The results of a second drug test on the ex-policeman who killed 36 people and wounded 10 in Nong Bua Lam Phu on Thursday before taking his own life will be known in seven days.
Dr Pranithan Ratanasalee, a deputy director at Lampang Hospital who is part of the forensic team, said yesterday that forensic officials on Friday collected blood, hair and urine samples from the body of the former police sergeant for a second round of testing. It will take a week to confirm if there were any traces of narcotics in the dead ex-policeman's system, he said.
National police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas said on Friday the initial autopsy, carried out by Udon Thani provincial hospital, indicated that former Pol Sgt Panya Khamrab did not ingest any illegal drugs in the 72 hours prior to his rampage at the childcare facility operated by the Uthai Sawan tambon administrative organisation in Na Klang district.
Pol Gen Damrongsak said a second autopsy would be needed to confirm the result and expel any suspicions because the killer had a history of drug abuse.
Pol Gen Damrongsak said the man joined the police force in 2012, when a mandatory blood test showed there were no narcotics in his system. Nor did he have a record of mental health treatment while serving in the force.
Panya: Row with wife that morning
Based on his mother's testimony and reports from police, he likely started taking drugs while working at Na Wang station, yet this needs to be verified, said Pol Gen Damrongsak.
Based on the police investigation, former Pol Sgt Panya had a row with his wife on Thursday morning.
He later returned home to find she was not there, after which he set off and killed three people on his way to the nursery.
Pol Col Wirote Seenamngoen, deputy commander of the investigation division of the 4th Provincial Police Region, said police were questioning witnesses and all parties involved.
They will forward the case to prosecutors to launch legal proceedings to seek compensation for the wounded and families of victims, he said. Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said the government has paid over 13 million baht in compensation to the wounded and families of the victims.