KHON KAEN – Police have arrested a 58-year-old British man, Anthony James Condron, over the suspected murder of his 44-year-old Thai wife, Phatcharee Uraphanom (her name also appears as Pattanee or Phatree Urapanom in some reports).
The shooting happened at the Janpanom Farm Stay homestay in Khok Ko Subdistrict, Mueang District, Maha Sarakham Province, an area known for quiet farm stays and close local ties.
The incident took place on the morning of 27 January 2026 at about 11:00 am. Officers found the woman lying face up in the front yard, on or beside a motorcycle, with gunshot wounds that proved fatal.
Early information suggests she was shot as she tried to leave on the motorcycle, after an argument that had become more intense. Neighbours said they heard shouting before the shots, adding to concerns that it was a domestic violence incident.
Manhunt Ends with Arrest in Khon Kaen
After the shooting, Condron, reportedly from Witham, Essex, left the homestay in a white Isuzu pick-up. Police said he was armed with a 9mm Sig Sauer pistol. Officers from Don Wan District Station moved quickly to secure an arrest warrant for intentional homicide and set up checkpoints to track him down. With a firearm involved, police treated the situation as high risk.
Investigators later located him at a hotel in Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen Province. A joint team, including Region 4 investigators, Khon Kaen Provincial Police, and local officers, arrested him on the afternoon of 27 January 2026.
Police said the pistol was found hidden in the vehicle’s engine compartment. Condron was taken to Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station before being handed to Don Wan Police in Maha Sarakham for questioning and formal legal steps.
Local accounts say Condron had lived in Thailand for more than ten years and was retired. He and his wife were said to run the homestay together. People in the area described Phatcharee as well-liked and approachable, and police said she often helped in the community, including support for schools and charities. Her death has left many shaken.
Police Unsatisfied With Accident Claims
During early questioning, Condron reportedly claimed the shooting was accidental. He said he brought out the gun during an argument to scare his wife, and it went off. He also said he drove to Khon Kaen in fear, planning to see a friend.
Police said his version does not match the evidence and witness information gathered so far, and they are pursuing a premeditated murder case under Thai law.
If he is convicted of murder under Section 288 of the Thai Penal Code, he could face life imprisonment or the death penalty. The use of a firearm and the domestic setting may be treated as aggravating factors.
While Thailand does allow capital punishment, executions are uncommon, and some sentences are later commuted. The next steps are expected to include forensic work, witness statements, and contact with the British Embassy, which has been reported as monitoring the case.
Past Expat-Linked DomesticHomicide Cases in Thailand
The Maha Sarakham case has also brought renewed attention to past violent incidents involving foreign expats and Thai partners. Reported examples include:
- In 2018, British national Kevin Smitham, 51, was arrested in Ubon Ratchathani after his 29-year-old Thai wife, Kanda Smitham, died. Reports said the attack followed a dispute during a family visit. He later died in prison, with accounts describing the death as an accident or suicide.
- In 2008, British expat Ian Beeston was killed in Roi Et Province. Reports linked the case to a plot involving his Thai wife and her partner, with disputes said to involve property.
- Other cases have involved expats and Thai spouses or relatives, with reports often pointing to money problems, jealousy, or long-running relationship stress.
These cases do not reflect most mixed-nationality relationships. Still, they highlight how money pressures, poor communication, and unresolved conflict can turn dangerous when violence enters the picture.
Thai authorities continue to urge people to report domestic disputes early, so tensions do not spiral. The investigation in Maha Sarakham is ongoing, and Condron remains in custody as the case moves towards court proceedings.
