American man commits suicide in Rawai

RAWAI: Chalong Police are treating as suicide the death of an American man found hanged from a bridge behind the Rawai Municipality offices early yesterday morning.

Lt Col Chana Suthimas of the Chalong Police identified the man as Duane Willis Daugherty, aged 45.

A local resident called Chalong Police at 6:30 am, immediately after discovering Mr Daugherty’s body, Lt Col Chana said.

The body was suspended by a red nylon rope tied to a railing on the bridge over Klong Pakpang, he said.

Local residents assisted in recovering Mr Daugherty’s body from its position several meters above the canal, Lt Col Chana said.

Police found no evidence of foul play and recovered a suicide note from Mr Daugherty’s pocket, he added.

The letter confirmed that Mr Daugherty had taken his own life and contained a request for a friend to organize a funeral in Thailand, said Lt Col Chana. The letter also indicated that Mr Daugherty had emailed his sister with the reasons he wanted to die, the police officer added.

Lt Col Chana ruled out the possibility of murder.

He estimated the time of death at about two hours before the discovery of the body.