An Australian man has been charged with the murder of a 17-year-old Thai girl whose body was found concealed inside a suitcase in Pattaya, Thailand. Simon Peter Carman, 45, was apprehended by Thai authorities moments before boarding a Jetstar flight to Perth. He faces multiple charges, including murder, concealment and moving of a body, and taking a minor for sexual purposes.

The victim, Tunchanok Donhomla, was reported missing by a friend after last being seen leaving the Jomtien Beach area with Carman in the early hours of Thursday. CCTV footage captured the pair walking hand in hand through Carman’s apartment lobby at 3:34 a.m. Later that evening, Carman was recorded dragging a large black suitcase from his accommodation and strapping it onto a scooter. Donhomla’s body was discovered early Friday near railway tracks approximately 10 minutes from Carman’s residence.

Carman, who had been living in Pattaya for around eight months, reportedly moved there seeking a more affordable lifestyle and treatment for back surgery after Australian doctors declined to operate on him. He had previously lived in the Perth area, surviving on a disability pension tied to injuries from his past work as a truck driver. Associates described him as a solitary and sometimes aggressive individual, with some noting he lived in poor conditions and had a history of erratic behavior. Australian police had confiscated Carman’s firearms and revoked his driver’s license roughly a year before his travel to Thailand.

In a video statement made while in custody, Carman expressed remorse to the victim’s family, saying he felt “very bad” about what happened and claimed the incident was “out of [his] control.” Thai media reports indicate Carman alleges he acted in self-defense, stating that during a dispute over payment for sexual services—reportedly reduced from an agreed 1,000 baht to 500 baht—the teenager threatened him with a knife. Carman denies any intent to kill and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Donhomla family described their daughter as hardworking and supportive. Her stepmother called for Carman to face the maximum penalty, while her father spoke of his sadness over the loss of his daughter, who had no mother and was self-reliant.

Local sources note that although Ms. Donhomla presented identification stating she was 22, many young women in the area carry IDs reflecting an older age. Pattaya is known for its nightlife and sex tourism, and Carman is reported to have worked as a handyman in the area’s apartment buildings. He is also believed to have disclosed that he had a brain tumor, which partially influenced his relocation to Thailand.

Carman is expected to appear in court in the coming days. Thai police have not publicly commented on the specifics of the dispute but confirmed the charges against him. The investigation continues as authorities seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death of Tunchanok Donhomla.