INSIDE THE HIDDEN LIFE OF THE AUSTRALIAN ACCUSED IN THAI TEEN MU-RDER – NEW CLAIMS ABOUT HIS REAL REASON FOR TRAVELLING TO THAILAND SURFACE AS INVESTIGATION DEEPENS
An Australian man accused of murdering a teenage girl before hiding her body in a suitcase was paying $100 a week to live in an apartment block in Thailand’s seedy red-light district.
Simon Peter Carman, 46, was arrested at Bangkok’s main international airport on Friday allegedly “preparing to flee the country” by boarding a flight back to Perth.
He has since been charged with murder, concealment of a body, and taking a minor for sexual purposes.
The heartbroken family of the victim, Tunchanok Donhomla, have fiercely rejected his claims of self-defence and called for the former truck driver and mechanic to be “executed”.
Grim new details have begun to emerge about Carman, described as an aggressive loner who worked as an odd-jobs handyman during his on-off time in Thailand over the last decade.
Carman has denied all charges as Pattaya City Police continue their investigation.
Simon Carman has been charged with the murder of a 17-year-old Thai girl. Picture: Pattaya News
The Australian man is accused of stuffing her body in a suitcase and dumping it a short distance away. Picture: Pattaya News
‘Simple Simon’s’ seedy Thai life
Carman is believed to have been living in the Jomtien Condominium apartment blocks in Pattaya, where he reportedly paid $100 a week in rent.
Sources told the Herald Sun that Carman had been working as a handyman and picking up “odd” jobs around the apartment complex.
“The young girl did have an ID card that said she was 22, all of the girls here have ID cards that say they are older, because if they’re underage, you’re in trouble,” a source told the outlet.
“We used to call him simple, like ‘Simple Simon’ because he was a bit slow.
“He had quite a few run-ins with people. He was six foot one, he was a big guy, just look at the size of him compared with that young girl.”
Rooms in the Jomtien Condominiums rent out for $100 a week, or $400 a month, before water and electricity charges of around $60 a month.
According to the complex, it boasts “nice facilities” of two swimming pools, two fitness centres, a table tennis room, free bike hire, a wheelchair service, CCTV and a 24-hour security service.
“The condo is only 100 metres from the beach, easy transportation, clean, safe, quiet and convenient,” they wrote online.
The humble apartment block where Carman reportedly lived in Pattaya.
The elevators where Carman brought a Thai teen before her death.
00:04 / 03:08
Australian tourist arrested over murder of Thai teen
An Australian man has been arrested over the murder of a…
Who is Simon Carman?
Carman was born in Ballarat in Victoria before moving to Jerramungup, a small agricultural town about 450 kilometres southeast of Perth, according to The West Australian.
He briefly worked in the agricultural sector, where he operated as a sole trader under the name “Simon’s Agricultural Services.”
“He worked on a farm when he was younger,” a neighbour told news.com.au.
He later moved to Albany with his family before settling down in Rockingham, where he reportedly worked as a mechanic and truck driver.
For around a decade leading up to his departure for Thailand, he had been living on and off in a unit inside an industrial estate in Rockingham.
He reportedly lived off a disability pension and workers’ compensation payments linked to injuries he suffered as a truck driver.
The suitcase was discovered discarded in long grass beside railway tracks in Pattaya, approximately 4.2 kilometres from Carman’s accommodation. Picture: Facebook
Those who knew Carmen described him as a medicine-riddled loner who was prone to aggressive outbursts.
“He lived like a pig,” one neighbour told The Australian.
“He was on a lot of meds, so when you spoke to him he was always as dopey as f**k.”
Another resident of the complex said he often drove Carman to medical appointments at a nearby hospital.
His wife and daughter, however, found him “creepy” and told him not to have any more contact with them.
Carman had reportedly once shown him his collection of guns – a .22 calibre Hornet rifle and a shotgun – which he said were stored in a box along with ammunition, in a breach of gun storage laws.
Police took Carman’s guns from him around a year before he left for Thailand. His driver’s licence was also revoked around the same time.
“It was scary when he had guns,” one man told The Australian.
“He had lots of guns and all that, and I was a bit concerned in case he snapped. It was good that the police took them off him.”
Tunchanok Donhomla, 17, had only arrived in Pattaya days before her death. Her family described her as helpful with no history of drug use. Picture: Facebook
Tunchanok’s identity was confirmed through distinctive tattoos on her back, arms, chest and left leg, which matched images from her social media. Picture: Facebook
Carman travelled to Thailand for medical treatment
Previous neighbours of Carman in Casuarina said they were “really shocked” to hear news of the 45-year-old’s arrest.
Resident Shelley said Carman mostly kept to himself but was known to socialise with other neighbours, according to the West Australian.
Another neighbour described the allegations as “horrifying.”
