Norwegian Man Found Hanging from Condo Rooftop in Pattaya, Ruled a Suicide

CHONBURI –  Police investigators in the resort town of Pattaya have confirmed a Norwegian man found hanging from a condominium rooftop on Wednesday had committed suicide, after examining his medical record and will, Pol Col Apichai Krobphet, Chief of Pattaya City Police said.

The man had cancer and received treatment at a hospital in Pattaya. He left a suicide letter and had made a will bequeathing his assets to his Thai wife.

Other evidence gathered by forensic police also pointed to suicide, Pol Col Apichai Krobphet said on Thursday.

On Wednesday morning they discovered the body of the 69-year-old Max Holden hanging , by a nylon rope around his neck against the outside wall of the high-rise, 3-4 meters below the rooftop. The other end of the rope was tied to a fire hydrant.

Police investigators said he put a nylon rope tied to a fire hydrant around his neck, sat on a rooftop corner and shot himself in the neck using a home-made gun triggered with the rope.

Statements made by hospital staff said the man went to the hospital 2-3 days before his death, and declared that in the event of his injured body being brought to the hospital, he did not want any treatment to prolong his life, the Pattaya police chief said.

His wife raised no doubts about his death, saying his actions prior to his death were as if he was bidding her farewell.

Investigators had thoroughly examined the scene of his death and found no traces of a struggle. Nobody else had been on the rooftop at the time.

They also found two heavy wooden chopping blocks, one with a metre-long steel pipe affixed to it and tethered to the rope.

The couple lived in a room on the 23rd floor of the condominium.

By Chaiyot Pupattanapong
The Bangkok Post