“CAUSE OF D3ATH REVEALED…” — And a major update in the case…
A shocking case in Thailand involving the death of a 17-year-old girl is gradually revealing chilling details, after police said an Australian suspect has confessed to the cause of her death following a heated argument.
According to authorities, the victim has been identified as 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla. The teenager is believed to have died after a dispute with 45-year-old Simon Peter Carman at an apartment in Pattaya, eastern Thailand, in the early hours of Thursday morning. The case quickly drew widespread attention after disturbing details about the disposal of the body emerged through CCTV footage.
Investigations into the alleged murder of a Thai teenager were aided by an ‘instinct’ to dig deeper into a missing persons report, Thai Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyoo said. Credit: 7NEWS
Surveillance images show that just hours after the incident, Carman was seen leaving the building dragging a large suitcase. This is believed to be the same suitcase later discovered containing the victim’s body, which had been abandoned near railway tracks the following day. Notably, when the suspect returned to the building around 20 minutes later, he was no longer carrying the suitcase, raising suspicions from the very early stages of the investigation.
Earlier, Tunchanok’s friends had reported her missing on Friday morning, prompting investigators to act swiftly. Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyoo said that from the moment authorities were alerted, there was an immediate sense that something serious had occurred.
“From the outset, the lead investigator did not take the case lightly and reported directly to me. I also felt that something bad had happened,” he said, adding that this instinct drove officers to act quickly and examine every detail closely.
Two officers reviewed the building’s CCTV system and found that Carman appeared to be behaving normally until he left on a motorbike with the suitcase. This behavior raised suspicions and led police to intensify their investigation, even before any official conclusions had been made.
During the search for the suitcase, authorities discovered that Carman had traveled to Suvarnabhumi International Airport, raising concerns that he intended to flee Thailand. To prevent his escape, officials swiftly charged him with kidnapping a minor in order to detain him for further investigation.
Shortly afterward, the suitcase was located. Inside was Tunchanok’s body, found unclothed and tightly folded within the confined space. Preliminary forensic results indicated signs of violent assault, particularly injuries to the face, including swelling, bruising, and blood around the mouth and nose.
Tunchanok Donhomla’s body was found stuffed into a suitcase and dumped beside train tracks. Credit: Supplied
Although the final autopsy results are still pending, police said the suspect’s confession has shed light on the sequence of events. Carman admitted to assaulting the victim following a heated argument, stating that he may have strangled her, causing her to lose consciousness and subsequently die.
CCTV footage appears to show the pair holding hands as they entered an apartment building. Credit: Supplied
“After realizing the situation had spiraled out of control, the suspect panicked and did not know what to do next. He placed the victim’s body in a suitcase, kept it in the bathroom for about a day, and then disposed of it,” Colonel Sarathongyoo said.
Police also revealed that the suspect had apologized to the victim’s family, claiming he had no intention to kill, but acknowledging that he had committed a serious wrongdoing. Carman has now been formally charged with murder and faces the possibility of the death penalty under Thai law.
Tunchanok’s body has since been returned to her family for funeral rites. The case has not only devastated the victim’s loved ones but has also alarmed the local community due to the brutality of the crime.
Notably, as part of the investigation, police are also examining potential links to similar cases previously reported in the Pattaya area. In particular, two other bodies had been found in discarded suitcases — one in February last year and another in September. In both cases, the suitcases had been weighted down and submerged in water, suggesting deliberate attempts to conceal the crimes.
However, both earlier cases remain unsolved, with the victims yet to be identified and no evidence currently linking Carman to those incidents. Nevertheless, police said DNA comparisons will be conducted to explore all possibilities.
“We are not overlooking any detail. As soon as this case emerged, we immediately cross-checked it with previous cases to determine whether there could be any connection. However, we are not jumping to conclusions,” Colonel Sarathongyoo emphasized.
He added that if any evidence emerges linking the cases, authorities will pursue the investigation to the fullest extent, not only to resolve the current case but also to bring closure to the unresolved ones.
The investigation remains ongoing, with further developments expected as authorities complete forensic examinations and gather additional evidence. The case serves as a stark reminder of personal safety risks and the potential dangers in unclear relationships, particularly for young people.
