A British national was arrested after his Thai wife was shot dead in Northeastern Thailand.
The suspect, arrested after a brief manhunt, claims the shooting was accidental, a version disputed by the police.
A marital drama in Maha Sarakham
Pattanee Urapanom, wife of the British suspect, found dead in a guesthouse in Maha Sarakham. Photo: ViralPress
The arrest took place a few hours after the incident, on January 27, 2026.
The suspect, identified by the police as Anthony James Condron, 58, from Witham in Essex, UK, is accused of intentionally shooting his wife, Pattanee Urapanom, 44, at their guesthouse in Maha Sarakham.
The incident took place at Janpanom Farm Stay, a family-run guesthouse managed by the couple.
The police discovered the victim's body on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, in the morning, lying face down on a motorcycle, with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
The authorities believe that Condron shot her as she tried to flee on a motorcycle in the midst of a dispute or domestic altercation.
Neighbors reportedly heard screams before shots rang out.
Man hunt and quick arrest in Khon Kaen
Photos of the Briton and his blue pickup truck
After the shooting, Condron fled in a pickup truck, still armed with his pistol.
A manhunt was then launched, with public dissemination of his image, photos and name, mobilizing several agencies, including local police, the immigration office and regional investigation units.
Checkpoints were set up in the area due to public safety concerns related to the armed suspect.
Condron was arrested late in the afternoon in a hotel room in the neighboring province of Khon Kaen.
The police coordinated their efforts between provinces to track his movements and make a swift arrest.
The suspect claims an accidental shot, police suggest a premeditated murder
The Briton with police officers in his hotel room.
In his initial statements to investigators, Condron claimed that the shot was accidental.
He stated that the death resulted from a dispute and a misunderstanding, during which he had pulled out his gun to threaten her, but it had gone off accidentally.
However, the Thai police have treated the case as a premeditated murder, questioning the suspect's account and wondering why, if it was an accident, he had fled and attempted to evade capture.
An arrest warrant was requested and issued for murder (voluntary homicide).
It was noted that the suspect had been residing in Thailand for a long time, more than 10 years according to locals, and that his wife managed the guesthouse while Condron was described as retired and unemployed.
According to the Thai police, the suspect had a history involving drug use as well as previous cases related to physical altercations and traffic incidents.
A local resident stated that the suspect often slept in the nearby rice fields and was known for his drug-related behavior.
The victim, on the other hand, was described as a multilingual woman, respected in the community and who often welcomed visitors with pleasure.
According to the victim's uncle, aged 66, who claims to have witnessed the scene, the suspect allegedly threw himself at his wife before a shot was fired.
He tried to intervene, but was unable to stop the shooting.
The uncle added that the couple had two children, a daughter and a son, and often argued in English.
He described James as hot-tempered.
A highly publicized case in Thailand and internationally
The Briton hands up surrenders to the police.
The case has sparked intense interest in Thailand and in the international media due to the intercultural marriage, the use of a firearm in a domestic incident and the rapid resolution of the manhunt.
Authorities continue to investigate possible accomplices in his escape and any other circumstances surrounding the couple's relationship.
Condron remains in custody while the proceedings follow their course in accordance with Thai law.
See also:
Thailand: hotel receptionist murder suspect arrested in Hua Hin
Thailand: a German murdered, his Thai wife confesses to the murder
A Belgian arrested for the murder of a compatriot in Thailand
A Swiss man confesses to murdering his wife in Thailand
Horror in Thailand: Man dismembers his wife and scatters her body on the road
Source: Pattaya News, The Thaiger
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2 comments
In summary, a foreign retired resident, living in Thailand for over 10 years (with an "O" visa I suppose), hot-tempered, drugged, having a past littered with aggressive incidents and "borderline" behavior, having a pretty Thai companion who is hardworking and friendly, possessing a gun with or without a permit? (I would lean towards "without" a permit) and who ultimately reached the worst during an endless argument with his Thai companion…
Conclusion: his peaceful life and golden retirement in Thailand is over; now begins his descent into hell, which will lead him to a trial for homicide at the very least "involuntary" if he has a very good lawyer who will cost him a lot, then to 15 or 20 years in the dungeons of a Bangkok prison, with perhaps (if he is lucky enough to survive that long) a definitive expulsion from the country before the end of his sentence, following an "arrangement" between the Thai justice system and the British Embassy.
That's what I call leaving your country to go looking for a lot of trouble in another!
Well done, kid… you've hit the jackpot !!!!
For me, there is necessarily a contradiction between "drawing a weapon to threaten someone" and "accidental discharge".
From the moment we decide to draw our weapon, we must be prepared to assume the consequences of every shot fired.
We can also ask ourselves why this person had a weapon; in my humble opinion, no one should own a weapon unless they have a profession that requires having one.