Thai Men Arrested for Murder of American Stephen Moorefella in Pattaya

Chan Twin Resort in Pattaya Chon Buri Province

PATTAYA – The Police in Pattaya have reported that Two young Thai  men who allegedly killed an elderly American man while robbing his residence were arrested at an internet cafe in Pattaya on Friday.

they broke into a house at Chan Twin Resort Pattaya and found Stephen Moorefella, 70, asleep

The suspects were identified as Anucha Warnruedee, 22, a native of Bang Lamung district in Chon Buri; and Sinwit Chuichai, 19, a native of Laem Sing district of Chanthaburi.

Mr Sinwit had an outstanding arrest warrant in Chanthaburi for more than 40 theft cases, said Pol Lt Col Prasit Mansri, an investigator at the Pattaya police station.

Police said the men told them that they broke into a house at Chan Twin Resort Pattaya and found Stephen Moorefella, 70, asleep on his bed on Aug 29.

Moorefella later woke up and saw them, the men said. As he was about to scream for help, they used wooden sticks to repeatedly hit him until he was unconscious.

They stole 8,000 baht, a mobile phone and an iPad and fled to an internet cafe.

Police took the two suspects for a crime re-enactment on Friday.

Journalists reported that police officers ordered reporters to not present the news of the arrest, as it was feared that it would cause negativity to Pattaya’s tourism.