The two Thai students found dead in their apartment in Seattle, in the United States, was a case of murder-suicide, with the 32-year-old woman fatally stabbing her younger roommate and then taking her own life, a city medical examiner has ruled.
Kornkamol Leenavarat, 25, and her close friend Thiti-on Chotchuangsap, 32, were found dead inside a University District apartment near the University of Washington, in Seattle, on Tuesday morning.
No details were released, but Seattle police said at the time there were no suspects at large, according to local media in Seattle.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office on Thursday ruled it was a homicide. Thiti-on stabbed Kornkamol to death and then stabbed herself.
Thiti-on Chotchuangsap,32. (Photo taken from www.siamtownus.com)
The 32-year-old woman died from a single stab wound to the chest and her death was ruled a suicide. The two women died on Saturday, Sept 1, according to the Seattle Times.
Earlier, Kornkamol’s elder brother and a member of the Pathum Thani provincial council Weerasak Leenavarat denied media reports that his sister Kornkamol "Nong Am'' expressed the feeling that she was not safe when she contacted her family. He said the security at her apartment was strict and outsiders were not allowed in without permission.
In the message on his Facebook page, Mr Weerasak said the family was deeply saddened by her sudden death. Kornkamol, a law graduate from Thammasat University, had gone to the US last month to continue her studies for a master’s degree in law, he said.
University of Washington president Ana Mari Cauce confirmed on Thursday that both women were master’s students, attending the university’s law school.
“This is a heartbreaking loss for their families, friends and our entire community. I offer condolences on behalf of our university to everyone who is grieving as a result of this tragedy,’’ Ms Cause wrote in an online post.
Kornkamol's uncle, Thanyaburi mayor Kritsada Leenavarat, said earlier that the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles was in contact with US police investigators handling the case.
Mr Kritsada said Kornkamol called the family every day. When they did not hear from her on Sept 1, they asked a relative in Seattle to go to her apartment to check on her, but they were unable to find her.
The manager of the apartment complex discovered their bodies on Tuesday when he went to the unit to check on the occupants' well-being.
On Friday, Kornkamol's brother Weerasak said the family accepted the finding of the Seattle coroner.
Kornkamol Leenavarat, 25, front, with members of her family. (Photo taken from Weerasak Leenavarat Facebook page)