“You’re not born a killer, you’re made a killer. So something flicked the switch in his brain to (allegedly) make him do that,” she said.
“A lot of times most of us just keep to ourselves… that’s really it.”
According to one man, who spoke to news.com.au on the condition of anonymity, Carman had pins in his spine and neck from a suspected motor accident in his 20s.
“He was going to Thailand to have the pins removed because they had been causing him pain. No one in Australia would remove them,” he said.
A back rod is typically used to treat severe spinal fractures or progressive spinal deformities by stabilising the spine so that vertebrae can fuse together.
The surgery can take between one and five hours, and recovery often takes upwards of 12 months.
The Rockingham local’s recollection of Carman seemed to wildly differ.
He spoke of Carman’s love of fishing, snorkelling and his altruistic nature.
The local business owner said the community was “shocked” by the news, saying Carman “didn’t appear to be violent in any manner.”
“No one expected it. He never got into any trouble,” he told news.com.au.
“Something has happened.”
CCTV footage captured Tunchanok and Carman entering his accommodation together at approximately 3.30am on Thursday, 26 June 2026. Picture: Pattaya News
Timelime of events
CCTV footage captured Tunchanok and Carman walking from the Pattaya beachfront, a well-known area frequented by sex workers, and entering the foyer of his accommodation together at approximately 3.30am on Thursday, June 26.
Several hours later, Carman was allegedly seen on camera leaving the building alone with the large black suitcase, which he transported by motorbike.
Police allege he folded the teenager’s naked body into the 29-inch suitcase and dumped it in long grass beside the railway tracks, approximately 4.2 kilometres from the property, before attempting to leave the country.
Officers arrested him at Suvarnabhumi Airport minutes before his Jetstar flight JQ76 to Perth was scheduled to depart.
Investigators located the suitcase with Tunchanok inside.
Along with her body, police found the white Onitsuka trainers she had been wearing that night, jeans, underwear, a mobile phone case, a wallet, and her gold bracelet and necklace.
Tattoos on her back, arms, chest and left leg were confirmed to match those in her social media images.
In police video footage, Carman offered an apology to the girl’s family.
“I feel bad for what happened to your daughter,” he said. “It was out of my control.”
He also allegedly told investigators that Tunchanok had attacked him with a knife and that he had acted in self-defence.
Carman was reportedly living in a warehouse unit among a number of welding and metal factories during his time in Australia.
Hours after entering the building with the teenager, Carman was allegedly captured on camera leaving alone, transporting a large black suitcase by motorbike. Picture: Pattaya News
When questioned about visible scratches and bruising on his neck and arms, Carman claimed the marks were caused by “the spiders”, which he said were “always” appearing where he stayed.
The girl’s family rejected his apology outright.
Tunchanok’s parents travelled to Pattaya from their home in the northeastern Thai province of Kalasin to collect their daughter’s body.
The family told local media it had been her first visit to the coastal city.
She had only arrived in Pattaya days before her death, and her parents had allowed her to go with a friend, describing her as having a helpful nature and no history of drug use.
Her stepmother, Oradee Bussarakum, was inconsolable.
“I am deeply saddened,” she said. “I told the police I want him executed. As a mother, I don’t know what else to say. I just want him executed.”
“I asked the police if I could hit him, if I could beat him,” she added.
“Please, just let me. The police told me not to, that he would face the full consequences regardless.”
The father of Tunchanok Donhomla, Thongchai Donholma (centre), and her stepmother, Oradee Bussarakum (left) in Pattaya. Picture: ABC
The family said they learned of Tunchanok’s death while still travelling to Pattaya after her friend reported her missing.
Carman allegedly told authorities the pair had agreed he would pay Tunchanok 1,000 baht (approximately AU$43), but that an argument erupted when he offered only 500 baht (approximately AU$22).
Thai child protection laws strictly prohibit the sexual exploitation of anyone under 18.
A murder conviction in Thailand carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Thai child protection laws strictly prohibit the sexual exploitation of anyone under 18.
A murder conviction in Thailand carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
As of Monday, Carman remained in the custody of Pattaya City Police and was awaiting a court appearance, with investigations continuing.
SOURCE AND VIDEO: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/simon-peter-carman-australian-tourist-arrested-in-pattaya-over-suitcase-murder-of-thai-teenager-family-demands-death-penalty/news-story/1fe5423adaa2aca19e2fad4accdd24b4?utm_source=News.com.au&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=EditorialSB&utm_content=SocialBakers&fbclid=IwY2xjawSu8tJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFENTlWY3NmM1JZb2thZVVic3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHk5dAaA6R4M4jk7E65tZ1UDgC40n7FZv99tzxA-KgQ_9f7evzDwkZ-qA9-sL_aem_lguuzUsiOAJmagRlKR6w-Q
