An American diplomat specializing in international organized crime was found murdered last month in a luxury hotel in Yangon, Myanmar. Daniel Riva, 43, a native of East Norwich, Long Island, was allegedly stabbed in the head and neck by his ex-wife, Pavinee Supasirivisan, according to local authorities.
Riva was discovered at the Sakura Residence & Hotel, located approximately one mile from his office at the U.S. Embassy in Yangon. Supasirivisan, a Thai national, was arrested soon after the incident and faces murder charges. If convicted, she could receive a prison sentence of at least 10 years, with the possibility of the death penalty.
In addition to the murder charge, Supasirivisan is accused of violating Myanmar's immigration code, a charge applicable to foreign nationals who commit crimes in the country. She will stand trial for this violation, which carries a potential five-year prison sentence, before facing the murder charge.
Riva and Supasirivisan, a pastry chef, were married in June 2018. The timeline of their separation is not clear. Prior to his assignment in Yangon, Riva served as a diplomat in Suriname and East Timor.
Friends and colleagues remembered Riva fondly. Fausto De Guzman, a fellow American diplomat, described working with Riva as an honor and recalled his adventurous spirit and generosity. Matt Grant, a childhood friend who described Riva as a brother, noted their four-decade bond and Riva's kind, curious, and humorous nature.
Myanmar has been experiencing internal conflict since a military-led government ousted democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021. The country is engaged in fighting between the military, ethnic minority militias, and pro-democracy forces.
The State Department confirmed a death but declined to provide further details, citing respect for the family's privacy. Thailand's foreign ministry has stated it provided assistance to the woman in custody and notified her family.