Woman Found Dead in Palm Plantation Identified as Prosecutor’s Mother-in-Law

[Georgealbert]

 

 

A chilling discovery in Wang Chan District, Rayong Province, has taken a new turn after the body of an unidentified woman was found in a palm plantation on the evening of November 15. Initially, authorities were baffled by the gruesome scene, but they have now identified the victim as 67-year-old Mrs. Wanna Kortner, mother-in-law of a prosecutor, who had been reported missing the day 

 

The victim’s body was discovered lying face down on a dirt road in the Pa Yub Nai Subdistrict plantation. She had a deep wound on her forehead, likely caused by a blunt object, and her neck showed signs of lacerations. Her ring fingers on both hands had been severed, presumably to steal her diamond rings. The body was in an early stage of rigor mortis, and the estimated time of death was six hours before its discovery.

 

Items including glasses, a hair clip, and severed finger fragments were found near the body. Authorities initially had no leads as the victim carried no identification.

 

Following the widespread coverage of the murder, Ms. Wannarat, the victim’s 35-year-old daughter, contacted Wang Chan Police Station after recognising the description. She confirmed that the victim was her mother, who had gone missing after attending a merit-making event in Sattahip, Chonburi Province.

 

Mrs. Wanna had been last seen leaving a temple with friends before vanishing without a trace. Her daughter filed a missing person report at the Sattahip Police Station on the morning of November 16. Upon seeing news of the body, Ms. Wannarat contacted authorities, who sent photos of the victim for confirmation.

 

The victim was last seen wearing valuable jewellery, including a five-baht gold necklace, a three-baht gold bracelet, and two diamond rings. These items, along with cash, are believed to have been stolen by the perpetrator.

 

Police suspect that Mrs. Wanna was lured from Sattahip to the plantation, where she was murdered. The severed ring fingers were found near the body, suggesting the killer aimed to steal the jewellery.

 

Preliminary investigations point to robbery as the motive, and the police are working to identify suspects. Officers have collected forensic evidence from the crime scene and are searching for any witnesses who may have seen suspicious activity in the area.

 

Ms. Wannarat, a government official in the prosecutor’s office, and her husband, who is a prosecutor, are actively assisting the investigation. She expressed her grief and called for the harshest penalties against those responsible for her mother’s tragic death.

 

Police are urging anyone with information about the case to come forward. The investigation continues as authorities work to track down the individual or individuals involved in this brutal crime.

 

Picture from responders.

-- 2024-11-17

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Suspect Arrested in Brutal Murder and Robbery of Prosecutor’s Mother-in-Law

 

 

Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder and robbery of a prosecutor’s mother-in-law, whose body was discovered in a palm plantation in Wang Chan district, Rayong. The suspect is reported to be someone close to the victim.

 

The victim, identified as Mrs. Wanna Kortner, 67, an employee of a prosecutor’s office, was found dead on November 15. Her body was discovered face down on a dirt road in a palm plantation in Pa Yub subdistrict. The gruesome crime scene revealed severe injuries, including a crushed forehead caused by a blunt object and a deep wound to the back of her neck. Both her ring fingers had been severed and were missing. Authorities estimated she had been dead for over six hours when her body was found.

 

The police have apprehended the suspect, identified as Mrs. Kamolwan Wolf, 56, a resident of Sri Racha, Chonburi, and a close friend of the victim. The arrest was made under a warrant for premeditated murder issued by the Rayong Provincial Court.

 

Pol. Lt. Gen. Somprasong Yen Tuam, Commissioner of Region 2 Police, ordered Pol. Maj. Gen. Thirachai Chamnanmor, Commander of the Investigation Division of Region 2, to coordinate with Rayong and Chonburi police to ensure swift action in the case.

 

Preliminary investigations revealed that Mrs. Kamolwan allegedly called the victim and picked her up from her home. The two then drove to Mrs. Kamolwan’s residence before heading to the crime scene, where the murder and robbery occurred. The suspect is accused of leaving the victim’s body in the plantation before fleeing the scene.

 

The suspect’s vehicle, which was used during the incident, has been seized for forensic analysis. Despite Mrs. Kamolwan’s denial of the charges, police have ruled out the involvement of any other individuals, citing substantial evidence linking her to the crime.

Authorities continue to investigate the case and are analyzing forensic evidence to strengthen their case against the suspect.

 

Pictures of the arrest courtesy of Matichon.

-- 2024-11-17

 

 

[Briggsy]

Is this a case of a mia farang killing another mia farang? Unusual.

 

The photo (uncaptioned) appears to have a possibly handcuffed farang in it. Is he also a suspect?

[Georgealbert]

5 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Is this a case of a mia farang killing another mia farang? Unusual.

 

The photo (uncaptioned) appears to have a possibly handcuffed farang in it. Is he also a suspect?

The story makes no reference to any foreigner being involved, but this picture of the arrest of the female suspect is being used by Thai media. The suspect has what appears to be a non-Thai surname, but no other details have been made public.

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The police have apprehended the suspect, identified as Mrs. Kamolwan Wolf, 56, a resident of Sri Racha, Chonburi, and a close friend of the victim.

So not really a close friend then.

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Foreign Husband of Suspect in Prosecutor’s Mother Murder Case Detained & Questioned

 

 

Rayong investigators have detained and questioned the foreign husband of a woman accused in the murder and robbery of the mother-in-law of a prosecutor. The arrest occurred after officers raided the suspect’s home in Sriracha, Chonburi Province, seeking additional evidence.

