In Ubon Ratchathani, a shocking incident occurred where a 65-year-old former village headman was brutally shot to death. He also showed signs of stabbing and lacerations across his body. The victim was found dead in a roadside ditch near a public canal in Trakan Phuet Phon district. Police initially considered three main motives for the murder and tracked the suspect fleeing across districts until the suspect was found dead in a car with a woman, believed to have committed suicide to evade charges.
At 20:54 on 31 August 2026, Police Lieutenant Attachai Thongbai, deputy investigator at Khok Chan Police Station, Trakan Phuet Phon district, Ubon Ratchathani province, received a report from a civilian about a severely injured man near the public canal "Kham Pa Siang" east of Ban Phon Mueang, Village No. 3, Trakan subdistrict, Trakan Phuet Phon district. He promptly went to the scene with an investigation team.
At the scene, the deceased was an elderly man with short hair, lying on his back. He wore a long-sleeved striped shirt in white, black, and gray tones, had a traditional woven cloth tied around his waist, and wore black long pants.
A body examination found two gunshot wounds to the abdomen, one stab wound, a laceration on the right side of the waist at the back, wounds on the left side of the neck, and blood coming from the mouth and nose. Authorities coordinated with rescue workers, the Ubon Ratchathani forensic team, and the duty doctor at Trakan Phuet Phon Hospital to inspect the scene following procedure.
Mr. Niwa Seemok, 46, the victim's son, stated the body was his father, Mr. Paiboon Seemok, 65, a former village headman of Ban Phon Mueang. His father left home at 17:00, saying he would bring grass for the cattle but did not return by evening. After several unanswered calls, Niwa checked nearby fields, found the cattle still outside the pen, and upon further checking, heard a phone ringing from his sister calling their father. Following the sound, he found his father shot dead in the public canal ditch.
Niwa added that the motive was unclear at this stage, and he could not confirm if it was murder. He doubted political motives were involved. Authorities are currently tracking the perpetrator.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Chaisit Thongruang, chief of Khok Chan Police Station, said that around 8 p.m. on 31 August, police received a report of a severely injured man east of Ban Phon Mueang, Trakan Phuet Phon district. Upon arrival, they found Mr. Paiboon lying on his back, deceased, with multiple gunshot wounds on his body and face. Medical and forensic teams were called to examine the scene.
Initial on-site inspection found three spent bullet casings.
Later that afternoon, the investigation team conducted a detailed re-examination of the scene and found an additional 9mm bullet casing and one copper bullet, which were collected as evidence.
The investigation team intensified efforts to track the suspect to Si Mueang Mai district, Ubon Ratchathani province, to gather further information.
Preliminary police investigations identified three main murder motives: 1. political conflict, 2. love affair issues, and 3. disputes over benefits. Based on testimonies from two witnesses and surrounding evidence, it is believed the motive likely involves disputes over benefits, though the exact nature remains under deeper investigation.
The actual perpetrator remains unidentified, with only a suspect under consideration. Authorities are compiling all evidence to weigh and incorporate into the case file.
The latest update on 1 September 2026 reports that Si Mueang Mai Police are investigating after finding the suspect's body in a car alongside a woman. A firearm was recovered, and it is suspected the suspect used the gun to harm the woman and then himself to avoid prosecution.