Finnish woman's boyfriend detained, suspected drug overdose

A 22-year-old tourist from Finland, Helea Nea Emilia, was found dead in a hotel in Triplicane on Wednesday morning. Her companion Palomaki Aleksi Joel Santeri, 26, another Finnish national, has been detained by the police. Drug overdose is suspected to be the reason for her death.

The couple was staying in Hotel Himalaya Residency since Tuesday morning. After checking in, they went out and returned to the room by Tuesday evening, police said.

During investigation, the hotel receptionist said that the duo were not sober when they checked in. Though they were initially denied a room, Emilia persuaded the receptionist, saying that they needed a room only for a day as they would take a flight back to Finland on Wednesday.

The police recovered strips of Alprazolam tablets from the couple’s room. It is suspected that they had consumed the prescription drug along with alcohol. “Overdose of such tablets with alcohol can turn fatal in some cases,” an NCB official noted. Police, however said that only after receiving the post-mortem report can the actual cause of death be ascertained.

While investigating into the death of a 22-year-old Finnish woman Helea Nea Emilia, the police found out that her partner Palomaki Aleksi Joel Santeri, 26, had tried to flee from the hotel but was caught by nearby auto drivers.

“Aleksi carried Helea from their room to the reception and was trying to give her first-aid, but in vain,” said a staff from Hotel Himalaya Residency where the incident took place.

“He was also behaving in an unusual way, maybe due to the drug overdose.

He tried to run out, but auto drivers who were waiting nearby nabbed him,” the staff added.

The couple had been staying in the hotel since Tuesday.

According to another employee, the couple did not seem to have any problem between them and even clicked selfies while waiting at the reception. “We don’t know what they did inside the room, but when the police went inside on Wednesday morning, it was littered with liquor bottles and food strewn around.” “Aleksi was found in a drugged state and we are questioning him to know how exactly Helea died,” said an officer who did not want to be named.

The Triplicane police registered a case of unnatural death and shifted the body to the Government Royapettah Hospital for an autopsy.

Details from their passports reveal that this was their first international trip and their visa was valid till January 21.

They had been to Goa and Puducherry before reaching Chennai.