Mental illness suspected after Thai man kills uncle before suicide

Police suspect a mental illness as the motive behind a Thai man’s killing of his uncle at their home in the southern province of Krabi. The incident occurred yesterday after the uncle complained about loud goat noises.

The victim, identified as 65 year old Sunthorn Treekun, was murdered and the incident was reported to Lam Thap Police Station at 4pm on November 29. Officers and a rescue team promptly responded to the call, rushing to Sunthorn’s residence in Tung Krai Thong sub-district of Krabi province, where they discovered his body outside.

Sunthorn had sustained a severe wound to his neck, nearly decapitating him. Additional injuries were noted on the left side of his head and back. His lifeless body was found in close proximity to the family’s pickup truck.

The killer was reportedly Sunthorn’s nephew, 35 year old Somkiat Duangchan. The family told police that Somkiat hid in the house after the murder and no one dared go inside as he still had a knife in his hand.

Officers checked the front door but it was locked, so they entered the house through the back entrance. They braced themselves for a possible attack from Somkiat but found his lifeless body at the front door. Somkiat hanged himself from a curved steel pattern of the door. The bloody knife was found next to his body.

Police questioned Somkiat’s father, Sompong Duangchan, about the motive for the murder. Sompong explained that he did not know the motive for the murder either, as Somkiat and Sunthorn had never had a conflict before.

Knife attack

According to Sompong, he and Sunthorn had gone out to find grass for their cows. On returning home, Sunthorn complained loudly that the goats were a nuisance. Without warning, Somkiat ran out of the house with a knife in his hand and attacked Sunthorn. Sompong said he was not sure if the attack was related to the complaint.

Police suspected Somkiat of mental illness after hearing from family members that he had withdrawn from friends and society in recent months.

Further investigation would be conducted into his mental illness and the motive for the murder.

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai), or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress, or depression. Seek help.