A 31-year-old American man died after jumping into a lake at a housing estate in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan, on 7 July, following an apparent episode in which he allegedly damaged a rented house worth 22 million baht. Rescue divers recovered his body after he disappeared beneath water reported to be more than 10 metres deep, despite police and emergency responders being at the scene. Get today's headlines by email According to reports, the man, who was not named by authorities, had rented the lakeside property for 35,000 baht per month and had lived there for around three months. The homeowner said the property, valued at 22 million baht, had been extensively damaged overnight, with paint spread throughout both floors of the house and over sofas and other furniture. The homeowner said they were shocked by the destruction, adding that they had carefully selected the tenant before agreeing to the rental. The damage was discovered shortly before the fatal incident. A security guard at the estate told police the man had displayed unusual behaviour before entering the estate. The guard said he rolled around on the road and repeatedly raised his hands while praying to God. When patrol officers arrived, the man reportedly became frightened, ran from police and jumped into the estate’s lake. Witnesses said nobody entered the water because of its depth, estimated at more than 10 metres. Divers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation searched for around 30 minutes before recovering the body. The man’s 22-year-old girlfriend said they had been together for three years and that she had never previously seen him behave in such a manner. She believed the events inside the house may have happened while she was asleep. Police searching the rented house and the man’s vehicle found two unused syringes on a car seat and unidentified white tablets inside a waist bag. Officers have not confirmed whether the items were linked to the man’s behaviour. Investigators at Bang Phli Police Station have sent the body for a full post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death and to conduct toxicology tests for possible drugs or other substances. Police are also coordinating with the United States Embassy to complete the required procedures. Daily News reported that the investigation remains ongoing. Pictures courtesy of Daily News Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 8 July 2026
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