# So I went on a picnic and there was this head hanging from the bridge... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 23, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070 "2009-02-23T17:34:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mecaenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mecaenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mecaenas)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/21 "2009-02-24T13:14:34Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Guy puts bag over his head, noose over bag, passes out, falls, rope stops the head, breaks the neck, body pops off like a stem off a grape, falls into the river. Simple enough, as I see it. Is the human neck really that weak? I mean, to break sure, but to completely sever? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/22 "2009-02-24T13:32:43Z")
I was under the impression it’s a bit of an artform for the hangman to break someone’s neck _without_ severing the head in the process (Saddam Hussein’s [half brother](http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2007/s1827830.htm), for example). For this reason they’ll usually do a number of test drops beforehand to see which combination of rope length and knot configuration works best for a given weight. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/23 "2009-02-24T15:55:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Was there a Thompson gun found anywhere nearby? > > And has anyone seen Van Owen? Last I heard he was in Mombassa sampling traditional English distillates. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/24 "2009-02-24T16:21:05Z")
If it was a medium-long rope? Nope, very possible. The drop on a normal hanging is only, what, a foot or so? In this case, I’m willing to bet the rope was body-length, so he could tie it on, then stand up and suffocate. More than enough. … why do I know these things? ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/25 "2009-02-24T16:26:28Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > If it was a medium-long rope? Nope, very possible. The drop on a normal hanging is only, what, a foot or so? In this case, I’m willing to bet the rope was body-length, so he could tie it on, then stand up and suffocate. More than enough. > > … why do I know these things? From what I’ve seen the rope was at least 2, maybe 3 meters long. To make things worse it was a thin, plastic rope. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/26 "2009-02-24T16:28:56Z")
I can’t hear about failed suicide attempts without thinking about [Richard Smith](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Staten_Island_Ferry_crash#Aftermath) captain that caused the Staten Island Ferry Crash. He causes a major ferry crash, kills seven people, slits his wrists and shoots himself. And survives. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/27 "2009-02-24T17:42:35Z")
Update [here](http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/02/25/national/national_30096558.php). Completely safe to open. Looks like the victim has been tentatively identified. He is probably a 49-year-old Italian man named Jaeta Jiovani. He entered Thailand last Wednesday and checked into the Rex Hotel on Sukhumvit Road, near Thonglor Skytrain Station. Right by the Chavalla 2 massage parlor/brothel, which is popular with your older Chinese-businessman type. I am familiar with the hotel. One of the Vietnam War-era hotels that sprang up back in the day to accommodate GIs on R&R from the war. Kind of an out-of-the-way hotel, even if it is on the Skytrain line, but good to stay in if you need to be near someone in Samitivej Hospital. He’s been to Thailand seven times. I will bet dollars to doughnuts that this is all down to a Thai woman, double or nothing that it’s a bargirl. I’ve seen it so many times. Well, I’ve not seen THIS. I give him extra points for not doing the usual farang swan dive off of a high-rise balcony. And it does appear to be a suicide for sure now. Poor guy. There are more normal photos of him in the news link above. Again, safe for work, not in the least gruesome. But I have to laugh at how quickly the police had declared him to be probably a Russian based on facial features. They SO wanted this to be an exciting mob hit. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/28 "2009-02-24T18:13:17Z")
Some background on the bridge itself is [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama_VIII_Bridge). The Rama VIII Bridge is truly gorgeous. Opened 6-1/2 years ago, it’s our newest one over the Chao Phraya River. What’s neat is to take a dinner cruise on the river and thus see the bridge at night as you pass under it. