Thai hit and run suspect in US flees Chonburi home

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported on the case of a woman called Tubtim Howson who fled to Thailand after a fatal hit and run accident in Michigan at New Year.

 

Mrs Howson, 57, is wanted in the death of Michigan State University student Benjamin Kable, 22. She faces five years for the crime and five years for fleeing across state lines.

 

Reporters went to her house in a Chonburi housing estate and found that she had hurriedly packed up and left on February 8th.

 

The Thai media said that she arrived in Thailand alone on January 5ht after leaving the US two days prior and travelling via Finland.

 

At the Chonburi home where she stays with her US husband on Thailand visits, reporters found a gate open and lots of shoes by a door.

 

 

But pressing a bell went unanswered. A neighbor said they had not seen her and that two men live at the property. Police had been round but the neighbor thought they were friends of the house sitters.

 

A security guard said that he last saw her a week after New Year with a friend.

 

Then on February 8th he saw them hurried packing up stuff into a red car and leaving in a suspicious manner.

 

Police had been there most every day and he'd found out she was wanted in the US.

 

The suspect's husband remained in the US.

 

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RTP spokesman Pol Maj-Gen Achayon Kraithong said that no official notification had been received from the US authorities so there was no reason to act in the case as yet.

 

ubtim Howson in front of a car. File photo: FOX 2

[Rimmer]

Off topic post trying to hijack the topic has been removed also replies

[NotReallyHere]

She's been in the country since January 5th.  Living in her house in Chonburi until February 8th.  Thai Media is just now reporting this case.

 

Too little, too late...

[realfunster]

This is not going to end well for Ms Howson...who is literally the definition of the phrase "stop digging when you are in a hole."

 

From what I can see in the media, the circumstances around the crash are not clear and it is possible the victim was wandering in the road. Ms Howson of course would know the true circumstances, which may have influenced her decision making. Apparently, she was on her way to work early morning (6am) as usual, so you would expect it unlikely any substances might have been involved. Anyway, she has successfully managed to take a potential driving charge and add on two confirmed felonies for fleeing the scene and then fleeing the country. Truly great work !

 

I read elsewhere she is a US citizen and given this is a well-publicised case in the US, the FBI are already involved.

There will already be pressure from the US on Thai authorities to take action. I would expect her to be located in a few days and extradited thereafter.

 

Upon returning to the US, I think she could probably expect some tough justice, after all these shenanigans...

[mikeymike100]

1 hour ago, realfunster said:

This is not going to end well for Ms Howson...who is literally the definition of the phrase "stop digging when you are in a hole."

 

From what I can see in the media, the circumstances around the crash are not clear and it is possible the victim was wandering in the road. Ms Howson of course would know the true circumstances, which may have influenced her decision making. Apparently, she was on her way to work early morning (6am) as usual, so you would expect it unlikely any substances might have been involved. Anyway, she has successfully managed to take a potential driving charge and add on two confirmed felonies for fleeing the scene and then fleeing the country. Truly great work !

 

I read elsewhere she is a US citizen and given this is a well-publicised case in the US, the FBI are already involved.

There will already be pressure from the US on Thai authorities to take action. I would expect her to be located in a few days and extradited thereafter.

 

Upon returning to the US, I think she could probably expect some tough justice, after all these shenanigans...

Yes indeed, her best 'defense' now would be to return to the USA and give Herself up.

The longer she attempts to evade justice will make things worse, plus it can't be very nice having to look over your shoulder all the time?

[Yme]

Looks like she's not averse to wearing prison orange. 

[ignore it]

Poor woman has it all bass akward. 

You do a hit and run in America, flee the country and they come after you.

You do a hit and run in Thailand, flee the country and your good to keep going.

[Tropposurfer]

What a charming individual runs over someone, knows it, flees, then after ages of reflection on their crime and cruel, selfish indifference continues to flee.

[NotReallyHere]

2 hours ago, realfunster said:

 

There will already be pressure from the US on Thai authorities to take action. I would expect her to be located in a few days and extradited thereafter.

 

But that's just it...  The RTP spokesman in the article said the US authorities have NOT contacted the Thai authorities yet.  See the statement immediately above the picture of her and her BMW.

That's why she wasn't apprehended when she spent a month at her registered residence. (January 5th through February 8th).

 

 

Edited February 14, 2023 by NotReallyHere
typo

[mikeymike100]

 

12 minutes ago, NotReallyHere said:

But that's just it...  The RTP spokesman in the article said the US authorities have NOT contacted the Thai authorities yet.  See the statement immediately above the picture of her and her BMW.

That's why she wasn't apprehended when she spent a month at her registered residence. (January 5th through February 8th).

 

 

Correct, but it also says:

"Police had been there most every day and he'd found out she was wanted in the US"

 

So why have the police been round? Seems odd?

