In Sakon Nakhon, a drug-addicted son set fire to his entire house, then sat watching his destruction before shouting to neighbors that anyone who wanted anything could help themselves. The motive was anger at his parents working in Bangkok who often scolded him and refused to send money for his methamphetamine use.
At around 22:30 on the night of 11 April 2026, reporters reported a shocking incident when Chanchon, or Ne, aged 26, set fire to his own house in Khok Mai Lom Village, Wa Yai Subdistrict, Akat Amnuai District, Sakon Nakhon Province, causing neighbors to panic in the middle of the night and rush to extinguish the rapidly spreading flames.
The house involved was a two-story structure, half concrete and half wood. Chanchon sat watching the fire he had set before police from Akat Amnuai Police Station arrested him at the station in a drunken, incoherent state.
Witnesses said Chanchon told neighbors that anyone who wanted anything should take it. The fire then spread quickly, and he recorded a video clip as evidence.
Chanchon's aunt said that drug abuse is widespread in Akat Amnuai District. She suggested that Chanchon's act of burning his house was likely due to drug problems combined with heavy drinking. When he called his parents, who work in construction in Bangkok, to ask for money and was refused, he would become loud and yell insults at them on the home's CCTV camera.
Earlier that day, Chanchon asked his aunt if she knew whether his parents would return home for Songkran. When she said she did not know, he became irritated, then drove off to drink with friends. He returned late at night and set fire to his house.
Police removed Chanchon from custody for questioning. When reporters asked why he set fire to his house, he replied incoherently, still visibly intoxicated.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Manoon Poonjanad, Deputy Investigation Chief at Akat Amnuai Police Station, told reporters that Chanchon confessed to drinking with friends before returning home and using a lighter to ignite a pillow on the ground floor. He then took his big bike motorcycle out and sat watching the fire in front of the house, shouting to neighbors that anyone who wanted anything could take it.
His motive was anger at his parents who often scolded him. He admitted to using two methamphetamine pills before committing arson. He is charged with setting fire to another’s property and causing damage to their home. Legal action will proceed accordingly.