Police have taken Pond, the brother-in-law accused of brutally killing 22-year-old waitress Nong Praew, into custody and sent him to court. He admitted guilt, saying it was a momentary lapse of anger, and revealed where he hid her phone, but the gold jewelry is still missing.
Update on the case: Phanuwat Rintrawut, 31, from Khon Kaen Province, the brother-in-law who strangled 22-year-old waitress Nong Praew to death in a rented house in Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai Province. After his arrest, police found that some of Nong Praew’s belongings are still missing, as previously reported.
On the morning of 10 Mar 2026 at Hang Dong Police Station, officials escorted Phanuwat Rintrawut, or Pond, out of the detention room to board a police vehicle to be taken to Chiang Mai Provincial Court to face charges of intentional homicide.
While being escorted from the cell, Pond said he acted in a moment of rage, admitted to what he did, and apologized for his wrongdoing.
Regarding Nong Praew’s missing phone, on the evening of 9 Mar, detectives from Hang Dong Police Station took Phanuwat back to the crime scene for intense questioning. He confessed to placing the victim’s phone inside a cloth glove and hiding it in the kitchen ceiling of the house. Police then had Pond point out the hiding place and recovered the phone to return to the family. However, some valuables, including a 2-baht weight gold necklace and gold bracelets, have yet to be found.
At Nong Praew’s home, the atmosphere is filled with sorrow. Her parents and relatives have seen Pond’s interview clip and are upset, unable to accept his tone and behavior, which show no remorse despite taking the life of their family’s pillar.
“Sometimes, just saying sorry is not enough. We are left to hold this funeral with no money, even though these savings were meant for times when no one would be there to care for her,” the family shared.
Nong Praew’s father said he cannot accept the situation and feels Pond’s words do not match his actions toward his daughter. He wants Pond’s apology to be sincere, not just forced by the evidence, and calls on the perpetrator’s relatives to take responsibility and help with healing in whatever way they can, without demanding much.
On 11 Mar at 10:00 AM, Nong Praew’s parents and family will thank the police for arresting the suspect, then proceed to collect their daughter’s body from Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. At 2:00 PM, the cremation will take place at Si Muang Mueang Temple, Nong Han Subdistrict, San Sai District, Chiang Mai. On 12 Mar 2026, her ashes will be brought back home to Muang Naeng Subdistrict, Wiang Haeng District, Chiang Mai.