Four-month-old baby found dead in the Chao Phraya River after her mother’s lover secretly took her from bed. The 36-year-old claims she slipped into floodwater as he carried her to his boat. Police seize the vessel as the grieving mother confronts him.
A four-month-old baby was found dead in the Chao Phraya River after her mother’s secret lover abducted her from their Ayutthaya home. Chalermchai Taweepol, 36, confessed on Wednesday to snatching the sleeping infant after her mother refused his request to raise her. He paddled a boat 200 metres to the house and took the baby from beneath a mosquito net. However, he claims she accidentally fell into floodwater. He then fled without raising the alarm. Her body was recovered on Friday. Meanwhile, police seized his boat and paddles. During Wednesday’s reconstruction, the furious mother lunged towards him before officers intervened. Chalermchai apologised, insisting the death was accidental.
A 36-year-old man has confessed to abducting a four-month-old baby from her riverside home before she died in floodwater. Police arrested him in Ayutthaya on Wednesday after uncovering discrepancies in his account.
The suspect was romantically involved with the child’s mother and had wanted to raise the infant himself. However, she refused his request. He subsequently entered her home at night, removed the sleeping baby and carried her towards his boat.
He claims she slipped from his grasp and fell into the water. Instead of raising the alarm, he fled. Meanwhile, the grieving mother confronted him during Wednesday’s police reconstruction, forcing officers to intervene.
Ayutthaya police arrest mother’s lover after four-month-old baby is found dead in Chao Phraya River
The suspect was identified as Chalermchai Taweepol, 36, nicknamed Neng. He lived beside Ban Len canal in Bang Pa-in district, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province. His home stood approximately 200 metres from the family’s riverside residence.
Police arrested him on Wednesday, 28 October, following an investigation into the death of Nong Luk Kaeo. The four-month-old infant disappeared from her bed late on Thursday, 22 October. Her body was found floating in the Chao Phraya River the following evening.
The discovery came at approximately 7 pm on Friday, 23 October. The infant’s body was recovered near Tha Rae, Moo 10, Ban Len subdistrict, Bang Pa-in district. The location was approximately one kilometre from her home.
At the time, the family’s riverside property was affected by flooding. Initially, police faced questions over how the baby had vanished from her bed. Her mother reported the disappearance after discovering the infant was missing.
Detectives uncover contradictions in suspect’s account before drug test and questioning lead to confession
Officers from Bang Pa-in Police Station attended the scene alongside forensic investigators. They examined the riverside property and began collecting evidence. However, the initial investigation could not establish the cause of death.
Detectives subsequently questioned family members and people connected to the household. Their inquiries focused on the baby’s disappearance and the circumstances surrounding her death. In particular, officers examined accounts from individuals familiar with the flooded property.
By Wednesday, investigators had identified inconsistencies in statements made by Chalermchai. The suspect was known to the child’s mother, a 36-year-old woman identified as Ms A. Police established that the pair had been romantically involved.
Furthermore, the relationship had faced opposition from the woman’s mother, who was also the baby’s grandmother. Chalermchai had consequently been visiting the residence secretly, travelling along Ban Len canal by boat.
Investigators questioned him about his movements on Thursday night. Separately, officers administered a drug test, which returned a positive result. The discrepancies in his account prompted further questioning.
Eventually, Chalermchai admitted entering the family home and removing the infant while her mother and grandmother slept. His confession provided police with an account of the child’s disappearance. It also identified the route he had taken to reach the property.
Suspect admits secret boat journey to abduct baby after mother refused his request to raise the child
According to Chalermchai, he left his residence shortly before midnight on Thursday, 22 October. He used an orange plastic boat kept near his home beside Ban Len canal. From there, he paddled approximately 200 metres towards the woman’s riverside property.
The journey followed a waterway he had used frequently during their relationship. He told investigators that his visits were secret because the child’s grandmother opposed their involvement.
The suspect was familiar with the house and its access from the canal. He also knew the infant and had developed an attachment to her. During questioning, Chalermchai claimed he had become particularly fond of the baby.
He wanted to raise her himself and had previously approached the mother about taking responsibility for her. However, the woman refused. Despite that rejection, he decided to take the child from the house that Thursday night.
Chalermchai insisted his intention was to care for the infant. He denied planning to kill or injure her. Nevertheless, his confession described entering the home without the mother’s permission and removing the sleeping baby. He said he had travelled there specifically to take the child. The visit occurred while both women were asleep. His account subsequently became central to the police investigation.
Baby taken from mosquito net as mother and grandmother sleep. Suspect claims fatal fall into water
After reaching the residence, Chalermchai moored his orange plastic boat behind the property. He then entered the house and approached the sleeping infant. The baby was lying beneath a mosquito net.
Meanwhile, her mother and grandmother remained asleep nearby. According to his confession, Chalermchai lifted the child from her bed and placed her over his shoulder. He then headed towards the rear of the house, intending to return to his boat.
The suspect claimed the incident took a sudden turn as he moved behind the property. The infant slipped from his grasp and fell into the water. Chalermchai described the fall as accidental. He told investigators he was shocked and immediately panicked. However, he did not alert the sleeping mother or grandmother. Instead, he returned to his boat and paddled home, leaving the child in the water.
His account placed the fall near the rear of the flooded riverside house. He maintained that he had never intended to harm the infant.
Nevertheless, he admitted leaving without informing anyone of what had happened. The child’s mother subsequently discovered that her baby had vanished from her bed. Police were called to investigate the disappearance. By Friday evening, the infant’s body had been found approximately one kilometre away in the Chao Phraya River.
