CHIANG RAI – A heartbreaking case has shaken a village in Rop Wiang, Chiang Rai. A 32-year-old man, described by neighbors as having a history tied to drug cases, allegedly stabbed his 64-year-old mother to death inside her boat-noodle shop before turning the knife on himself and suffering critical injuries.
Just before midnight on January 10, 2026, police from Mueang Chiang Rai Police Station were called to a violent incident at a noodle shop in Village No. 13 on Rat Bamrung Road, Rop Wiang Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Rai District. Investigators reported the case to senior officers and arrived with rescue workers from Siam Chiang Rai Foundation (head office) to check the scene.
The shop, located in a commercial building, was tightly locked from the front. Rescue workers cut the lock to enter. Inside, officers found the shop owner, 64-year-old Supaporn Hinnoon, lying on the floor with multiple stab wounds to her torso. There was a large amount of blood at the scene, and she later died from her injuries.
Nearby, police found her son, 32-year-old Phakhin, with a severe neck wound. Investigators believe he used a pointed kitchen knife, about one foot long, to slash his own neck after the attack. He was still alive when found and was rushed to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital in critical condition.
Neighbors told police that Supaporn had been running her noodle shop as usual earlier in the day. After the shop closed, they heard the son shouting and acting erratically, then loud noises came from inside. Concerned residents alerted police.
Officers arrived within minutes, but the locked door delayed entry. Once inside, they found both mother and son on the floor as described. Many locals said they were devastated, as they knew Supaporn well and regularly visited her shop.
Later, senior provincial police officers visited the scene and instructed investigators to carefully collect evidence, including information from the area and witness statements. Police initially reported that Phakhin would face a serious charge related to the killing of a parent, and the case would be pursued under Thai law.
Son assaults 72-year-old mother, victim dies
On January 11, police at Chun Police Station in Phayao received a report that a son had assaulted his mother at 104/1, Village 10, Hong Hin Subdistrict, Chun District. Officers and rescue workers responded to the single-story concrete house, which served as the home.
Inside, they found Ms. Pan Chomphu, 72, lying on the floor unconscious, with signs of severe physical assault. She was rushed to Chun Hospital, but later died due to the seriousness of her injuries.
Police identified the suspect as Mr. Banhan Chomphu, 46, her son. He was still at the house and did not flee. Officers took him into custody. A record check found he is a psychiatric patient with a brain-related condition and a history of aggressive behavior. Police gathered evidence and sent him to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. They said the next legal steps will depend on the doctor’s assessment.
Thailand is dealing with a serious, long-running drug addiction crisis. The biggest driver is methamphetamine, sold in several forms. The most common are cheap yaba pills (a meth and caffeine mix) and crystal meth, often called “ice.”
Supply has grown fast, fed by production and trafficking linked to Myanmar’s Golden Triangle. Regional meth seizures hit a record 236 tonnes in 2024, and Thailand has intercepted huge amounts, including reports of more than one billion yaba tablets.
With street prices sometimes as low as 20 to 30 baht per pill, use has climbed quickly. Young people are getting pulled in, and most users are working-age adults (15 to 59 years old), who make up over 95% of people with addiction.
The impact goes beyond health. It strains families, raises crime, and cuts productivity, which hurts the economy. Thailand has put more weight on treatment and harm reduction in recent years, but policing is still tough.
At the same time, a steady stream of low-cost synthetic drugs from nearby conflict areas keeps coming, and it keeps outpacing control efforts. That’s why the public health challenge remains deep in 2026.
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