Family reveals suspicious circumstances in the mysterious disappearance of a Hmong-Thai woman in Laos after traveling with her ex-husband, who has already flown back to the United States. It was found that she had warned that if anything happened to her, there would be only one perpetrator.
The case concerns the disappearance of Ms. Thasanee Saelee, 45, a Hmong-Thai woman from Khao Kho District, Phetchabun Province, who went on a trip with her ex-husband to Laos at the end of December 2025. After losing contact, her relatives searched and filed a report but found no trace, prompting them to post on social media to help find her.
The latest update: reporters met with Mr. Winyu Mongkolkeeriroj, 27, son of Ms. Thasanee. Winyu sadly explained that his mother divorced his father before falling in love with George, a Hmong-American man who came to film a Hmong movie in Khek Noi Subdistrict around 2011. They had a traditional Hmong wedding about 2014 and lived as husband and wife, having a daughter, Winyu's younger sister, who is now 13. Winyu, his mother, and sister live in Khek Noi, while George, the stepfather, traveled back and forth from America, visiting the house 2-3 times a year, staying 1-3 months each time, then returning to the US, continuing this pattern.
George already had a wife in the US with several children. Winyu's mother was his second wife. Around two years ago, George took Winyu's sister to live in America for better education. George was often jealous of Winyu's mother because of her beauty, leading to frequent arguments and physical abuse. Winyu would always intervene. About two years ago, they separated after a fight but did not fully break ties, as George continued to come and go, with on-and-off reconciliations.
In February 2025, after a fight between Winyu's mother and George, George set fire to the house. Winyu arrived in time to extinguish the fire, preventing major damage. His mother filed a police report but did not want to press charges. George immediately returned to America. They continued to communicate via voice messages and Facebook, where George threatened to kill a family member—anyone. Winyu and relatives wished his mother would end the relationship, fearing for her safety. However, due to love and having a child together, she always softened when George tried to reconcile. Additionally, George demanded the house and land where they lived, threatening to make her sell it and split the money equally.
On one occasion, Winyu's mother said George threatened to take her to Laos and kill her so her body would never be found. She told Winyu that if anything happened to her, George was the only one responsible. She had filed a report at Khek Noi Police Station stating that if anything occurred, no investigation was needed as the culprit would definitely be George.
Winyu added that on 22 December, his mother called to say George's legal wife had come to Khek Noi and invited them to travel together to Laos. Winyu, who was at his biological father's house in Phitsanulok Province on business, told his mother to take care and keep in touch because he was worried. His mother updated him regularly via Facebook until about 30 December, when she suddenly stopped responding. After several days, Winyu and relatives became anxious and searched near the Nong Khai border checkpoint. Officials refused information, directing them to contact immigration police in Phetchabun, where they confirmed his mother had indeed traveled to Laos. Winyu filed a report at Khao Kho Police Station to assist with the search and obtained official documents to contact Nong Khai checkpoint. CCTV footage showed his mother traveling to Laos with George—only the two of them—and George returning alone on 30 December before flying back to America on 1 January, as his visa expired on 3 January.
Upon learning this, Winyu immediately tried to contact George but failed. A few days ago, George returned the call. When Winyu asked about his mother's whereabouts, George evasively replied he did not know. After sightseeing in Laos, they had a minor argument, and his mother chose to stay longer to travel with Hmong friends in Laos. George then returned alone. When Winyu pressed for details about the trip itinerary in Laos, George said his mother arranged the trip, so he did not know the locations or even the name of the hotel where they stayed. This raised serious suspicions.
Yesterday, Winyu called George again. George said he had hired a lawyer and suggested that if Winyu wanted to discuss anything, he should have his own lawyer talk to George's lawyer. If they were to continue talking, it should be about how to help find Winyu's mother. Winyu expressed sadness and a degree of acceptance, thinking his mother might have died but still held hope that she was hiding somewhere. Usually, even if his mother had no phone, she would find a way to borrow one to contact him. Winyu performed a traditional Hmong ritual seeking the truth but received an unwelcome answer—that his mother had died and that finding her body might be difficult.
Winyu said he has only one mother and will continue to fight to seek justice for her, even without money to pursue the case. He appeals to the media and authorities to help bring justice for his mother and himself. Recently, he reviewed his mother's messages and found she had asked a Hmong friend in Laos for travel routes to visit a dam there before disappearing. His grandmother and aunt traveled to search at the dam in Laos but found no sign.
Ms. Sudarat Leepiphopsitphokin, 28, niece of Ms. Thasanee, said George was often jealous, causing arguments and sometimes physical abuse toward Thasanee. However, Thasanee rarely shared her troubles or posted about them on social media. Sudarat occasionally spoke with her. Around February last year, Thasanee messaged that George had set fire to the house but damage was minimal. Relatives worried and did not want her to live with George, fearing harm. After learning Thasanee disappeared with George, they went to the American Embassy in Chiang Mai, which replied there was no evidence against George, so he was considered innocent and no action could be taken. Normally, there are millions of Hmong in Laos; if Thasanee was in trouble there, some Hmong would surely help her. Sudarat believes Thasanee is deceased and urges authorities to seek justice for her aunt and punish the guilty party.
However, if George provides any statements, those will be reported later.