What began as an ordinary night on Route 117 in Phichit province ended in a scene of shocking violence that left one dead and another fighting for life. Late on September 20, emergency crews found 31‑year‑old nurse assistant Pochana lifeless in the back of a Ford pickup truck, while 61‑year‑old construction contractor Sombat — her partner — lay gravely injured in the driver’s seat, clutching a kitchen knife.
Police Lieutenant Sanan Butraya and rescue teams arrived at the roadside in Nong Lum subdistrict, Wachirabarami district, at around 10:30 p.m. The Ford, registered in Nakhon Sawan, had become the grim center of a relationship tragedy: Pochana had sustained multiple stab wounds to her chest, back and neck. Sombat, police say, had attempted to take his own life after the attack and was found unconscious and in severe pain.
First responders transported Sombat to Wachirabarami Hospital for immediate care before he was moved to the intensive care unit at Phichit Hospital. As of reporting, he remains in ICU and unable to give a statement, according to Khaosod.
Investigators pieced together a brief but telling timeline. The couple had been involved for roughly four to five months. Sombat — who lost his wife about a year ago — left his construction job early that day and borrowed his employer’s pickup to collect Pochana from Sukhothai. During the drive through Phichit, an argument reportedly erupted. Authorities say jealousy over the pair’s large age gap played a central role in the altercation.
In a phone call that has become part of the case narrative, Sombat contacted his employer after the attack and confessed to the killing. Rather than immediately surrendering to police as advised, investigators say he attempted suicide with the same knife. Fortunately, authorities located him soon after and rushed both parties to hospital — one body to the morgue, the other a man clinging to life in intensive care.
Phichit’s provincial police commander, Pol. Maj. Gen. Thadet Klomkliang, told reporters that jealousy appeared to be the motive. The tragic episode in Phichit follows a similar case earlier this month in Chon Buri, where a 75‑year‑old man allegedly fatally shot his 41‑year‑old wife before turning the gun on himself. In both instances, police say a significant age gap and frequent disputes were likely contributing factors.
There is a somber irony in these repeated headlines: what begins as tenderness and companionship for some becomes a combustible mix of insecurity and rage for others. Sombat and Pochana’s relationship was relatively new and, by some accounts, intensely scrutinized — either by the participants themselves or by those around them. Whether it was whispers from friends, the pressure of social opinion, or private suspicions, investigators will now try to untangle motive from regret, and facts from the aftermath of a violent confrontation.
For now, the facts are straightforward but heartbreaking. A 31‑year‑old woman is dead. A man in his sixties lies wounded in an intensive care unit. A borrowed truck is evidence of a journey that ended in tragedy on a provincial road. Police are continuing their inquiries, collecting evidence and statements where possible while the legal and medical processes unfold.
Beyond the investigation, this case raises broader questions about how relationships across generations are perceived and the toll that jealousy and unresolved conflict can take. When newsrooms tally the details — locations, ages, times, and registrations — it’s easy to lose sight of the human cost: families torn apart, colleagues left to process the shock, and a small community in Phichit trying to understand how a routine highway drive turned fatal.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident to come forward to assist with the probe. As the investigation continues, local law enforcement will also review the timeline of calls and movements that night to better understand what led to such a devastating outcome. Meanwhile, Pochana’s family, friends and co‑workers are left to mourn a life cut short; Sombat awaits medical recovery and, ultimately, whatever legal actions stem from this tragic night.
Reported by Khaosod, this story is a stark reminder that desperate moments can produce irreversible harm — and that the line between love and violence, however thin, sometimes tragically disappears.
This is devastating — a healthcare worker murdered and a man in ICU. We need to stop romanticizing age-gap relationships as inherently scandalous and start asking why jealousy became deadly in public. Hospitals should offer better support when staff are involved in volatile relationships.
People are quick to condemn without knowing the whole story, like whether he was mentally unwell after losing his wife. It’s possible this was a tragic collapse of a fragile man rather than premeditated malice.
Understanding motive isn’t the same as excusing violence; grief can be an explanation but it doesn’t justify killing. Accountability and better mental health responses are both necessary.
