Thai police are investigating Australian expat Simon Peter Carman, 45, over the alleged murder of a 17-year-old girl, Tunchanok Donhomla, in Pattaya. Disturbing details have emerged regarding the 17 hours between Ms. Donhomla's death and the disposal of her body.
According to investigators, Carman slept in his apartment for several hours while the teenager's body lay in a suitcase in the bathroom. A police source told the Daily Mail that Carman described leaving Ms. Donhomla after waking, stating he "put her away" before continuing his day as if nothing had happened. He reportedly dropped off laundry, spoke with neighbors and his landlady, and had lunch with a friend who was delayed in returning to Pattaya. Carman claimed he saw this as an opportunity to return to Australia, as the friend was storing belongings in his apartment.
After finishing lunch and running errands, Carman returned to his apartment where Ms. Donhomla's body remained in the bathroom. Police allege that later that night, CCTV footage captured Carman dragging the suitcase from his apartment around 9:25 p.m. He is said to have strapped the suitcase to his scooter and driven towards nearby railway tracks, where he allegedly dumped the body in long grass before returning home.
The following morning, as Carman packed to leave for Australia, Ms. Donhomla's friends became concerned when she did not return. They went to Carman's apartment, questioned him about her whereabouts, and took photographs. The women later reported Ms. Donhomla missing to local police around 5 p.m.
By this time, Carman was reportedly on his way to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport to catch a flight to Perth. Police arrested him moments before his departure. When questioned, Carman told police he was only returning to Australia to replace a lost debit card and intended to return within a couple of days to surrender to authorities.