Couple Found Dead in Lampang Shophouse; Murder-Suicide Suspected
A husband and wife were found dead in their Lampang shophouse Thursday night after family grew concerned when unable to contact them; police suspect murder-suicide.
LAMPANG — A husband and wife were found dead inside a two-storey shophouse in central Lampang on Thursday night after their child became concerned when they could not be contacted for several hours.
Police at Mueang Lampang Police Station were alerted at about 20:30 to the deaths at a shophouse opposite Wat Si Koet on Rob Wiang Road in Hua Wiang subdistrict, Mueang Lampang district.
Investigators, a doctor from Lampang Hospital, provincial forensic officers and Sawang Nakhon Lampang rescue workers were called to the scene.
Relatives had contacted authorities after being unable to reach the couple since late morning. Rescue workers forced open the locked front door and entered the building.
Inside, officers found the body of a 58-year-old man, identified as Lek, near the second-floor stair railing. His wife, who was around the same age, was found dead on a bed in a bedroom.
Police said the woman had marks around her neck and a length of rope was found inside the room.
Investigators initially suspect that the man may have killed his wife before taking his own life. However, police said the circumstances remain under investigation pending autopsy results, forensic examination and further questioning of witnesses.
Police were told that earlier that morning, Lek had sent a message to the couple's child saying, "Goodbye." The family was unable to contact him afterwards, prompting the request for authorities to check the home that evening.
Monks at nearby Wat Si Koet told investigators that the couple occasionally borrowed small amounts of money from monks at the temple, usually around 300 to 500 baht. The abbot had previously lent them about 1,000 baht to help with their fruit smoothie business.
According to the monks, the couple would sometimes repay the money before later borrowing again.
Customers and delivery riders familiar with the couple described them as friendly and polite. They sold inexpensive fruit drinks, with prices starting at 20 baht per cup, and those who knew them said they had not expected such an incident.
The couple also kept about four or five cats. Rescue workers searched the property but could not locate them, so they left cat food inside the house in case the animals returned.
Police are continuing to investigate the deaths, with financial difficulties and debt among the possible factors being examined.
