Community Udon Thani: Woman Found Dead in Pond After Conflict with Children Over Work

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A 54-year-old woman was found dead in a pond in Udon Thani province after reportedly becoming despondent over her children’s insistence that she stop working. The tragic discovery was made at approximately 19:30 on 12 May, in the Nong Na Lam community, Sam Phrao subdistrict, Mueang Udon Thani district.

 

Police Lieutenant Songphop Khamjai of Mueang Udon Thani Police Station, along with rescue divers from the Udon Thani Dhamma Foundation, were called to the scene after receiving a report of a possible drowning. The pond, around four metres deep, took more than 20 minutes to search before the body of the deceased, identified as Ms. Ladda, 54, was recovered.

 

According to preliminary forensic findings, the cause of death was  drowning. Her body was transferred to Udon Thani Hospital’s Suwankhadee mortuary pending further arrangements by her family.

 

Close friend Mr. Pieak, also 54, who was under the influence of alcohol at the time of questioning, told police that Ms. Ladda had sold clothes in the city and often confided in him when she was distressed. He noted that she had repeatedly expressed sorrow over her children’s decision to prevent her from working following a recent motorbike crash, in which she collided with another person. Her children paid 20,000 baht in damages and asked her to stay home, assuring her they would support her financially.

 

“Yesterday, she told me she wanted to die,” Mr. Pieak said. “I tried to comfort her. Today she came by again, we had a drink and I made her something to eat. But when I came back with the food, she was gone.”

 

Fearing the worst, he began searching the area and contacted authorities after recalling her earlier comments about ending her life in the pond nearby.

 

Another local resident, 71-year-old Ms. Phunsap, the owner of the pond, said she knew the deceased well and had seen her regularly with Mr. Pieak. She described an emotional final encounter earlier that evening when Ms. Ladda hugged her tightly, massaged her arms and legs, and said, “Mother, I want to die.”

 

“I told her not to speak like that,” Ms. Phunsap recounted. “She then bowed down and touched my feet before saying goodbye. I never imagined she truly meant it.”

 

The case has left the local community shocked and saddened. Friends and neighbours recalled Ms. Ladda as someone who found joy in working and who struggled emotionally with the idea of staying idle, despite her children’s good intentions.

 

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress or depression. Seek out help.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-05-14.

 

 

[Georgealbert]