Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and Arno Els Quinton, 36, were holidaying over the festive period at a hotel in Vietnam just weeks after they had celebrated their engagement
A Brit woman and her fiancé who were found on Boxing Day dead just weeks after they had gotten engaged allegedly poisoned by methanol-laced limoncello.
Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and Arno Els Quinton, 36, were holidaying over the festive period at a hotel in Vietnam after moving to the country in February 2024.
The couple’s lifeless bodies were discovered in separate rooms by resort staff at the Hoi An Silverbell villa in Hoi An Town, Vietnam, on Boxing Day – just three weeks after their engagement.
Investigators have said the couple’s deaths were caused by methanol poisoning from contaminated alcohol, believed to be “homemade” limoncello purchased from a local restaurant on Christmas Eve. Two bottles of limoncello were delivered to the hotel reception from a different restaurant, cops said.
“Police forensics established the limoncello, which had been delivered, was the source,” a source close to the family told The Times. The next morning Greata texted her parents saying she was suffering “the worst hangover ever” and was experiencing “black spots” in her vision.
The couple reportedly decided to “sleep off” the symptoms, despite a local bar owner’s offer to take them to a hospital. Hotel staff found the couple dead hours later, Greta, from Wales, was in her bed and Arno in a nearby room.
Home-brewed alcohol can often be found to contain Methanol, a toxic chemical that can cause blindness, brain damage, and death.
A statement from Greta’s devastated parents, Susan and Paul, said: “Greta and Arno were experienced worldwide travellers. They found their perfect home and were incredibly happy.”
Dad Paul called Arno, from South Africa, “a lovely boy…a great musician, composer, and lyricist” in a picture he shared of the couple smiling together at their engagement.
Arno sent a voice message to a close friend just hours before his death. The friend, who asked not to be named, said Arno had “sounded super happy and excited for Christmas”. The pal continued: “I think their plans were just to be together and experience [Christmas] in a new country. It’s very tragic.”
The couple had met while they were both in the Middle East travelling before deciding to move to Vietnam together. Greta had been living in Dubai where she worked as a social media marketing manager before meeting Arno, a barista and musician.
Two weeks before they died the couple posted a romantic video on YouTube celebrating their engagement, showing the couple walking hand-in-hand and dancing on a beach together. Video production company Red Eye said: “This shoot was charged with so much emotion, reminding us how powerful the union of two souls can be. We will miss you great souls.”
Friends of the couple have left heartfelt tributes on social media. One reads: “Greta loved Arno unconditionally and was his bedrock, giving him the freedom to do what he needed to without a faltering foundation.
“There are two distinct things that are so prominent in my thoughts and that is her laugh and how much love they constantly [threw] at each other, regardless of who was around. They celebrated each other there and I know they will continue doing that, wherever they are.”
Another reads: “Rest in peace my brother. Thank you for always being the fierce friend you were. You saved me many a time. You were real and lived life harder than most people could ever dream of. I love you and I will always miss you.”
The Times reported that the restaurant believed to have supplied the limoncello remains open, meanwhile no arrests have been made. The families of the tragic couple are now calling for justice. “Our aim is to bring the people who supplied the alcohol and killed Greta and Arno to justice,” said Paul.
At some time in the future, we will have a memorial service for them both,” Paul added.“Arno’s family expressed a wish that they should be together, which we wholeheartedly agree [with].”
In a joint statement, the families said: “Whilst the investigation is under way, procedural requirements and due diligence are being followed. Both families are aligned with the authorities in our shared goal of holding those responsible accountable.”
The couple were cremated in Vietnam, with their ashes returned to Bahrain, where Greta’s parents live. The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is in contact with Vietnamese authorities and is supporting Greta’s family.
