Mentally ill man murders relative in Khon Kaen village

A young man suffering from mental illness attacked and killed a relative, who also had a mental illness. His mother discovered the body, slumped face down on the floor, covered in wounds and blood.

Police in Chum Phae, Khon Kaen, were alerted to a murder in Ban Mai Na Kham village. Officers, including Deputy Inspector Phumin Iam-ong and Police Colonel Rakchart Rueangcharoen, promptly responded.

The incident took place in a single-storey house at the edge of the village, where they found the lifeless body of 35 year old Ekachai (surname withheld), clad only in shorts and covered in slash wounds. Blood was splattered across the scene, indicating a violent struggle.

The victim’s 61 year old mother, Bunjan (surname withheld), recounted that her son had served as a conscript at Panurangsi Camp in Ratchaburi. He was later diagnosed with a mental illness and had been living alone in the house where the incident occurred.

Bunjan and her husband lived in another house in the same village. The evening before the murder, she had brought him food, a daily routine. The following morning, after returning from the temple around 8am, she found her son in a pool of blood, prompting her to alert her husband.

“My son was sitting face down, his body covered in blood.”

Investigators gathered information from villagers, learning that 50 year old Jirayu (surname withheld), a relative living opposite the victim’s house, also suffered from mental illness and was suspected of the crime.

When questioned, Jirayu’s responses were incoherent but bloodstains were found on his legs and feet, and his trousers were also bloodied. A search of his kitchen revealed a blood-stained knife, which forensic experts later confirmed to have human blood on it.

Police Colonel Rakchart Rueangcharoen stated that evidence points clearly to Jirayu, with blood on his clothes and the weapon used in the attack.

“Footprints matching those found at the scene further implicate him.”

Jirayu was taken into custody and charged with premeditated murder based on the evidence collected, reported KhaoSod.