A friend of the British woman and her fiancé who tragically died after drinking limoncello has shared details of his final conversation with them.
Greta Marie Otteson and her South African partner, Els Arno Quinton, were discovered dead on Boxing Day at the Hoi An Silverbell Villa in Vietnam by hotel staff.
With no visible injuries, their sudden deaths came as a shock. However, it was later revealed that the limoncello they had consumed two nights prior contained toxic compounds, which they initially mistook for a severe hangover.
The couple had been enjoying their new life in Vietnam after moving there last February.
On Christmas Eve, the couple went out for dinner at a restaurant and returned home around 10:00 PM. Upon their arrival, two bottles of limoncello, delivered from a different restaurant, were waiting for them at the reception desk.
Investigators suspect that this ‘homemade’ liqueur was contaminated with a lethal dose of methanol.
A source later revealed that Otteson had texted her parents, mentioning she was seeing “black spots” in her vision.
Speaking to The Times, the source added, “A local bar owner and a fantastic friend came over and wanted to take them to the hospital, but they refused. Sadly, I think it was too late by then. Police forensics confirmed that the limoncello they had received was the source.”
That friend was Todd Ford, who visited the couple at 10:00 PM on Christmas Day, 24 hours after they had consumed the contaminated drink.
Ford recounted that Otteson believed she was suffering from “the worst hangover ever” and was resting in bed, sipping coconut juice after repeatedly vomiting. She had also complained to him about seeing “black spots” in her vision.
Ford told The Times that while he didn’t initially see Quinton, he went to check on him.
“I went up and knocked. I called his name. There were no lights on in the room. I got Greta some water and checked on her,” Ford recalled. “I asked, ‘Do you want me to break the door down?’ But she just said, ‘He probably fell asleep playing his video games, and his hangover’s probably even worse than mine.’”
Ford noted that she didn’t seem too concerned at the time. However, looking back, he believes Quinton may have already passed away by then, as he had consumed a significantly larger amount of the tainted drink.
According to Ford, Otteson mentioned that her “hangover” was improving but that she was still experiencing concerning vision issues. When asked if she wanted to go to the hospital, she declined, saying she would “sleep it off.”
Tragically, the couple was found dead the following day.
Vietnamese police later confirmed that Otteson and Quinton died from methanol poisoning caused by contaminated alcohol.
Methanol, commonly found in antifreeze, paint thinners, and windshield-washer fluid, is highly toxic when consumed. It can lead to severe symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, vision impairment, organ failure, brain damage, and even death.
As seen in this heartbreaking case, methanol poisoning symptoms often take around 24 hours to appear, as the chemical becomes lethal once metabolized by the body.
Otteson’s parents, Susan and Paul, released a statement expressing their grief:
“Both Greta and Arno were experienced worldwide travelers. They found their perfect home and were incredibly happy with their life in Vietnam, planning for the future.
“The Vietnamese police have now confirmed that the cause of death was methanol poisoning, as verified by the autopsy results.”
Earlier this week, authorities arrested a bartender, Le Tan Gia, who is accused of using 70 percent medical alcohol, meant solely for disinfection, when preparing the two bottles of limoncello.
Gia has been charged with violating food safety regulations. A police spokesperson stated:
“The Criminal Investigation Police Department of Quang Nam Province arrested the suspect on charges of violating food safety regulations.
“The prosecution of the defendant will continue based on evidence that he served the victims methanol-laced drinks, which led to their deaths. The case remains under investigation and is being handled in accordance with the law.”
