Relatives of a Thai teenager, Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, who was allegedly murdered and found in a suitcase, have postponed funeral plans as an investigation into her death continues. The family and friends gathered at an open-air temple in Kalasin on Tuesday night for what was intended to be her funeral, but instead held a vigil when her body had not yet arrived.
The funeral has since been rescheduled. Tunchanok Donhomla was allegedly strangled by Australian truck driver Simon Peter Carman, 45, before her body was placed in a suitcase and abandoned near train tracks in Pattaya. Carman was arrested on Friday at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport while attempting to return to Perth and is currently in police custody.
Ongoing Investigation and Family's Grief
On Tuesday, a friend posted an update stating, “the morning of 29th, the body has not arrived at home. It is expected to arrive in the evening of 29th and the funeral will be held the next day.” At the vigil, a framed portrait of Ms. Donhomla, known to friends as 'Nong,' was placed at the center of floral arrangements. Mourners knelt on a mat as rows of chairs were set up for the gathering.
The vigil invitation read, “Come to send the sibling back to heaven.” Ms. Donhomla's wake is expected to last several days, including nightly chanting by local monks. Traditional practices like offering food and symbolic items will be observed, followed by close family members pouring blessed water over her hands before cremation.
Tributes have poured in on social media, with friends expressing sorrow and condolences to the family. "I am so sorry my friend," one message read. Another stated, "I would like to send my condolences Nong's family. May you rest in peace."
Circumstances of Disappearance and Discovery
Ms. Donhomla's body was discovered in a black suitcase on Friday, two days after she was last seen. Friends raised the alarm when she did not return to their shared apartment. Her stepmother, Oradee Bussarakum, mentioned that Ms. Donhomla had asked her grandmother for money to take a trip to the sea.
While the family stated Ms. Donhomla had not visited Pattaya before her death, social media posts from months prior show her tagging bars in the area. Three days before her alleged murder, she posted videos of herself walking on a beach.
Ms. Donhomla's mother died when she was young, and she was raised by her father and stepmother. Both parents made the ten-hour journey to Pattaya to assist in the search, only to be informed of the discovery of her body by police before their arrival.
Accusations and Legal Proceedings
Photographs obtained by ABC on Wednesday showed Ms. Donhomla's friend confronting Carman in the unit where she was allegedly murdered. Carman had rented the room for eight months. The scene depicted clothing strewn about, empty alcohol bottles, and cleaning products on the fridge, along with extension cords and a small bathroom with visible damage.
Carman faces charges including murder, concealing and moving a body, and taking a minor aged between 15 and 18 for sexual purposes. He has denied the allegations, claiming self-defense and asserting that Ms. Donhomla attacked him with a knife during a dispute over money. In taped interviews released by police, Carman expressed remorse, stating, "I feel bad for what happened to your daughter. It was out of my control."
Carman is currently held at Pattaya Remand Prison, undergoing a mandatory 10-day quarantine. A date for his first court appearance has not been set. Conviction for murder in Thailand can result in the death penalty or a prison sentence of 15 to 20 years.