Thai man arrested for murder of his 10 year old daughter
Police arrested a Thai man who murdered his 10 year old daughter at a resort in the northern province of Uttaradit. He admitted to killing his daughter and attempting suicide but was too afraid to go through with it.
The dead body of the 10 year old girl, Napat, was discovered at a resort on Tuesday, April 9. Her father, 25 year old Sittanan, who had accompanied her to the resort, came under suspicion as the perpetrator. Resort staff observed him departing the scene unaccompanied on his motorcycle in the afternoon of that same day.
Officers from Mueang Uttaradit Police Station traced Sittanan’s phone signal to the border between Uttaradit and Prae provinces. However, the signal vanished a few hours later, complicating the officers’ efforts to locate him.
Yesterday, April 10, a resident in Uttaradit province alerted the police after spotting a motorcyclist who bore a resemblance to Sittanan from news reports. According to the witness, Sittanan was seen riding in the Thapla district of Uttaradit province.
Police finally apprehended Sittanan near the location provided by the witness. He was taken to the Thapla Police Station for questioning, which lasted more than four hours.
According to the police report, Sittanan confessed to killing his daughter. He explained that he was stressed about his debts and family problems. Feeling overwhelmed by the burden of taking care of himself and his daughter, he planned to kill the girl and then himself.
Suicide attempt
Sittanan said he wanted to give his daughter one last happy day. He took her to a shopping mall for a movie, food, and drinks before heading to the resort. While the girl was asleep, he suffocated her with a pillow until she lost consciousness and then cut her wrist.
Sittanan claimed that he tried to commit suicide multiple times after fleeing from the resort but he was too afraid to take his own life. He rode until he reached the Thapla district, where he tried to jump off a tree by the roadside but it was not high enough to be effective.
Sittanan was charged under Section 288 of the Criminal Law: intentional murder which will result in the death penalty, life imprisonment or imprisonment for 15 to 20 years.
Napat’s funeral was held at Sao Hin Temple in Uttaradit province, hosted by Sittanan’s parents.
Napat’s mother, who is Sittanan’s ex-wife, was also at the ceremony. During an interview with PPTV HD, she revealed that she divorced Sittanan five years prior and had not seen her daughter since. Sittanan had prevented her from having contact with Napat and had falsely informed the girl that her mother had passed away.
The woman added that Sittanan likely had significant debts, possibly incurred while borrowing money for a trip to work abroad, which ultimately led to his deportation. Some Thai news agencies reported that Sittanan had amassed a substantial debt due to online gambling.
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.
ORIGINAL STORY: Thai man disappears after allegedly killing his 10 year old daughter
A Thai man vanished after allegedly killing his 10 year old daughter at a resort in the northern province of Uttaradit on April 8.
Mueang Uttaradit Police Station officers were alerted to the death of the 10 year old girl, Napat, yesterday, April 9, by an employer of a resort. Upon arrival at the scene, employers led officers to room A6 where they found the dead body.
Police reported that Napat was lying face up on the bed and her body was covered with a blanket. Napat was in a T-shirt and shorts and bore cut wounds on her left wrist. A knife, which police believe was used in the crime, lay on the bedside table.
The resort’s employers told police that Napat arrived on April 8 at the resort with a Thai man, later identified as her father, 25 year old Sittanan. Around 10am on April 9, Sittanan left the resort alone on his motorcycle and did not return until the check-out schedule at 12pm.
The resort’s maid knocked on the door to inform Sittanan about the check-out but received no response. The maid and other employers decided to enter the room with a spare key and found the body of Napat.
Sittanan is suspected as the murderer and police are now conducting a further investigation to locate him. He was last seen on CCTV camera footage riding a motorcycle on Highway Number 11 Road at about 10.45am yesterday.
Divorce and depression
Sittanan’s father, who is also Napat’s grandfather, informed the authorities that both Sittanan and Napat lived with him. Sittanan went through a divorce and became a single parent. He opted to seek work abroad, but his employment was unlawful, leading to his deportation. This situation caused him significant stress, and he subsequently began to experience depression.
On April 8, Sittanan informed his father that he intended to take Napat to watch a film at a shopping mall in the city centre of Uttaradit. However, neither of them returned home after that.
The father added that Sittanan loved his daughter very much and would be surprised if Sittanan murdered the girl.
Sittanan’s mother disclosed that her son apologised to her in a message.
“Mother, I’m sorry. You don’t have to worry about me anymore. I love you.”
The mother said she tried to contact Sittanan but he did not answer the phone. The last message from Sittanan was sent at around 10.30pm last night, saying “I’m sorry.”
The police investigation continues.
