A 47-year-old Australian mother died tragically during a solo holiday in Phuket after a night of drinking and intimacy with a German tourist she met at a local bar.
The Fateful Night at Back Cat's Bar
Karla Drescher, a mum from Darwin, walked into Back Cat's Bar at Kata Beach around 11pm on October 26 wearing a sheer dress with a plunging neckline. According to bartenders who spoke with the Daily Mail, she appeared "dazed and lonely" when she arrived at the venue.
The Australian tourist chose a seat near the bar in front of the live band stage and began ordering Hendrick's Gin and tonics. She sat alone for approximately an hour before starting to dance by herself.
German national Perry Shamiri, 49, was already drinking Chang beer at the establishment when Ms Drescher arrived. She eventually approached him and they began chatting, with Mr Shamiri offering to buy her a drink.
From Bar to Resort: The Tragic Sequence
The pair quickly became intimate, laughing together, taking selfies, and eventually hugging and kissing in full view of other bar patrons. Bartenders noted that Mr Shamiri seemed uncomfortable with the attention, "as if he couldn't believe such a beautiful woman was giving him attention."
They left the bar together an hour later and arrived at the Sawasdee Village Resort around 1am. There they ordered a bottle of Hendricks Gin and engaged in sexual activity until sometime after 4am.
According to sources, Ms Drescher fell asleep before Mr Shamiri, who then took a resort-branded notepad and wrote her a love letter while she slept. "Thank you for the most beautiful night of my life," he wrote. "Now I'm watching you sleep peacefully in front of me. You are the most beautiful woman I ever met. I love you."
The Morning After: A Tragic Discovery
Police believe Karla Drescher died sometime between 6.30am and 8.30am that morning. Mr Shamiri, reportedly too drunk to recall when he wrote the letter, was awakened by cleaning staff before midday.
He discovered Ms Drescher wasn't breathing and immediately called for help. Police arrived to find him kneeling at the bedside, holding her hands and crying. During police interrogation that afternoon, he still smelled strongly of alcohol.
Thai authorities found no signs of struggle or injury in the room. Mr Shamiri's drug test returned negative, and he was subsequently released. Prescription medications including antidepressants were discovered in the accommodation alongside three open cans of alcoholic drinks and two cocktail glasses.
Investigators suspect Ms Drescher may have suffered cardiac arrest following an accidental overdose of anxiety medication combined with alcohol, though official autopsy results will confirm the exact cause of death.
Her son Travis Deveraux described his mother as his "best friend" and became concerned when she failed to text him back for two days. He ultimately discovered her fate when he phoned her hotel.
Mr Deveraux confirmed that his mother's body has returned to Darwin, but the family may face an eight-week wait for official confirmation of her cause of death. "Mum is back home and we have now seen her," he said. "It's still very hard for me."
