A Chinese father has travelled to Pattaya to demand answers after his 20-year-old son was stabbed to death inside a rented room in Na Jomtien, Chonburi, Thailand.
The victim, identified as Cao Ke, was found dead inside the room on the morning of August 8. His father, Cao Haibing, arrived in Thailand following the tragedy and visited the Pattaya Provincial Court as he sought a thorough investigation into what happened.
The grieving father said the family wants Thai authorities to establish the full circumstances surrounding his son’s death rather than relying on a single account of events. Relatives reportedly displayed messages in Chinese, Thai and English calling for a fair investigation and greater protection for foreign visitors.
Family wants phone records and CCTV examined
According to the family, Cao had spent several hours having dinner with friends before leaving for the room after midnight. They said a 21-year-old woman had contacted him repeatedly by telephone and video call before he went there.
The family is therefore asking investigators to examine his phone records, messages and other mobile data, as well as CCTV footage and statements from potential witnesses. They want investigators to establish why Cao went to the room and what happened during the hours before the stabbing.
Particular attention has also been directed towards the 21-year-old woman who was inside the room when Cao was killed. The family has asked police to investigate her communications and movements as part of the wider inquiry, stressing that their intention is to establish the facts rather than hear only one version of events.
Boyfriend allegedly returned to room and confronted victim
Thai authorities said a 21-year-old woman was found at the scene with injuries to her hands after the incident. She was reportedly in a state of shock.
A 20-year-old male vocational student, who was described as the woman’s boyfriend, allegedly fled after the stabbing. He later surrendered to police after his guardians brought him to Na Jomtien Police Station.
Police subsequently took the suspect back to the scene as part of a crime reconstruction. Investigators also searched an overgrown area behind his room after he allegedly indicated that he had discarded the knife there. A metal detector was reportedly used to locate a curved folding knife, which was seized for forensic examination.
Suspect claims a struggle broke out over knife
During preliminary questioning, the suspect reportedly told investigators that he had been in a relationship with the woman for around three months.
According to his account, he had travelled to Pattaya for work before returning to the room the following morning. He allegedly found Cao inside and confronted him before producing a knife.
The suspect claimed Cao attempted to grab the weapon, resulting in a physical struggle. He alleged that Cao also attempted to choke him before he regained control of the knife and stabbed him several times. The suspect reportedly told police that he did not intend to kill Cao before fleeing the scene.
Woman gives investigators another account
The 21-year-old woman reportedly told police that she had known Cao and communicated with him for approximately two months.
According to her account, Cao arrived at the room at around midnight and the pair spoke before eventually falling asleep. She said her boyfriend returned the following morning, after which an argument and physical confrontation broke out.
The woman claimed she attempted to intervene but was injured during the confrontation and was unable to stop either man. She alleged that her boyfriend subsequently stabbed Cao.
Police continue investigating circumstances of death
The case remains under investigation, with officers reportedly reviewing CCTV recordings, interviewing witnesses and collecting forensic evidence.
During the crime reconstruction, relatives of Cao who had travelled to the scene reportedly attempted to confront the suspect physically. Police intervened and removed him from the area to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The competing accounts have made the ongoing investigation particularly important. While the suspect has reportedly admitted stabbing Cao, authorities are still examining the circumstances leading up to the confrontation and the events inside the room.
The victim’s father has said he wants all available evidence examined so that the family can understand what happened to his son and ensure that the case is dealt with fairly under Thai law.
At this stage, allegations made by the suspect and the woman remain subject to investigation, and the available information does not establish independently that either account is completely accurate. CCTV footage, forensic findings, communications data and witness testimony are expected to play an important role in determining what happened before the fatal stabbing.
Image Source: MGR