A 45-year-old man has confessed to allegedly strangling his wife to death before arranging her body on a bed and covering it with blankets to make it appear as though she was asleep, police in Bangkok said.
The shocking incident came to light on Monday night after the couple’s son returned home and discovered his mother’s lifeless body inside their apartment in Rat Burana district.
Police said the victim, a 41-year-old Myanmar national identified as Nan, was found lying on a bed inside a ground-floor room of a two-storey apartment building.
Investigators discovered visible signs of strangulation around her neck, while her face had reportedly turned bluish in colour. There were no indications of forced entry, theft or a struggle inside the room.
The victim’s husband, identified as Wichin, 45, was found sitting inside the apartment when officers arrived. Police described him as appearing confused and incoherent before taking him into custody for questioning.
According to the victim’s 23-year-old son, he returned home from work at around 8.30pm and found his mother lying face down on the bed, covered by two blankets.
When he attempted to wake her, he noticed her body had turned blue and she was unresponsive. After uncovering and turning her over, he realised she had died.
The son told investigators that his father had allegedly abused his mother on multiple occasions over the years due to jealousy and suspicions that she was being unfaithful.
He claimed the victim had previously suffered serious injuries, including a broken nose and multiple bruises, and had been taken to hospital several times. However, she never filed a police report against her husband.
The couple’s daughter also told police that her parents frequently argued over allegations of infidelity and that her father had repeatedly accused her mother of having relationships with other men.
She alleged that her father often became violent, particularly when intoxicated, and had previously threatened to kill her mother.
A daughter-in-law who lived in a neighbouring room said she had witnessed several instances of physical abuse and recalled seeing the victim with a broken nose just a month before the fatal incident.
She told investigators she did not hear any arguments or cries for help on the day of the tragedy.
Police later escorted the suspect back to the scene, where he allegedly confessed to the killing.
According to investigators, the suspect admitted strangling his wife before covering her body with two blankets, switching off the lights and attempting to create the impression that she was merely asleep.
He reportedly told police he believed his wife had been unfaithful and claimed his suspicions had been building for a long time before the fatal attack.
The victim’s son further alleged that the suspect had previously threatened to kill his mother and dispose of her body. The family had reportedly moved from another province to Bangkok in an effort to escape the abuse, but the victim later reconciled with her husband.
The victim’s body has been sent to Siriraj Hospital for a post-mortem examination, while the suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue.
