using the recently discovered kayak to transport it out to sea before disposing of it.
The authorities made a significant breakthrough in the case on Saturday when they stumbled upon the kayak, abandoned on Salat Beach, approximately 300 meters away from the hotel where the murder occurred. It is strongly believed that this kayak is the very vessel used by Daniel Sancho Bronchalo to dispose of the suitcase containing the victim’s remains.
Further developments arose as police questioned two women, identified as Tuk and Kanda, who were the owners of the kayak. These individuals recounted the events leading up to the crime, stating that on Tuesday evening around 9 PM, the Spanish man had approached their shop requesting to rent a boat. Initially, the women expressed concerns about safety, particularly using the kayak at night. Despite their reservations, the man persisted and made an offer to purchase the boat for 1,000 US dollars, to which they ultimately agreed.
Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, the prime suspect in this gruesome murder, comes from a notable lineage. He is the son of Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre and actress Silvia Bronchalo. In addition to his culinary skills, the chef had gained recognition through his popular YouTube channel. Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, the victim, operated a thriving cosmetic surgery business in Monteria, a prominent city located in the northwest of Colombia.
Authorities believe that the two individuals were involved in a romantic relationship, which adds a tragic dimension to this already distressing crime.
