ROI ET, THAILAND — An 18-year-old Thai man has confessed to fatally stabbing a 32-year-old transwoman and abandoning her body in a roadside forest in Roi Et province, claiming the killing was in self-defense after an alleged sexual assault.
The suspect, identified as Anuwat, admitted to local authorities in Pho Chai district that he stabbed Phuwanon Kamonphard and left her body near the entrance to a forested area close to their community.
Police from Pho Chai Police Station responded to the crime scene, where they found Phuwanon’s body with multiple injuries — including stab wounds to her chest, back, and neck, along with deep cuts to her forehead and leg. Her motorcycle, shoulder bag, and the 30-centimetre knife used in the attack were found nearby. The bag contained personal belongings and 3,456 baht in cash.
Anuwat told authorities that Phuwanon had lured him to the area and then sexually assaulted him by touching him inappropriately, which he claimed prompted him to act in fear and stab her repeatedly.
However, the victim’s uncle raised doubts about this account, telling police he suspected the motive may have been a financial dispute, as Phuwanon had recently earned tens of thousands of baht from online gambling.
A friend of the victim, Cherry, said Phuwanon worked as a make-up artist and was scheduled to work at a rocket festival on the day she died. Cherry also mentioned that she had seen Phuwanon video calling Anuwat multiple times, but could not confirm the nature of their relationship.
Authorities have conducted a crime scene reenactment with the suspect and continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murder. While police acknowledged that Anuwat’s statement might explain a possible motive, they also suspect a romantic involvement may have played a role.
The specific legal charges against Anuwat have not yet been publicly disclosed.
