Bianca Jones, Holly Bowles parents open up to 60 Minutes about Laos poisoning charges

Mums Sam Bowles and Michelle Jones have shared their anger with 60 Minutes as Lao authorities prepare charges for the poisoning horror that killed their girls.

The mothers of 19-year-old best friends Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles have opened up about their anger and sense of frustration six months after the Laos poisoning horror that took their daughters’ lives.

Bianca and Holly died after consumed vodka and whiskey laced with deadly methanol at the Nana backpacker hostel in the town of Vang Vieng in Laos in November last year.

Four other foreign tourists died in the mass poisoning event and Laotian authorities are reportedly preparing charges for up to 13 people connected to the calamity.

But in an interview with 60 minutes on Sunday night, mums Michelle Jones and Sam Bowles slammed the proposed charges as “insulting”.

“Pretty appalling, I’d say pretty insulting,” Ms Bowles said.

“We know that there’s no murder or manslaughter charges, which we feel there should be.”

Ms Jones said the parents were “pretty furious about it.”

The proposed charges include the elimination of evidence, violation of food and health security and unlawful business operations, 60 Minutes reports.

Mums Sam Bowles (left) and Michelle Jones say murder or manslaughter charges should be brought against the people responsible for the Laos poisoning horror. Picture: 60 Minutes

Holly Bowles (left) and Bianca Jones lost their lives in the Laos methanol poisoning event in Vang Vieng. Picture: Supplied

The parents worry those responsible for the deaths of their daughters will only receive a fine.

“Heart-breaking and just full of anger, frustration,” Ms Bowles said.

“They (Laotian authorities) don’t care,” Ms Jones added.

“I mean you know lives were taken away.”

The teenagers, both from Melbourne, were holidaying together through Southeast Asia.

Their parents were with them as they passed away.

“We made the decision to turn off all the life support,” Mr Jones told 60 Minutes in February.

“And then we said our final goodbye.”

“And then she just passed away in my arms,” Ms Jones said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has since updated its travel advice for Laos to warn of alcohol risks in the country.

“Several foreign nationals, including Australians, have been victims in November 2024 of suspected cases of methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks,” the department’s Smartraveller notice states.

“Be alert to the potential risks particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails.”

Ms Bowles and Ms Jones have written to Lao authorities for answers. Picture: 60 Minutes

Ms Bowles said it was still hard for her to accept the loss of her daughter more than six months on from the event.

“We still, still, still think she’s going to walk through the door some days, you know, six months in,” she said.

The parents have written to the Lao authorities, including the prime minister, for answers, but have not received any response, the program revealed.

“Nothing from anyone,” Ms Bowles said.

In a statement from November in the aftermath of the poisoning, the Lao government pledged to bring to the perpetrators of the poisoning to “justice”.

“The government of the Lao PDR has been conducting investigations to find causes of the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the law,” the statement read.

“The government of the Lao PDR reaffirms that it always attaches the importance and pays attention to the safety of both domestic and foreign tourists.”

Originally published as Bianca Jones, Holly Bowles parents open up to 60 Minutes about Laos poisoning charges