An official said today the mentally-ill man who killed five children in Chiang Mai on Saturday, possibly committed the crime because he drank liquor and he may not have taken the proper medication for his illness.
Asapa Siwua, 24, remains under tight security by police at a hospital in Chiang Mai after he was seized and severely beaten by locals of Chaiprakarn district for stabbing five children to death.
The Deputy Director of the Health Department, Dr. Panpimol Wipulakorn, said today Asapa did not show up to his last appointment with Suanprung Psychiatric Hospital, where he spent two weeks for treatment of depression and suicidal thoughts. Asapa was released from the psychiatric hospital on Aug. 8.
His condition was said to stem from drinking.
Instead, one his relatives showed up to get a refill of his medication on Sept. 19. Asapa was reportedly anxious and frustrated for about one week before the incident, and Panpimol said Asapa was reportedly not taking the medication and he was definitely drinking.
“For patients with schizophrenia, their autonomic nervous system does not work normally. They hear voices in their heads all the time,” Dr. Panpimol said. “When there are loud noises they cannot understand, they would do just about anything to stop the noise. Even though everything has gone quiet. The patients would continue to hear the noise for about one hour.”
The victims, aged 5-10, lived next door to Asapa and were reportedly playing and making noise before he brutally murdered them.
The department has sent a Mental Health Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team to.
Chiang Mai to help with the investigation. The team will also help the family of the victims and the community who remain traumatized by the incident.
Panpimol said Asapa will definitely be held responsible for his actions. That said, he will possibly be admitted and kept in a hospital while he receives treatment for his illnesses.
Meanwhile, Yikor Sanchen, the seven-month pregnant guardian who took care of the children and was cut by Asapa in the face, is recovering well, said doctors, Manager and Daily News reported.
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