[GroveHillWanderer]

8 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

 

Correct, but it also says:

"Police had been there most every day and he'd found out she was wanted in the US"

 

So why have the police been round? Seems odd?

Well, in my experience police are a suspicious lot and would always tend to take an interest when someone they have reason to believe is a criminal and on the run internationally, is in their area.

[NotReallyHere]

5 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

 

Correct, but it also says:

"Police had been there most every day and he'd found out she was wanted in the US"

 

So why have the police been round? Seems odd?

Yes, and why didn't they put the house under surveillance and wait for her instead of repeated visits.

 

I would imagine they have her license plate number, cellphone number and bank account numbers.  Should be able to locate her pretty easily with those unless her Thai family are supplying her with alternate resources.  They should monitor the known family members also.  Expensive and labor intensive, but I don't think the RTP are too busy...

 

 

[John Drake]

4 hours ago, realfunster said:

Anyway, she has successfully managed to take a potential driving charge and add on two confirmed felonies for fleeing the scene and then fleeing the country. Truly great work !

And her husband had to be aware at the very least. Great advice there. Wonder if he and his US property are liable for a civil suit. She should contact the US Embassy and start the process of giving herself up of her own free will.

[Purdey]

Laws in every country tend to vary but without an extradition warrant it may be hard to get a person unless that person voluntarily returns. An American woman who killed a cyclist in a hit and run in the UK fled the country and has never returned for prosecution, while this Thai woman may never be handed over without a warrant from the US police. 

[d4dang]

....when her paper is low her friends will go...

[NotReallyHere]

42 minutes ago, Purdey said:

...while this Thai woman may never be handed over without a warrant from the US police. 

Warrants have been issued by the US police.

[NotReallyHere]

I am not a big fan of Fox News.  That being said, there is a good article with video posted a few hours ago.  Interview with the Sheriff of the the district.

 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/michigan-sheriff-worried-woman-charged-college-students-hit-run-death-try-avoiding-extradition

[kingstonkid]

2 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

 

Correct, but it also says:

"Police had been there most every day and he'd found out she was wanted in the US"

 

So why have the police been round? Seems odd?

RTP really can not do anything but watch because there is no paperwork that asks for extradition.  Until they have an extradition request as long as she does nothing wrong in Thailand, they can only watch.  

 

As to hubby he says he was out of the country while this happened it is possible that  he had no idea what happened or what she did until he got home adn that may have been after she left.

 

I wonder how much of her understanding to the RTP way of handling things affected her decision to stay away from police.

Edited February 14, 2023 by kingstonkid

[kingstonkid]

The RTP had probably been asked to keep an eye on her while the paperwork went through the American courts.

 

There is an easy way to find her, and the FBI will be able to do so by simply watching the bank accounts.  She is going to need money to live and will have to either get it from Hubby or her own bank accounts that the Feds can freeze.

[marin]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

An American woman who killed a cyclist in a hit and run in the UK fled the country and has never returned for prosecution,

She had diplomatic immunity. "Sue" does not.

[NotReallyHere]

6 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

The RTP had probably been asked to keep an eye on her while the paperwork went through the American courts.

 

There is an easy way to find her, and the FBI will be able to do so by simply watching the bank accounts.  She is going to need money to live and will have to either get it from Hubby or her own bank accounts that the Feds can freeze.

There are VERY easy ways around this if she has the support of Thai relatives.  I won't post examples here, but will say things are not as closely monitored here as they are in the West.

[kingstonkid]

55 minutes ago, NotReallyHere said:

There are VERY easy ways around this if she has the support of Thai relatives.  I won't post examples here, but will say things are not as closely monitored here as they are in the West.

Agreed but as her bank accounts are in the U.S. it would be easy to turn off the access.  Yes I am aware that there are other ways to send money but then Hubby would be opening himself up to aiding and abetting.

[ThaiFelix]

Its ok, I am sure she is hiding at her mothers house with her brother ( though hes not yet wanted by the police but just in case) 5555!

[mikebell]

23 hours ago, webfact said:

leaving in a suspicious manner.

Lots of looking over her shoulder and wearing a mask?

[Purdey]

15 hours ago, marin said:

She had diplomatic immunity. "Sue" does not.

Fortunately, a US judge has allowed  a civil case to proceed. 

 

US judge, TS Ellis, has said she must face the music, at least in civil court.

 

He ruled... that a lawsuit filed in the US state of Virginia by Dunn's family could go forward. They are claiming wrongful death.

On Wednesday, Judge Ellis said the family could also pursue a damage claim against Sacoolas' husband. She was driving his SUV when the collision occurred.

Judge Ellis chastised Sacoolas in a court teleconference last month: "Accepting full responsibility doesn't mean you run away."

[marin]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Fortunately, a US judge has allowed  a civil case to proceed. 

A very good ruling indeed.