Maybe, but saying ‘fragile man’ often excuses violent acts by older men. We have to balance compassion with accountability for actions that end lives.
Jealousy and age gaps are red flags but not causes by themselves; the key is escalation and access to a weapon. This was preventable if someone had intervened earlier.
Scary that a borrowed pickup and a phone call become crime scene details. Small towns gossip a lot, but gossip can sometimes save lives if someone speaks up.
This reads like a murder-suicide attempt to me, and those are always complicated legally. If he survives, I wonder how the courts treat attempted suicide plus a confession on the phone.
The confession makes prosecution straightforward, but mental state and intent will affect charges and sentencing. Forensics and the knife wounds will also play a big role in court.
Right, and public sympathy might sway jury views even if evidence is strong, especially with the age difference and his recent widowhood.
Legal outcomes aside, people are missing the social context — stigma around relationships with big age gaps can add unbearable pressure. Not an excuse, but a factor.
I’m more concerned about emergency response timelines; they found him and her fairly quickly, which likely prevented more loss. Small mercies in a horrific scene.
I feel torn: losing a spouse can destabilize someone, but stabbing someone repeatedly is monstrous. There’s a human story on both sides and a legal one that needs to be sorted cleanly.
Humanizing doesn’t mean excusing. People need to learn to seek help instead of lashing out. Where were friends and family during this short relationship?
Friends can only do so much; grief and secrecy produce private storms. Still, if friends noticed warning signs they should have acted quicker.
Sometimes cultural norms silence outsiders from intervening in relationships, especially when elders are involved. That silence can be lethal.
This will become another ‘age-gap tragedy’ headline and people will point fingers instead of demanding better social safety nets for grieving people.
Why is the age gap always the headline? Plenty of couples with big gaps are fine. This is about jealousy and maybe untreated trauma, not numbers on a birth certificate.
The age gap matters socially because scrutiny can amplify insecurity, but I agree it’s not determinative. Context is everything.
As someone who dated younger, I resent the implication that older automatically equals predatory. But violence is on the individual, not the age bracket.
From a behavioral science perspective, intimate partner homicides often stem from a toxic mix of jealousy, perceived loss of control, and social humiliation. Prevention requires community, mental health access, and destigmatizing help-seeking.
Agreed, but in rural provinces mental health services are scarce and stigma is higher, which makes early intervention unlikely. Policy needs to follow analysis.
Exactly — part of the solution must be mobile outreach and training local leaders to spot risk and safely refer people to care. Otherwise these patterns repeat.
Sounds like a funding issue, not just training. Who’s paying for outreach in small communities?
The phone call confession is chilling; someone heard his voice admitting it. I hope investigators treat that as a crucial piece of evidence.
Also, I’m uneasy that media mentions the truck’s registration like it’s juicy crime lore. It’s a person’s life, not purely dramatic details.
This is a harsh reminder that relationships can hide dangerous emotions. Communities must learn to recognize when jealousy turns violent and act early.
I’m skeptical of the ‘age gap’ narrative as a primary cause; it’s a lazy headline. Real causes are power dynamics, mental illness, and societal norms that excuse male rage.
Male rage is too broad a brush; some men are vulnerable and grief-stricken, but others are violent. We need nuanced discourse.
Nuance is fine, but policy and media mustn’t normalize excuses for violence. Call it out plainly and systemically.
My heart goes out to Pochana’s family and coworkers. A 31-year-old is too young to be gone, and this will scar a community.
If local people saw signs of jealousy, speak up to police or social services; silence helps abusers and enables tragedy.
Two similar recent cases mentioned in the article point to a pattern — maybe it’s coincidence, but it should trigger investigation into broader societal drivers. Law enforcement should track these trends.
Patterns across provinces could reflect deeper issues like inadequate bereavement support and toxic masculinity. Data collection is the first step.
Exactly; we need data-driven prevention rather than only reactive criminal prosecutions.
And frontline workers, including nurses, should get training on domestic risk signs because they often see patients before anyone else does.