Stepfather Admits to Drunk Fall That Killed 3-Year-Old Stepson
A 19-year-old man has confessed to striking his 3-year-old stepson while drunk and falling in Mukdahan, resulting in the child's death. Both the stepfather and the boy's mother are facing drug possession charges after testing positive.
A 19-year-old stepfather has confessed to accidentally striking a 3-year-old stepchild with his knee while drunk and falling, resulting in the child's death. The biological mother, age 24, initially claimed the boy had a high fever and had lost consciousness before being rushed to hospital, but doctors discovered bruises across his body. Police arrested both the mother and stepfather, Nai Lokhine, and are pursuing drug possession charges after both tested positive for drug use based on purple-colored urine samples.
Nai Lokhine, 19, has been remanded in custody at Mukdahan Provincial Court. He confessed that on the night of July 28, while the boy's mother was out topping up her mobile phone credit at a neighborhood stand, he was alone with the child while intoxicated. He claimed he stumbled and fell, his knee striking the child's abdomen forcefully, causing the boy to become unresponsive. The next morning, the child showed signs of distress with diarrhea and remained unresponsive, prompting the mother to call for an ambulance to Mukdahan Hospital.
Police Colonel Phrairojn Thaiphuttra, commander of Mukdahan Provincial Police, revealed that investigators have interviewed four witnesses and plan to call 2-3 additional witnesses for further statements. Preliminary autopsy findings show bruises on the child's body, but doctors cannot yet definitively determine the exact cause or what inflicted them. No signs of struggle or physical violence were found inside the residence. Both adults have been charged with drug possession, while the cause of death and all bruising patterns will be examined through detailed autopsy to properly pursue criminal charges.
Nai Lokhine's mother stated that she lives in a separate house and works in fields, so she did not witness any abuse. She said she was ill and sleeping in another house on the day of the incident, which prevented her from hearing any unusual sounds. She noted that Nai Lokhine has suffered from mental illness since age 10 and requires medication. The boy's mother moved in with them only recently.
Neighbors, however, reported frequently hearing the child crying continuously over several days, and each time the child cried, loud music would play simultaneously, suggesting an intentional effort to mask the child's cries.
