Murder-Suicide: Husband Kills Wife Before Taking His Own Life, Leaving 7-Year-Old Orphaned

Picture courtesy of Khoasod.

A 47-year-old man shot and killed his wife before turning the gun on himself in a suspected murder-suicide in Ban Na Doem district, Surat Thani province, in the early hours of the morning of 21 March. The couple’s seven-year-old son is now orphaned.

At 03:50, police from Ban Na Doem Police Station, forensic officers, and emergency responders were called to a single-storey house in a palm plantation in Tha Ruea subdistrict, following reports of a double fatality.

In the kitchen, officers found the body of Ms. Sasithorn, 42, lying on the floor in a rubber-tapping work clothes. She had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including one to her back, one to her chest, two on her right arm, and one on her left hand. A rubber-tapping knife and sharpening tools were found nearby.

In a bedroom, police discovered the body of her husband, Mr Anu 47, lying on the bed. He had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the right temple, with a revolver found next to him.

The victim’s 67-year-old mother, Mrs. Pornthip, who lived with the couple and their seven-year-old son, recounted that the previous day (20 March), Anu had come to her home to retrieve the revolver he had previously left in her care. He reportedly told her: “If I die, please arrange my funeral.”

Mrs. Pornthip explained that her son-in-law had a history of serious health issues, having previously been shot and undergone intestinal surgery. He had also received a synthetic abdominal implant, which had recently caused complications, requiring another expensive surgery costing over 100,000 baht. She believed that financial stress and health problems had pushed him to despair, but she never imagined he would kill her daughter as well.

A younger sister of Ms. Sasithorn stated that after Anu had shot his wife, he reportedly called another relative, instructing them to pick up his seven-year-old son, before taking his own life.

Police are continuing their investigation while the bodies have been transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for autopsy. The case has left the local community in shock, with many now concerned for the welfare of the orphaned child.

-- 2025-03-22