 

On November 17, at 11:00,  a team led by Pol. Col. Apichanan Wattanawarangkul, head of the Rayong Investigation Unit, along with forensic officers and Chonburi Immigration officials, executed a court-approved search warrant at a residence in Sriracha.
 

The operation targeted the home of Mrs. Kamonwan Wolf and her foreign husband, Mr. Wolf Waldemar, 68. Police initially believed that the husband had driven to stay in Pattaya after his wife was arrested, but he was at home when police carried out the search warrant.

 

During the search, investigators questioned Mr. Waldemar and collected DNA samples from the house for forensic analysis. The results will be compared with evidence from the crime scene. Authorities believe this could provide critical insights into the case.

 

Mrs. Kamonwan, who had scratches and bruises on her arms when arrested, has been formally charged with premeditated murder and remains in custody. Pol. Col. Apichanan stated that the collected evidence would be subjected to further forensic scrutiny to strengthen the case against the accused.

 

The investigation is ongoing as police work to piece together all evidence related to this crime. Pol. Col. Phatthana Roprue, Superintendent of Wang Chan Police Station, is preparing to call all relevant parties to a meeting to process the evidence and prosecute the suspect. He also expects to arrest accomplices because it is believed that there more than one perpetrator in this killing.

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

-- 2024-11-17

 

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Confession in Murder Case: Evidence Points to Possible Accomplices

 

 

In a shocking development, the suspect in the brutal murder of a prosecutor’s mother-in-law has confessed to the crime, revealing chilling details of the incident. Police remain unconvinced she acted alone and are expanding their investigation to identify potential accomplices.

 

Authorities detained Ms. Kamonwan Wolf 57, a close friend of the victim, as the prime suspect. She has now confessed, claiming she lured the victim to the crime scene and killed her single-handedly.

 

The suspect stated, she invited the victim to visit her brother in Wang Chan. The victim was hesitant but eventually agreed. They arrived at the plantation in the late afternoon.

 

The suspect recounted how she pulled the victim from the car when she refused to get out, citing the late hour. She then struck her repeatedly on the forehead with a metal pipe, continuing the assault until the victim stopped moving. After ensuring the victim was dead, she removed her jewellery, using the pipe to break her fingers to retrieve the rings, and discarded the severed fingers nearby.

 

The suspect then drove away, disposing of the murder weapon in a trash bin and the victim's damaged phone in a canal. She sold the stolen jewellery at a gold shop in Ban Bueng, earning 80,000 baht, which she used to pay off gambling debts. The next day, she cleaned her car but was later apprehended by police.

 

Key evidence leading to her confession included hair strands matching the suspect found under the victim’s nails, suggesting a struggle before her death.
 

However, police are not fully convinced by her testimony, suspecting others may have been involved. Investigators are working to gather additional evidence and locate possible accomplices.

 

Plans are planning to do a reconstruct of the crime scene based on the suspect’s confession on November 18. Authorities are determined to uncover the full extent of the crime and bring all perpetrators to justice.

This case has drawn widespread attention due to its brutality and the victim’s relationship to a prosecutor.

 

Picture courtesy of Khoasod.

-- 2024-11-18

 

 

[hotchilli]

On 11/17/2024 at 2:44 AM, Georgealbert said:

The victim was last seen wearing valuable jewellery, including a five-baht gold necklace, a three-baht gold bracelet, and two diamond rings. These items, along with cash, are believed to have been stolen by the perpetrator.

After leaving the merit making location seems she attracted some attention.

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
German Husband Breaks Silence on Wife’s Role in Murder of Prosecutor’s Mother-in-Law

 

 

In an exclusive interview with Thai media, the suspect’s husband, 68-year-old Waldemar Wolf, a German national, spoke from their home in a village in Si Racha, Chonburi. He recounted the events of that fateful day, stating that his wife had instructed him to stay home and not go anywhere. 

 

However, he had plans to meet friends in Pattaya for drinks and a football match. Ignoring her request, he left as planned, unaware of the events that would later unfold. He was later informed by the police that his wife had been involved in the murder. Waldemar expressed confusion, stating that he still doesn’t understand the true motives behind the crime.

 

After being questioned, the police are satisfied with his replies and is currently no longer a suspect as an accomplice.

 

Further investigation into the events surrounding the crime revealed key details from local witnesses. At a nearby gas station, a pump attendant shared his encounter with the suspect on the day of the murder. He recalled that she filled her car with 1,000 Baht worth of gasoline, visibly in a hurry and holding a large stack of money. After fueling, she sped off quickly, prompting suspicion in the attendant’s mind.

 

Additionally, at a local car wash, a worker revealed that Kamolwan had brought her vehicle in for cleaning, requesting that it be thoroughly washed. Upon inspection, a bloodstain was found on the passenger side of the car, but the worker did not think much of it at the time. After the car wash, the suspect gave the worker a kilogram of pomelo fruit as a gift before leaving the premises.

 

The investigation is ongoing, with police piecing together more evidence to determine the full extent of the crime and its motivations. The arrest has shocked the local community, and authorities are working to uncover any further details that may explain this brutal act.

 

Picture from gas station CCTV.

-- 2024-11-19