Teen in Thailand Dies After Body Found in Suitcase, Police Say

Sun Sep 06 2026 12:01:33 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A 17‑year‑old found in a suitcase in Pattaya died from suffocation, police confirm. The case now faces murder charges against an Australian suspect.

A 17‑year‑old Thai girl’s naked body was discovered in a suitcase on the outskirts of Pattaya, where autopsy findings point to suffocation as the cause of death. Police arrested a 45‑year‑old Australian man, Simon Peter Carman, the same day and have linked the victim’s DNA to him. With charges of murder, body concealment, kidnapping and sexual assault, the case goes to prosecutors by September 18, with the suspect possibly facing the death penalty if convicted. The tragedy has shocked the victim’s family, who are calling for justice.

Teen in Thailand Dies After Body Found in Suitcase, Police Say

A 17‑year‑old Thai girl was discovered naked in a suitcase near a railway line in Pattaya on 27 June, and police say the autopsy shows she died from suffocation.

The case involves Simon Peter Carman, a 45‑year‑old Australian man who was apprehended just 15 minutes earlier for allegedly preparing to flee the country. The authorities linked his DNA to the victim and are charging him with murder, concealing the body, two counts of kidnapping a minor and sexual assault.

Chief police officer Anek Srathongyoo told the BBC that the victim “showed signs of brain injury, but that was not the cause of death” and that the DNA evidence “most likely came from when she was moved into the suitcase”.

Carman denied the charges and claimed self‑defence, yet police argue that all evidence has been “thoroughly collected” to prove the crime in court. Prosecutors will receive the case on Friday, with an indictment deadline of 18 September; the suspect could face the death penalty if convicted of murder.

CCTV footage released by the police shows Carman entering a condominium with the victim on 25 June at 03:34 local time, and later that evening leaving alone with a large suitcase. He reportedly loaded the bag onto a motorbike and drove towards the railway line where the suitcase was found.

In a video recorded in custody, Carman addressed the victim’s family, saying he was "feeling bad" and advised other girls to be careful. However, court proceedings will reveal whether the allegations stand.

The victim, nicknamed Cake, had travelled to Pattaya on 16 June, leaving her parents back in Kalasin, a province 480 km (298 miles) north‑east of the city. Her father, Thongchai Donhomla, expressed deep sorrow, and her step‑mother, Oradee Bussarakum, demanded justice, calling for execution of the accused.

Victim found near railway line