EXCLUSIVE: The shocking transformation and twisted double life of suitcase killer Simon Peter Carman – the Australian ‘sex tourist’ who shed 30kg to hunt in Pattaya’s seedy underbelly before allegedly strangling a 17-year-old girl and stuffing her body in a suitcase
In the neon-drenched chaos of Pattaya’s infamous Walking Street, where desperate young girls hawk their bodies to Western men old enough to be their grandfathers, one Australian tourist thought he could get away with murder.
Simon Peter Carman, the 46-year-old former truck driver and mechanic from Perth, allegedly lured vulnerable 17-year-old Thunchanok Donhomla (also spelled Thanchanok or Tunchanok) back to his rented condo, strangled her during a sickening argument over payment, left her battered body in his bathroom for hours, then callously stuffed her into a suitcase and dumped it like rubbish near railway tracks.
Now, as Thai investigators peel back the layers of his disturbing past, a chilling picture is emerging of a man who dramatically slimmed down by more than 30kg to reinvent himself for a life of debauchery in Thailand’s notorious sex capital – only to stand accused of one of the most horrifying crimes to rock Pattaya in years.
Friends back in Australia once nicknamed him ‘Big Boy’. But sources close to the investigation reveal Carman shed a staggering amount of weight ahead of his latest trip to Pattaya, where he had lived on and off for years. The transformation wasn’t for health reasons, insiders claim – it was to make himself more appealing in the city’s seedy bars and go-go clubs.
‘He was creepy… a bit abnormal’
Those who knew Carman describe a man who increasingly isolated himself from family and friends in Australia over the past decade. Born in Ballarat, Victoria, and raised in Western Australia, he worked as a mechanic and truck driver before a workplace injury allegedly led to pain medication dependency and significant weight gain.
“He used to be really big,” one source told reporters. “We called him ‘Big Boy’. He lost a lot of weight – at least 30kg – before heading back to Thailand this time. He seemed different after that.”
Carman was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on June 27, 2026, just minutes before boarding a Jetstar flight back to Perth. Thai police say he was “preparing to flee the country” after the discovery of Thunchanok’s body. He now faces charges including premeditated murder, concealing a body, moving or destroying evidence, and taking a minor for sexual purposes – crimes that could see him face the death penalty by lethal injection in Thailand.
The final night: CCTV horror and a desperate cover-up
According to Pattaya City Police, the horror unfolded in the early hours of June 25. CCTV footage allegedly shows Carman picking up the teenager from Pattaya’s Beach Road vice strip and taking her back to his Jomtien condo. Hours later, he is captured leaving alone with a heavy suitcase, riding a motorcycle for about 20 minutes before returning empty-handed.
Police say the girl’s body was found stuffed inside the suitcase near railway tracks in the Jomtien area, showing signs of severe assault and bruising to the face. She had been strangled.
Carman initially denied involvement but, confronted with overwhelming CCTV evidence, allegedly admitted to killing her – claiming it was self-defence after an argument over 500 baht (around AUD$20). He told police he “panicked” and disposed of the body. Thai authorities say he even sent a message to the victim’s family expressing that he felt “bad”.
A friend of Thunchanok bravely went to the apartment after she went missing, but found no immediate signs of foul play. Police later searched the condo and discovered evidence of a hasty clean-up – stripped bedding, piles of clothes, and dishes in the kitchen.
Disturbingly, reports emerged that Carman allegedly continued his normal routine, including messaging other sex workers while the teenager’s body lay in his bathroom. One sex worker claimed she received texts from him during that time.
A predator’s paradise: Carman’s Pattaya lifestyle
Pattaya, long known as a haven for sex tourists, provided the perfect backdrop for Carman’s alleged exploits. He lived cheaply – reportedly paying just $100 a week for his apartment – and blended in as a “normal expat”, swimming, ordering food, and frequenting bars.
But beneath the surface, disturbing details paint a darker picture. Social media posts allegedly show him publicly pursuing women with crude messages like “Hello gorgeous, where are you located?” Witnesses claim he was rejected by a sex worker at a Thai bar just hours before the alleged murder.
Thai netizens and the victim’s devastated family are demanding justice. Thunchanok’s relatives, who raised her after her mother left, have called for “a life for a life” and insist on the death penalty. Her father and family sat in mourning as authorities broke the news.
“He should face the full force of Thai law,” one family member said. “This monster took our daughter.”
The man behind the monster: Isolated and troubled
Back in Australia, Carman had largely withdrawn from society. He was known to Western Australian police, with reports of a suspended gun licence. Friends noted his isolation, and some described him as “slow” or “abnormal”.
Photos from inside his Thai apartment reveal a sparse, lived-in space that belied the horror that allegedly took place there – a mattress stripped of sheets, everyday items scattered as if nothing was amiss.
Carman has denied the full extent of the charges, insisting the death was unintentional and occurred during a struggle where the girl allegedly held a knife to his neck. His lawyers will likely argue self-defence, but prosecutors point to the disposal of the body and attempted flight as evidence of guilt and consciousness of wrongdoing.
Broader implications for Thailand’s sex tourism
This case has reignited fears about the safety of young women in Pattaya’s red-light districts. Campaigners say vulnerable teenagers like Thunchanok – who had only recently arrived in the city – are easy prey for foreign sex tourists who treat the area as a lawless playground.
Thai authorities have vowed a thorough investigation, with Pattaya police working around the clock. Carman remains in custody at Pattaya Remand Prison, where conditions are notoriously tough.
As the case heads to court, more disturbing evidence is expected to emerge about Carman’s past visits to Thailand and any previous interactions with young women in the area.
Family’s heartbreak: ‘She was just a child’
Thunchanok’s loved ones describe her as a bright young girl whose life was cut tragically short. Raised primarily by her father, she ventured to Pattaya seeking opportunity but instead encountered unimaginable evil.
Her friend who visited the condo after her disappearance acted quickly, knowing the dangers girls face with tourists. “We’ve seen this before,” the friend reportedly said.
The discovery of her body sparked outrage across Thailand, with calls for stricter controls on sex work and better protection for minors.
Carman’s final words?
In a message allegedly sent after the killing, Carman reportedly told the family he felt remorse. But for Thunchanok’s relatives, words mean nothing compared to the brutal reality of their loss.
As investigators dig deeper into his financial records, travel history, and online activity, the full extent of Simon Peter Carman’s double life may soon be laid bare.
For now, the people of Pattaya – and Australia – are left grappling with how a man who transformed his body to fit into paradise could allegedly unleash such hell.
This is a developing story. Daily Mail will bring you the latest updates as the Thai courts prepare to hear the evidence against this alleged killer.