An American man went on a violent rampage, painting the entire interior of a luxury rental home valued at 22 million baht, causing extensive damage before running into the village lake where he drowned. His girlfriend stated she did not know the cause, while the homeowner was shocked and never expected to encounter such a scene.
At 3:00 p.m. on 7 July 2026, Police Lieutenant Colonel Weeraphong Rupsuay, Deputy Investigation Officer at Bang Phli Police Station, received a report of a foreign man acting erratically and jumping into the lake of a luxury village in Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province. He, along with emergency doctors from Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital and volunteers from Poh Teck Tung Foundation, rushed to the scene.
The scene was a luxury house situated next to a large pond. Divers were searching for the missing person before finding the body of Connor Michael Murphy, 32, an American, about 20 meters from the shore. They recovered the body for examination on land. No wounds or signs of assault were found. The police sent the body for further autopsy at Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital.
Reviewing video footage recorded by Ms. A (pseudonym), a village staff member, showed the foreign man suddenly exhibiting erratic behavior without known cause. He ran and swam in the village lake until he became exhausted and submerged before witnesses' eyes. No one dared to enter the water due to its depth of over 10 meters, so they immediately called authorities. Divers from Poh Teck Tung Foundation searched for about 30 minutes before locating and retrieving the body ashore.
Security personnel at the village reported that the man went out and returned by a hired vehicle, which stopped at the security checkpoint. He offered the driver 1,000 baht, but the driver refused due to the man's abnormal behavior. Then the man approached a resident's car passing by, knocked on the window to get a ride inside, while security shouted, “Don’t pick him up.” The man then became agitated, shouting loudly and rolling on the road, making gestures as if praying to God. When police patrol arrived, he fled into the village and jumped into the lake to swim. Police called for backup and rescue teams, as they could not control him. Eventually, he exhausted himself and drowned.
Ms. B (pseudonym), 22, the deceased’s girlfriend, said they had been together for about three years but had lived apart due to incompatible lifestyles. They had reunited less than three months ago. Before the incident, their life was normal with no problems or signs of illness. She did not know why he suddenly became erratic that day and never saw him use drugs during their time together. The vandalism with paint happened during the previous night while she was asleep; he refused to sleep.
Ms. View (pseudonym), the homeowner, shared her shock upon seeing the house, which had been completely defaced with paint, including electrical appliances. She said she loved and cherished the house, a beautiful property by the lake currently valued at 22 million baht. It was rented out for 35,000 baht per month and had been leased for only three months. She had carefully chosen the tenant and never expected to find the house in such a damaged state, with furniture and decorations all destroyed.
Investigators from Bang Phli Police Station searched the house and the deceased’s car, finding two unused syringes on the front driver's seat and unidentified white pills in the deceased's waist bag.
Initially, investigators from Bang Phli Police Station, forensic doctors from Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Institute, and rescue personnel conducted an autopsy, finding bruises likely caused by rolling on the road. The rescue team will send the body for further examination to determine the exact cause of death, including drug testing. Evidence is being collected, and the American Embassy in Thailand has been notified to provide information about the incident.