Australian charged after Thai teen found dead in suitcase

The family of a 17-year-old Thai girl whose body was found stuffed inside a suitcase in Pattaya is demanding justice after an Australian man was arrested and charged with her murder, the Bangkok Post reported.

The victim, Tunchanok Donhomla, disappeared after travelling to the popular beach resort. Police launched an investigation after she was reported missing and later discovered her body inside a suitcase abandoned near a railway line on the outskirts of Pattaya.

According to the Bangkok Post, investigators identified 46-year-old Australian national Simon Peter Carman as the prime suspect after reviewing CCTV footage that allegedly showed him entering a condominium with the teenager before later leaving alone carrying a large suitcase.

The footage also reportedly captured him transporting the suitcase on a motorcycle before abandoning it near the railway tracks.

Police arrested Carman at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport as he was preparing to board a flight to Australia. He has been charged with murder, concealing and disposing of a body, and taking a minor for indecent purposes. Authorities said he has denied the charges.

While in police custody, Carman expressed regret to the victim's family, saying he felt sorry for what had happened and claiming the incident was "out of my control", according to the Bangkok Post.

The victim's family rejected the apology, calling instead for the harshest punishment available under Thai law.

The girl's father described his daughter as hardworking and supportive of the family, saying her death had left them devastated. Her stepmother urged authorities to ensure the suspect faced full legal consequences, insisting that justice be delivered swiftly.

Police said forensic evidence, CCTV footage and witness statements form the backbone of the investigation. Officers also noted scratch marks on the suspect's body, which they believe are consistent with a struggle, although Carman has disputed that interpretation.

Investigators are awaiting additional forensic results as they prepare the case for prosecution.

The case has sparked widespread public outrage in Thailand, raising fresh concerns over violent crimes in major tourist destinations and prompting renewed calls for stronger protection of vulnerable young people.