Thai police believe a Russian model who fell to her death from a Phuket apartment may have been pushed after discovering a tuft of hair in her hand.
Webcam actress Evgenia Smirnova, 37, suffered fatal head injuries and a broken leg after falling from an eighth-floor balcony at one of Patong Resort’s condominiums.
The Russian is known to have operated multiple social media accounts under different names and regularly live streamed on an adult website until shortly before her death.
Local authorities are now conducting a forensic analysis of the hair sample held in Smirnova’s hand to determine who may have grabbed her when she fell.
Evgenia Smirnova, 37, a Russian citizen, died after falling from a balcony in Phuket
The incident happened in the notorious resort of Patong in Phuket, Thailand, known for its red light district
It is known that Smirnova operated several social media accounts under different names and regularly live streamed on an adult website until shortly before her death
Smirnova was originally from Nizhny Novgorod, but moved to the Russian capital, Moscow, as an adult.
She arrived in Phuket on Saturday May 25, while her body was found earlier this week in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
According to the Bangkok Post, another Russian woman, Natalia Kosenkova, 35, was arrested along with two men, apparently on suspicion of drug use, after the incident in Patong’s notorious nightlife scene.
The names of those arrested were American Jamaal Antwaun Smith (38) and Jordanian Ahmad Radi Mustafa Alatoom (28).
The Jordanian was detained after trying to board a flight from Thailand following Smirnova’s death.
Reports citing police said there was evidence of a “sex, drug and alcohol party” at the Emerald Terrace residential complex in Patong, from which Smirnova fell.
Kosenkova, a model and DJ who also worked as a dental assistant, today claimed she was released and said Smirnova’s death was an “unfortunate incident” but gave no further details.
“The case is not complicated because we are not guilty,” she said, adding that her lawyer instructed her not to discuss the case in detail.
“All I can say is that this was an unfortunate incident, but it was not murder and none of those involved are at fault.”
She said: “We were kept in a cage but they let us go.”
The webcam model suffered fatal head injuries and a broken leg after falling from an eighth-floor balcony at one of Patong Resort’s condominiums
Kosenkova, a model and DJ who also worked as a dental assistant, today claimed she was released and said Smirnova’s death was an “unfortunate incident” but gave no further details
“The only thing I can say is that this was an unfortunate incident, but it wasn’t murder and nobody involved is to blame,” Kosenkova said
Kosenkova said she only met her compatriot Smirnova on the night of the incident.
And she denied reports in Thai media that the party included sex and drugs, claiming police found condom wrappers and cannabis.
“I didn’t know Evgenia until that evening.
“I didn’t know the girl, she just came to the party we were at.
“And she called her friend [Ahmad Radi Mustafa Alatoom]who also came and behaved inappropriately.
“I can say that about me and my boyfriend [Jamaal Antwaun Smith]whom I have known for a long time behaved with dignity and decency.
“The police trust us. The police say they’re not worried about us.’
Natalia Kosenkova, 35, Russian citizen, eyewitness to the tragic fall of Evgenia Smirnova
According to the Bangkok Post, another Russian woman, Natalia Kosenkova, 35, was arrested along with two men, apparently on suspicion of drug use, after the incident in Patong’s notorious nightlife scene
She added, “I’m just a tourist here… I’m an ordinary tourist.
“It was a normal drinking festival – someone dies here every day.”
Thai reports, citing Police Major Sermphan Sirikhon, said his officers are considering three theories – an unfortunate accident, suicide or homicide.
Former police lieutenant colonel Chomphunuch Anantayakun had said: “We believe the woman may have accidentally fallen from the balcony while gazing at the view.
‘It could, however, be a murder stemming from an argument.
“We are in the process of questioning the people involved.
“The hair on the woman’s hand will be DNA tested to find out who owned it.”