UDON THANI – A teacher shot dead his 21-year-old autistic son before turning the gun on himself in his Muang district home early Monday.
The bodies of the unidentified father and son were found along with a suicide note at their house in tambon Mak Khaeng in Udon Thaini municipality. Both sustained gunshot wounds to the head. A .38 calibre handgun was found near the 50-year-old father's left hand.
The police and a doctor were alerted shortly before 7am Monday. The doctor estimated the two were dead about five hours before being discovered, according to Pol Lt Col Singharaj Kaewkerdme of Udon Thani police station.
A note addressed to family members was found near the father, a music teacher at a public school in the province. He wrote he was sorry for what happened and sought forgiveness from everyone. He also asked relatives to help look after his wife and 10-year-old daughter.
The man's father-in-law said the deceased had been a good provider for his family and had provided good care for his autistic son. However, he sometimes complained about his family's suffering.
The in-law said the deceased went to tend his rice field and had dinner with the family. He then went to sleep with his son on the first floor of the house.
No one in the family heard anything. The old man said when he walked downstairs he smelled blood and found the bodies. His neighbour heard sounds similar to gunshots around 2am.
The police suspected the man was driven by stress and suffering to take his own life and that of his son.