Latest Update: Australian Man Remains in Custody After Thai Teen Found Dead in Suitcase Near Pattaya Railway Tracks

As of June 29, 2026, Thai police are continuing their investigation into the death of 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla, whose body was found inside a suitcase near railway tracks in Pattaya.

Australian man Simon Peter Carman has been charged with murder, concealment of a body, moving or destroying a body, and taking a minor for sexual purposes, according to . He denies the charges and remains in custody while police complete their case file.

Investigators say CCTV footage is now central to the case. Police allege the footage shows Carman entering a Pattaya condo with Tunchanok in the early hours, then later leaving alone while carrying a large black suitcase. Surveillance video reportedly tracked him traveling toward the railway area and later returning without the suitcase.

A new focus of the investigation is forensic evidence. Australian media reported that Thai authorities are awaiting further autopsy and forensic results, including tests linked to marks found on Carman’s body and evidence from the victim. Police have suggested the marks may be consistent with a struggle, though Carman reportedly claimed they were from spider bites.

Carman has also reportedly claimed self-defense, saying there was an argument over money. Police have not accepted that explanation, and Tunchanok’s family has strongly rejected it. Her relatives are demanding justice and have expressed deep anger over the circumstances of her death.

According to , Tunchanok’s father described his daughter as someone who tried to help her family despite growing up without her mother. Her family says they are devastated and want the case prosecuted fully.

In a video recorded after his arrest, Carman told the family he felt bad about what happened and said the situation was “out of my control,” according to . The statement has drawn public anger, especially as police continue to examine evidence that may determine the official sequence of events.

A court date has not yet been announced. Thai police reportedly have more time to complete the investigation before the case proceeds further. If convicted of murder in Thailand, Carman could face life imprisonment or a heavier sentence under Thai law.

For now, the case remains under active investigation, with authorities focusing on CCTV footage, forensic results, the suspect’s statements, and the timeline leading up to Tunchanok’s death.