An electrician and his older sister, who had autism, were found dead in a car parked at a temple in the Muang district of this northeastern province on Friday night. A charcoal stove was discovered inside the vehicle.
Police and rescue workers responded to a report of the deaths at around 9 p.m. on Friday at Wat Nong Phai in Tambon Phor Klang. Authorities found a black Toyota Vios with Nakhon Ratchasima license plates, its engine still running, parked near a pavilion within the temple grounds.
Yotthawat Khasabai, a 40-year-old electrician at the Provincial Electricity Authority’s Nakhon Ratchasima office, was found dead in the driver’s seat. His sister, 42-year-old Yuwanida Khasabai, was found in the front passenger seat.
A warm stove with ashes, a bag of charcoal, a bottle of cooking oil, and a roll of tissue paper were found behind the driver’s seat. Police believe the pair succumbed to suffocation about four hours before their bodies were discovered.
Jiradet Phudtalae, head of Nong Phai Moo 2 village, informed police that monks had observed the sedan arriving at the temple at 1:42 p.m. on Friday. The driver exited the car to make a phone call before using the restroom, leaving the engine running. He later returned to the vehicle and remained inside.
Around 9 p.m., a monk preparing to close the temple entrance noticed the car still parked with its engine running. When he shone a flashlight inside and knocked on the car door several times without receiving a response, the monk alerted the village head, police, and rescue workers for inspection.
The wife of the deceased driver and other relatives told police that Yotthawat had been suffering from depression after receiving a court summons related to a fatal road crash that resulted in a loss of life. He was contesting the case in court, and Yuwanida was living with autism.
Before the incident, Yotthawat had picked up his sister from her home in the Muang district for a meal and had invited their mother to join them. However, the mother declined, citing other commitments.
According to a police investigation, the PEA electrician had bought the stove, charcoal, and other items before arriving at the temple. Authorities believed he might have attempted suicide by igniting the charcoal, which caused his sister to suffocate as well.
Police reported that the stress from the court battle, coupled with his depression, may have driven him to this act. The man also had medical treatment records at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital.
His wife was in distress and overcome with grief upon seeing the bodies.
