The parents of a 17-year-old Thai girl whose body was discovered inside a suitcase near railway tracks in Pattaya have spoken publicly of their grief, saying they cannot forgive the man accused of killing their daughter.
Thongchai Donhomla and Ordee Butrakhamare, both 46, travelled from their home in Thailand’s Kalasin province after learning that their daughter, Tunchanok Donhomla, known to friends as “Cake,” had been found dead.
They said they were still on their way to Pattaya when they received the devastating news that her body had already been recovered.
Fighting back tears, the couple called for the strongest punishment available under Thai law if the accused is ultimately convicted.
Australian Suspect Arrested Before Scheduled Flight
Thai authorities have charged 46-year-old Australian national Simon Carman with murder after arresting him at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Investigators allege Carman was attempting to board a Jetstar flight bound for Perth when officers detained him, only minutes before departure.
He also faces charges of concealing a body, moving or destroying a corpse, and taking a minor between the ages of 15 and 18 for sexual purposes.
Carman remains in police custody while detectives continue gathering evidence.
Investigators Reconstruct the Teenager’s Final Hours
According to investigators, the teenager had arrived in Pattaya only days before her death. Her parents said it was her first visit to the popular tourist destination and that they had trusted her to travel with a friend because she had always been responsible and had never been involved with drugs.
Police believe Carman met the teenager on Pattaya Beach during the early hours of Thursday before the pair walked together to his hotel. CCTV footage reportedly captured them holding hands as they entered the building at approximately 3:30 a.m.
Authorities allege the two had agreed on payment for sexual services, but an argument broke out after Carman allegedly offered only half of the agreed amount.
Body Allegedly Hidden Inside Suitcase
Police allege that after the fatal encounter, Carman folded the teenager’s naked body into a large black suitcase before transporting it on a motorcycle and abandoning it in long grass beside railway tracks, only a short distance from his hotel.
When officers recovered the suitcase, they found visible injuries on the victim’s face and body.
Investigators also recovered personal belongings inside the luggage, including her jeans, underwear, shoes, jewelry, wallet and mobile phone case. Authorities said the tattoos on her body matched photographs from her social media accounts, helping confirm her identity.
Suspect Claims Self-Defense During Police Questioning
During questioning, Carman allegedly told investigators that the teenager attacked him with a knife and claimed he acted in self-defense.
In police footage released after his arrest, he apologized directly to the victim’s family, saying he felt sorry for what had happened and insisting the incident was beyond his control.
However, when officers asked whether he had killed the teenager, Carman responded, “No.”
Police also questioned him about scratches and bruises visible on his neck and arms. Carman reportedly claimed the marks had been caused by spiders at the condominium where he had been staying.
Parents Reject Apology and Seek Maximum Punishment
The victim’s parents dismissed Carman’s apology, saying nothing could ease the pain of losing their daughter.
They described Tunchanok as a caring young woman who always tried to help others and said they wanted justice delivered through Thailand’s legal system.
Authorities have also indicated the teenager may have been using false identification, while noting that Thai law prohibits the sexual exploitation of anyone under the age of 18.
Investigation Continues as Serious Penalties Loom
Police say Carman had been living in Thailand for about eight months after leaving Western Australia, where he previously worked as a truck driver and operated a mobile refuelling business.
Investigators continue examining forensic evidence collected from his accommodation, including DNA and fingerprint samples, while reconstructing the events leading up to the teenager’s death.
If convicted of murder under Thai law, Carman could face either life imprisonment or the death penalty.
