Waranan's heavily mutilated body was found in a hotel apartment.
Fu Tongyuan, 42, was apprehended by police at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
PATTAYA — A 42-year-old Chinese national, Mr. Fu Tongyuan, wanted for the gruesome murder of a 25-year-old Thai transgender woman, was apprehended by Immigration police at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Saturday afternoon. The suspect, whose face was covered with scratch marks, was transported back to Pattaya for interrogation.
The victim’s body was discovered in a rental apartment in Soi Arunothai, Central Pattaya. The deceased, identified as Woranand from Nong Khai province, had suffered horrific injuries. Her body had been cut open from neck to genitals, with her lung missing and heart removed from the body.
Investigators found a large plastic bag and scissors inside the apartment. The bathroom showed signs of thorough cleaning, with almost no blood stains remaining. Forensic police conducted detailed examinations and collected DNA evidence from the crime scene.
The apartment housekeeper told police that around 2 AM, she heard an argument between a Chinese man and a transgender woman in the room. She later heard the transgender woman screaming, “Let me go! Don’t hurt me!” This was followed by the sound of footsteps and repeated door kicking that continued for about an hour before falling silent.
When she woke up in the morning, the housekeeper reported the incident to her employer, who instructed her to knock on the door and warn the tenant. When no one answered, they used a spare key to enter the room, where they discovered the transgender woman’s body lying in a pool of blood. The Chinese man had disappeared. They immediately called the police.
The apartment manager revealed that the Chinese suspect had rented the room around 9 AM on April 25 for a one-week stay. According to his passport, he had previously visited Thailand 2-3 times as a tourist.
The suspect was finally arrested at approximately 1:45 PM while attempting to clear immigration at Suvarnabhumi Airport. He was preparing to leave the country on China Eastern Airlines flight MU 742 bound for Kunming, China.
Woranun’s parents, from her home province of Nong Khai, described her as their family’s breadwinner, and said that she sent home around $300 USD each month to support them.
