PATTAYA – Police officers arrested a forty-two-year-old man in Pattaya for allegedly killing three members of a single family. The suspect reportedly confessed to murdering his former girlfriend and her elderly parents during a late-night home robbery.
Authorities discovered the three missing bodies buried deep inside a local cassava plantation in Nakhon Sawan province.
According to Thairath, the brutal crime occurred after the suspect broke into the house to steal cash. The suspect claimed he acted in self-defense after the victims caught him cutting the home security cameras.
Key Takeaways
- Thai police arrested Samart Prueksa in Pattaya for the tragic murder of three family members.
- The suspect buried the bodies in a cassava field after a failed robbery attempt turned deadly.
- Investigators discovered that the suspect had successfully robbed the same family two times before.
Family members first realized the victims were missing when a local village chief noticed the locked front door. Officers inspected the house and found severed security wires along with clear signs of forced kitchen entry. Remaining surveillance footage showed the suspect sneaking into the property before driving away in the family vehicle.
The suspect fled Nakhon Sawan and abandoned the stolen pickup truck near a canal in Pathum Thani. He then traveled to a hotel in Chonburi province to hide from law enforcement operations. Elite Hanuman special operations forces tracked his movements and arrested him during a midnight raid in Pattaya.
Suspect Claims Self-Defense
During the interrogation, the suspect admitted he previously targeted the home for easy financial gain. He confessed to stealing large sums of money during two separate break-ins earlier that year. The suspect stated he brought a kitchen knife this time because he anticipated a potential confrontation.
The suspect alleged the victims woke up and attacked him with a traditional Thai sword. He then stabbed all three individuals before loading their bodies onto a truck for disposal. A team of forensic experts dug up the plantation area and confirmed the three missing bodies.
Senior police commanders led the suspect back to the crime scene to verify his detailed confession. Forensic doctors are currently performing autopsies to determine the exact cause of death for each victim.
Meanwhile, Residents expressed deep shock over the violent deaths of the well-known elderly couple and daughter. Prosecutors are now preparing multiple severe charges, including premeditated murder and nighttime robbery against the suspect.
