Thai Police Charge Australian Man with Murder of Teenager Found in Suitcase

Simon Peter Carman, 45, faces multiple charges including murder and concealment of a body after the death of 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla in Pattaya.

"I feel bad for what happened to your daughter. It was out of my control."
— Simon Peter Carman, in a video message to the victim's family

Incident Timeline

Initial Contact and Disappearance

According to police, Carman met Donhomla on Beach Road in Pattaya in the early hours of Thursday, June 25. CCTV footage shows the pair entering Carman's condominium together at approximately 3:34 AM local time, holding hands. Donhomla was last seen alive at this location.

At 11:36 AM on June 26, a friend reported Donhomla missing to police, stating she had last been seen with a foreign man.

Discovery of the Body

On June 27 at approximately 1:30 AM, police located a black suitcase near railway tracks in Pattaya, roughly a 10-minute drive from Carman's condominium. The suitcase contained Donhomla's naked body.

An autopsy concluded the cause of death was strangulation, with no signs of beating found by the medical examiner.

Arrest

Carman was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on June 27, approximately 15 minutes before the suitcase was discovered. Police reported he was preparing to board a Jetstar flight to Perth, Australia. Pattaya City police had already requested a watch notice to prevent him from leaving Thailand.

Charges

Carman has been formally charged with:

• Murder
• Concealment of a body
• Moving or destroying a body
• Taking a minor aged between 15 and 18 for sexual purposes

Investigation

CCTV Evidence

Police review of CCTV footage allegedly shows:

• Carman and Donhomla entering the apartment building at 3:34 AM on June 25
• Carman emerging later carrying a large black suitcase at 9:25 PM on June 25
• Carman loading the suitcase onto a motorcycle and departing
• Carman returning to the condominium at 9:57 PM — without the suitcase

Conflicting Accounts

Carman has denied all charges. Multiple accounts of his statements have been reported:

• Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyu stated that Carman initially told investigators Donhomla left while he slept, but after being told of the luggage, he alleged he killed her after an argument
• Carman told police he acted in self-defense, claiming the teenager threatened him with a knife during a dispute over payment for sexual services. He stated the agreed amount was 1,000 baht (approximately AUD $43), and he offered 500 baht (approximately AUD $21). Police did not confirm this account
• According to some reports, Carman told police he squeezed Donhomla's neck until she lost consciousness, then kept her body in the bathroom before placing it in a suitcase. He has stated this was done in self-defense

Physical Evidence

Police reported scratch marks on Carman's body, which they described as "consistent with a struggle." When asked about these marks, Carman said they were caused by spider bites.

Suspect Background

Simon Peter Carman, 45, was born in Ballarat, Australia, and grew up in Jerramungup, Western Australia. He previously lived in Albany and Rockingham. According to reports, he worked as a truck driver and suffered a neck injury from a motor incident.

His firearms license was suspended by Western Australian police in May 2023, and the suspension was upheld by the State Administrative Tribunal in July 2024.

Carman had been living in Thailand for approximately eight months prior to the incident, entering on a tourist visa in December 2024 and subsequently extending it. He had no record of visa overstay or criminal history in Thailand. According to a local acquaintance, he had been swimming, ordering food, and walking on the beach. No prior violent incidents were reported.

Victim Information

Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, had arrived in Pattaya approximately one week prior to the incident to visit a friend.

Her father, Thongchai Donhomla, traveled approximately 600 km from Kalasin province after learning of the investigation. He stated:

"My daughter had no mother, so whenever she wanted anything she would always find a way herself, and she always helped me too."

The victim's stepmother, Oradee Bussarakum, expressed a desire for the suspect to face execution. (Note: This is reported as a personal opinion; the suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Legal Proceedings

Carman is detained at Pattaya Remand Prison. Under Thai law, police have 84 days from the date of arrest to complete their investigation before a court date is announced. Detention requires judicial approval every 12 days.

Police expect to submit their case for indictment within the detention period. If convicted of murder, Carman could face life imprisonment or the death penalty under Thai law, which carries the death penalty or 15 to 20 years imprisonment for murder convictions.

Official Statements

• Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyu (Pattaya City Police Station): "Officers believed he was responsible."
• Police stated that Carman "confessed that he killed her" and afterward "lived his normal life." (Note: This statement is attributed to police and is part of the ongoing investigation.)
• Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Carman but declined further comment.

Additional Context

Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo stated there is no evidence linking Carman to two unsolved cases involving women's bodies found in suitcases in the same region over the past two years, but noted similarities are being investigated. The victims in those cases are believed to have worked in the adult industry, and their bodies were found in Huay Yai district and Ban Chang district.

This arrest occurred following Thailand's recent reduction of visa-free stay lengths for tourists after several cases involving foreigners accused of drug offences, trafficking, and running illegal businesses.