The abbot of Wat Sanam Chai in Ayutthaya has been missing for over a month after calling a car via an app to take his son somewhere, reportedly carrying a hundred thousand baht. Contact has since been lost. Relatives are concerned due to ominous dreams of the abbot visiting their home but not speaking to anyone.
Updates on the case of Phra Kru Palat Sombat Sirisuwanno, age 58, abbot of Wat Sanam Chai in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, who mysteriously disappeared on 17 Mar 2026, now over a month ago. The abbot had informed the temple administrator that he would travel to pick up his son, who suffers from a mental illness and was undergoing treatment at Ban Phueng Suk in Ratchaburi province, to temporarily leave him with his former wife in Khon Kaen province. Since then, no one has been able to contact him. Recently, the family and the monastic community have jointly appealed to the sedan driver hired via an app, who was the last person seen with the abbot, to come forward with information.
On 20 Apr 2026, at Wat Sanam Chai in Ban Pom subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district, Phra Wachirophat, deputy provincial monk dean of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and abbot of Wat Sala Pun Worawihan, traveled to the area to follow up on the case and held discussions with the temple committee, temple monks, and local villagers.
Phra Wachirophat revealed that the abbot of Wat Sanam Chai had served for over 20 years. He is a monk dedicated to developing and supporting Buddhism continuously, with good conduct and no complaints of disciplinary violations. He regularly attended monastic meetings without absence and never consulted anyone about stress or personal problems, except for concerns about his health, fearing he might have a serious illness despite not having undergone an official medical examination yet.
The monastic community has been continuously monitoring the situation and is concerned for the abbot's safety due to his prolonged absence. Meanwhile, it is necessary to appoint an acting abbot temporarily to manage the temple's affairs in accordance with regulations and laws.
Phra Wachirophat also requested the cooperation of the sedan driver who picked up the abbot from the temple to contact the temple or coordinate with the police to provide information about the travel route and destination, as the abbot has not yet returned to the temple.
Phra Wachira Thitadhammo, a temple monk at Wat Sanam Chai who sent the location to the car, revealed that on 16 March at around 8 p.m., the abbot gave him his mobile phone to send the temple's location via the Messenger app to an unknown person. Normally, the abbot rarely used social media and usually asked temple monks to help send locations to relatives. About 30 minutes after sending the location, a sedan car parked in front of the temple near the statue of Thao Wessuwan. The license plate was not noted, and then the abbot left the temple in the car.
Phra Wachira added that the abbot is a monk of good conduct who carefully cares for the temple and monks. His disappearance has caused great concern, and they hope for good news soon.
Meanwhile, reporters visited the home of the abbot's former wife in Nong Ruea district, Khon Kaen province, and met Ms. Sukanya, 58, the former wife, and Mr. Pongsakorn, 28, the abbot's son who was brought there.
Ms. Sukanya revealed that on the morning of 17 March, the abbot called her to pick up their son in the evening, expecting to arrive at Nong Ruea district around 6 p.m. At that time, she was working casting Buddha images at a temple in Phu Wiang district, Khon Kaen. At 5 p.m., she left to pick up her son. During the trip, the abbot called to say he had arrived and told her to meet at a market in the district, though she did not know which market as there were several. Nearing Nong Ruea, the abbot called again to ask where she was. She said she was close and asked which market it was. She heard the driver say "the market in front of the district office." The abbot asked the driver how he knew, and the driver pointed to the sign. The abbot confirmed it was in front of the district office. She then drove behind the police station, next to the district office, and saw the abbot standing in front of the car with their son nearby, so she honked to call them.
When the son saw her, he came to the car and placed a bag of medicine on the seat, then went back to the abbot in the sedan. The abbot counted money in the bag and handed it to the son, while the driver stood in front of the car. The son then went to the bathroom while she waited in the car. At the moment the abbot walked to the driver standing in front of the car, he told her he needed to hurry back to the temple for the summer novice ordination, as the novices were already waiting. Then he got into the car and left. Not far away, the son realized he had forgotten his phone and called the abbot to bring it back. The abbot returned the phone and then drove back but could not be contacted afterward.
On 22 March 2026, she called and messaged the abbot via LINE, but there was no answer and messages went unread. She then tried calling, but the phone was switched off. She did not suspect anything at first until 7 April 2026 when her son called to say that people at the temple had been trying to contact the abbot because he still had not returned. She then contacted the abbot's relatives and learned from his younger brother that he had spoken to the abbot last. The abbot said he was on his way back to the temple, but when he called again, the line was cut, the phone switched off, and no further contact was possible.
The former wife also said the abbot usually carried cash as it was more convenient than using apps. She wants to meet the sedan driver who picked up the abbot, as he was the last person with him. She does not believe the abbot would have gone into seclusion since there are many temple duties awaiting him, and he is very concerned about his son. She worries the abbot might have passed away because if he were alive, she believes he would have contacted her. She hopes the police will help solve the case.
Since the abbot went missing, family members have dreamed that he came to their home but did not speak.