In a deeply disturbing crime that has shocked Thailand and beyond, a Chinese tourist visiting Pattaya has confessed to the brutal murder and mutilation of a Thai transgender woman.
The incident unfolded on April 25, 2025, in Central Pattaya, where 42-year-old Fu Tongyuen ended the life of 25-year-old Woranun, following a heated altercation over refused sexual services.
Authorities swiftly apprehended the suspect at Suvarnabhumi Airport before he could flee the country, bringing some closure to a horrific event that highlights the dark risks faced by vulnerable communities.
Meeting in Pattaya: A Tragic Encounter
Fu Tongyuen, a welder from Hubei Province, China, was on his third visit to Thailand when the crime occurred. On the evening of April 25, Fu encountered Woranun near South Pattaya Beach.
Unaware initially that she was a transgender woman, Fu struck up a conversation, and the two exchanged contact details via the WeChat application. That same evening, they agreed to meet again, with Fu offering 8,000 baht in exchange for sexual services at his rented apartment on Soi Arunothai, Central Pattaya.
What started as a transactional agreement quickly spiraled into violence. Fu confessed that after paying the agreed sum, Woranun refused to engage in sexual activities. Feeling cheated, Fu demanded half of his money back, but Woranun refused.
The disagreement escalated, and according to Fu, a physical struggle ensued. He claimed that Woranun kicked him off the bed, prompting him to retaliate with fatal force. In his testimony to the police, Fu admitted to climbing back onto the bed, pinning her down, and strangling her until she lost consciousness.
The violent end to what should have been a simple exchange exposes the vulnerability of many sex workers in tourist hubs like Pattaya, where encounters with strangers can quickly become dangerous. Despite Thailand’s reputation for tolerance and safety, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the underlying threats that marginalized communities, especially transgender individuals, continue to face.
Mutilation and Attempted Escape
The horror did not end with the killing. After realizing that Woranun was dead, Fu proceeded to mutilate her body in a gruesome manner. According to his confession, he dragged the lifeless body into the bathroom and began cutting it with scissors he had purchased earlier.
Shockingly, he explained that he “wanted to play with and tease the body.” His actions included cutting from her neck down to her genitals and removing her heart. Although investigators noted the absence of one of her lungs, Fu denied tampering with it.
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Once the mutilation was complete, Fu took measures to clean the crime scene. He washed the body and meticulously removed traces of blood from the apartment.
After completing his gruesome acts, he slept through the night as if nothing had happened. Upon waking, he immediately booked a flight back to China, arranging for transport to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok by motorcycle taxi and bus.
However, Thai authorities acted swiftly. In coordination with immigration officers, Pattaya police managed to arrest Fu at the airport on April 26, 2025, before he could board a flight and flee the country. His face, marked with scratches presumably inflicted during the struggle, bore a stern expression as he gave his testimony through an interpreter.
This quick police response is a testament to Thailand’s commitment to justice, particularly in high-profile cases involving foreign nationals. Still, the brutality of the crime left many questioning how such violent tendencies went unnoticed during Fu’s previous visits to the country and how seemingly ordinary interactions can so rapidly devolve into catastrophic violence.
Investigations, Motives, and Psychological Questions
The interrogation and evidence gathering revealed further chilling details about Fu’s mindset and planning. CCTV footage confirmed that he had purchased various suspicious items from a local 20-baht store before meeting Woranun. Among the items was the pair of scissors used in the mutilation.
When questioned about these purchases, Fu claimed that he needed the items to contain his belongings, as he lacked a travel bag, and that he bought the scissors for self-defense during nighttime outings.
When police officers asked about his mental state and motivations, Fu offered little clarity. He denied any formal diagnosis of mental illness, stating, “I don’t know, as I’ve never consulted a doctor.”
He framed the killing as a spontaneous reaction to being attacked, citing intense anger and loss of self-control. Nevertheless, the gruesome mutilation following the murder suggests deeper psychological issues that may have gone undiagnosed.
Fu expressed a desire to apologize to the victim’s family for his actions, but the sincerity of such remorse is difficult to gauge given the monstrous nature of his crime.
Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo, noted that Fu’s confession matched the evidence gathered at the scene, but emphasized that forensic investigations are ongoing, particularly regarding the missing lung and other details of the mutilation.
The ongoing investigation aims to determine whether Fu acted purely out of sudden rage or if deeper, more sinister psychological disturbances motivated his actions. In either case, the brutality he displayed has left a scar not only on the victim’s family but on the broader Thai society and the country’s global image as a safe destination.
This tragic incident also reignites discussions around the safety of sex workers, especially transgender individuals, who often face compounded risks of violence and discrimination. Many advocates are calling for better protections, more accessible mental health evaluations for foreign tourists, and a stronger focus on traveler behavior in major tourist hotspots.
Fu Tongyuen’s case will undoubtedly proceed through Thailand’s legal system in the coming months, and authorities will likely pursue the maximum possible charges given the gravity of his actions. Yet no judicial outcome can undo the horror inflicted upon Woranun or ease the pain suffered by her loved ones.
Ultimately, this appalling crime serves as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking beneath the surface of seemingly casual tourist encounters and the urgent need for vigilance, both from individuals and law enforcement, to prevent such tragedies in the future.