Parents of teens killed on Laos trip plead for justice as police allegedly urged suspects to flee

A year after best friends Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones died after consuming methanol-laced drinks in Laos, their heartbroken families have demanded for justice.

Six people, including 19-year-olds Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, died in November last year after consuming drinks suspected to be laced with methanol.

Methanol is an odorless, tasteless and colorless substance that can cause serious illness and death.

Only 25ml – or a standard shot – is required to be lethal.

It’s been a year since the death of the two Melbourne teenagers, who were on a holiday of a lifetime after graduating high school, staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng while traveling through Vietnam and Laos.

The four other tourists that died in the drink-spiking incident include British lawyer Simone White, 28, US man James Louis Huston, 57, and two Danish women, Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20 and Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21.

However, a year after the fatal incident, the heartbroken families are yet to receive answers or justice from those responsible.

Holly’s parents Shaun and Sam Bowles said there was “no evidence” to suggest an investigation into the six deaths was being completed.

“We’ve seen nothing,” Mr Bowles said.

“Absolutely nothing. I believe it’s all been swept under the carpet, pushed to the side and forgotten about.”

Earlier this year, the Laos government recommended laying charges against 13 people allegedly linked to the poisoning.

However, reports have emerged that police urged the suspects to flee.

“Our understanding is police authorities told staff at Nana’s, effectively to get out of town,” Bianca’s dad Mark Jones said.

He said the Laos’ government’s failure to track down and charge the people responsible was a troubling sign.

“It clearly demonstrates that the authorities have no ambition for justice,” Mr Jones said.

“There’s obviously someone, somewhere is covering something up, that’s obviously coming from, quite high up in government and or the police force.”

Bianca’s parents said there was a gut-wrenching silence that filled the home following their daughter’s death.

“It’s still so hard,” Mrs Jones told 60 Minutes.

“We just, we miss her laughter. We miss her loudness. I miss having a female in the house. So every day is really hard.”