An American tourist, Stein Heath Cole, tragically lost his life in Bangkok in a horrific incident involving his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend. The 54-year-old man was found dead with multiple stab wounds and broken legs after a confrontation with four local men. The altercation occurred as Cole was attempting to reconcile with his former flame, 24-year-old Nan Phawt Ar Cho.
According to reports, the situation escalated when Cole brandished a kitchen knife during a conversation with Cho. This prompted her new boyfriend, Saw Nay Lin Oo, her brother Thien Oo, and two others to attack Cole with weapons of their own. The brutal assault left Cole lying lifeless in a pool of blood on the street.
Authorities have stated that the incident stemmed from a personal relationship dispute, with Cole being unable to accept the breakup and continuously pursuing Cho. The suspects claimed that they did not intend to kill Cole but lost control of the situation amid the chaos.
During the altercation, one of the assailants also sustained a stab wound and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The weapons used in the attack, a 3-foot metal pipe and a 10-inch knife, were recovered at the scene. All four men involved in the assault, including Saw Kyaw Win Tun and Saw Kyaw Htunt Paing, have been arrested and charged with causing death through assault.
Authorities described Cole as an unemployed heavy drinker with a history of aggression and inability to cope with the breakup. Cho’s family had reportedly disapproved of her relationship with Cole and had been trying to separate them. Neighbors revealed that they often heard the couple arguing and that Cole had been living alone for months following Cho’s departure due to alleged harassment.
As the investigation continues, local police are collaborating with the US Embassy to gather more information about the tragic incident. The community is left in shock by the senseless violence that has claimed the life of a man caught in the throes of a tumultuous love triangle.
