Canadian Nara Pech and his two friends were travelling through Southeast Asia in January when he was found dead at Wattay International Airport in Laos. Laotian authorities have disclosed very little information – so the exact circumstances surrounding Pech’s death remain a mystery. Laotian police call Pech’s death a suicide but a 16×9 investigation casts serious doubt on that story. According to multiple experts, it is more likely he was murdered.
Below is a timeline of events and the subsequent investigation by 16×9; the hurdles and bureaucratic roadblocks Pech’s family encountered in their search for answers.
January 14, 2015
Nara Pech and friends leave Ontario, arrive in Bangkok
January 15, 2015
Group heads to Thailand/Cambodia border. Stay in Siem Reap, Cambodia
January 16, 2015
Group goes to Angkor Wat in Cambodia
January 19, 2015
Group goes from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, Cambodia
January 21, 2015 – 6 a.m.
Group takes bus from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Vietnam. The group gets off after 10 minutes, Nara says people on the bus were going to rob them. Group decides to fly to Laos that night.
January 21, 2015 – 9- 10 p.m.
Group arrives at Wattay airport in Vientiane, Laos. Nara decides he is going back to Canada, friends to stay.
January 22, 2015
According to death certificate Nara died at 3 a.m. Australian consular officials identify body (no Canadian embassy in Laos). Canada Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development notified of Nara’s passing. Pech family notified.
January 24, 2015
Consular official from Canadian Embassy in Thailand goes to Laos to view death site, morgue and meet with police. Consular official goes to Laos funeral home to authorize release of Pech’s body
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February 2, 2015
At family’s request, autopsy performed in Thailand – not Laos. Family also receives Nara Pech death certificate
February 8, 2015
Nara Pech’s body repatriated
February 10, 2015
Pech family representative gives Foreign Affairs consent to speak to RCMP. RCMP O Division aware of Nara Pech death.
February 16, 2015
Funeral for Nara Pech
March 19, 2015
Nara’s sister Sarena Armsworthy contacts RCMP O Division asking for new information about brother’s death. RCMP says it has not launched an investigation.
March 27, 2015
Autopsy report sent to Pech family
April 7, 2015
Foreign affairs asks RCMP to get involved in Laos death.
April 17, 2015
Armsworthy contacts York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan’s office asking for help. A meeting is requested. No meeting happens.
April 18, 2015
Armsworthy emails Foreign Affairs asking why lack of information surrounding brother’s death in January.
April 20, 2015
Consular officials apologize to Armsworthy for ongoing confusion about the file.
May 30, 2015
Nara Pech story airs on Global News. Story about suspicious nature of his death goes national in following days.
July 2, 2015
Canadian consular officials meet with Laotian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Canadian officials ask Laotians for updates on Pech investigation.
July 23, 2015
Armsworthy contacts Australian Embassy in Laos. Australian consular officials consult with Canadian Foreign Affairs and offer to talk to Armsworthy.
August 6, 2015
Sarena Armsworthy contacts RCMP O Division for update. No response.
August 6, 2015
Sarena Armsworthy files Access to Information and Privacy request with Foreign Affairs and RCMP for information about investigation.
August 12, 2015
Australian consular officials speak with Armsworthy. Australians acknowledge there is surveillance video from the airport but the government of Laos will not share whole video with anyone.
August 26, 2015
Armsworthy contacts Canadian consular official in Thailand. Canadian consular official in Thailand becomes main contact on brother’s case.
August 26, 2015
Armsworthy contacts hospital in Thailand for copies of autopsy photos and toxicology that weren’t included in original report. Hospital staff tell her it cannot be released without consent of Canadian Foreign Affairs.
August 31, 2015
Armsworthy asks Canadian consular officials in Thailand for consent to release autopsy photos.
September 1, 2015
Canadian consular officials sends request to hospital in Thailand for release of autopsy photos.
September 8, 2015
Armsworthy follows up with Canadian consular officials in Thailand for autopsy photos.
September 9, 2015
Armsworthy follows up with Thailand hospital for autopsy photos.
September 9, 2015
Armsworthy follows up with Foreign Affairs in Ottawa for autopsy photos.
September 10, 2015
Canadian consular officials in Thailand follow up with hospital.
September 10, 2015
Consular official from Foreign Affairs asks RCMP in email to get in touch with Pech family about investigation. Consular official in Ottawa says RCMP did not get email. RCMP do not follow up.
September 11, 2015
Canadian consular officials in Bangkok send official letter to Thailand hospital requesting autopsy photos.
September 14, 2015
Canadian consular officials tell Armsworthy there is a mixup with release of photos at hospital.
September 17, 2015
Canadian Head of Office in Vientiane meets with Director General, Consular Affairs, Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Request to view entire video made.
September 18, 2015
Sarena requests autopsy photos from Thailand hospital again.
September 21, 2015
Sarena receives toxicology report.
September 22, 2015
Sarena receives autopsy photos from Canadian consular officials in Thailand.
September 27, 2015
Joe Slemko – blood spatter expert analyzes scene photos.
September 30, 2015
Dr. John Butt – forensic pathologist analyzes autopsy photos.
October 8, 2015
Foreign Affairs contacts RCMP again to speak with Pech family. No contact made.
October 14, 2015
Canadian consular official in Thailand informs Armsworthy Laotian government has still not given an answer about viewing the video.
October 16, 2015
Canadian Ambassador, Bangkok meets with Vice Minister of Consular Affairs, Laos. Another request made to view entire video.
October 16, 2015
Canadian Head of Office in Vientiane meets with Director General, Consular Affairs, Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Another request made to view entire video.
16×9’s “Who Killed Nara Pech?” airs Saturday, November 7th at 7pm.
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