A 79-year-old retired teacher was found murdered with her throat slashed at her home in Bueng Kum. Police suspect a Lao maid who has disappeared and cannot be contacted. Two motives have been set: resentment over being fired and refusal to lend money.
At 13:00 on 21 Jan 2016, Police Lieutenant Colonel Pichet Konpaeng, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at Bueng Kum Police Station, received a report of a woman murdered inside a house in Khlong Kum subdistrict, Bueng Kum district, Bangkok. He went to investigate along with Police Major General Kampanat Arunkhiriroj, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 4; Police Colonel Pongjak Jakurak, Deputy Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 4; Police Colonel Thanyaphat Boonsuk, Superintendent of Investigation, Metropolitan Police Division 4; Police Colonel Sanya Ubonwiratna, Superintendent of Bueng Kum Police Station; Police Lieutenant Colonel Thitiwut Ronkaew, Deputy Superintendent of Patrol; Police Lieutenant Colonel Athippong Pandang, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation; detectives from Bueng Kum Police, forensic doctors from Police General Hospital, forensic officers, and volunteers from Poh Teck Tung Foundation.
The scene was a two-story detached house with a fully fenced yard. On the ground floor, the body of Ms. Somsawat Songsampan, 79, also known as Aunt Moo, a retired teacher, was found lying on her back in a pool of blood in front of a room door. She wore a black collared shirt and black long pants. Her face was severely disfigured with wounds consistent with being slashed by a knife and struck with a blunt object. There was a deep cut wound on her neck. Nearby, a sack containing clothes was found next to a trash bin by the side of the house, which officials collected as evidence. Ms. Bua, or June Sihawong, 25, a Lao national who worked as a maid, has disappeared.
Ms. Sumalee Chaikong, or Aunt Toi, 53, a neighbor, explained that the victim had lived with two Lao maids for over a year. The day before the incident, around 6 p.m., she saw one maid leave the house carrying a bag. When asked where she was going, the maid said, "Aunt Moo fired me and will hire a new maid because she accused me of sleeping too much and not working." After that, the neighbor did not pay much attention, considering it a private household matter.
However, the neighbor noted that she had never seen this maid bring anyone to the house, except once when a man was seen talking with her two or three days earlier. That morning, the victim was not seen leaving the house as usual, so the neighbor looked through the partially rolled shutter door and saw only the victim's legs. She then called the police for assistance.
Ms. Somlak Songsampan, 78, the victim’s younger sister, revealed that she last spoke with the victim the afternoon before. The victim called complaining that she would no longer keep the maid because she was lazy. Ms. Somlak replied that she was busy and did not pay much attention. She also said she had visited her sister a week earlier and always saw the maid there, who seemed normal.
Police Colonel Sanya stated that initial investigations found the victim had facial wounds resembling knife cuts. The suspect is the maid living with the victim who has since disappeared. No weapon has been found yet. The likely motive is that the victim had dismissed the maid. Authorities have tried to contact the maid but have been unsuccessful. Further investigation is ongoing, including checking if any property is missing.
Based on the investigation, authorities believe the perpetrator is Ms. Bua. They consider two possible motives: anger over being fired and a dispute where Ms. Bua asked to borrow 8,000 baht from the victim but was refused.