The grieving parents of a 17-year-old Thai girl whose body was discovered inside a suitcase have spoken publicly for the first time, delivering an emotional plea for the harshest punishment possible as the Australian man accused in the case remains in police custody.

Tunchanok Donhomla’s stepmother, Oradee Bussarakum, fought back tears as she described the family’s overwhelming grief and anger following the death of the teenager, who had traveled to Pattaya for what was meant to be her first seaside vacation.

“I just want him executed,” Oradee told local media.

“As a stepmother, I don’t know what else to say.”

She said the pain of losing Tunchanok had become so overwhelming that she even asked investigators whether she could personally confront the suspect.

“I even asked the police if I could hit him, if I could beat him. Please, just let me.”

According to Oradee, officers urged her not to act, ᴀssuring her that the suspect would face the full legal process under Thai law.

The teenager’s parents traveled from their home in Thailand’s northeastern Kalasin province to Pattaya after learning their daughter had disappeared. They are now preparing to bring her body home.

Family members said Tunchanok had only arrived in Pattaya days before her death.

They described her as a kind and helpful young woman with no history of drug use and said they had given her permission to travel with a friend because they believed she would be safe.

The family reportedly learned the devastating news while making the journey to Pattaya after the teenager’s friend reported her missing.

Thai authorities later arrested Australian national Simon Peter Carman, 45, at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport at approximately 9:30 p.m. local time as he allegedly attempted to board a flight to Perth.

Police have charged Carman with murder and related offenses. He has not been convicted, and the allegations remain before the courts.

Investigators are continuing to piece together the teenager’s final hours.

According to police, CCTV footage shows Carman and the 17-year-old entering his accommodation in Pattaya together at around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Authorities allege that surveillance cameras later captured Carman leaving the property alone that evening with a large black suitcase.

Investigators say he was then seen securing the suitcase to a scooter before traveling to an area near railway tracks roughly 10 minutes away.

The suitcase was later recovered in nearby scrubland, where police located the teenager’s body.

Investigators say they also found signs of a struggle inside Carman’s condominium, along with his pᴀssport, before tracking him to Bangkok’s international airport.

According to the Bangkok Post, Carman told investigators he had not known the teenager before meeting her that day and agreed to pay her 1,000 baht for her time.

He allegedly claimed an argument later broke out over money and told police the teenager threatened him with a knife while demanding additional payment.

Carman has maintained that he acted in self-defense and had no intention of causing her death.

Following his arrest, he recorded a video message directed at the victim’s family.

“I feel bad for what happened to your daughter; it was out of my control,” he said.

“I know you will be very sad, upset, same me. It shouldn’t happen and I hope you okay, I know you’re not, but I hope.”

The remarks quickly drew criticism both in Thailand and abroad, with many questioning his description of the incident and expressing sympathy for the teenager’s grieving family.

Carman remains in the custody of Pattaya City Police while awaiting his next court appearance as investigators continue gathering evidence in one of Thailand’s most closely watched criminal cases.