Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and her fiancé, Arno Els Quinton, 36, were discovered unresponsive at the villa they managed in Hoi An, Vietnam, on Boxing Day. The recently engaged couple had moved abroad to run a guesthouse, turning their love of travel into a new life together. After a Christmas Eve dinner, they received two bottles of homemade limoncello, which investigators later confirmed were contaminated with methanol, a dangerous substance. Greta even messaged her parents that evening, describing what she believed was a severe hangover, before the couple went to rest and never woke.
Investigations revealed that the drinks had been produced with unsafe ingredients, including industrial-grade alcohol. Authorities charged a local barman with violating food safety laws, a crime that carries the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence. Greta’s parents, Paul and Susan, later shared that they had unknowingly purchased those same bottles as a gift after first sampling limoncello during a visit in November. Now keeping the ashes of their daughter and her fiancé at their home in Wales, the grieving family has said they cannot lay them to rest until accountability is achieved.
Paul recalled his first meeting with Arno just weeks before the tragedy, describing him as intelligent, reserved, and someone he had hoped would officially become part of the family. The sudden loss has left the family searching for justice and closure. “We can’t move on until those responsible are prosecuted,” Paul explained, emphasizing the weight of unanswered questions. Their story has drawn widespread sympathy, with many calling for stronger enforcement of food safety laws to prevent similar cases.
Experts note that methanol poisoning remains a recurring risk in parts of Southeast Asia, where counterfeit or homemade spirits may be produced without proper regulation. Even small amounts can be deadly, and symptoms are not always immediate. Authorities continue to advise travelers to exercise caution and seek medical help if they suspect unsafe alcohol. The heartbreaking case of Greta and Arno serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance when abroad and the tragic consequences when safety standards are ignored.