CityNews – 29th October 2019, deputy commissioner of Police Region 5 and relevant authorities held a Press conference about the murder case of a 58-year-old millionaire and devout Buddhist Wannee Jiracharoenying, whose body was discovered in a refrigerator which was cemented over.
On 26th October 2019, local people living nearby informed the police of a suspicious smell coming from one of the houses in Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai, leading to the gruesome discovery.
The police have said that they know that the suspected murderer drove the victim’s BMW series 3 to numerous ATM machines, where cash was withdrawn from the deceased’s account. Police were able to identify this man as Withoon Sritabut, a 39-year-old from Lampang, a yellow songtaew driver. The suspect was also found to have sent messages to the lady’s relatives (using the Line app) telling them that she went abroad to make merit.
Chiang Mai police are coordinating with regional police forces as well as immigration, in an attempt to locate him.
Withoon, or M, had apparently faced a murder charge in Lampang, though nothing has been released about the outcome. He was at times homeless and often slept in his vehicle. The victim had frequented his service during her trips to make merit at Phra That Sri Chom Thong Temple and the suspect had seen that she had access to money. This was a planned murder, say police.
Other minibus drivers have reported that M had disappeared for several days and could not be contacted.
Prasert Nantacharoen, the 57-year-old owner of a key shop opposite the row of houses where the victim was discovered, said that she had bought the house around five months ago. Usually, he said, he saw her daily after her merit making, but the last time he saw her was 11th October 2019. It was Prasert who alerted the police to the odour.
Police say that finding the suspect is a top priority and that the last use of the victim’s ATM card was in Rayong province.