Wildlife Game Warden Who Killed Stepson Hunted by Police for 3 Days
Police in northeastern Thailand are on a manhunt for a wildlife game warden who allegedly burst into his estranged wife’s house and killed her 20-year-old son by a previous marriage as she and her new husband fled.
Mr. Phitphirun Phiraphop, 45, was being tracked down by over 100 police officers from Nakhon Ratchasima’s Provincial Police Region 3 office, local police, and wildlife game sanctuary officials.
Mr. Phitphirun is in charge of the Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary in Buri Ram province. According to reports, he has been hiding in a forest near or within the sanctuary.
On Sunday night, Natthapong Anthaisong, 20, was killed when Mr. Phitphirun opened fire with a shotgun. He was one of two children by Mr. Phitphirun’s estranged wife, Kalaya Anthaisong, 37, by a previous marriage.
Their relationship lasted about two years. A month ago, she left him because he was violent and jealous of her.
She, her new boyfriend, her youngest son, and her mother fled safely from their home in Pakham district, in the southwest of Buri Ram province.
Wildlife Game Sanctuary Truck Found
The early hours of March 13 found Mr. Phitphirun arriving at the Tambon Huthamnop house in a pickup truck from the Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary.
According to reports, he burst into the house and opened fire wildly with a shotgun, also taken from the sanctuary.
As the family fled in terror, his ex-wife’s son was shot in the neck and died on the spot.
On Monday, a pickup truck used by the assailant was found abandoned at Lam Nang Rong reservoir in the nearby Non Din Daeng district.
On Tuesday, the fugitive remained elusive as the manhunt entered its third day. The stolen shotgun had also not been found.
Residents at Non Din Daeng were urged to be extra cautious by police. In addition to committing a serious crime and being armed, Phitphirun was viewed as being a dangerous person.
On Tuesday, uniformed and plainclothes police were on-site to ensure the safety of mourners attending the cremation of the dead victim, killed by the wildlife game warden.
