Thai man commits murder-suicide, kills 4 family members of ex-wife

A Thai man committed murder-suicide in the Isaan province of Sisaket, killing four family members of his ex-wife before taking his own life in his car. Only a 10 year old boy survived the incident.

Officers from Mueang Sisaket Police Station were alerted to a shooting at a house in Nong Phai sub-district, Mueang district, Sisaket province, at approximately 9.30pm last night, July 22. They rushed to the scene along with a rescue team.

Upon arrival, officers found two bodies outside the house: a 39 year old lawyer named Paramat Saman and his 64 year old mother-in-law, Yokmanee Kokraphan.

Two more bodies were found inside the house: 62 year old Boonluen Aphaiphong and the lawyer’s wife, 39 year old Duangduen Kokraphan, who was the school director of Ban Non E-pang School in the province. Boonluen was reported to be the lawyer’s uncle.

Paramat had been shot in the head, Yokmanee in the cheek, Boonluen in the forehead, and Duangduen in the mouth.

Duangduen’s 10 year old son was the only survivor, having hidden in a bathroom during the shooting. The boy was the son of Duangduen’s first husband who was a police officer.

Boonluen’s wife, 63 year old Datcharaporn Aphaiphong, told police she suspected Duangduen’s ex-husband, 42 year old Pathaphe Meebang, was the murderer. Pathawee was a school director in Buriram. Duangduen divorced Pathaphe and married the lawyer before he moved into her home two months before the shooting.

According to Datcharaporn, Duangduen ended the relationship with Pathaphe due to his abusive behaviour. After their separation, the two argued over the ownership of the house, as Pathaphe claimed he bought it alone.

Datcharaporn disclosed that Pathaphe had previously made violent threats against Duangduen and her family on multiple occasions. He also distributed leaflets in the community, claiming that the house belonged to him, not Duangduen.

Officers tracked down Pathaphe in the Isaan province of Buriram and found evidence confirming that he was the killer.

During the subsequent high-speed chase, Pathaphe parked his car and immediately committed suicide by shooting himself in his black sedan in front of the police.