Ex-Son-in-Law Arrested After Killing Three Family Members
A 42-year-old man arrested in Pattaya confessed to killing three family members—his ex-girlfriend's parents and sister—in Nakhon Sawan Province on June 30, claiming self-defense when they confronted him during a burglary attempt.
At 1 p.m. on July 2, 2026, senior police officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau, including Deputy Commissioner General Suwan Saengnum and Provincial Police Commander Patthanasakdi Bubphasuwan, led a team to control suspect Samarn, 42, accused of killing three people—the parents and sister of his ex-girlfriend in Phisai District, Nakhon Sawan Province. The suspect guided police to a burial site in a cassava field in Mueang Phisai.
The investigation began on June 30, 2026, when village authorities reported that 78-year-old Huay, 69-year-old Tim, and 43-year-old Ms. Phiwatchaiporn had mysteriously disappeared from their home. Police found the front door locked from outside, CCTV cables cut, and signs of forced entry into the kitchen. Security footage revealed that Samarn, the ex-boyfriend of Ms. Phiwatchaiporn, had broken in around 2:30 a.m. on June 30 and driven away with the vehicle.
The suspect was eventually apprehended in Pattaya, Chachoengsao Province, where he had been hiding in a hotel room. Under interrogation, Samarn confessed to the murders. He admitted that he had previously dated Ms. Phiwatchaiporn but they had broken up. With an outstanding theft warrant and no money, he returned to their home at night to steal again. Upon arrival, he disabled the CCTV system and concealed a kitchen knife at his waist for protection during the burglary.
When the three victims emerged and discovered him, they confronted him with a Thai sword. Samarn claimed he acted in self-defense, using the knife to fatally stab all three. He then loaded their bodies onto a pickup truck and buried them in a cassava plantation 1-2 kilometers from the house before fleeing.
Samarn also confessed to two previous thefts from the same house: on April 21, 2026, he stole 114,000 baht, and on May 8, 2026, he stole 32,000 baht. The repeated success encouraged him to return, ultimately leading to the triple murder. Police led the suspect to the cassava field to locate the bodies.
