Kung Fu star David Carradine’s body found in a wig and fishnet stockings
David Carradine
Red lingerie was also folded on the bed and an erotic photograph pinned to the wall - supporting theories that he accidentally killed himself during an act of auto-erotic asphyxiation.
The fresh revelations about the four-times-married 72-year-old’s passing will further disturb the Kill Bill star’s family.
They were shocked yesterday by the publication of what appears to be a crime scene photo showing his body in a Thai newspaper.
Break-up: Marina Anderson, pictured with ex-husband David Carradine in 2004, says she refused to take part in 'deviant' sex games with him
Since Carradine was found last Thursday there have been conflicting reports on the circumstances of his death.
Family members insist the Kill Bill star would not have committed suicide and his U.S.-based lawyer Vicki Roberts claimed the star had been murdered.
Relatives went on to suggest he had been assassinated for delving into the affairs of secretive martial arts sects associated with crime.
A panel member on the Larry King show on U.S. television said: ‘David was very interested in investigating and disclosing secret societies.’
The door to the room where Thai newspapers claim the star was found. Yesterday a Thai paper published an image it said showed Carradine's body as it was discovered inside the hotel room
Carradine’s family lawyer Mark Geragos replied: ‘Absolutely. What that means is connected to his interest in martial arts.’
‘And so there is a suspicion that if there was some foul play, that may be the first area they should look.’
His widow, Annie Bierman, whom he married in 2004, has asked for an independent post mortem examination and has questioned the Thai investigation.
Thai authorities, however, insist the actor was alone in his hotel room and said this was supported by CCTV footage which did not show anyone entering or leaving his room.
Police spokesman Colonel Somprasong Yenthaum said U.S. embassy officials were present during the crime scene investigation.
‘I am confident we are working on the right track. U.S. embassy representatives saw every step of the investigation process in the hotel room,’ he said.
A Thai tabloid published the image it claims is of Carradine's body - but the photo has been censored
‘We can work with FBI if they request and their request is passed. But if they don’t come, we can do our jobs,’ he added.
FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the agency generally only gets involved in death investigations overseas if a crime is suspected.
Pornthip Rojanasunand, director of Thailand’s Central Institute of Forensic Science, said the circumstances under which Carradine died suggest that he may have been performing auto-erotic asphyxiation.
The practice involves temporarily cutting off the supply of oxygen to the brain to heighten the effects of a sexual stimulation.
Singer Michael Hutchence was found dead in 1997 in similar circumstances.
The lead singer of the Australian band INXS was found hanging in his hotel room and family members believe he was experimenting with the sex game rather than suicide.
Carradine’s former wives say he regularly tied himself up for sexual kicks, ignoring warnings he might one day kill himself.
Yesterday it was revealed that the star’s fourth wife, Marina Anderson, had filed divorce papers against Carradine in 2003, citing his potentially deadly ‘abhorrent and deviant sexual behaviour’ as a reason for the breakdown of their marriage.
Speaking about the theory that he was assassinated, she said: ‘If he was involved in secret societies, it was a secret even I didn’t know about.’
Another former wife, Gail Jensen, who was married to him for ten years, also said he had a penchant for bondage.
