The bizarre murder case of a Spanish celeb in Thailand

It's a case with twists and turns. Daniel Sancho, the son of a well-known Spanish actors' family, gruesomely murdered a Colombian plastic surgeon in Thailand. How he got to that place, is a bizarre mystery.

Parts of Colombian surgeon Arrieta were found cut up in a Thai rubbish dump. The remains were not complete: only 9 parts were found. Soon enough, the trail led to Sancho, a famous chef with a YouTube show. He is now in a Thai jail.

Photo: @dredwinarrietacirujanoplasto/Instagram

The motive was not immediately clear in the hectic days after the discovery and the arrest. Sancho claimed that Arrieta locked him up and wanted to torture him. He says that his act was one of self-defense.

Photo: Daniel Sancho on his YouTube channel 'Puro Disfrute'

But since that first day, doubts have been raised about his motivation. Sancho had initially told the EFE news agency that he had no relationship with Edwin Arrieta, sentimental or otherwise. However, the Spanish magazine 'Semana' has seen his statement to the Thai authorities, and it says that the duo exchanged private photos and even had intimate dates.

Photo: Daniel Sancho on his YouTube channel 'Puro Disfrute'

According to the Thai Bangkok Post, Edwin Arrieta allegedly blackmailed the young man with these images after he said he did not want to continue the affair. This would have led to an argument in the hotel room in which Edwin Arrieta died.

Photo: Daniel Sancho on his YouTube channel 'Puro Disfrute'

According to the Bangkok Post, Thai police found $80,000 in cash in the hotel room and a gold necklace that might belong to Edwin Arrieta.

The same Thai newspaper reports that they met through Instagram about a year ago. After exchanging messages and photos, they would have met in person.

Photo: @danisanchobanus / Instagram

The Colombian surgeon is said to have given the Spanish cook 10,000 euros ($11,000) and a credit card to help him mount his catering business. However, as it turns out, not only money and food were exchanged between the two.

Photo: Daniel Sancho on his YouTube channel 'Puro Disfrute'

Daniel Sancho himself told the Spanish channel Telecinco that "this man held me captive and threatened my whole family. If I didn't do what he asked me to do... He told me that he knew how things were done in Colombia and that a man with $100 million was capable of [terrible things]."

Photo: Daniel Sancho/Instagram

The suspect's father, a famous Spanish actor named Rodolfo Sancho, told the same outlet that "Daniel has been under a situation of emotional pressure that is difficult to control." His statement seems to support the young man's explanation that he acted in self-defense.

According to various national media, such as Telecinco, the actor is already in Thailand to help defend his son. The young man could face life imprisonment in Thailand or even the death penalty.

Photo: still from Spanish TV show 'En boca de todos'

Daniel Sancho is currently locked up in the Thai prison in Koh Samui. The director of the prison told Telecinco that the Spanish suspect is receiving psychological treatment.

Photo: Telecinco ('El programa del verano')

The prison warden also said that Daniel Sancho's hair had been cut and that he had asked, among other things, for a phone call to his family (which was denied), vitamins, and better food.

Photo: still from Spanish program 'En boca de todos'

In Koh Samui Prison, Daniel Sancho will be kept in isolation with five other inmates until August 17 due to Covid protocol. After that, he will stay there for a few months until the judicial process reaches a new stage.

According to the Spanish channel Antena 3, the prisoners are woken up at 6:00 am and counted. At 08:00, the Thai national anthem is played, followed by the second count. Then they all shower together and at 8:30 they get rice and broth for breakfast. At 11:00 am, there is a third count and at 11:45 am, rice with chicken bones is served.

From 14:00, the prisoners can go to the gym, and then counting starts again. Dinner is from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM and then there is some free time. Subsequently, the prisoners go back to their cells and are searched. From 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, they can use the television under supervision, and at 9:00 pm it is time to go to bed, all together on the floor and with the light on.

Daniel Sancho's defense will try to avoid being sent to Bang Kwang maximum security prison for his sentence. It is internationally known as 'Hell on Earth' because of the atrocities that take place there.

Photo: Daniel Sancho on his YouTube channel 'Puro Disfrute'

The Spanish channel Cuatro claims that in Bang Kwang as many as 25% of prisoners die during the first two years of their imprisonment.

Photo: still from 'En boca de todos'

Daniel Sancho allegedly told local journalists upon entering the prison that he was very sorry. His Spanish lawyer has stated on the program 'En boca de todos' that he "cannot understand what was going through his head."

Photo: still from Spanish program 'En boca de todos'

Sancho is "very well educated, correct, dutiful, hardworking and athletic," the lawyer said. Moreover, he comes from a prominent Spanish family of artists.

It is therefore a mystery how his life could derail in Thailand in such a bizarre way. Police will continue to try and reconstruct the murder until they've gotten to the bottom of it.