Thanchanok Donhomla, known to friends as Cake, made a heartbreaking promise days before her body was discovered in a suitcase in Pattaya, Thailand. The 17-year-old told her family she would bring back baby clothes for her cousin from her first trip to the big city. She never returned.
Discovery and Arrest
Police found Cake's body discarded in a suitcase on June 26 in Pattaya, a city known for its nightlife. Australian national Simon Peter Carman, 45, was arrested as he attempted to flee the country. He is held at Pattaya Remand Prison on charges of murder, concealment of a body, and taking a minor for sexual purposes.
Carman, a British-born tradesman, has shared condolences with the family but denies killing her. Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyu stated, "We believe he killed her, and he is being questioned on suspicion of murder. He has fingernail scratches across his body that are consistent with a struggle."
A Dutiful Teenager
Australian journalist Zach Hope traveled to Cake's village in Kalasin province to speak with her extended family. Writing for The Age, Hope described Cake as "very much loved" and a "dutiful teenager" who cared for her great-aunts and baby cousin. She sometimes washed dishes to help pay bills.
Her father, Thongchai Donhomla, said Cake wanted to visit Pattaya "to see the beach" with friends. She asked her grandmother for money and promised to bring home new clothes for her cousin. Her stepmother, Oradee Bussarakum, told the ABC, "We were scared. We just hoped it wouldn't turn out the way we feared. Now our eyes are swollen from crying."
Events Leading to Death
Cake traveled to Pattaya on June 16 with a friend. Police say Carman picked her up from Beach Road in the early hours of June 26. CCTV footage shows them entering his accommodation together at 3:30 a.m. Her friends reported her missing on Friday after not hearing from her.
According to the Bangkok Post, Carman told police he did not know Cake before they met and agreed to pay 1,000 baht (£22.68) "for her time." An argument over the price allegedly occurred, after which Carman claimed Cake picked up a knife and threatened him. He said he acted in self-defence, grabbing her neck and causing her death. Police found signs of a struggle in the hotel room.
Carman's Statements
In a video after arrest, Carman expressed condolences: "It was out of my control. I hope you'll be OK. Please tell other girls to be careful." He claimed scratches on his neck were caused by spiders. Police do not believe his account that Cake "disappeared from the room while I was asleep."
If convicted, Carman faces life imprisonment or the death penalty in Thailand.
