American Woman Murdered in Thailand

Feb. 16, 2012— -- The murder of an American woman on a business trip in Bangkok, Thailand, has triggered an international investigation as police search for an Indian man who was caught on surveillance video leaving the woman's room.

Wendy Albano, 51, was found stabbed and strangled to death on her bathroom floor at the Fraser Suites Hotel in Bangkok on Monday.

Surveillance video captured Albano entering her room Sunday evening with an Indian man who appeared to be between 25 and 30 years old. The man was caught on camera leaving the hotel an hour later with his luggage in tow, the Miami Herald reported.

A maid found Albano's body the next day and alerted authorities.

Albano's family told the newspaper she had met the man on a prior business trip to India and that the two were business partners who were working on launching a design and fashion accessory import business.

The Tampa, Fla., woman had been a high-end interior designer for 20 years. She was in Bangkok looking for materials to bring back to the United States, ABC's Tampa affiliate reported.

Albano's family issued a statement to the station saying: "We are devastated by the loss of a kind, caring and loving mother, daughter, sister and friend."

Albano was well known in the area and was known for her high-list clientele, which included Derek Jeter.

She was married twice and is survived by two adult daughters, Jenny and Lauren.

Friends remembered her as a "social butterfly" who was beautiful, talented and loved her six cats.

"I loved my mother dearly," Jenny Albano told the Tampa Bay Times. "Obviously, we're just trying to work through this the best we can."