Simon Peter Carman Faces Lethal Injection As Pattaya Suitcase Murder Investigation Deepens
Chilling text messages and a bizarre 'spider bite' defense emerge as the accused Rockingham mechanic faces life behind bars or execution in Thailand.
By Wade McColl (04/07/2026)
Police officers pose with Simon Peter Carman at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, in Samut Prakan. Photos: Pattaya Provincial Police/Handout / Pattaya News
Disturbing new details have emerged surrounding the horrific death of 17-year-old Tunchanok "Cake" Donhomla, painting a cold and calculated picture of the Rockingham man accused of her murder.
Simon Peter Carman, 45, remains locked inside a sweltering Thai prison after being intercepted at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport just moments before fleeing to Perth. As international investigators build their case, a trail of CCTV footage, bizarre excuses, and chilling text messages has severely challenged his claims of self-defense.
The 18-Hour Cover-Up
While Carman claims the teenager unexpectedly died after she threatened him with a knife over a payment dispute, Thai police allege a far more calculated timeline.
Authorities state that after strangling the teenager, Carman hid her body in his apartment bathroom for a staggering 18 hours. Instead of calling for emergency help, he reportedly went about his normal day shopping, eating, and doing laundry.
(Photo 1/2) Simon Peter Carman walks with the suitcase in Pattaya City. (Photo 2/2) Police and forensic technicians search a grassy area near a railway track before police found the suitcase. Photos: Reuters
In a chilling twist, a local worker revealed that Carman was casually messaging her while the victim's body was hidden just meters away.
"I'm so tired," he allegedly texted her. "I'm going to go for a swim today."
At approximately 9:00 PM, CCTV cameras captured Carman dragging a heavy 29-inch suitcase out of his Jomtien Condominium, strapping it to a motorbike, and driving away. The teenager's naked body was later found stuffed inside that same suitcase, discarded in long grass near local railway tracks.
The "Spider Bite" Defense
When interrogated by Thai detectives, Carman appeared emotionless as officers questioned the deep, parallel scratch marks covering his neck and arms.
(Photo 1/2) Simon Peter Carman in custody. (Photo 2/2) Ms Tunchanok's friend visits Mr Carman on June 26, the day after the 17-year-old went missing. Photos: (Photo 1/2) AAP (Photo 2/2) ABC News
Detectives believe the injuries are defensive fingernail scratches consistent with a violent struggle for survival, noting the victim had long, pointed nails in her social media photos. However, Carman offered a stunningly bizarre explanation.
Rubbing his neck, Carman told officers:
"This is a spider... they always get in here."
He claimed his small apartment was overrun with tropical insects, an excuse that police immediately flagged as highly suspicious. An autopsy later revealed the victim suffered severe facial injuries, swelling, bruising, and broken teeth prior to her death.
Inside A Thai "Hellhole"
Carman is now facing the brutal reality of the Thai justice system. He has been transferred to a hospital wing inside Pattaya Remand Prison to protect him from the general prison population, as crimes against Thai nationals are treated with intense hostility by local inmates.
Outside the front of Pattaya Remand Prison. Photo: Getty Images
Former prisoners describe the holding cells as a literal hellhole where human dignity is entirely stripped away.
"It's hell in there. There's no air conditioning, there's not much ventilation," former inmate Tim Ward stated. "You don't have a bed, don't have a mattress, you don't have a pillow. You sleep on the concrete."
With no guaranteed food provided by the facility, prisoners rely entirely on outside donations to survive. However, prison staff report that Carman has remained completely emotionless and has not received a single visitor, nor have any family members or friends made requests for contact.
The Legal Outcome: Facing Lethal Injection
Under Thai law, the legal stakes ahead for Carman are extraordinarily severe. An intentional murder conviction carries a baseline penalty of either life imprisonment or death executed via lethal injection.
While the Thai legal system allows for reduced sentences if an accused individual enters a formal guilty plea and provides substantial financial compensation to the victim's family, legal experts note that a donation cannot erase an aggravated murder charge.
Cake's grieving relatives are fiercely rejecting any prospect of leniency or apologies. Her stepmother, Oradee Bussarakum, made her stance unequivocally clear to investigators.
"I told the police I want him executed. As a mother, I don't know what else to say. I just want him executed," she stated.
As the complex international investigation continues to unfold, the victim's family remains completely focused on ensuring the Australian perpetrator faces the absolute maximum penalty under the law.