PATTAYA, THAILAND – A horrifying discovery behind the Pattaya Floating Market has led to the arrest of a suspect attempting to leave the country.
The body of a 17-year-old Thai national was found hidden inside a suitcase. The victim, from Kalasin province, had entered a condominium on Jomtien Second Road with an older Australian man on the night of June 25, 2026, and never returned.
The Thai police identified the primary suspect as Simon Peter Carman, a 46-year-old Australian. Authorities apprehended Carman at Suvarnabhumi Airport on the evening of June 26, 2026, as he reportedly tried to purchase a ticket back to Australia. He has denied any involvement.
A Teenager from Kalasin — Missing for a Night
The victim, a 17-year-old from Kalasin province in Northeast Thailand, was in Pattaya at the time of the incident. She was last seen alive in the early hours of June 25, 2026, near Jomtien Beach, where the suspect approached her.
Friends of the teenager became concerned after 24 hours without contact and reported her missing to the Pattaya City Police. She was reachable by phone at 03:44 on June 25 but communication was lost afterward. Surveillance cameras documented the events that followed with chilling precision.
Entering Together — and No Return
CCTV footage captured the pair entering the condominium on Jomtien Second Road hand in hand. They proceeded directly to room 20 on the 15th floor. The girl was not seen leaving the building alive. When officers later visited the room, they found signs of a struggle, and Carman had already departed.
Under the leadership of Pol. Col. Anek Sarathongyu, chief of the Pattaya City Police Station, a special investigation team was immediately established. Pol. Lt. Col. Siriwat Katchamat took charge of the investigation, supported by officers from the Nongprue Police Station. The team systematically reviewed all available camera footage in the vicinity of the condominium.
Nine Minutes — and Back Without the Suitcase
On the evening of June 25, 2026, around 9:34 PM, cameras recorded Carman carrying a large black suitcase out of the building. He loaded it onto a red Yamaha Aerox motorcycle, license plate 1 กน 9177 from Prachuap Khiri Khan province, and traveled via Sukhumvit Road to Soi Chaiyapruk 2, then onto a road parallel to the train tracks.
He disappeared from camera view for over nine minutes. He then reappeared on the same motorcycle, without the suitcase, and returned to the condominium. Investigators believe this was the period during which he disposed of the teenager’s body. The suitcase was discovered approximately 4.2 kilometers from the condominium.
The Suitcase in the Grass Beside the Train Tracks
Officers located the black 26-inch suitcase on June 26, 2026, around 11:17 PM, hidden in tall grass along the railway line. Rescue workers opened it to find the contorted body of a young woman, partially covered by a thin brown cloth. Distinctive tattoos and physical characteristics confirmed her identity as the missing 17-year-old.
The victim exhibited visible facial injuries, including swelling, bruising, and blood around her mouth and nose, indicating a violent confrontation. The state of the body suggested that her death had occurred more than a day prior. Forensic specialists from the Chonburi Police Forensic Division Region 2 secured the scene.
Autopsy and Forensic Evaluation
The body was transported to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok for an autopsy to determine the exact cause and time of death. Forensic evidence from within the suitcase, including fingerprints, DNA, and other materials, is being analyzed to complete the chain of evidence.
Simultaneously, officers are searching hotel rooms and interviewing staff along the reconstructed route of the motorcycle. Motorcycle rental companies in Prachuap Khiri Khan province are being contacted to trace the origin of the vehicle with license plate 1 กน 9177. Investigators stated they are pursuing multiple lines of evidence concurrently.
Arrest During Attempted Departure
While the body had not yet been found, intensive searches were already underway on June 26, 2026. Border police and airport authorities were alerted. Around 7:00 PM, officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport identified a man attempting to purchase a return ticket to Australia. It was Simon Peter Carman, a 46-year-old Australian citizen.
Officers immediately noticed visible scratches on his neck and arms, which investigators believe are defensive wounds from a struggle. Carman was detained before the suitcase was discovered just hours later. The arrest was based solely on CCTV analysis and suspicion of flight.
“She Left While I Was Sleeping” — Police Disagree
During questioning, Carman denied any involvement in the teenager’s death, claiming she left the room while he was asleep and later met an unknown fate. Police indicated he did not comment on whether he knew her age. Investigators described his statement as incompatible with the available evidence.
The Pattaya Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant, and Carman has initially been charged with the kidnapping of a minor under 18 for indecent purposes. Pol. Col. Anek Sarathongyu stated that his team is working to bring additional charges, including murder. The intensive interrogation is ongoing.
Uproar in Pattaya — Unanswered Questions on Minor Protection
The case has caused deep consternation in Pattaya among residents, tourists, and the expatriate community. It reignites long-standing discussions in the city about how to better protect minors in the nightlife scene and how quickly authorities can respond to and process information regarding missing young people.
Police are appealing to anyone who saw Carman or the red motorcycle on the nights of June 25 and 26 to come forward. Information can be provided to the Pattaya City Police Station, anonymously if preferred. Investigators have not ruled out further arrests at this stage.