Man arrested for murder and robbery of former village head’s wife

Police in Phetchaburi Province arrested a 41 year old Thai man in connection with the murder and robbery of a former village head’s wife. The family suspected foul play, prompting them to exhume her body for a forensic examination.

The tragic incident occurred earlier this month when the former village head’s wife, Pranee, was found dead in her home. Initially, her family believed she had died from a chronic illness, specifically high blood pressure. However, upon discovering missing valuables and a bicycle often used by Pranee, suspicions of murder and robbery arose. Pranee’s husband, Sanor, then reported the incident to the local police, urging them to investigate further.

“We thought she had passed away due to her illness but upon noticing the missing items, we knew something was wrong.”

The police investigation revealed that Pranee had been strangled, and several items were stolen from her home. The culprit was identified as Virat, a man with a notorious criminal history. Evidence from nearby CCTV cameras and witness testimonies pointed to him, prompting the police to issue an arrest warrant.

On the evening of yesterday, October 23, police officers led by Deputy Inspector Sayumpoo Sittikul apprehended Virat in Suan Phueng district, Ratchaburi province. During the arrest, they recovered several stolen items, including shotgun shells, a digital camera, a wristwatch, and a laptop bag, said a police spokesperson.

“He was found with items matching the description of the stolen goods from Pranee’s home. This solidified our case against him.”

During interrogation, Virat confessed to visiting Pranee’s house to borrow money, as they were acquainted. When Pranee refused and called for help, Virat panicked and strangled her before fleeing with her belongings, reported KhaoSod.

Further investigation into Virat’s background uncovered a long list of prior offences, spanning over a decade. His criminal record includes charges of public intoxication, fraud, and theft across various provinces in Thailand. Notable incidents include:

• September 17, 2010: Arrested in Chon Buri for public intoxication.
• April 23, 2013: Arrested in Uttaradit for fraud.
• September 17, 2015: Arrested in Phichit for fraud.
• September 20, 2015: Arrested in Pathum Thani for theft.
• April 5, 2015: Arrested in Pathum Thani for joint fraud.
• August 2, 2023: Arrested in Pattaya for fraud, with a subsequent warrant issued on August 11 for theft in residential and government premises.