Police seize suspect’s orange boat and paddles as officers reconstruct nighttime journey to baby’s home
The discovery prompted officers to examine the circumstances surrounding the disappearance. Forensic personnel inspected the scene and collected evidence. Investigators also questioned people associated with the family.
As inquiries progressed, Chalermchai’s connection with the mother attracted attention. His statements contained discrepancies, leading detectives to question him further. Ultimately, he admitted taking the baby from the property and described her fall into the water.
Following the confession, police seized an orange plastic boat and paddles from Chalermchai’s residence. The equipment was taken for forensic examination. Investigators sought to establish its connection with the events of Thursday night. In parallel, detectives continued examining evidence gathered from the riverside property. They also assessed the suspect’s account of his movements between the two houses.
On Wednesday, Police Colonel Phiphop Naputra, Superintendent of Bang Pa-in Police Station, led a reconstruction of the incident. Investigators took Chalermchai back to the neighbourhood where the baby disappeared.
The operation began at his residence beside Ban Len canal. Officers then accompanied him by boat along the route described in his confession. The suspect identified the location where he claimed to have launched his orange plastic boat.
Investigators retrace flooded canal route and enter riverside house where sleeping infant was abducted
From there, investigators travelled towards the family’s home, approximately 200 metres away. Chalermchai showed officers the waterway he had used to approach the property. He also identified the access point behind the house.
The reconstruction required police to move between boats and flooded areas. Consequently, reaching the various locations proved difficult. Officers nevertheless followed the route described by the suspect.
The police boat eventually reached the rear gate of the residence. Investigators then escorted Chalermchai into the house. He pointed towards the location where Nong Luk Kaeo had been sleeping.
The infant had been lying beneath a mosquito net when he entered, according to his confession. Next, he demonstrated how he had lifted her from the bed. He also showed officers the route he took while carrying her towards the boat.
Investigators followed Chalermchai through the property as he described the alleged accident. He identified the area behind the house where he claimed the infant fell into the water. His account placed the incident during his attempted return to the boat.
The reconstruction allowed officers to examine the sequence of movements described during questioning. It also brought the suspect back to the home where the baby had disappeared.
Furious mother confronts suspect during police reconstruction as officers rush to prevent confrontation
However, the operation was interrupted by an angry confrontation involving the child’s mother. As officers conducted the reconstruction, the woman rushed towards Chalermchai.
She shouted insults and expressed her fury over the death of her four-month-old baby. Police immediately intervened to prevent the confrontation from escalating. Officers separated the mother from the suspect and restored order. The reconstruction subsequently continued under police supervision.
The confrontation occurred inside the neighbourhood where the family had reported the baby’s disappearance. Chalermchai was being escorted by investigators when the mother approached him.
Her anger followed his admission that he had taken the infant from her bed. Officers moved quickly to control the situation. Meanwhile, the suspect remained under police supervision throughout the proceedings.
After the reconstruction, reporters questioned Chalermchai about his actions on Thursday night. They pressed him on why he had entered the house and removed the baby. The suspect repeated his claim that he had developed affection for the infant. He said he wanted to hold her, play with her and care for her. Furthermore, he insisted that he had never intended to kill or injure the child.
Suspect insists baby’s death was accidental and apologises after fleeing scene without raising the alarm
Chalermchai again maintained that the infant had fallen into the water accidentally. He claimed the incident left him shocked and unable to decide what to do. However, he acknowledged returning to his boat and leaving the scene.
He had not awakened the child’s mother or grandmother. Instead, he paddled back to his residence while the infant remained in the water. He subsequently apologised to the family when questioned by reporters.
The suspect’s explanation followed his admission that the mother had previously refused his request to raise the baby. He also acknowledged that the grandmother opposed his relationship with the woman.
Consequently, he had regularly travelled by boat to visit the property without attracting attention. His familiarity with the riverside residence formed part of the account examined by investigators.
Police had traced the suspect’s movements from his canal-side home to the family’s property. The journey covered approximately 200 metres by water. Chalermchai identified the boat, the route and the rear entrance used during his visit. He also described removing the infant from beneath the mosquito net. His confession placed him inside the house shortly before the baby disappeared.
Forensic examination continues as police pursue legal proceedings against suspect in infant death case
The suspect’s statements also established that the mother and grandmother were asleep when he entered. Neither woman had given him permission to remove the child. Despite the mother’s earlier refusal, he took the infant and attempted to return to his boat. His account then described the fall into the water and his departure from the scene. These details formed the basis of Wednesday’s reconstruction.
Investigators continued examining the physical evidence alongside Chalermchai’s confession. The orange plastic boat and paddles remained important items in the forensic inquiry. Police sought to establish their connection with the journey described by the suspect. Separately, the investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.
The case had begun with the disappearance of a four-month-old baby from a flooded riverside residence. Five days later, police obtained an admission that the infant had been taken from her bed.
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The suspect was a man romantically involved with her mother. He had previously asked to raise the child, but his request was refused. Nevertheless, he entered the house secretly while the family slept.
By Wednesday afternoon, the investigation had advanced to a reconstruction of the nighttime abduction. Police had also seized the boat and paddles linked to the suspect’s account. The grieving mother confronted Chalermchai during the operation before officers intervened. Afterwards, he repeated his claim that the child’s death resulted from an accident.
Following the reconstruction and questioning by reporters, police returned Chalermchai to custody. The 36-year-old suspect faced further legal proceedings over the incident. Meanwhile, investigators continued forensic examinations of the seized equipment as the case moved forward.
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