PATTAYA – Thai police are investigating a possible connection between an Australian man and two unsolved murders of similar circumstances. Simon Carman, 46, currently faces charges for the death of 17-year-old Thunchanok Donhomla. Her body was tragically discovered inside a black suitcase near a railway line in Pattaya.
Carman was arrested last Friday while attempting to leave the country at a local airport. He has claimed he acted in self-defence during a sudden dispute with the teenager. While he could face the death penalty if convicted, capital punishment is rarely carried out in Thailand.
Key Takeaways:
- Australian Simon Carman faces murder charges for the death of 17-year-old Thunchanok Donhomla.
- Police are exploring possible links to two similar, unsolved suitcase murders in the region.
- Carman denies murder, claiming he acted in self-defence during a late-night argument.
- If convicted, he could face the death penalty, though it is rarely enforced.
Authorities are now looking closely at two other cold cases in the nearby coastal area. These past crimes share chilling similarities with the recent death of the young teenager. Both previous victims were also found hidden in suitcases along with their personal belongings.
Police superintendent Anek Srathongyoo stated there is no direct evidence linking Carman yet. However, the identical nature of these crimes has prompted a deeper and more thorough review. The previous victims were also young women working in the local adult entertainment industry.
Investigators from different districts are collaborating to piece together any potential hidden connections. Pattaya City police are reviewing Carman’s movements to see if they align with the older cases. Carman had been renting a condo in the Jomtien Beach area for the past year.
The Night of the Incident
CCTV footage has provided a clear timeline of the events leading up to the tragedy. Video shows Carman and Donhomla holding hands while entering his apartment building early Thursday morning. Later that day, Carman was seen leaving the building alone to pick up some food.
Donhomla was never seen leaving the apartment on her own at any point. According to police, she had messaged her friends shortly after arriving at the condo. She told them she had arrived safely but noted that the room was quite messy.
That evening, security cameras captured Carman dragging a large black suitcase out of the building. He was seen strapping the heavy luggage onto the back of a motorbike and driving away. He returned less than an hour later without the suitcase, raising immediate suspicions.
Carman initially denied any involvement when questioned by the police after his arrest. He told officers that the teenager had simply left the condo while he was sleeping. However, after police confronted him with the recovered suitcase, his initial story quickly changed.
He alleged that a violent argument broke out over money, and she threatened him. Carman claims he acted in self-defence after she pulled a kitchen knife on him. In police footage, he pointed to scratch marks on his neck and arms as proof.
Despite his claims, he has expressed regret to the victim’s grieving and heartbroken family. He stated in a recorded message that the situation simply escalated out of his control.
A Grieving Family Seeks Justice
The victim’s father, Thongchai Donhomla, shared his profound sadness and shock with local reporters. He described his daughter as an independent girl who always tried to help her family. Her stepmother has publicly called for Carman to face the harshest possible legal punishment.
The teenager had only arrived in Pattaya a week before to visit a close friend. Police are currently speaking with her friends to understand more about her final days. The medical examiner confirmed she likely died from suffocation, with no other signs of beating.
Carman is currently facing multiple serious charges under the strict Thai criminal justice system. These include murder, concealing a corpse, and the abduction of a minor for indecent purposes. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the serious charges brought against him.
If found guilty of murder, the maximum penalty in Thailand is death by lethal injection. However, the Thai justice system rarely implements capital punishment, especially for foreign nationals. Most similar cases result in lengthy prison sentences ranging from 15 to 20 years.
The Australian government is currently providing routine consular assistance to Carman during this process. The police investigation is expected to conclude within 84 days from the date of his arrest. Until then, police will continue searching for any ties to the region’s other mysteries.
