PATTAYA, THAILAND – A 50-year-old American man was found dead near Mabprachan Reservoir in Chon Buri on 11 March in what police recorded as a suspected suicide.
Body discovered below dam in afternoon operation
At around 4 p.m. on 11 March, officers at Nong Prue police station received a report of an unconscious man in a bush and woodland area below the dam at Mabprachan Reservoir. Rescue volunteers from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya went to the site together with police to document the scene and establish the man’s identity.
According to the report, responders found the body in the undergrowth beneath the dam structure. The area was cordoned off so that evidence could be secured and photographs taken before the body was removed.
Identification and early investigative findings
The deceased was identified as Mr. Jason, a 50‑year‑old US national. A Yamaha motorcycle with Chon Buri plates was parked nearby, which police said belonged to the man.
Officers stated that they found no signs of third‑party involvement at the scene. The case was entered in the official record as a suspected suicide, while further examinations and investigative steps continued.
Final message sent to wife before death
Investigators said the man had sent his wife a message shortly before he was found, including a video clip in which he said he intended to take his own life. The woman, identified by police only as Mrs. B, later described the content of that message to officers.
She told police that her husband had repeatedly spoken about his illnesses and had more than once said he no longer wished to go on living. These statements were taken into account as part of the ongoing inquiry into his death.
Chronic illnesses and mounting psychological strain
According to the wife, the man suffered from several chronic conditions, including blood clots and a heart disease. She said this physical strain had affected his mental state over time.
In addition, she reported that he experienced depression, which worsened in connection with his persistent health problems. She described increasing social withdrawal in the weeks leading up to his death.
Missing for two days; phone location attempt failed
The man had left the couple’s home on 9 March and could not be reached afterwards. After receiving his message, the wife alerted the police and tried to locate him via the GPS signal of his mobile phone, but without success.
Two days passed between his disappearance and the discovery of his body. Police said the exact circumstances during this period formed part of the continuing investigation.
US Embassy notified as authorities question witnesses
Police secured the area where the body was found and summoned relevant individuals for questioning. At the same time, authorities contacted the US Embassy in Bangkok to inform relatives in the United States and initiate the necessary legal procedures.
The case illustrated how physical illness, psychological stress and isolation abroad could interact with tragic consequences. The report also noted that various support services were available in Thailand for German‑speaking people in crisis, including the telephone counselling service of the German Consulate General in Bangkok and international crisis hotlines.