Daughter-in-law Arrested After Killing Mother-in-law in Phuket Home

A 36-year-old daughter-in-law has been arrested on suspicion of fatally attacking her 74-year-old mother-in-law at a home in Muang District, Phuket. Police are investigating the motive and gathering evidence for prosecution. The suspect has been receiving psychiatric care since 2016.

Family members interviewed at the scene expressed shock at the incident and the suspect's behavior. The home has been cleaned, with bloodstained furniture placed outside. The victim's sister-in-law said a child alerted her to blood outside, and she arrived to find the suspect attacking the victim. She said the suspect then stared at her menacingly.

The sister-in-law explained that the victim normally lived with the daughter-in-law, while her son resides in Bangkok. She said the suspect had been caring for the elderly woman very well since arriving in January—washing her clothes, helping her bathe, and bringing her breakfast daily. "We don't understand why she would do something like this," the sister-in-law said. "They seemed to get along so well."

A neighbor who discovered the victim said she first saw her lying outside the door with blood. When she returned on her motorcycle, the victim was still lying motionless with her leg extended.

Police Colonel Sinlerp Sukum, commander of Phuket Provincial Police, said the attack occurred around 9 a.m. No one heard screams. During questioning, the victim's son revealed that the suspect has been undergoing psychiatric treatment since 2016 and continued regular appointments.

The household consisted of three people: the elderly mother, her husband, and the suspect, who had lived together for about 10 years. The suspect had been providing good care, cooking meals and changing her mother-in-law's clothes. The victim's health had been declining. Her husband works in Bangkok and was scheduled to catch a flight this morning when he learned of the incident. Police have charged the suspect with murder.