Suspect arrested for pouring oil and setting fire"Molly"a Siberian Husky that escaped from home; the suspect confessed he was angry because the dog attacked and killed his rooster in the coop. Police detained him for a crime scene reenactment and revealed the timeline of the incident.
Case update"Molly"a 2-year-old female brown Siberian Husky, was doused with oil and set on fire, suffering severe injuries and later dying, as previously reported..
On 22 Feb 2026 at Songkhla City Police Station, Pol. Lt. Gen. Piyawat Chalermsri, Commander of Provincial Police Region 9, held a press conference announcing progress in the case. The suspect was arrested last night after six days of investigation by five police units, including the Songkhla City Police investigation team, Songkhla Provincial Police investigation team, Region 9 investigation team, Crime Suppression Division, Division 6, and the Forensic Center 9, led by Pol. Maj. Gen. Theerasak Chaiyotha, Commander of Songkhla Provincial Police.Pol. Col. PongsawatItsorn, Head of Investigation Division, Songkhla Provincial Police, and Pol. Col. Keerati Trivai, Chief of Songkhla City Police Station, jointly conducted the six-day investigation.
The perpetrator is Mr. Charoen Khamwoon, 56, nicknamed Yao, residing on Laemkwan Road, Soi 4, Moo 8, Phawong Subdistrict, Mueang Songkhla District. After police summoned him for questioning yesterday evening, he confessed to pouring oil and setting fire to Molly because he was angry that Molly had attacked his fighting rooster kept in a coop beside his house.
Last night, police took Mr. Charoen to reenact the crime at three locations: where Molly attacked the rooster in the coop; where he poured oil on Molly using a container beside his house; and where he disposed of the dead fighting rooster in the bushy area of Moo 8, Khao Rup Chang Subdistrict, Mueang Songkhla District. Police also recovered four items as evidence: one plastic container with a handle containing oil, one dead male fighting rooster that had been bitten, a pair of flip-flops, and green shorts worn by the suspect on the night of the incident.
He was initially charged with arson of another's property, property damage, and animal cruelty without reasonable cause, punishable by up to two years imprisonment or a fine up to 40,000 baht, or both.
Regarding the timeline, Molly escaped from home at 03:00 on 13 Feb. The owner posted a search notice on social media and found her at 16:00 on 15 Feb, when local residents discovered her severely injured and burned beside a pond on Soi 4, Laemkwan 5 Road.
On 16 Feb, the owner filed a complaint at Songkhla City Police Station, and on20 Feb, "Molly"died at 06:00 while receiving treatment at the Veterinary Hospital, Prince of Songkla University. On 21 Feb, policesuccessfullyarrested the suspect.
Following the arrest, The Hope Songkhla animal welfare organization awarded a bounty of 37,000 baht to the arresting team and 50,000 baht from the public, totaling 87,000 baht.
Additionally, the Commander of Provincial Police Region 9 presented 100,000 baht in cash to The Hope Songkhla organizationto support continued animal welfare efforts.
