The family of Kill Bill star David Carradine has asked the FBI to investigate his death after his body was found in a Bangkok hotel room.

The 72-year-old actor was discovered by a maid on Thursday with a rope tied to his neck, wrist and penis.

This has led to speculation that it was a sex act that had gone wrong.

The Thai police originally said Carradine’s body was found "naked, hanging in a closet," leading them to suspect he committed suicide, even though no suicide note was found.

But later, officers said the US star may have died from accidental suffocation or heart failure.

The actor’s family does not believe he committed suicide and are troubled by conflicting accounts about the circumstances of his death, their lawyer Mark Geragos said.

The Nai Lert Park Hotel where Carradine died

Mr Geragos, who represents Carradine’s brother Keith, told CNN’s Larry King: "They want an investigation.

"I would think that the people in Bangkok would want to support an investigation and allow the FBI to go over there and assist in the investigation so we can get the answers to the questions."

Thai detectives say they have not yet been contacted by the FBI.

Michael Hutchence, singer with Australian band INXS, died in similar circumstances in 1997.

A maid found his naked body in a Sydney hotel room, where he had hanged himself with a leather belt.

Via news.sky.com