27-5-2023 (BANGKOK) A 36-year-old man has been taken into custody on suspicion of murdering a man whom he believed was pursuing a relationship with his recently widowed mother, and subsequently attempting to hide the victim’s body.
Police and rescue workers swiftly responded to a reported murder at a single-storey concrete house in Wiang Sa district on Saturday morning. Upon arrival, their attention was drawn to a discarded pickup truck cap in the yard. Beneath this structure, they made a gruesome discovery – the body of 47-year-old Sayan Lathawanit. The body was wrapped in a bloodstained sack and showed evident signs of a severe head injury.
The suspect, identified only as Suriyong, was apprehended at the scene by law enforcement officers.
According to investigators, Mr. Suriyong harbored resentment towards Sayan due to his relationship with Suriyong’s mother and frequent visits to their home. Lying in wait next to an outdoor bathroom, Mr. Suriyong allegedly launched a violent axe attack on Sayan before attempting to conceal the victim’s body.
It was local residents who eventually discovered the body and promptly alerted the authorities.
Mr. Suriyong’s aunt, whose identity was withheld, informed the police that her nephew had recently been under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs, which likely contributed to his misunderstanding that the victim was engaging in flirtatious behavior with his mother. The widow had lost her husband on May 1.
According to the suspect’s mother, Mr. Suriyong has a history of drug-related issues and has been detained 14 times for drug use. In January, he was released from prison after serving a four-year sentence for drug offenses. Due to her son’s alarming behavior, the mother and her daughter have sought refuge at their relatives’ house on occasions. The suspect confessed to the crimes and will face legal action, police said.
