In Chiang Rai, a man carrying a knife went to reconcile with a woman inside a house late at night. The former father-in-law sensed trouble and intervened. After a struggle over the weapon, the man was fatally stabbed in self-defense.
At 03:20 on 26 May 2026, Police Lieutenant Sitthichai Srichok, an investigator at Mae Sai Police Station, along with Police Sub-Lieutenant Theerawat Krueapanya, deputy inspector of Pong Ngam Public Service Unit, received a report of an assault at Muang Kham Village, Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province. They promptly went to the scene accompanied by Piyamit Mae Sai Rescue team.
At the scene, they found a man lying dead near an electric pole in front of a house. He was later identified as Mr. Songphon, 32. His body showed deep stab wounds all over. Mr. Ayee, the suspect, was present and waiting to surrender to the police.
Upon inquiry, it was learned that the deceased was the former son-in-law of Mr. Ayee. He had lived with Ms. Nam, 20, for about three years and regularly came in and out of the house. About a week before, the deceased came to Mr. Ayee’s home and hugged Nong Noi (a pseudonym), 12, Ms. Nam’s younger sister, and also touched her chest. This upset Mr. Ayee’s family, who then filed a complaint with Mae Sai Police Station. Ms. Nam immediately sought to separate from the deceased.
Later, around midnight, Mr. Songphon drove a bronze silver Isuzu pickup truck with Chiang Rai license plates to ask Ms. Nam for reconciliation. He forcibly tried to drag her into his vehicle. People inside Mr. Ayee’s house sensed danger and called a community leader for help, then took Ms. Nam to hide at a relative’s house, intending to discuss the matter in the morning.
At about 03:00, Mr. Songphon returned in the same pickup truck carrying a long knife about 1.5 feet in length. He went to the bedroom of Ms. Nam and Nong Noi. Those in the house woke and tried to stop him, leading to a fight. Mr. Ayee managed to wrest the knife from Mr. Songphon and stabbed him in the torso, causing Mr. Songphon to collapse and die.
Police Lieutenant Sitthichai Srichok and Police Sub-Lieutenant Theerawat Krueapanya inspected Mr. Songphon’s vehicle and found methamphetamine tablets and drug paraphernalia hidden in a bag inside the car. It was known that Mr. Songphon regularly used drugs. They also found another 1-foot-long knife concealed under the seat. The police collected the items as evidence and will further question the suspect before proceeding with legal action.