PHUKET, Thailand – A 36-year-old woman has been arrested after her 74-year-old mother-in-law was found dead inside a home in Chalong, Phuket, with police investigating the motive behind the fatal family dispute. Chalong Police Station received a report of a murder at a house on August 1. Officers were dispatched to the scene and found the body of 74-year-old Chantra lying in a pool of blood inside the property.
Police said the victim had suffered multiple serious injuries caused by a sharp weapon, including a fatal wound to the neck. Officers secured the area and collected forensic evidence before sending the body to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a detailed examination. The alleged attacker, identified as 36-year-old Sriwan, the victim’s daughter-in-law, was detained by local residents inside the house before police arrived. Officers later took her to Chalong Police Station for questioning. Thapanee, 34, who was the first person to discover the victim, told reporters that she was riding past the house when she saw the elderly woman lying near the entrance. She initially thought the woman may have fainted or suffered an accident, so she went to call relatives for help.
When she returned, the woman was still in the same position and blood was visible. She immediately called nearby residents for assistance but said she did not witness the attack itself.
Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert Sukhum said initial questioning of the suspect’s husband indicated that Sriwan had a history of receiving psychiatric treatment since 2016 and had continued medical care. According to police, the victim and the suspect were inside the house before a serious argument broke out. The confrontation allegedly escalated before the suspect attacked the elderly woman and used a knife during the incident.
Neighbors who witnessed part of the incident alerted authorities. When police arrived, the suspect was found hiding inside the bathroom and was taken into custody without further incident.
Police have charged Sriwan with murder and are continuing to collect evidence, including witness statements, forensic results, and the post-mortem examination, to determine the full circumstances behind the death. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and legal proceedings will continue based on the evidence gathered. (TNA)
