Father Strikes Son with Machete, Breaking It in Two; Son Dies Shortly After Hospital Release During Psychotic Episode
A 59-year-old man in Ubon Ratchathani fatally struck his son with a machete during a psychotic episode, just days after the son's hospital discharge for psychiatric treatment.
On May 22, 2025, police in Muang Thao district, Ubon Ratchathani province, responded to a report of a fatal assault at a residential property in Ban Chat Charoen village, Hua Na subdistrict. Officers discovered the body of Pichit Chai, 32, lying dead beside a temporary shelter behind the main house. At the scene, investigators found a bloodstained machete broken into two pieces approximately 50 centimeters in length, lying about 5 meters away, along with a shovel with apparent blood residue on the handle.
The suspect is Charn, 59, the victim's father, who surrendered to police. During interrogation, Charn explained that his son suffered from a severe mental illness and had been hospitalized at Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Hospital previously. Most recently, on May 19, police transported the son to Khemarat District Hospital for psychiatric treatment due to violent behavior toward family members. The hospital discharged him after three days of treatment.
Upon returning home, Pichit Chai became delusional and threatened to burn down the house. When Charn attempted to stop him, his son became aggressive and tried to attack him. In self-defense, Charn struck his son with the machete, fatally wounding him. Police have charged Charn with causing death through assault and are proceeding with legal proceedings.
