Police in northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai province have reported that three people have been found dead in an apparent murder suicide in a remote village of Ban Huai Bong, approximately 125km from north of Chiang Mai city.

According to Thai Media Chiang Mai Police were alerted to the gruesome killings at about 11am after the six-year-old girl, ran to a neighbour for help after being slashed with a knife by her father. Police said the little girl was rushed to hospital by villagers for treatment for wounds.

When police and rescue worker arrived at the scene the found the body of an 11-year-old girl on the ground outside the house, she had multiple stab wounds to her body. Upon entering the home they found a dead woman on the floor and a man hung from a roof beam of the home.

According to the village headman the man identified as Mr. Su-Uai was under tremendous stress and had complained earlier over his lack of money to feed his family. He said Mr. Su-Uai was a good man and had never hurt anyone in his family before.

A family member told police that she had come an hour earlier to pickup the youngest daughter age 2 after Mr. Su-Uai asked for help because she was crying all the time and he needed a break. She said the child’s mother was unwell and Mr. Su-Uai had been dealing with his sick wife and 3 children all alone.

Chiang Mai murder suicide — Rescue workers took the 6-year-old child to the local hospital – Police image

When police interviewed the young girl with the assistance of an Omkoi District Public Health Officer she said after her grannie had pickup up her 2 year-old sister her father flew into a rage. He stabbed her mother, in fear they fled for the door with their father chasing them.

He stabbed the 11 year-old multiple times and she fell to the ground, he then lunged at the 6 year-old slashing her several times before she managed to flee after her father slipped and fell onto the muddy ground. She then ran to her grannies house for safety.

Her grandmother immediately called for help and summoned the village headman and other villagers. When they arrived at the home they found the dead bodies of the father, mother and their 1 year-old daughter.

Pol. Col. Phrommin Inthanon, Superintendent of Omkoi Police Station, said that forensic officers have been contacted to inspect the scene of the incident, but it is likely to take some time due to the difficulty of travel.

He said from the district, was about 40 kilometers of muddy road travel, and it took almost 7 hours to travel there. A tractor was required to clear the way for the officers to go and inspect the scene.

Pol. Col. Phrommin said that the two children who survived may face problems in the future because only the grandparents are left with illness and little to no income. If relevant agencies or kind-hearted people offer to help, it would be good for the two children.

However, he said there is no conclusion on the channels for assistance yet. The grandparents have to wait to coordinate with the Department of Social Development and Human Security first.

Ban Huai Bong is approximately 125 kilometers from Chiang Mai city, and the route from Omkoi District to the village is rugged during the rainy season. Travel in and out is only possible with large-wheel drive vehicles, and the total travel time to the remote village can take hours depending on road and weather conditions.