Jealous ex-husband kills three, self in Khon Kaen tragedy

A tragic incident unfolded in the Mancha Khiri district of Khon Kaen yesterday when a man, driven by jealousy, shot his ex-wife, her mother, and a teen relative before taking his own life. The violent episode has left his two year old daughter traumatised and in shock.

The shootings occurred at a house in Khampom village, tambon Phon Phek, around 11.30am, according to Police Captain Phongphit Thanaphanpakdee, deputy investigation chief at Mancha Khiri police station. The victims were found inside a single-storey house with a Toyota car bearing Nong Khai licence plates parked out front.

Inside the house, police and forensic officers discovered 50 year old Jaruayporn Faengrit lying dead on a bed with two gunshot wounds. Her daughter, 28 year old Khalita Faengrit, was found next to her with two gunshot wounds to the head.

Noppadol Unthasee, 55 year old Khalita’s former husband, was discovered with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his mouth. Phonphiphat Thongyot, a 18 year old woman, was found in the bathroom, also with two gunshot wounds to the head.

A two year old girl, the daughter of Noppadol and Khalita, was found near the body of her mother, visibly trembling with shock. Officers promptly took her from the house to ensure her safety.

Orn Faengrit, the 68 year old grandmother of Khalita, provided crucial details to the police. She revealed that the house belonged to Yaowaluck, the mother of Phonphiphat, who was working in Bangkok with her husband. Phonphiphat was staying in the house while attending a local school.

Fatal shooting

Khalita, a younger sister of Yaowaluck, had one daughter with Noppadol, who resided in Nong Khai, where he owned a resort along the Mekong River. Khalita had two children from a previous marriage before marrying Noppadol.

“As far as I knew, Miew (Khalita’s nickname) was often physically assaulted by her husband,” said Orn. “This prompted her to flee to stay with her parents in Mancha Khiri. Noppadol kept persuading her to return. She later returned to stay with him. But the domestic violence was repeated three or four times.”

Khalita eventually broke up with Noppadol and moved to her elder sister’s house with her daughter. Yesterday morning, Noppadol arrived at the house in another attempt to reconcile, but Khalita refused. The refusal led to a quarrel that quickly escalated to gunfire, according to Orn.

Phonphiphat managed to send a desperate message to his mother in Bangkok, stating, “Pak Boy (Noppadol) killed all the people.” His mother tried to contact him, but there was no response. She later discovered that he had been shot dead.

Amporn Chaokudrang, a 56 year old neighbour, reported hearing eight gunshots over approximately 10 minutes. Initially sceptical, she was convinced by her son that the sounds were indeed gunshots, prompting her to alert the village head.

Police Colonel Pichai Nakhandee, chief of Mancha Khiri police, noted that witnesses confirmed the couple had broken up about a year ago, with Noppadol frequently attempting reconciliation before the tragedy. Preliminary investigations suggest that Noppadol was driven by jealousy, having learnt that his former wife had begun a new romantic relationship, reported Bangkok Post.

A search of Noppadol’s car revealed drug paraphernalia inside. His body was taken back to Nong Khai by his relatives for religious rites later in the afternoon.