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/29 "2009-02-25T08:56:00Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Looks like the victim has been tentatively identified. He is probably a 49-year-old Italian man named Jaeta Jiovani. He entered Thailand last Wednesday and checked into the Rex Hotel on Sukhumvit Road, near Thonglor Skytrain Station. Right by the Chavalla 2 massage parlor/brothel, which is popular with your older Chinese-businessman type. I am familiar with the hotel. One of the Vietnam War-era hotels that sprang up back in the day to accommodate GIs on R&R from the war. Kind of an out-of-the-way hotel, even if it is on the Skytrain line, but good to stay in if you need to be near someone in Samitivej Hospital. New update [here](http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/02/25/national/national_30096608.php). Very safe to open, not to worry. The victim has been positively identified. He is Italian, but not the Italian mentioned before; that one contacted the Italian Embassy to assure everyone he was very much alive. The actual man is 53-year-old Maurizio Tosadori, who entered Thailand from Cambodia on February 6. He’d been staying at a guesthouse near Khao San Road for a couple of weeks but couldn’t pay the rent and so was asked to leave. The guesthouse owner speculates that maybe he killed himself because he felt guilty about that. Hmmm, right. But sounds like he was pretty destitute at any rate. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/30 "2009-02-25T11:46:34Z")
Thailand is a very unforgiving place to run out of money in… ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/31 "2009-02-25T15:31:50Z")
This could be the pilot for a new spinoff: CSI: Bangkok. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/32 "2009-02-25T16:18:07Z")
Wouldn’t be that interesting; everything’s ruled a suicide. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/33 "2009-02-25T16:36:05Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Wouldn’t be that interesting; everything’s ruled a suicide. I’d almost be interested to see the plots with ever-more-complex horrible situations that actually do end up being suicides. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/34 "2009-02-25T16:56:57Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > I’d almost be interested to see the plots with ever-more-complex horrible situations that actually do end up being suicides. True that: CSI: BKK Investigator 1: You can see where he beat his own head against the counter top here, then cleverly wrote a note with his wrong hand in a non-native language to him, before dragging himself up several flights of stairs, tying his hands behind his back, then tossing himself off of the car park. CSI: BKK Investigator 2: Yes, his widow (she’s from Isaarn) and her “brother” are clearly distraught. They’ve already drank through half of the cold champagne stash. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/35 "2009-02-26T03:56:21Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > True that: > > CSI: BKK Investigator 1: You can see where he beat his own head against the counter top here, then cleverly wrote a note with his wrong hand in a non-native language to him, before dragging himself up several flights of stairs, tying his hands behind his back, then tossing himself off of the car park. > > CSI: BKK Investigator 2: Yes, his widow (she’s from Isaarn) and her “brother” are clearly distraught. They’ve already drank through half of the cold champagne stash. For those who think **ShibbOleth** is kidding, I swear there have been cases not too far off that mark. The poor guy could actually be the first farang to kill himself but not because of a local girl. His big mistake was being born Italian; quite a few native English speakers do end up destitute here, but they just usually become English teachers. Works in a pinch. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/36 "2009-02-26T05:21:42Z")
Haha! _Not the Nation_, a website that satirizes our local _The Nation_ English-language daily, ran [this](http://www.notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=729). They got it wrong, as it really was a suicide (plus it was the Rama VIII Bridge and not Rama IX, which is another bridge), but it’s still good: \*\*Beheaded Foreigner “Probably Suicide” BANGKOK – The death of an unidentified Western man whose head was found hanging in a bag suspended from the Rama IX bridge has been ruled a suicide by police. “Based on careful forensics, we think that he removed his own head, placed it in the bag, tied to the rope, lowered it over the side, and then jumped,” said Police Colonel Chavalit Prasobsilp. “We see it all the time.” He then went on to explain that Thailand was home to a high number of such unusual suicides, such as renegade journalists shooting themselves twice in the head and corporate whistleblowers choosing to vanish in the middle of investigations to bury themselves in shallow unmarked graves.\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/37 "2009-03-08T04:43:35Z")
Another spectaular recent suicide was an Irishman who could not bear the thought of leaving Thailand. Really. This country can get your skin sometimes. Jumped to his death at the airport. Warning: Video NOT safe for work, or for the squeamish: [news.mthai.com/news-clips/11491.html](http://news.mthai.com/news-clips/11491.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070/38 "2009-03-08T04:56:01Z")
They weren’t kidding when they said that one night in Bangkok could make a hard man humble. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-went-on-a-picnic-and-there-was-this-head-hanging-from-the-bridge/487070.md?page=1)