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An American citizen has tragically lost his life in Thailand amid what officials are calling a violent love triangle. The incident involves his former girlfriend, her current partner, and three additional individuals.
On February 16, 54-year-old Stein Heath Cole made an emotional appeal to his ex-girlfriend, 24-year-old Nan Phawt Ar Cho, requesting a reconciliation, as reported by The Mirror. However, that same day, Cho’s new partner, 26-year-old Saw Nay Lin Oo, along with three other men, allegedly confronted and attacked Cole in Bangkok around 4:30 p.m.
Authorities revealed that Cole arrived at a local shop armed with a 10-inch kitchen knife, which escalated into a violent confrontation. As a result, the four men have been charged with “jointly assaulting another person, causing death.”
The victim, originally from California, reportedly suffered fatal injuries from an assault involving a metal pole and a knife.
It is alleged that Stein Heath Cole resided just across the street from the location where the altercation occurred. (Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress)
Cole was found on the pavement with both legs broken and five stab wounds, with a 10-inch knife and a metal pipe found nearby.
The suspects were identified as Saw Kyaw Win Tun, Saw Kyaw Htunt Paying and Thien Oo, the ex-girlfriend’s brother. One of the suspects was stabbed and taken to a nearby hospital.
Bangmod Police district station Superintendent Colonel Sonchai Poonphol said the fight was caused by a “relationship dispute.”
Stein Heath Cole is from California. (Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress)
“This incident was caused by a personal relationship dispute. The deceased could not accept their break-up and had been following his ex-girlfriend continuously,” he said. “On the day of the incident, he is said to have produced a knife, provoking the suspects to intervene and attack him. The suspects claimed that they had no intention to kill, but the situation became chaotic, and they lost control.”
Prior to the attack, Cole lived alone in an apartment across the street from the store. Police alleged that the woman’s family didn’t approve of her relationship with the American.
Stein Heath Cole was allegedly beaten to death in Thailand. (Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress)
“Relatives of the woman did not approve of her relationship with the American man and had been trying to separate them. He was described as aggressive, prone to outbursts, and a heavy drinker,” Poonphol said. “Both the woman’s family and the American were staying in the same apartment building. There had been previous confrontations between him and her relatives.”
“The American man had no occupation. He had been renting a room there and was living alone. We have already coordinated with the U.S. Embassy on Monday. All four suspects have been charged with jointly assaulting another person, causing death. Initial witness statements indicate that the motive stemmed from a romantic dispute and family conflict,” he added.