Phra Yuen: A grandson has confessed to the brutal murder of his disabled grandmother, citing irritation from being scolded and laziness in caring for her as motives behind the heinous act. The incident occurred in Kham Pom Subdistrict, Phra Yuen District, Khon Kaen Province, where the suspect, Mr. Singha, 49, bludgeoned his 87-year-old grandmother, Ms. Boonma, to death with a rock.
According to Thai News Agency, the Phra Yuen Police Station received a report of the death on the night of June 1, 2015. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered Ms. Boonma's body on a bamboo stretcher inside the two-story wooden house, with evidence of severe head and facial injuries consistent with assault. Initially, Mr. Singha claimed that he had found his grandmother in the bathroom, apparently having fallen, and had attempted to wash her and lay her on the stretcher, but she did not regain consciousness.
The police, however, suspected foul play due to the nature of the injuries. The wounds did not align with an accidental fall, prompting further investigation. Mr. Singha, who lived with his grandmother after being estranged from his parents, had been her sole caretaker. Despite the villagers' awareness of ongoing domestic discord and occasional abuse, they hesitated to intervene.
On the day of the murder, Ms. Boonma sought help from neighbors, alleging that her grandson had assaulted her. Shortly afterward, Mr. Singha retrieved her, and moments later, villagers reported hearing suspicious noises from the house. Mr. Singha subsequently emerged, asserting that his grandmother had fallen and died, which led to the police being alerted.
Upon further questioning, Mr. Singha confessed to the murder. He admitted to being overwhelmed by the demands of caring for his grandmother following his wife's departure five years prior. In a fit of frustration, he attacked Ms. Boonma with a rock multiple times, resulting in her death. He then attempted to disguise the murder as an accidental fall by cleaning her body and staging it on a stretcher.
Mr. Singha has been charged with murder and concealing the death. Before being detained, he expressed remorse, claiming the act was unintentional and driven by accumulated stress from his caregiving responsibilities. The case has been referred to the Khon Kaen Provincial Court for further proceedings.